Who's had LASIK?

[KY Chris]

I'm going next week. Anyone know what recovery is like or what I should expect?

 

[Beezil]

yer pretty much fawked.

 

[imma honky]

I haven't had lasik per say, but when I was in 3rd grade I had something very similar to it. This was back in its primitive days. What I actually had done was lens implants (cateracts). I remember being able to fully see within like 3 days. I think the recovery for current lasik is about 1-2 days. I now have almost 20/20 vision (12 years later). Hopefully, you won't have to wear the goofy eye patch I was subjected to.

 

[GI-John]

I had LASEK in September. Thanks to the Valium and Percocet, I didn't feel any pain for 2 days. Make SURE you have a beer or ten.

After the pills ran out, I had some pretty good pain (7/10). This lasted for only a day or two. I took 4 days off and wish I took more. (just a day or two)
They are gonna put a "bandage" contact lens on after surgery. You'll count the minutes till they take it out. (very scratchy and annoying)

The good part is that I would do it again in a heartbeat. I forgot what it was like to NOT wear glasses. I still catch myself reaching for my glasses.

Good Luck, and see you in Attica. Make sure you get a good pair of polarized lenses.

I'm 20/15 Left and 20/20 Right

John

 

[KY Chris]

I haven't had lasik per say, but when I was in 3rd grade I had something very similar to it. This was back in its primitive days. What I actually had done was lens implants (cateracts). I remember being able to fully see within like 3 days. I think the recovery for current lasik is about 1-2 days. I now have almost 20/20 vision (12 years later). Hopefully, you won't have to wear the goofy eye patch I was subjected to.

You had lens implants? Wow. That was pretty major back then. My Dad had his eyes lasered several times back in the early 80's using an experimental treatment to correct damage due to occular Histoplasmosis he contacted in Vietnam. It worked really well and the results were in published in an opthamological journal. Amazing what they can do.

 

[imma honky]

yeah, if I hadn't had the surgery when I did, I would have been completely blind within 6 months (it was that bad). The only downside though, is I am now hyper sensitive to light, so I used to get bad headaches in school due to the flourecent lights. Whenever im out, I always wear nice dark sunglasses, otherwise I suint to the point where my eyes look closed.

 

[Goatman]

I had it done, and am glad I did. The only problem is that I had reading correction in my eyeglass prescription, so now I need reading glasses for any close work, which is kind of a PIA....reading, welding, working at the bench or under the Jeep, sitting at the computer, etc. I had no discomfort at all, and saw better right after the procedure. I also didn't have any eye patches or temporary contact lenses.

The biggest reason I had it done was my night vision was getting bad, and because of a bad astigmatism it sometimes seemed a little distorted at night. Now my night time vision is fine.

 

[bgcntry72]

The wife had it done last spring, and nothing has made her happier. You will have 'halos' around lights, and need to wear thick, taped on glasses for a couple of days, but her eyesight was near perfect 2 days after the treatment.
You won't regret it.
Good luck.

 

[Kejtar]

I had it done close to 4 years ago and it was a breeze! The biggest recommendation I can give you is to go to a library ahead of time and get books on tape as the day of the operation after the operation, you won't really be able to do anything and it will drive you nuts! (they put plastic shields over your eyes so that you don't mess anything up). So having some audio books, or stand up comedy or anything audio (btw, music doesn't cut it) will help you get your mind of the fact that you can oly look through those little plastic holes in the shields with heavily dilated eyes which ITCH like there is no tomorrow!

In regards to halo's, I'm yet to see one. My optometrist said that it all depends on each person: some have it BAD to the point that for a while they can't drive at night, and some have none or next to none.

Also if I was you, I'd stock up on eye drops. Because of how the operation works, your eye surface gets reshaped and there is a gap between your eyelid and eye surface and you don't lubricate too well resulting in dry eyes (I actually had it pretty bad for about 6 mothns till the eyelid reshaped itself a bit... can you say one bottle of eyedrops a week?).

Lastly, I'm not sure how much has changed since I got mine done, but both the place I went to and my optometrist were talking about some places that do not change blades for earch cut (they slice open the surface of your eye). This is bad because the blade becomes dull and results in scarring as the eye heals due to uneven cut (almost a tear). In any case, before your operation ask for them to make sure that they use a new blade .

Kejtar
P.S. Oh yeah.... I was 20/20 by next morning !!! And I'm still 20/20

 

[Dirk Funk]

nothing like all those long mont tapes to pass the time

 

[96xjeeper]

I ha d lasek around 2 years ago. For lasek they actually numb your eye, put a "clamp" on your eye to hold it open, put a machine with a blade onto your eye and cut a flap into your cornia, the skin like material on the outside of your eye, they then peel it back, shoot the laser, put the flap back and move to the next eye. It was around 24 hours before I could see at all, the next day for my first follow up I actuall tried to drive myself, I could see fine, but yes you will be SUPER sensitive to the light for a while. the next day I was 20-20 in both eyes, after healing started i went down to 2-30/20-20, after probably 3-4 mons I leveled out at 20-15 and 20-20, I am still there to this day.

PRK is the other laser surgery for this surgery the will numb your eye, then they use a brush type scraper item and scrape all of your cornia shoot the laser and the you get a contact.

Results I am told are about the same for both except heal time on PRK is longer. For lasik there is little if no pain unless you are in light...don't try to watch TV for a couple days..ask how i know...PRK involves more pain during healing, and if one of the contacts fall out before they are supposed to come out you are gonna be useless!!!!

All and all results are about the same but lasik is esier on you than PRK.....Good Luck.

 

[Goatman]

I had no discomfort, and had to wear no eye protection other than dark safety/sun glasses for a day or two because of light sensitivity and to protect from wind debri when outside. I read a magazine in the lobby while waiting for my wife to pick me up. You do need to use eye drops often for awhile to keep your eyes moist while the flap heals, and because for some reason your eyes have a greater tendancy to dry out.

 

[KY Chris]

What about welding after Lasik? I guess it'll be based on my comfort with ligh sensitivity as far as how long I should wait? This has got to be safer than the few times I've welded with my contacts in.

 

[Goatman]

What about welding after Lasik? I guess it'll be based on my comfort with ligh sensitivity as far as how long I should wait? This has got to be safer than the few times I've welded with my contacts in.

I asked the doctor that question and he said no restrictions, just be extremely careful not to get anything in your eye when grinding. I was in the middle of a project when I did mine, and I went right back to welding.....with reading glasses, of course.

 

[Dawg Cherokee]

I had it done four years ago in Canada. Near-instant results, no regrets. During the brief surgery, you'll notice a slight odor like burning skin. Don't worry, you're not on fire, this is normal. Everyone is right about the dryness, though it varies. Good luck and enjoy your new freedom.

 

[poomba]

I'm going next week. Anyone know what recovery is like or what I should expect?

If you happen to be diabetic, make sure you check with someone other than the one getting the cash for the surgery..I was told glucose affects the shape of the eye, from day to day, so lasik isn't the way to go. (a correction today, won't match what your eyes are doing next week, for example). Figured I would toss that in...