I had LASIK surgery yesterday!!

[Gage]

Oh My God! It is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life!

It did not hurt a bit! It was a little creepy because they put those clockwork orange eyelid holders in my eyes. Then they put this metal disc over my eye and I knew that they were slicing off the front of my eyeball. That is when I really wanted to blink because it was so freaky. Everything went black for a few seconds. Next, I saw what looked like someone taking a soft contact lens off of my eye. Then I just sat there and looked at a red dot for about 15 seconds. They put the lens back on my eye and did the same thing in the next eye. I was in the chair about 5 minutes total. When they finished I had to close my eyes for 2 minutes. Then they took me to test my eyes. They gave me a whole lot of drugs becuase they wanted me to sleep for about 4 hours. Apparently there is a little discomfort the first 4 hours. (some itching and watering) I didnt hurt a bit. Of course I had 3 valium and 3 percocet so someone could have come in and stabbed me and I probably wouldnt have noticed. By 9pm I was watching the Patriot.

I walked into the office seeing 20/400. 2 minutes after the surgery I could already see 20/40 (which is good enough to drive w/o glasses). This morning I went in for a follow up and 22 hours after the surgery I have 20/20 vision. AND ITS GOING TO GET BETTER!

I am so happy I want to cry. This is the most amazing thing that I have ever done. I have been walking around all day just seeing what I can see. And to wake up and be able to see the alarm clock is so awesome. I would have paid any price to be able to see like this. I cant say enough about it. Get it done. If you're sitting on the fence about it, let me say that you wont regret it. It is truely the best thing that I have ever done in my life.

I will stop gushing now. I just wanted to share my excitement with you guys.

 

[Total Refected Power]

Congrats. I am too much of a chicken. I am glad it worked out for you. It must be wonderful.

 

[apoppin]

I am glad for you. Evidently most people have no problems or complications after the procedure.

Well, I had friends who underwent the (now primitive) eye surgery (years ago) that told me how wonderful it was; they are all having problems now.

Thank-you, but I'll keep my contacts and glasses.

 

[Ariel]

My Mom and my Mother-In-Law both had it done and said it was great. My Mother-In-Law even had it video taped! Sounds a little freaky to me. Just can't get past the whole slicing off the front of your eyeball thing...

 

[Tripleshot]

I am truly happy for you. I must scramble for my glasses to see the alarm clock on the other side of the bed in the morning. I know the feeling well. Water skiing is really a pain because I can't see that well. Surfing was a real drag.

May I ask the price tag and where you had it done?

 

[trmiv2]

Wow, congrats. I REALLY want to get that done, but I just can't afford it. One of these days I will be liberated from the prison of glasses.

 

[bigvince]

you know at the ten year mark your eyes fall out.

 

[64bitloopy]

my wife is having scleral buckle surgery tomorrow, even though i can't spell it. She has diabetes and it is finally catching up. I hope her surgery goes as well as yours did, even though they are different.

 

[thebestMAX]

Good luck to you.

Would like to have it done myself but am too concerned about future problems.

 

[NFS4]

I wanna do it, but it sounds soooooooo creepy

 

[Gage]

I paid $3555 for both eyes. I couldnt afford it either but they were having a special "12 months same as cash" so I went for it.

I live in North Carolina so I had it done at Carolina Eye associates (in wilmington) The doctor has a patent for part of the lasik technique and was one of the first 30 doctors in the US to be allowed to perform the proceedure.

The whole eye slicing thing is gross really but it's kind of like giving birth, the bad part is not as bad as the good is good.

 

[HKSturboKID]

<you know at the ten year mark your eyes fall out. >

I wanted to get this done, but thats what I am afraid of. since this just came out, no one would know what is the long term effect on this. Now if only I can see the future!

 

[Gage]

That's not exactly true. They have been doing a similar surgery for almost 30 years now. I cant think of the name of it off the top of my head. However it's pretty much the same surgery without the lasers. The people who had that surgery done have on the whole had no problems or any decrease in vision other that what comes with age. I think the surgery is Radial Keretonomy but I could be wrong.

 

[BoberFett]

<< Now if only I can see the future! >>

I'd worry more about seeing the present, with your eyes falling out and all.

 

[apoppin]

Gage, you are essentially correct. However, the surgical method did have problems (some of those operated on had complications or are back to - thicker - glasses) which is why the laser procedure was developed.

 

[toph99]

when i am 18 and stopped growing i'm getting some kind of eye procedure done. i have had to wear glasses since i was in kindergarte and i hate them :| can't wait until i get it done and don't have to wear glasses

i'm glad your procedure went so well

 

[narzy]

my grandmother is going in for it some time very soon, what you have said has relaxed me a bit .

 

[apoppin]

I just did an Internet search (to confirm my fears).

There are many complications possible for up to 3 months after the laser procedure. The old scapel procedure was performed successfully although &quot;numerous complications have surfaced.&quot;

Click here for the history and possible complications of eye surgery.

 

[IBhacknU]

I want to do it... but I'm a bit scared too!

 

[bigvince]

what your refering to is called Radial keritomity. it was developed in the former soviet union and later came to the states. it involved the use of a scalple to reshape the Iris(i think)...lasik IS basicly the same procedure but done with a laser.






and BTW that was a simpsons quote so don't take it seriously

 

[Gage]

You're right. My doctor did say that my vision would fluctuate for up to 3 months. However he said that is part of the healing process. First the tissue has to heal and then your eyes have to get used to seeing corectly. I know that sounds wierd. I remember when I first got contacts, It took me a while to get used to seeing with them in. And every morning when I put them in there was always a few minutes where my eyes were adjusting to seeing. So I think that the 3 months is a healing/ adjustment period.

Also after that 3 months, if the proceedure has not been successful, most doctors will retreat your eyes for free.

 

[Pretender]

Wow, congrats Gage. Some people my mom knows had bad experiences with it, but who knows, your story might encourage her to get the procedure done.

BTW, does anyone have any sites with info about it?

 

[Passions]

there is a better more efficent laser out now, i forgot da name but supposedly its even more safer than LASIK. who knows
maybe ill give it a try, but i heard alot of horror stories so im just a chicken butt. id rather wake up putting on glasses for the
rest of my life than to permanently not be able to see at all for the rest of my life.

 

[Ranger X]

You are brave, I have to hand it to you. LASIK isn't a permanent solution but it'll do for now. I will wait 10 years before doing such a thing to my eye because who knows what affects it can have on an individual ten years from now. The feeling of not wearing glasses or contacts must be great!

 

[Gage]

I have to say that even if the doctor told me that there was a chance that my eyeballs would fall out of my head in 10 years I would still have this surgery done. Why? Becuase for the first time in my life I can go camping without having to plan for what I am going to do about my contact lenses. I can take my kids to an amusement park without having to worry that my contacts might fall out while I am on a ride. I can jump in the pool on a whim. I can ride in a convertable without my contacts scratching my eyes all up. I can jump out of bed and be ready to go in less than 5 minutes. I can read and watch TV without having to put my glasses on and take them off and put them on and take them off. One of the saddest moments of my life was when I gave birth to my daughter. I couldnt wear contacts during the delivery and I was in such a rush to get to the hospital that I forgot my glasses. So when the doctor first held her up, I could not see her. Until he put her in my arms and I could hold her right in my face I had no idea what she looked like. I would have traded my eyeballs for that first glimpse of my daughter.

So, I am living for right now. Who knows what will happen in 10 years? Hell, I may drop dead (god forbid) tomorrow. But I will not die regretting the things that I did not see.