• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Should I get LASIK eye surgery?

C

calisoldier83

Member
Hi I'm a 21 year old male. I just got back from a deployment in Iraq. I wear contacts daily and I really hate any form of eye correction. I've consulted my ophthalmologist and he is highly recommending the surgery. He also thinks the doctor he is sending me to is one of the top three in North America http://www.maloneyvision.com/. I guess he does the vision correction for the make over shows on T.V. also. I put aside some money for the operation which is going to cost $5,000 out of pocket. This includes a year of follow up visits and if ANY corrections need to be done to get optimal vision he will do it. But my main quarrel about the whole thing is that I'm only 21 and I have a lot of life ahead of me should I really wait until about 30 or go ahead and get the operation done? I already have an appointment setup in two weeks for the operation. It?s a lot of money so I want to make sure I make the right decision. My ophthalmologist is a great doctor but he?s kind of on the expensive side. I trust him thoroughly he said he could send me to a cheaper doctor but he only recommends this guy.
 
They's your eyes. They're the only set you're ever going to get.

Don't skimp on the doctor.

"If you're going to get it done, get it done right"
 
i figure that i will as soon as i get the money for it (4 years or so) because if i end up without eye insurance then im pretty much screwed on the cost of contacts etc. 5 grand upfront is MUCH better than $500 every year for the rest of my life. plus the convienence is much better. and the quality is much better now adays, and do as much research as possible.

MIKE
 
I'm getting it on the 11th of next month. I didn't skimp on the doctor, I'm getting one of the best in the area. I also had a choice between wavefront or standard lasik, and I decided to spend more and get wavefront. If I'm going to do I wanted to do it right, and reduce risks.

If you're tired of glasses at 21, go for it. If I had the money, I would have done it at 21 myself, but I couldn't afford it. I'm 29 now, and I would have loved to not had glasses the past 8 years. I've had glasses since I was 10, and I'm ready to get rid of these damn things!
 
Does it cover optic correction only for the first year, or is that part lifetime? If it's lifetime, then I'd go for it. If it's only a year, then don't waste your money. Your vision is still changing fairly rapdily at that age, so it will be just as bad again in a few years. Plus, in a few years, we will have much better things than this surgery (if all things go as planned 😛).

Browsing through his CV, it looks like he has quite a connection in the Lasik surgery/laser industry. This would indicate to me that he knows who is good with the procedure - I'd trust his opinion. He sounds like someone I need to call to discuss problems we're having with corneal topography....

Anyway, like others have said, this isn't something you want to take a risk on to save a few bucks.
 
Originally posted by: Wadded Beef
what do they do differently for the wavefront procedure?
Click to expand...
Wavefront is a newer technology that measures an entire optical system rather than only the properties of one component. Thus, it can theoretically give you better vision than more traditional laser surgery, since it considers the lens, cornea, and fluids of the eye rather than just the cornea. I'm guessing it's more expensive, but I'm not really sure. We're trying to buy a wavefront device for our lab and it's going to set us back a pretty penny, much more than our lasers.
 
With wavefront they use 3-D measurements of your eye to guide the laser. So, they are able to make small, individual corrections on the surfaces of the cornea. The surface of your eye is not perfectly shaped, and wavefront allows them to find these irregularities and the machine compensates for them. Supposed to help you with fine detail, reduces occurrence of night halos, glare. Also supposed to be better for peripheral vision.

I went in for my consultation today, and got to see all kinds of cool pictures of my eyes. 😀
 
i am 39 and might check it out/try it in a couple more years. i know they are rare, but if i have any problems, i'll regret it forever
 
As someone lucky enough to have KC, I say NO.

Leave your corneas alone if you can.

Glasses & contacts are NOTHING compared to what life could be like with a fvcked up cornea.

Viper GTS
 
Next week will be two months since I got my Lasik. It's pretty great. I had a worse prescription than you and also had moderate astigmatism. I would say that with your prescription you should probably have an easy procedure.

Don't think that it will be a walk in the park though. For the first couple weeks it is a pain in the ass. Eye drops every hour, goggles, being VERY concerned about what is going on around your eyes...it's a big hassle. And, at least for me, my vision fluctuated a lot in those first few weeks. Still kinda does, but not as bad.

But with time they are getting way better and I can tell I made the right choice. Go for it!
 
Wait a couple years. Like others have said, your eyes are still changing. I'm planning on getting something done when I'm 26-27.
 
Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Originally posted by: Wadded Beef
what do they do differently for the wavefront procedure?
Click to expand...
Wavefront is a newer technology that measures an entire optical system rather than only the properties of one component. Thus, it can theoretically give you better vision than more traditional laser surgery, since it considers the lens, cornea, and fluids of the eye rather than just the cornea. I'm guessing it's more expensive, but I'm not really sure. We're trying to buy a wavefront device for our lab and it's going to set us back a pretty penny, much more than our lasers.
Click to expand...


I just went to the mall last week and received a "Free consultation worth $125!!!" from Doctors For Visual Freedon. Anyway, they seemed like really great people and they made sure they stressed the risks involved with such a procedure many many times. They offered the wavefront that your talking about and explained their patients who used it, over 98% had no complaints ( I was a little skeptical). However, at the very end of the consultation they dropped the bomb.....$2195 an EYE!!!! Now I realize I have come into some extra cash but that just seemed a little outrageous. I think for right now I will stick to $70 worth of contacts that will last me 5-6 months.

I went last summer to get a 15 minute preview and I COULD OF SWORN $3000 for both so I was turned off by the extra cost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top