Well I am in the cities tonight and will have my lasiks in the morning! I can't wait and am very nervous at the same time. I will post how everything goes when I get a chance.
My husband is considering it. He will only go to a place like the one he is looking at where they do not put any pressure on you to get it done, and where they lay out all the problems and concerns up front. People at this university clinic are turned down for Lasik if they are found to not need it or not be suitable (ie. too young, eyes still developing). It has put him at ease compared to the "ONLY THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER EYE, COME NOW, JUST DO IT!" places, though he's still not sure when he'll get it done due to the cost.
Quote:
My vision was -950 and -850 with a horrible astigmastism. Dr. Christopher Blanton in Colton, CA is a pioneer for the surgery and he did mine with no problem. Total cost in 04 was $3600, and I was able to make payments. I am sure someone in his office could refer you to someone in the Bay area.
My vision wasn't as bad....-450 and -375 with a real bad astigmatism. I had the intralase Lasiks at Tri-County Eye Institute in Corona, CA in 2006....$4500 - give or a take a couple hundred. I had 18 month (or 24?), interest free financing. BEST thing I did!!! Before I had to put glasses on just to get out of bed and forget reading labels. The realization that I could read the shampoo vs conditioner bottle in the shower AND get up in teh middle of the night to use the restroom WITHOUT fumbling for glasses was priceless!!
The procedure was quick...the most uncomfortable part was having my eye held open with the bright light (like staring at a headlight....not bad, just annoying). But, it is over so quick. My doctor said I should go home and sleep for a couple hours until the watery eyes go away (like having sand in the eye). But, given that it was 10:30 in the morning...not gonna happen. So, DH and I went to lunch. He held my arm while we made our way to the table since I couldn't keep my eyes open (watery and sensitive to light...not painful at all...more like when you wake up and your eyes are dry and the bright light makes you close your eyes since your eyes aren't adjusted...remember your pupils are dilated for the surgery, so your eyes are receiving more light than normal). I bought fish and chips, since it didn't require a fork (remember my eyes were watery and sensitive). Afterwards we went to REI to shop. I started out by holding onto the cart, but by the time we were done shopping the pupil dilation drops had worn off and the grittiness was starting to go away. Not bad at all!! Five days after the surgery DH and I were backpacking in Oregon. Only thing I had to do was put eye drops in that were prescribed for a few days and where the eye goggles at night as the eye has to heal (don't wanna rub it accidentally in the morning!).
Well I DID IT! I am so excited, I can see! I would definitely recommend having Lasiks to anyone who has even thought about it. It was a great experience for me and I had very little discomfort. In fact the worse pain I had was a headache from my eyes brain trying to realign.
I had a relatively high astigmatism plus a distance correction and it took just minutes for both eyes to be complete. I could see immediately afterwards too! It is hard to explain but everything was clear (not fuzzy) but it was like I was looking through a fog. That was even gone after my nap! I didnt feel any pain during the procedure and I also didnt have any pain discomfort afterwards like some experience. My eyes were just tired. In fact we went to a movie and had dinner out that very night! I left the doctors office at 11:30 am. got back to the hotel and rested until 4. We ate a snack, then went and saw Bridesmaids at 7:40 pm. then had dinner at Mannys at 10:15!
I went back to the doctors for a follow up on Saturday, they tested my eyes and my right eye was at 20/25 my left at 20/20 and together 20/15! He told me that I would be at 90% complete at that point and over the next week to 3 months would get to 100% complete! I am very happy with the results so far. It is amazing the things you miss when you wear glasses all the time, like peripheral vision. The colors are crisper and brighter, you can see details you didnt see before! I couldnt be happier with the results! I dont know why I waited so long.
Congrats!
The day after (or week or whenever my first follow up appt was scheduled), my eyes were 20/25 in both eyes. By the one month appt or so, my eyes were both 20/15 each! I also had bright sunbursts over lights at night (like fireworks) for the first few months, but that has diminished tremedously! (I've always had poor night vision, so maybe that had to do with it too). I am so happy for you!!
Congrats! I'd love to have it done! My contacts are at 9.0 but the machine measured them at 10, so no go for me. They did tell me I could have implants put in at $3k an eye, but I can't afford that.