Lasik Surgery?
mark019
I have a serious eye phobia but an considering Lasik surgery. Has anyone had Lasik done and what were your concerns before and after the procedure? And, are you glad you did it?
Answer
I had custom LASIK August 31, 2006 on both eyes. My vision was 20/-700 before surgery. The custom LASIK is a little different than the regular LASIK; it is mainly used for very high prescriptions and smoothes the cornea out more than regular LASIK would.
My main concern before the procedure was getting my hopes up and then being told that I wasn't a candidate for the surgery. I had worn glasses since I was 8 years old (was 29 at the time of surgery) and had been through a terrible 4 month period of keratitis, steroid and antibiotic eye drops, and not being able to wear my contacts. My vision was so bad that even the thin eye glass lenses were still a half inch thick with my prescription.
My opthamologist recommended a doctor to me about two hours from my home town. This doctor was extremely well thought of by former patients and immediately put me at ease. I went through about three hours of tests on both eyes and then the doctor examined me. I was finally told I could have the surgery. I went back two weeks later and had it done.
They gave me a 10mg valium before the surgery to knock the edge off (it really didn't do anything for me) but you have to be awake for the actual surgery. They put a retractor in your eye to keep you from blinking. There is a split second when they remove the cornea flap that you can't see but my doctor talked me through everything that he was doing........even telling me when I should be able to see again, etc. Once they get the flap back then they position the laser over your eye (everything is preset to your specifications) and the procedure begins. You may smell something very faint.......that is where literally your eyeball is being lasered off. It took about 20 minutes total for my procedure on both eyes.
Immediately after the surgery I walked down a hallway with minimal assistance and was put in a holding room with my family. I had to wait around 30 minutes and then be checked before I was allowed to leave. During those 30 minutes I remember looking around the room I was in and being able to see a lotion bottle on one of the tables and I could see a clock and could tell the time on it. My family couldn't believe I was seeing all of that. When the doctor came in to check me out I was seeing well enough to pass the vision test on a driver's exam. I was given pain medication and told to sleep for a few hours. I think I slept around 3 hours and when I woke up I was able to watch TV and go about normal business (though I had to put moisturizing drops and I think steroid drops in my eyes for several days afterwards). That night I remember watching CNN and being able to read the news ticker going across the bottom of the screen.
I had to go back the next day for a check up, then one week later, then two weeks later, then a month later, then three months later, then 6 months later, and finally my one year check up. One year later my left eye is still at 20/20 and my right eye is still at 20/15. (I have a scar from a corneal ulcer on my left eye so that is as good as it gets with that eye.)
I had problems with light sensitivity and dry eyes before the surgery and these issues were exacerbated by the surgery. However, I will take these problems any day of the week just to be able to see without glasses or contacts. For up to six months after my surgery I would find myself thinking, "don't forget to take your contacts out" before I went to bed. I honestly would have never thought that I would be able to see without glasses or contacts. I also paid more for my surgery ($4,000 for both eyes) than the majority of people, but again, I had a custom LASIK done with a better laser, all follow-up care was included, and the doctor was very reputable.
If you are seriously considering this make sure to do your research on the doctors. I was referred to two but my eye doctor had a preference so I went with the one he liked. I don't think it is something you will ever regret. =)
I had custom LASIK August 31, 2006 on both eyes. My vision was 20/-700 before surgery. The custom LASIK is a little different than the regular LASIK; it is mainly used for very high prescriptions and smoothes the cornea out more than regular LASIK would.
My main concern before the procedure was getting my hopes up and then being told that I wasn't a candidate for the surgery. I had worn glasses since I was 8 years old (was 29 at the time of surgery) and had been through a terrible 4 month period of keratitis, steroid and antibiotic eye drops, and not being able to wear my contacts. My vision was so bad that even the thin eye glass lenses were still a half inch thick with my prescription.
My opthamologist recommended a doctor to me about two hours from my home town. This doctor was extremely well thought of by former patients and immediately put me at ease. I went through about three hours of tests on both eyes and then the doctor examined me. I was finally told I could have the surgery. I went back two weeks later and had it done.
They gave me a 10mg valium before the surgery to knock the edge off (it really didn't do anything for me) but you have to be awake for the actual surgery. They put a retractor in your eye to keep you from blinking. There is a split second when they remove the cornea flap that you can't see but my doctor talked me through everything that he was doing........even telling me when I should be able to see again, etc. Once they get the flap back then they position the laser over your eye (everything is preset to your specifications) and the procedure begins. You may smell something very faint.......that is where literally your eyeball is being lasered off. It took about 20 minutes total for my procedure on both eyes.
Immediately after the surgery I walked down a hallway with minimal assistance and was put in a holding room with my family. I had to wait around 30 minutes and then be checked before I was allowed to leave. During those 30 minutes I remember looking around the room I was in and being able to see a lotion bottle on one of the tables and I could see a clock and could tell the time on it. My family couldn't believe I was seeing all of that. When the doctor came in to check me out I was seeing well enough to pass the vision test on a driver's exam. I was given pain medication and told to sleep for a few hours. I think I slept around 3 hours and when I woke up I was able to watch TV and go about normal business (though I had to put moisturizing drops and I think steroid drops in my eyes for several days afterwards). That night I remember watching CNN and being able to read the news ticker going across the bottom of the screen.
I had to go back the next day for a check up, then one week later, then two weeks later, then a month later, then three months later, then 6 months later, and finally my one year check up. One year later my left eye is still at 20/20 and my right eye is still at 20/15. (I have a scar from a corneal ulcer on my left eye so that is as good as it gets with that eye.)
I had problems with light sensitivity and dry eyes before the surgery and these issues were exacerbated by the surgery. However, I will take these problems any day of the week just to be able to see without glasses or contacts. For up to six months after my surgery I would find myself thinking, "don't forget to take your contacts out" before I went to bed. I honestly would have never thought that I would be able to see without glasses or contacts. I also paid more for my surgery ($4,000 for both eyes) than the majority of people, but again, I had a custom LASIK done with a better laser, all follow-up care was included, and the doctor was very reputable.
If you are seriously considering this make sure to do your research on the doctors. I was referred to two but my eye doctor had a preference so I went with the one he liked. I don't think it is something you will ever regret. =)
Lasik eye surgery--any advice?
Q.
Answer
Lasik eye surgery is rather safe if only you are a suitable candidate. As with any surgery, there is a definite risk incurred. You must be screened for suitability and examined by the doctor personally. (Not the sales team to mislead you to get expensive package deal).
If you are a suitable candidate, the risk maybe :-
1.)Dry eyes (temporary)
2.)Regression/ enhancement
3.)Infection (3-5/20,000 for the next 3 weeks)
4.)Flap/ complication of treatment (rare)
5.)Miscellaneous
A suitable candidate for Lasik surgery, it depends on:-
1.)Your corneal thickness
2.)Your power
3.)Your age
4.)A centre with a doctor who is examining your eyes personally
5.)Torough explanation to suit your lifestyle
Always insist on seeing the doctor performing the surgery for you. It is the due deligent of him or her to present the risk and benefit to you in detail personally.
Dr. Yeoh Phee Liang
Consultant Ophthalmologist
www.advancevision.net.my
Lasik eye surgery is rather safe if only you are a suitable candidate. As with any surgery, there is a definite risk incurred. You must be screened for suitability and examined by the doctor personally. (Not the sales team to mislead you to get expensive package deal).
If you are a suitable candidate, the risk maybe :-
1.)Dry eyes (temporary)
2.)Regression/ enhancement
3.)Infection (3-5/20,000 for the next 3 weeks)
4.)Flap/ complication of treatment (rare)
5.)Miscellaneous
A suitable candidate for Lasik surgery, it depends on:-
1.)Your corneal thickness
2.)Your power
3.)Your age
4.)A centre with a doctor who is examining your eyes personally
5.)Torough explanation to suit your lifestyle
Always insist on seeing the doctor performing the surgery for you. It is the due deligent of him or her to present the risk and benefit to you in detail personally.
Dr. Yeoh Phee Liang
Consultant Ophthalmologist
www.advancevision.net.my
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Title Post: Lasik Surgery?
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Rating: 98% based on 3217 ratings. 4,8 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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