OT: LASIK

[RUinPinehurst]

Local resource here in NC hosts a neat video showing how our military views LASIK:

http://carolinaeye.com/files/4313/3544/7846/Reel_276_LasikOnFrontlines_480X270.mp4

 

[C0bra Kai]

Had it done about 10 years ago for about $5k. Was called Wavefront Lasik at that time...might still be called that. Was money well spent, no side effects and can still see great. I wonder sometimes if my visual acuity has degraded a smidge since then but can still see pretty damn good.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Most places lease the equipment and pay per procedure up to a certain amount. By the end of the year they are able to offer deep discounts, that's why you will see "buy one, get one" sales around the holidays. I did this years ago, as others have said, one of the better decisions I've ever made.

 

[chase07470]

Most places lease the equipment and pay per procedure up to a certain amount. By the end of the year they are able to offer deep discounts, that's why you will see "buy one, get one" sales around the holidays. I did this years ago, as others have said, one of the better decisions I've ever made.

Went Dr. Moedel in Manhattan, mostly because he did Bernie Williams and Mariano back in the day and figured if the Yankees trusted him with those eyes, I was in pretty good shape.

Amazing results although my ability to read a menu is gone. My only suggestion is question the initial exam Dr. thoroughly. "Am I an ideal candidate or somewhat borderline? Are my cornea's definitely within the optimal thickness range?" Any hesitation and I wouldn't have done it.

 

[Giantfan82]

Anyone use Dr. Charles Crane for LASIK or hear anything about him?

He's performing my surgery in a few weeks so I'll let you know

 

[SkilletHead2]

Skillethead Jr. says he will have this done when it doesn't involve lasers or his eyes.

 

[Groz]

Chase07470,

What you mention about not being able to read the menu is what scares me about having Lasik.

Long story short, right now I sacrifice some distance with my contact lenses so that I don't have to put reading glasses on every single time I look at a newspaper, etc. For real small print I do need reading glasses. Couldn't you have done the same thing with the Lasik? I've heard of people that don't have it adjusted to 100% of what it should be for distance so they can still read, etc.

Also, how old are you? In general after 40 is when people start to need reading glasses. I am going to be 58 in April.

I'm also curious to hear from people that are around 45 and older that have had it done and whether they are using reading glasses or they "sacrificed" some distance while having it done. I thought they call that "monovision" but I could be wrong.

Looking forward to hearing more opinions on the subject. Have been a little scared to have it done because of the reading issue.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[rutgersdave]

Chase07470,

What you mention about not being able to read the menu is what scares me about having Lasik.

Long story short, right now I sacrifice some distance with my contact lenses so that I don't have to put reading glasses on every single time I look at a newspaper, etc. For real small print I do need reading glasses. Couldn't you have done the same thing with the Lasik? I've heard of people that don't have it adjusted to 100% of what it should be for distance so they can still read, etc.

Also, how old are you? In general after 40 is when people start to need reading glasses. I am going to be 58 in April.

I'm also curious to hear from people that are around 45 and older that have had it done and whether they are using reading glasses or they "sacrificed" some distance while having it done. I thought they call that "monovision" but I could be wrong.

Looking forward to hearing more opinions on the subject. Have been a little scared to have it done because of the reading issue.

Best of Luck,
Groz

Most of the financial management including company controller had lasik surgery and loved it. Most needed reading glasses so they have one eye for far sighted and the other one for near sighted. They are all fine with this but I would think it's crazy. I tried to get lasik but wasn't qualified. Needed to get the older operation which takes more time.

 

[SHUSource]

What you mention about not being able to read the menu is what scares me about having Lasik ... Also, how old are you? In general after 40 is when people start to need reading glasses.

Before I had LASIK, I could not do much of anything without my glasses - driving, watching TV, etc. were all impossible. I could, however, read without glasses. When I had my procedure done, they said one thing I might notice is that I would have a harder time reading without glasses, especially if I was over 40 (I think I was 41) - kind of ironic, since I had been able to read with perfect clarity beforehand. But I figured it would be a small price to pay.

But, so far, so good. I don't need glasses to read at all, and I can't say my vision has been negatively affected at all by the procedure. I did just a few weeks ago get a pair of glasses for nighttime driving, with good anti-glare lenses. They have an almost imperceptible correction, but I really can't tell. They do help reduce glare, though, especially on rainy nights.

 

[Groz]

SHUSource,

Good to hear your story. It is interesting that you had the surgery and don't need reading glasses while your distance was corrected.

Before your surgery, when someone wears glasses(not contacts) for distance, they would not need glasses to read if they didn't have any glasses(or corrective lenses) on. Just like, when I have my contacts out, reading is very easy for anything even very small.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[Groz]

Rutgersdave,

That is interesting that most of your financial management team got the surgery and had been using reading glasses. Thanks.

Best of Luck,
Groz

 

[Leonard23]

He's performing my surgery in a few weeks so I'll let you know

Please let us know how it goes/went. Good luck. Thanks

 

[DJ Spanky]

Chase07470,

I'm also curious to hear from people that are around 45 and older that have had it done and whether they are using reading glasses or they "sacrificed" some distance while having it done. I thought they call that "monovision" but I could be wrong.

Groz, as I officially will be turning 29 again shortly I can't relate to this "45 and older" thing. <cough> <cough> But I have had no issue with reading since I had Lasik done 4 years ago.

Most of the financial management including company controller had lasik surgery and loved it. Most needed reading glasses so they have one eye for far sighted and the other one for near sighted. They are all fine with this but I would think it's crazy. I tried to get lasik but wasn't qualified. Needed to get the older operation which takes more time.

Funny story: When I had Lasik done, they mentioned I may have a problem with reading afterwards. (And as a software engineer that would be an issue.) This was mentioned by the doctor on pre-visits, the day of the operation and on the 1 day follow up. When I went for my 1 week follow up, I had a different doctor, female, about my age. She kept repeating that I shouldn't be surprised if I was having trouble reading, and I kept assuring here that I wasn't having any difficulty. She also related to me that she had had Lasik done a while back, now had trouble reading and needed to use reading glasses. Anyway, after about my 6th or 7th denial, I guess she didn't believe me as she pulled out a reading card from the drawer. So I held it the proper distance from my eyes and promptly rattled off every line of text on it down to the smallest. She snatched the card back and said (jokingly): "I hate you!"

 

[chase07470]

Chase07470,

What you mention about not being able to read the menu is what scares me about having Lasik.

Long story short, right now I sacrifice some distance with my contact lenses so that I don't have to put reading glasses on every single time I look at a newspaper, etc. For real small print I do need reading glasses. Couldn't you have done the same thing with the Lasik? I've heard of people that don't have it adjusted to 100% of what it should be for distance so they can still read, etc.

Also, how old are you? In general after 40 is when people start to need reading glasses. I am going to be 58 in April.

I'm also curious to hear from people that are around 45 and older that have had it done and whether they are using reading glasses or they "sacrificed" some distance while having it done. I thought they call that "monovision" but I could be wrong.

Looking forward to hearing more opinions on the subject. Have been a little scared to have it done because of the reading issue.

Best of Luck,
Groz

Hey Groz,
The Dr. gave me options, better distance vs. better reading. I told him I wanted to read an iPhone and anything smaller, I'd be ok with glasses. So I had the choice and I made it. My impression was he could dial up anything I wanted and I wanted to see my golf balls land 250 yards away...and I can. I'm 48 so about time for reading glasses anyway. No regrets. Just so nice to never have to deal with contacts or wearing glasses all the time.

 

[ejgonz]

Did it 15 years ago at TLC. One of best decisions of my life. Only issue has been dry eyes which starting needing medical treatment 5 years ago.

I believe that's less of an issue with current technology.

 

[Rutgers1]

6 years ago. Wavefront lasik. About 4k. 20/20 vision afterwards. Scary as shit doing it, but I just have a thing about my eyes. Do it sooner rather than later because you become far sighted in your 40/50s.

 

[RUSK97]

I chickened out and haven't done it, but I had a consultation last year and let me say those 2000-2500 prices are gone. They're now generally north of 4K, minimum. And it's not something to bargain shop for.

 

[Scarlet CCS]

I got PRK instead of LASIK, slightly different procedure but same result. I went to Dr Hersh in Teaneck who is arguable the best doctor money can buy for that. He's expensive but I had an existing eye condition so I wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be any permanent eye damage. Results were incredible - 20/12 vision. Best decision I ever made.

 

[Leonard23]

He's performing my surgery in a few weeks so I'll let you know

How'd it go?

 

[Leonard23]

@Giantfan82 how'd your LASIK go with Dr. Crane?

 

[Ridge 22]

I had this done back all the way back in June 2001, somewhere in NYC, when I was 24.

Best decision I ever made. I was blind as a bat. Wore glasses since 3rd grade and contacts since about 6th grade. My prescription got worse and worse every year. I forget what it was by the time I got lasik, but it was horrible. I literally could not read a stop sign, for instance, if I was standing a couple feet away from it.

Well, I haven't had any issues since I had lasik. I drove to NYC the day after the procedure for a followup and was amazed at what I could see and how well.

And I admit, I was negligent, hadn't been to the eye doctor since. I finally went June 2014. Doctor said I was 20/20. And I just went back this past Monday for a checkup. Still good, no issues whatsoever. Doctor said in time I could possibly need reading glasses ever so slightly, but that is years away. Hopefully by that point, I'd just get some kind of followup procedure anyhow.

Bottom line, if you are thinking about it, I'd say go for it. 14 years of glasses/contacts-free life for me and I couldn't be more grateful.

This is pretty much me exactly. Only issue is I do get some night glare. I would still do it again though.

 

[Ridge 22]

Chase07470,

What you mention about not being able to read the menu is what scares me about having Lasik.

Long story short, right now I sacrifice some distance with my contact lenses so that I don't have to put reading glasses on every single time I look at a newspaper, etc. For real small print I do need reading glasses. Couldn't you have done the same thing with the Lasik? I've heard of people that don't have it adjusted to 100% of what it should be for distance so they can still read, etc.

Also, how old are you? In general after 40 is when people start to need reading glasses. I am going to be 58 in April.

I'm also curious to hear from people that are around 45 and older that have had it done and whether they are using reading glasses or they "sacrificed" some distance while having it done. I thought they call that "monovision" but I could be wrong.

Looking forward to hearing more opinions on the subject. Have been a little scared to have it done because of the reading issue.

Best of Luck,
Groz

I am 46. Had it done about 10 years ago. My eyesight was something like 20/500+ going in. Had both eyes corrected for distance. Still no reading glasses yet (knock on wood). I am writing and reading this right now on my iPhone w/o issue. I would say my long distance vision has largely held up fine as well. I really don't go for eye exams anymore, so I don't know what my current prescription is, but it is certainly still well within a more than acceptable range I would say.

 

[Giantfan82]

@Giantfan82 how'd your LASIK go with Dr. Crane?

I'm going in tomorrow.. Thanks for asking.. It takes him 3 mins per eye and the whole process takes about 35-45 mins.. I opted for no anesthetic or pills to calm me down.. Never liked that stuff

 

[R U Crazy]

I had Lasik surgery in 2001 (I was 36 yo). My eyes were 20/400 & 20/80 before. Afterwards, My eyes were 20/40 and 20/20 (even with glasses, my eyes could never be corrected to 20/20. I wore a patch on one eye in 12th grade trying to qualify for a Navy ROTC Scholarship. In the end, I was disqualified because both my eyes could not be corrected to 2/20.


5 minutes after the procedure I could see clearly. I was never in pain and contrary to one of the above posters, I did not "Smell" burning during the procedure.

WHen I turned 46, I started to need reading glasses. Hard to stop old age.
I know when of my friends had 1 eye adjusted for reading and 1 eye adjusted for long distance. It took a long time for my friend to adjust to the change. I have accepted reading glasses as part of getting old.

I would get Lasik over again in a HEARTBEAT. Even know, the fact I can wake up and see the time on my alarm clock is a blessing. I had my done by a Doctor in Springfield (I cant remember his name). I paid close to 4000 dollars.

Note: I have not seen any halos. My night vision is poor, but it has been poor my whole life.

 

[RUsince52]

I had it done back in 2010 and it was amazing. Based on that alone, I would recommend it to anyone...

However, my brother got it done two years after me (same doctor) and it was a complete disaster. The problem with LASIK is that it's kind of a chop shop type procedure. When you go in to get it done, they do a procedure every 15 minutes, just racking up money. Apparently if your pupils are too large or your cornea is too thin, you can have big problems. He now has to wear these special contacts that he got from a doctor in texas (only doctor in the world making them right now) for him to be able to see at night. He's in a lawsuit with them right now because his pupils were well over the recommended size for the procedure and it should have never been done (they actually put the wrong pupil size on one of the forms for him to be eligible).

My advice, if you're going to get it done do your homework. If they say you're even slightly not a GREAT candidate, maybe rethink it.

I haven't had it done, but thought the first step was to find out if you actually qualified as a candidate in order to proceed. Your brother's experience proves how careful you have to be and was a real " eye opener ". Thanks for the input.