LASIK

[Solariss]

Has anybody here had this? I'm getting it done tomorrow and was wondering what some people's thoughts/experiences with it are. I had my pre-op appointment where I signed all the paperwork today, and reading it kinda freaked me out. It said there are chances that if your eyes get infected you have a chance to become permanently blind. I realize all the precautions and warnings they have to give you even though 98% of the people getting it have never had problems.

[Fammaden]

Your ass is going blind dude. Have fun living the rest of your life in pitch darkness with no video games.

[jake_craner]

and aspirin does this:

Damage to the lining of your stomach, prolonged bleeding time, wheezing, breathlessness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, chronic catarrh & runny nose, headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, GI upset, GI bleeding, ulcers, rash, allergic reactions, hives, bruising, abnormal liver function tests, liver damage, and hepatitis. If you take too much, the toxic effect is Kidney Damage, severe metabolic derangements, respiratory and central nervous system effects, strokes, fatal hemorrhages of the brain, spleen, liver, intestines & lungs and
DEATH
300 to 500 reported deaths per year: (taken as directed).

there is always a percentage chance of things going very wrong. You will be fine.

[Eomer]

My dad had it done 10 or more years ago, and it's worked out quite well for him. He needs glasses for reading and/or driving at night, but compared to his previous vision it's a vast improvement. And the techniques have gotten WAY better since then.

The only thing he regrets about it is that it made his already poor night vision worse. But again, that's something they've improved on.

Personally I'd do it in a heartbeat, if my damn eyes would stop getting worse. Never needed glasses until I was 20, and then just barely (-.75 left and -1 right). But 5 years later I'm at -1.5 left and -2 right, and going steadily downwards. I just wish it would stabilize so they could shoot some freaking laser beams at my eyes, already.

[Cuppycake]

Man Eomer, I wish I could see as good as you. My left eye is -5.75 and my right eye is -6.0. =/

[Kuriin]

You should get laser eye surgery done late 20s or early/mid 30s as your eyes will stop/slow down their changing.

But, for me? No. Until the operation gets damned near perfect, no laser is going near my eye. ;p

[Eomer]

Man Eomer, I wish I could see as good as you. My left eye is -5.75 and my right eye is -6.0. =/

Oh yeah, I'm not saying my vision is bad by any stretch. I can drive without glasses or contacts and function fine for pretty much everything. Just that it's annoying as hell having everything slightly blurry.

My sister is like -8 and -9. Taking her glasses from her nightstand while growing up = the funny.

[findar]

i want the procedure that lets me shoot lasers from my eyes where do i sign up.

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by findar

i want the procedure that lets me shoot lasers from my eyes where do i sign up.

I can do it for you for $20, I just need you to sign a waiver.

Originally Posted by Kuriin

But, for me? No. Until the operation gets damned near perfect, no laser is going near my eye. ;p

I'm in the same boat. I can live with glasses until I have a damn near 100% success rate. Not worth the risk of potentially going blind.

[Soygen]

Obligatory:

[prescient63]

Out of curiosity what do you folks know about Wavefront-guided LASIK? If you get it while younger it is supposed to be superior to traditional LASIK surgeries. Theory has it that you can get down around 20/15 with wavefront though i know not everyone achieves these results.

[Awanka]

Where are the optical enhancements like in Syndicate and Deus Ex? I want eagle vision with zoom in, and infra red, and automatic ballistic trajectory pinpointing.

[Burkex]

I got lasik about 3-4 years ago. First off make sure they have laser tracking. It cost me $2000 total and was EASILY the best money that I ever spent, even better than all the money I blew on strippers in vegas. Before it my eyes were 20/400 and 20/600 and I wore contacts. Before the surgery I was told not to use contacts 1 month before the surgery. During that time I went into the Eye Center and they ran all these tests on my eyes besically to see if I was a candadite for the surgery and to see how much correction they had to do.

On the day of the surgery, make sure someone drives you to and from the eye center because you will not be able to drive home afterwards. They gave me 1/2 a vallium to relax before the surgery. The actual surgery takes like 5 min tops and it doesn't really hurt. Right after it your eyes are SUPER sensitive. They usually have your eyes taped shut after the surgery, mine were. So someone can escort you home into into bed. I got a ride home then you take the other 1/2 of the vallium and sleep for 8-10 hours, your eyes need rest. When I woke up 10 hrs later, I peeled off the tape and the special eye protection over my eyes. When I opened my eyes it was amazing. I now have 20/20 in my right eye and 20/15 in my left eye (better than 20/20). My eyes were better after the surgery than they have ever been and I I see perfectuly at night and dusk too.

After the surgery your eyes do not produce tears and get very very dry every 15-20 minutes. You have to carry a certiain type of sterile eye drops that they give you and you can purchase more in any pharmacy (you will need to buy lots more). Basically always carry around like 5 vials in your pocket every day. You will use these eye drops for about 1 month. ALSO, this is very important: YOU CAN NOT GET WATER INTO YOUR EYES. For about a month+ you have to wear goggles in the shower and keep your eyes closed, no going swimming, washing your face, or doing anything that could get your eyes wet. Water has bacteria in it and your eyes are basically open wounds for about a month so the bacteria in the water can cause an infection and cause you to go blind. So do not get water in your eyes and you will be fine. That is the main big danger and it is no joke.

Also, after the surgeries they will have you come in the next day for a check up, the next week, and 1 month later. They just want to check your eyes, do an eye test, and make sure that everything is fine. After 1 month and the last check up they will tell you that you can now put water in your eyes.

Then you are all set. Trust me it is worth it. I have recommended it to many people and they had the surgery and still thank me today for telling them to get it.

[Jysin-DW]

I've been annoyed with contacts and glasses for the last 6 years or so. I am 29 years old now and my prescription has not changed in over two years. This is the thing. I am -1.25 in both eyes. Its enough to drive me crazy though and I would love for this LASIK surgery.

Friends have told me that my vision really isnt that bad and is not worth it. The difference when wearing glasses and when I am not is quite noticeable to me though. I just cant be bothered with the hassle of contacts anymore and am seriously thinking of consulting an eye doctor about it.

What do you guys think?

[Solariss]

Yeah, I had it done yesterday now and went through the same shit you did. Everybody tells you it's so painless and blah blah... Well, the procedure was painless, but the few hours afterward when I was trying to fall asleep it felt like my eyes were burning out of my sockets. Anyways, when I woke up I could see very well, but it's still a little blurry.

I went to my follow up appointment today and my right eye is much stronger than my left right now, but she told me that was normal and they'll balance out. Either way, I can see 20/20 with both eyes now, and it was definitely a great decision.

Right now I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to go bowling and drink tonight.