I’m Getting LASIK
At the beginning of this year, I mentioned that I was considering getting LASIK. The insurance I have through work covers a sizable portion of the cost, so it definitely makes financial sense to get the surgery done. Not only will I be saving on the cost of the surgery, but also on the cost of contact lenses I’d have to buy if I didn’t get the surgery. In the long run, LASIK will be far more economical than continuing to wear contact lenses.
Of course, getting LASIK is a serious decision, so I’ve been doing my research. When you’re getting surgery on something as important as your eyes, shopping for the lowest price shouldn’t be your top priority. With that being said, you also shouldn’t pay more than you need to for what you want to get.
I called a few doctors in my area to get an idea of the price range. While I did get a solid price from one doctor’s office, the other offices told me that the price depends on which procedure you end up getting and gave me a price range.
Most doctors offer a free consultation where they determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for LASIK. This is basically like a typical eye exam except at the end they let you know whether you’re qualified for LASIK or not. They also determine which procedure is best for your eyes. Most importantly, they talk to you about what you’re expecting to get out of the surgery and the potential side effects of getting the surgery done.
Once they determined that I was a good candidate for LASIK, I talked to the doctor about the procedure and was able to ask any questions that I had. After getting my questions answered, I decided to go ahead with the surgery, so I discussed the price with them. The price was competitive with the other offices I had contacted, so I scheduled a date for my surgery.
By the end of this week, I’ll be able to wake up in the morning and see clearly.
Update: My surgery has been postponed until next week because of scheduling issues, so it’ll be a few more days before I let you know how it went.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I got my LASIK done in December 2007 after researching for a LONG time. I got mine financed through the GE card that offered it at 0% interest for two years so you might want to check into that.
I have fabulous eyesight now after being horribly short sighted (-7.5 in both eyes) and wearing glasses and contacts for 18 years!!!
I am happy I did it….I know there are people who have horror stories but I thank God every day that mine went well and I can see and so far I have not had any problems.
LASIK was the worst decision of my life. I suffer from the common complications of chronic dry eyes and night vision impairment. Since I had LASIK I have spent much of my spare time researching LASIK complications. Based on data from FDA LASIK clinical trials, the complication rate of dry eyes and night vision problems is around 20%, but LASIK surgeons don’t warn patients of this. Moreover, the LASIK flap only heals to 2% of the cornea’s original tensile strength, and the biomechanical strength of the cornea is permanently reduced by about 50% after LASIK. LASIK patients face problems with glaucoma screening, future cataract surgery, and persistent decrease in corneal cells called keratocytes which are vital to the health and function of the cornea. You can read more about LASIK risks and long-term complications on my website at http://www.lasikcomplications.com
It sounds like you have been doing your homework about Lasik. That is a good start. It also looks like you understand the importance of your decision.
I work for a nonprofit Lasik patient advocacy. We don’t do Lasik, we just provide Lasik information and we certify Lasik doctor s’ patient results.
A previous poster threw out a lot of percentages and opinions that may be debatable, but there is one solid fact: Lasik is surgery and there is no such thing as a perfect surgery, perfect surgeon, or a perfect surgery candidate. There is alwasy a risk of things going awry, even if the probability is relatively low.
There have been about 12 million Lasik surgeries world-wide over the past decade, so it is reasonably well understood. Our organization is conducting a patient survey that is looking closely if Lasik patients are getting what they expect. A preliminary report is at the FDA’s website. Overall, the vast majority of Lasik patients are satisified, but not all.
We have an active bulletin board at our webite and tons of information about Lasik and how to select a Lasik doctor. Feel free to take a look and I’ll be watching here to see how things go with your surgery this week.
Glenn Hagele
USAEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
WOW.
I was going to tell you how great that you’re getting the Lasik surgery, but after reading post 2 and 3, not so much.
Good luck and I’ll pray for the best surgeon and a good outcome of your surgery.
I know you’ll keep us posted on all that happens.
Hi. I just had mine done last April 30, 2008. Almost three weeks now. I have to say that I have 20/20 vision. But I still get dry eyes. The worst part is when waking up in the morning. But the doctor said it would take about three months for my tear ducts to produce more.
Also I have to protect my eyes from further dryness and in the place I work at, it’s very cold and there’s a positive pressure in the rooms so whenever I open doors, there’s a breeze that goes to my eyes, which dries it up a little faster. I didn’t anticipate it, but for now I’m wearing goggles at work (which doesn’t look odd coz I’m in a hospital).
Another thing that concerns me is that at night, the light seems more glary. They said it’s temporary (and I’m hoping it is). It really is too early for me to complain or give recommendations but for the most part, since I’ve had glasses since I was in third grade, I feel much better without them.
I’m glad you found a company that accepts insurance because mine didn’t. But I did get financing available for me. Anyway I made a post regarding it in my 43things. Good luck!
Dry eyes after Lasik is relatively common and also commonly resolves within the normal six month healing process. If you want all the details, see Lasik dry eyes and Lasik dry eye treatment.
Dry eyes can cause or exacerbate all sorts of problems and may be what is behind your more difficult night vision. Be sure to talk to your doctor about this.
It is way too early to come to any conclusions about your final outcome. You just had microsurgery on your eyes. They need time to heal.
Glenn Hagele
USAEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
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