|
|
Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
 
| I'm looking into it, I think I'd rather go that route than contacts or glasses, but I am worried about the recovery time and the possible risks. Should I get one eye done at a time or both? I need to be able to see since I take online college classes. Thanks in advance! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 694
 
Location: SW Washington | I did it... The best thing I ever did! Wasn't really any recovery time that I remember... My only problem was my eyes produced too much white cells afterward (or something like that). I'm sure it was because I was around the horses too much right after. So they had to lift the flap a couple times to clean it out.
I wish i would would have done it sooner! |
|
| |
|
| Well, I didn't get Lasik, but a very similar procedure called Visian ICL. I had such terrible eyes (-8.00's in both eyes) that Lasik was almost not an option for me. Lasik was also a little bit risky for my age - im 19 (not health wise, but getting the vision perfect). I got the procedure done last december. Visian is a procedure where they essentially put in permanent contacts behind your iris. The surgery itself was not painful, but they had to put 2 teeny holes in each eye a few weeks prior to surgery via laser for pressure relief.... i wasn't on any meds for that and lemme tell you that sucked.... but from what my doctor told me, lasik is a quicker and easier procedure than what i had done. Only difference is recovery - since Lasik has to cut a flap of the outer layer of your eye, you wont be able to rub your eyes (you have to wear goggles at night), but other than that im sure it'll be similar to my recovery. I had to stay away from dusty areas for about 1 1/2 ish weeks after surgery (meaning no barn - or barn with eye protection on  ) and just a butt load of different drops 3 times a day. I experienced headaches for many weeks after. I hope this helps, if your doctor recommends visian over lasik!!
Edited to add - not having contacts or glasses after getting them when i was 7 was the best decision i have ever made!! It's so wonderful to be able to wake up and see :)
Edited by achildres 2015-04-05 10:26 PM
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 305
| My husband had it done about 15 yrs ago he has had very good luck and loves it. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 227
Location: fixin to change | Three of us in my family had LASIK done in 2001-2002 and have had no issues. Perfect vision, no glasses or contacts anymore. The best thing we ever did! The recovery time was sleeping off the Valium they gave us before surgery. |
|
| |
|
Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| LvEmStanding - 2015-04-05 9:19 PM I did it... The best thing I ever did! Wasn't really any recovery time that I remember... My only problem was my eyes produced too much white cells afterward (or something like that). I'm sure it was because I was around the horses too much right after. So they had to lift the flap a couple times to clean it out.
I wish i would would have done it sooner!
OMG- that sounds weird! I'll be sure to wait until after shedding season then! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 668
Location: Oklahoma | Just had mine done last September in Oklahoma City. Best thing I could have done!!! I wore glasses for 15 years and hated it. Now I have better than perfect vision! The healing time was about 3 days. No pain involved, I just had to use eyedrops for a while afterwards. Oh, and you will get both eyes done at the same time...no reason not to!
Edited by WhupNRide 2015-04-05 10:59 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Regular
Posts: 76
Location: Florida | I had both eyes done at the same time about ten years ago and it was well worth the investment. The recovery time is minimal and I was able to notice a a difference immediately. My doctor did give me medication to take following the surgery that did knock me out for awhile but there wasn't any pain involved. I didn't have any problems afterwards but I will say eye drops became my best friend for awhile. :-) If you decide to do it, I don't think you will be disappointed. |
|
| |
|
 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | See.....I don't mind my glasses. Putting in contacts is part of my routine. I have no desire to get LASIK. But I'm also afraid of change. But I've never heard of anyone regretting their decision...... |
|
| |
|
Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| BEST.MONEY.I.EVER.SPENT!!!! - I had it about 15-20 years ago, I still have perfect vision. They do both eyes at once, (I don't think there's an option). I went home and slept, went back the next day for a check up and was good to go. I would recommend it 100x over. I HATED my glasses and could no longer wear contacts due to my dry eyes. |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| hammer_time - 2015-04-05 11:09 PM
See.....I don't mind my glasses. Putting in contacts is part of my routine. I have no desire to get LASIK. But I'm also afraid of change. But I've never heard of anyone regretting their decision......
I'm with you - putting on glasses or contacts in the morning is no biggie to me and I only get 1 set of eyes, no desire to put them under the knife.
Also, I worked with a guy who'd had it done and after a few years of working in front of a computer, his eyes were going bad again. My ex's mom had also had it done and almost couldn't stand to drive at night, she saw shadows and things off to the sides of the road that drove her batty, said she never had that problem prior to lasik. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Both eyes done at the same time. Probably over ten years ago. Best thing I ever done (except for going barefoot on my horses).  Now if they only had a surgery that corrected having to have reading glasses. |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I had my LASIK surgery done in 2007 when I was 21. LOVE IT!
And that was well before I become an optometrist.  While complications aren't impossible and are pretty low in frequency, they can happen. Most of the time, they are going to do both eyes at the same time. You also should plan your LASIK to be a time of year when you can avoid dust, dirt, etc and be in a clean environment for at least the first week while you are healing. The flap is most likely to "come undone" in that first week if you absent mindedly rub your eye(s). The flap could possibly come loose up to 1 year after the surgery but that become less likely the more time goes on. If you are a person who likes to rub your eyes, well pretty much forget doing that for 1 year.
Overally, the recovery time is fairly quick. Most people are able to see 20/20 the very next day. I wouldn't expect you to have any lapse with your college classes. Again, of course, things can happen, but the vast majority of people are just fine.
Unless.... you end up having PRK which is an alternate to LASIK. PRK will have a longer recovery time (up to one month for your cornea to heal) and the first week your vision is usually pretty blurry. But end result is the same as with LASIK; just a longer recovery time.
Make sure you have a conversation with your eye doctor, as they can best tell if you are a good candidate for the surgery or not.
|
|
| |
|
Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Thanks every one for the replies! It looks like I will have to stay away from dirt and dust for awhile afterwards, that of course will be hard, but from what everyone has said so far I am starting to look forward to seeing better again! Thanks! |
|
| |
|
  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | I have not had it done. I know 3 people that have had it done and they all have night blindness now. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 203
Location: kansas | I had mine done a year ago, it was the best decision I ever made. I had the surgery Wednesday, I took off Thursday just because I could, not because I needed to, and then was back at work Friday. The only 'issue" I had per se was I was light sensisitive for a little while, but after a couple months I was back to nomal and it really wasn't ever a huge deal.
|
|
| |
|
| sorrel horse ranch - 2015-04-06 8:35 AM
I have not had it done. I know 3 people that have had it done and they all have night blindness now.
With the procedure i had done (visian ICL not Lasik), I see halos around lights now at night. Im extra sensitive to light - i can't handle really bright days without sunglasses. The halos are because of the way the implanted lens affects the way I interpret light. But, it's completely manageable and I don't get bothered by it! Still way better than having god awful vision lol! |
|
| |
|
Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| sorrel horse ranch - 2015-04-06 7:35 AM I have not had it done. I know 3 people that have had it done and they all have night blindness now.
 |
|
| |
|
 All American Mom
Posts: 485
Location: used to be the country....to many city folks! | Best decision ever! I would also say each person is different in the recovery process. I guess depends on how bad your eyes are. Mine were bad so recovery was longer for me. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | My mom and uncle had it done in the late 90s and have had no issues - they had terrible vision before Lasik. My brother had it done 2 years ago and despite slightly bloodshot eyes afterwards he had no issues. He can see great now.
I am dying to have it done! But I've heard that your vision can change when you're pregnant and I haven't had kids yet (and don't plan on it for a few more years) so I'm worried if I have it done now I'll have to pay to have it touched up again later. Does anyone have experience with this? |
|
| |
Folks on-line