Lasik Eye Doctors

[CHA-LEE]

I did a ton of research before getting LASIK done and listed below some info that helped me make a well informed decision.....

(1) They give you a choice of doing the cornea "Cut" via a blade or a laser. Go with the laser as the pocket it makes during the cutting process makes the flap return to the same spot easier and less likely to come back up or dislodged when hit.

(2) They really do not tell you this up front, but the "Flap" that they cut on the front of your cornea never fully heals/knits to the cornea again. You will forever have a "loose flap" on the front of your cornea. If you have to get a touch up LASIK job done, they simply pull the existing flap back and zap you again. If you are into rubbing your eyes or regularly get poked or bumped in the eye you can dislodge the flap. The good news is that the flap getting dislodged is pretty rare and even more rare if you have the laser cut the flap.

(3) The LASIK process basically removes cornea material to flatten the cornea in order to change the depth of the natural image focal point against your retina. Since they are taking material away from your cornea to change your focal point, this means that your eye muscles have to bend the cornea to a further degree to refocus on close and far items. This will usually show up as a delay in focusing from far to near or near to far. Depending on your age, your eye muscles may not be able to bend the cornea far enough to refocus on up close items, such as reading. This is why so many LASIK patients need to get "Cheater" Reading glasses as they get older.

(4) Since they have to cut a flap in the front of your cornea this severs most of the nerves on the flap its self. Since your body can't "feel" the dryness of the flap area this usually leads to dry eye syndrome. If you have any amount of regular dry eye syndrome before getting LASIK done, you will be absolutely fucked after you get LASIK done. Dry eye syndrome is the number one complaint post LASIK and it should be the number one "Go/No Go" test done by the doctor. There is no way to "Fix" dry eye syndrome other than continually putting artificial tears eye drops in your eyes. There are many LASIK horror stories out there where someone who had dry eye syndrome before getting LASIK done had a crack pot Dr still do LASIK on them and then they are basically stuck with putting artificial tears in their eyes all day long for the rest of their life.

(5) Your default "relaxed eye" focus will be at distance. This means that you will normally have to refocus to see closer items. When I wore glasses my default "relaxed eye" focus was at about hands length away from my face, so I usually had to refocus to see far away. After getting LASIK done I basically had to relearn how to focus on things because the procedure flip flopped my default "relaxed eye" focus.

(6) Your low light and night vision WILL be diminished. I noticed a significant decrease in low light and night vision ability post LASIK. I use to be able to wear sunglasses indoors and still see fairly well. Now I can't even think about wearing sunglasses indoors because it is way too dark. With the latest LASIK laser technologies you really don't have to worry about star burst or halo's around lights issues unlike the older laser technologies.

(7) The Dr will give you a medicine eye drop regiment to follow after the procedure. Follow the procedure without fail. One of the medicine drops will sting and give you cloudy vision, this is normal. Resist the urge to stop taking this medicine eye drop so you can see clearly. Doing so will dramatically delay the healing process of the cornea and flap.

(8) It will take you YEARS to break the habit of subconsciously pushing up or adjusting your glasses, which you are no longer wearing. It has been 5 years since I got LASIK done and I still catch myself doing these crazy habits when I get tired.

[roberth]

Thank you CHA-LEE - most informative.

[CHA-LEE]

I also want to point out, that even though I posted a long list of "Watch out for this" things, I am still 100% happy with getting LASIK done. My vision settled into 20/15 in both eyes in about a month after the procedure and is still that good 5 years later. It took about a year for me to retrain/rebuild my fast refocus (Far/Near or Near/Far) skills but that seems to be getting better and better as time go on. I don't have any issues with focusing up close but I am still a couple years away from the magical "It happens when you turn 40...". We will see what happens in a couple of years.

[rbeau30]

WHATEVER YOU DO! Do not! DO NOT! search for "Lasik gone wrong" on you tube!

("The Video that LASIK Coctors Don't want you to see.")

[buffalobo]

Doubt I am ever gonna go see a coctor. Sounds scary.

[Hound]

I have had it. Real happy. Don't go cheap and if they don't do multiple scans over at least weeks, don't use them. They will 'cut' based on the scans of your eyes. More data points over time lead to better results. If they only do one scan that is only one data point........... Not good.

[T-Giv]

I'm using Buckley Vision Institute down here. Have my consultation next week and surgery next week as well. I have only heard good things about them and they have been in the biz a while. Hopefully I am a good candidate!

[cofi]

Does having them done at altitude affect how they act at lower altitudes???

[Teufelhund]

Had mine done at Spivak a little over a year ago. Great experience overall, and I came out with 20/20 in my left eye and 20/15 in my shooting eye. It was not the cheapest, but who really wants bargain eye surgery?

I opted into my employer's FSA to pay for part of it, since it comes out pre-tax.

Sent from my Surface 2 using Tapatalk

[Sharpienads]

Does having them done at altitude affect how they act at lower altitudes???

I had PRK done in TX and then moved here... it's a different process but the altitude hasn't affecting my vision at all.

Just out of curiosity, why are you guys having lasik done instead of PRK?