I can see again - LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

[JonathanVP]

I had LASIK done like 7-8 years ago and it was the best thing that I have ever done!!! I had 20-500 vision (VERY BAD) and now I have 20-20 vision!!

[SkyyPunk Veteran]

For those that say this is cheap to run the machine and it's a rip off....

Yes, the press of a button and the power taken while running the machine is cheap

BUT...the development of the machine, testing, hardware, and software all add to the cost of the office to buy the machine which then has little human influence to have less chance of something going wrong while the operation is performed.

I am aiming for 2011 being the year I get this done :D

[AbandonedTrolley]

For those that say this is cheap to run the machine and it's a rip off....

Yes, the press of a button and the power taken while running the machine is cheap

BUT...the development of the machine, testing, hardware, and software all add to the cost of the office to buy the machine which then has little human influence to have less chance of something going wrong while the operation is performed.

I am aiming for 2011 being the year I get this done :D

Exactly, you aren't paying just for the procedure, you're paying for the research that went into it. In the same way that the standard procedure used to cost ?'000s but is now cheaper as they have clearly made back research/design costs and can offer at a cheaper rate.

Good luck with getting it done, I very much doubt you will regret it :)

When they did it could you smell your eyes burning? :shiftyninja:

There was a burning smell :p

[dead.cell]

Well, friend of mine who visits these boards as well had it done for what was estimated to be no more than $400 or $450 per eye, USD.

Apparently, Mexico is cool like that. His results were immediate and seem to have worked out better than a few other friends of mine who've had it done in the U.S. even. Just a thought for those who are looking at those $1,000+ per eye. :p

[Sethos]

For those that say this is cheap to run the machine and it's a rip off....

Yes, the press of a button and the power taken while running the machine is cheap

BUT...the development of the machine, testing, hardware, and software all add to the cost of the office to buy the machine which then has little human influence to have less chance of something going wrong while the operation is performed.

I am aiming for 2011 being the year I get this done :D

Yeah and at that price I have a feeling they will make up for the price of the machine, salary, the entire place its located in and everybody's lunch for a year within a few years because every man and his dog seem to be getting this surgery. I still believe it's taking huge advantage of people because this surgery can really change people's lives so of course they are willing to pay but I still think it's a bit too steep.

So honestly, I just see you and others making excuses on behalf of the companies - Not to mention, the medical industry, hospitals and the like aren't actually known for

being cheap or fair.

[AbandonedTrolley]

Yeah and at that price I have a feeling they will make up for the price of the machine, salary, the entire place its located in and everybody's lunch for a year within a few years because every man and his dog seem to be getting this surgery. I still believe it's taking huge advantage of people because this surgery can really change people's lives so of course they are willing to pay but I still think it's a bit too steep.

So honestly, I just see you and others making excuses on behalf of the companies - Not to mention, the medical industry, hospitals and the like aren't actually known for

being cheap or fair.

I'm a great believer in that life changing procedures/medication should be a lot cheaper in this world. Sadly as places like Optical Express are businesses, I guess the Government has no say over what they can and can't charge for the work done and we just have to suck it up.

[yakumo]

Congrats on the eye surgery. Mine has paid off big for me. I'm very happy after having lasik surgery . There are some limitations, but overall I have better than normal vision.

Where do you get your statistics on this? I've never heard of such such a thing. I know the military does LASEK (silmilar to PRK) as opposed to LASIK, Where the skin in front of the lens is removed completely. That I can understand somewhat with eye length. But the contact sport part seems to be BS. Many military professionals get this surgery and never have a problem. I advise people to get LASIK as it has faster healing time than LASEK.

No 'statistics' simply comments from my optometrist, and it's easily found with a few minutes simple web searching

LASIK

"Those with thinner corneas may suffer less than ideal results, flap may dislodge with trauma, increases higher order aberrations (HOA)**, uneven flap edges may lead to astigmatism, flap may result in scars, post-operational treatment is needed in approximately 5% of patients."

LASEK

"More discomfort than LASIK, takes longer to heal than LASIK, many diseases, medications, and conditions are contraindications, trauma, such as being hit in the eye may cause flap to dislodge, as a fairly new technique, long-term outcomes are not well established, increases HOA, blade can create uneven flap edges leading to astigmatism"

http://www.the-lasik-directory.com/lasik_lasek_chart.html

The RAF still has enough concerns that does not accept laser eye patients for airborne roles still.

[DigitalE]

I like my glasses :)

[kjx]

I'm a great believer in that life changing procedures/medication should be a lot cheaper in this world. Sadly as places like Optical Express are businesses, I guess the Government has no say over what they can and can't charge for the work done and we just have to suck it up.

The machine used to perform LASIK costs around a million US. In some small way this contributes to the cost of the treatment as a good hospital will want to keep changing their machine as the technology gets better. It would be nice though if the cost of the treatment could be subsidised for people who could really use it.

The RAF still has enough concerns that does not accept laser eye patients for airborne roles still.

It has to do with concerns that people who have had vision correction done (especially from higher powers) have flawed depth perception.

[Travelar]

Congrats! I had LASIK a couple of years ago and it's still the best money I've spent. Welcome to a new world. :)

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Awesome news, good to hear :happy:

I'd always worry about anything going near my eyes, but luckily I don't have a need for glasses.... yet.... *ponders amount of hours the monitor burns my retinas playing WoW*

[Smigit]

My best friend got it done last year at age 25. Reckons its the best money she's ever spent (along with her motorbike). Glad it went well, I remember she was a bit uptight about the whole thing, did my best to help and get her food ect given we share an apartment :)

[Sjokkel]

I had mine done about 2 years ago. Best investment i have ever done. My wife is still messing about with her contact lenses... poor girl :)

[Stokkolm]

Congrats on the eye surgery. Mine has paid off big for me. I'm very happy after having lasik surgery . There are some limitations, but overall I have better than normal vision.

Where do you get your statistics on this? I've never heard of such such a thing. I know the military does LASEK (silmilar to PRK) as opposed to LASIK, Where the skin in front of the lens is removed completely. That I can understand somewhat with eye length. But the contact sport part seems to be BS. Many military professionals get this surgery and never have a problem. I advise people to get LASIK as it has faster healing time than LASEK.

The US Military offers LASEK, LASIK, and PRK. It all depends on your eyes and which procedure would benefit you the most. I was recommended for PRK and got it done on Uncle Sam's dime, I have had zero problems and it's now been over four years since I had it done. My vision is still perfect.

Eye surgery doesn't exempt you from anything in the military at all. You can be a fighter pilot if you want to after the surgery and wouldn't be put at any disadvantage.

[*RedBull*]

The US Military offers LASEK, LASIK, and PRK. It all depends on your eyes and which procedure would benefit you the most. I was recommended for PRK and got it done on Uncle Sam's dime, I have had zero problems and it's now been over four years since I had it done. My vision is still perfect.

Eye surgery doesn't exempt you from anything in the military at all. You can be a fighter pilot if you want to after the surgery and wouldn't be put at any disadvantage.

I know the Army prefers Soldiers get PRK over LASIK was my point. That's all.

[christophulus]

Glad to hear it all went well. Did they do both eyes at the same time then?

I've always considered having it done, my eyes are pretty terrible. I used to wear contacts but now they just dry my eyes out so it's back to glasses :(

[fhpuqrgrpgvirzhpujbj]

I expect I'll need to have this done at some point in my life as I stare at screens so much.

[PreKe]

I'd have it done, but I don't like them cutting the flap open. Seen videos of it and it looks gruesome. I'll wait 10 years or so until you put your face up against a machine and it does it all in 30 seconds, without cutting anything.

c-TEN is all-laser. No physical touching of the eye at all. It's pretty new, I think.

I had surgery in 2005. Lost 0.25 in the right eye already. Astigmatism is kicking in too.

How old are you? Had your eyes stabilizied?

I had LASEK back in 2005. I was not a good candidate for LASIK (shape of my eye wasn't good enough for the flap or whatever) and wanted a quicker recovery time then PRK. I now have 20/18 vision and have very little side effects. I guess my only "complaint" would be my eyes are sometimes dry...but that is just grabbing at really nothing. I do not have the nighttime halo effects.

Hey, sounds like a friend. He had the thing where they didn't cut a flap, but just polished off the top area. His vision is nearly perfect, but not quite 20/20, and he tends to get dry eyes some nights. Also, the healing took longer than LASIK. I wonder if this is what a lot of people with the "better than LASIK" method are experiencing.

[HawkMan]

The RAF still has enough concerns that does not accept laser eye patients for airborne roles still.

IntraLasik is actually a treatment that is accepted even for fighter pilots. IntraLasic also cause the flap that is cut to be even thickness all across, while regular surgical lasic has flaps with thinner edges. IntraLasik also heals better and faster and don't thin out the flap so.

[Jimmy0]

I'm a bit late to the party, but I just wanted to congratulate you on your new found vision AT, it must be wonderful for you. :)

[~impuLsive]

I wish I had 3.6k dollars to do this surgery....

I have horrible vision and need to wear contact lenses to drive. They are so costly. I pay $50 for 6 month supply but its more like 3 month supply since contacts always get ripped or lost in some way.

[tiagosilva29]

How old are you? Had your eyes stabilizied?

I'm 24. Prior to the surgery my eyes were stabilized for at least 4 years.

[PreKe]

I'm 24. Prior to the surgery my eyes were stabilized for at least 4 years.

That's odd. If you are more than 20 and your eyes have been stable for a few years, it should definitely not be a problem. Maybe some people get problems anyway.

I wonder if it's possible to redo the surgery in the future at some point. At least if one didn't do LASIK but rather the thing where they don't need to cut a flap.

[fix-this!]

ill keep my glasses as ive worn them all my life anyways. i cannot stand the thought of someone cutting into my eyes. :pinch:

[tmillski]

You guys are hilarious! I had my LASIK done about 2 months ago and was terrified! Its really a lot of worry for nothing. The entire LASIK process takes only about 15 minutes and there's no pain whatsoever, it just feels a little weird when the suction cup sucks onto your eye. Afterward its just a little itchy for a while and you cant touch your eyes. I had mine done at a place called LASIK San Diego in case anyone is wondering.