cadpipe

I am scheduled to have the LASIK eye surgery, because I am tired of seeing multiple targets where there is only one. Wondering if anyone else has had it and if the results were good? Still have 2 weeks to change my mind if anyone wants to talk me out of it. I friend had it done and says it is great, so i am using his doctors, hope mine turns out as well!

Stan187

I had PRK done, which is quite different, but the end result is supposed to be the same. Keeping that in mind, as long you get a good surgeon, highly recommended. One day you'll stop and think for a moment, realize that squinting is no longer something you do for half of the day, and you'll understand just how good a decision you've made.

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jame$thegreat

I personally have perfect vision. That being said I have less than perfect vision than get laser eye surgery. I watched some discovery channel show that detailed the procedure and it is gut-wrenching. I dont mean to talk you out of it but I would never want someone to do anything to my eyes even resembling the surgery procedures. Read up on the procedure, maybe watch a video about it to see if you have the sotmache for it.

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cadpipe

The Lasik place has 3 different procedures and they tell you about all of them before you do much of anything else, then they make you watch a film about it. It is the eyes so it is not to be taken lightly, but eveybody I know that has had it done, has had it turn out great. I opted for the method that the military approved for pilots, or people that want to be pilots, also the more expensive, but I cannot see going cheap on your eyes. They also use the tracking laser so if you do move your eye, no harm, no foul. After the back surgery, I have the stomach for a lot of things, If I can get back in some semblance of shape, I even want to make some more jumps.

Stan187

The one that is most often approved for military personnel is in fact PRK, which is allowed in every position with a waiver. But I know what you're talking about, the bladeless lasik with ladarvision.

bonehead

I had the lasik done a few years ago. Keep in mind a few things:

1) the difference between an "expensive" procedure and a discount one is not enough to risk your vision on. Therefore look at the actual procedure/tools used and the doctors skills/success ratio rather than the bill. I researched for months before making a short list of doctors.

2) Most of the problems happen when cutting the flap. The newer laser machines cut the flap perfect every time while the older mechanical cutters were not so good. Sometimes the flap was too thin/thick or even completely severed.

3) Make sure people are not getting post operative infections from the office you may get your eyes done.

4) Follow the post op instructions and make sure you totally understand them before you leave. Some less than desirable lasik results are the patients fault, not the doctors.

5) although the procedure may be uncomfortable for a second here or there, you should not feel any real pain.

6) Do not be shy with the eye drops. You can not use them too often in the first week or so. Letting your eyes get too dry while healing is a bad idea. Stock up on the eye drops and have them everywhere so no matter where you will be, there will be a supply within reach.

My vision before surgery was awful. I was told up front that due to my astigmatism the chances of 20-20 the first time were slim. After the procedure, I got to 20-(25-30) range. A year later I went back in and walked out with 20-15 vision. I never regretted having lasik. I wish you good luck with yours. The odds are that you will be very happy with the results.

jame$thegreat

Call me a sissy Mary but that's where I had the problem. The hand surgery I had last summer seemed peachy in comparison to having the surface of one's eye sliced.

cadpipe

Actually, PRK was the old technology, the new way is Blade Free All Laser LASIK. Intralase FS Laser provides a less invasive computer controlled approach. High tech, not quite 6,000,000 dollar man high tech, but a cut above PRK! Comes with safe guards like tracking system so if you blink or move your eye, it stops and waits till the eye is back in place and starts again, or so they say, the time for each eye is supposed to be 20 seconds.

Stan187

PRK is a general name just like Lasik. PRK is not a technology, but a method. PRK can be done with old technology, or with new technology. Lasik is exactly the same way. You can get custom PRK with the same ladarvision eye tracking system, just like you can get "discount PRK" and discount Lasik. I know, the ladarvision custom PRK is what I had done. My doctor, who I spent a long time researching btw, told me that there was no statistical difference in end results as far as vision is concerned between the highest tier of PRK that I got and between the highest tier of Lasik (the ladar and bladeless kind). There are, for all intents and purposes, only two differences. The first is healing time, which is much shorter with Lasik. The second is strength of the area after the healing process, which is much better with PRK because it regrows the top layer by itself and did not cut as deep as Lasik. This is exactly why it is approved in all military positions. It all depends on lifestyle. If you don't intend to dive, parachute or box and do martial arts, Lasik is probably easier to deal with. If you want to be on safe side because you do those types of things often, you do PRK. That is the conclusion that I came to after consulations with my doc, a few independent consultations with other docs, personal research, and lifestyle considerations. Either way, YMMV, and either way, you'll be much better off than now.

cadpipe

I stand corrected!

Stan187

No problem. Keep us updated on how it works out for you, I'm sure you will be very pleased.

BudW

What about your ability to read text after the lasik, I understand that is degraded some is this true?

cadpipe

They said I will need reading glasses for book type print. I was more concerned with being able to put on a Scott air pack in an emergency and still be able to see most stuff clearly. It will be better riding roller coasters now too, not to mention see targets more clearly, we hope!

Aniki

get a reputable doc. and remember the operation isnt everything, u got to be careful in the recovering process too.

a female friend of mine took a lasik operation like 2yrs back. operation went okay but her left eye suffered some infection during recovery, and had to go thru some extra procedures to fix it.

cadpipe

They LASIKed me at 9:00 this morning, everything went well, the worst part is where they use a handheld device to smooth out the eye flap. The second worse part was the insertion of the devices to hold the eye open. But all in all not terrible, still blurry eyed but I can see the difference at distance already, cool! Can't wait to get to the range, but that's probably 2 weeks away, Probably have to take some time off from work to get my drivers liscence changed too. Then another ugly picture!