Nitromater
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Anybody here had Lasik?
- Thread starter none
- Start date
Kelly
Nitro Member
I had it 9 years ago Alan. I was 20/600 which was legally blind. Due to my allergies I couldn't wear contacts, so it was glasses and prescription sunglasses for me from the age of 25 or so. Before then.....I just drove around blind as a bat! LOL
It's been 20/15 ever since. I had ZERO problems other than the predicted. They were dry for about 2 weeks, but I just used drops religiously. Also, I had halos around headlights at night for about 1 month. 2 days after I had it I went to the Astros playoff game and spent more time testing my far vision than watching the game! I was reading billboards outside Minute Maid Park's open roof.....then Enron Field.
I wish they could have done it for the 'old eye' syndrome that I've developed for small print. At the time they couldn't, but I understand now they can. I just use my $9 cheaters from Walmart.
It's been 20/15 ever since. I had ZERO problems other than the predicted. They were dry for about 2 weeks, but I just used drops religiously. Also, I had halos around headlights at night for about 1 month. 2 days after I had it I went to the Astros playoff game and spent more time testing my far vision than watching the game! I was reading billboards outside Minute Maid Park's open roof.....then Enron Field.
I wish they could have done it for the 'old eye' syndrome that I've developed for small print. At the time they couldn't, but I understand now they can. I just use my $9 cheaters from Walmart.
Last edited by a moderator:
I had it done last April. Very happy with results. My vision was somewhere around 20/200 before, 20/20 after. Still need reading glasses, but that doesn't bother me. I did not go for the deal where one eye is set for distance and the other for reading because the doctor told me that I would loose depth perception. Not a good thing on a motorcycle.
kingcobrafan
Nitro Member
Alan, I'm pretty sure Mike Dunn had it done a while back. Maybe talk to him?
The Swegian
Nitro Member
I had it done in September '03. Like Kelly, I was horribly challenged visually. 20/400 but I was able to wear contacts, which I did for 23 years. Now, I'm 20/15 in the right and 20/25 in the left. Had the eyes checked last spring and was still the same. Unfortunately, I've now had to resort to reading help so I went and bought about 5 pairs at Dollar General. Bottom line is I feel it was one of the best things I ever spent that kinda money on.
Jim
Nitro Member
My wife had it done a few years ago (age late 50's) - Best thing she ever did. (Certainly, the best money I ever spent!)
My wife hated her glasses (worn since age 10) and loves to read. The monovision (if I'm remembering the term correctly) adjusts for the long range and close up each eye and -darn-it - it WORKS!
PS: I've probably saved enough money in regular and sun glasses to pay for the surgery.
PPS: No surgical or post surgical compalints at all. YMMV
My wife hated her glasses (worn since age 10) and loves to read. The monovision (if I'm remembering the term correctly) adjusts for the long range and close up each eye and -darn-it - it WORKS!
PS: I've probably saved enough money in regular and sun glasses to pay for the surgery.
PPS: No surgical or post surgical compalints at all. YMMV
julianshog
Nitro Member
My wife and I both had it done about 4 years ago. We both agree that it was money well spent. The only bad side affect for me was my sensitivity to the nitro fumes increased. I use a scented top end lube in my fuel to help keep my eyes from watering so bad if I get a dose of it in my helmet.
Randy
Nitro Member
Alan:
I had it done in 1998 by the doctor Leigh Anne and Shelly Anderson recommended. I think he's still in jail for Medicare fraud but that's another long winded story. He lost his medical license.
My prescription was beyond a -6 (minus 6). In terms of vision, 20:400 means you see in 20 feet what most people see in 400 feet. I had no vision beyond the end of my nose so the 20:20 whatever you call it didn't apply.
Lasik in the late '90's compared to today's technology is like comparing standard TV to HD. The results today are incredible, but you need to find a good doc, not a chop shop kicking out 40 an hour. They use a digitized computer scan of the eye kinda like a relief map, imput the information into the Lasik compter and the lazer cuts your eye to reshape the cornia to obtain perfect vision.
As you know I almost lost my left eye in the pits while warming up our car in Tucson in 2007. Even though my eye was impacted by a rock that exploded my sunglasses it did not knock the cornial flap loose. The cornia is cut and folded open during Lasik and never fully reattaches itself. It was explained to me that it sticks to the eye once back in place like velcro, but never grows back together. By all accounts it should have been blown away but it wasn't, so that's good. They will tell you that immediately after surgery and during the recovery period you need to be careful about rubbing your eyes because you could rip the cornial flap off.
12 years later at 54.5 years of age (aaugh!) I heve excellent vision but I'm about 2 years into reading glasses for only the smallest print in low light or if I'm trying to look at something very small. Normal reading in normal light I don't need reading glasses.
I considered mono vision but decided against it for two reasons. 1). The thought of having one eye out of focus for distance and the other out of focus for reading gave me a headache (my mom did it and later had it undone when she had catarac surgery). 2). Even with mono vision you are likely to still need reading glasses eventually anyway so why go around looking like Marty Feldman.
Call me if you want any more info. They had to do two surguries on me due to the extent of my myopia. When all was said and done the biggest thing for me was being able to see the faucet handles in the shower and not having my glasses fog up when I drove my TA/FC (and when snow skiing). 12 years later I'm still reaching for my nose to push my glasses up. Duh.
Also, the little pill they give you before the surgery really makes you relax. So much so, you feel like you wouldn't care if someone walked up and scratched your new car.
RG
I had it done in 1998 by the doctor Leigh Anne and Shelly Anderson recommended. I think he's still in jail for Medicare fraud but that's another long winded story. He lost his medical license.
My prescription was beyond a -6 (minus 6). In terms of vision, 20:400 means you see in 20 feet what most people see in 400 feet. I had no vision beyond the end of my nose so the 20:20 whatever you call it didn't apply.
Lasik in the late '90's compared to today's technology is like comparing standard TV to HD. The results today are incredible, but you need to find a good doc, not a chop shop kicking out 40 an hour. They use a digitized computer scan of the eye kinda like a relief map, imput the information into the Lasik compter and the lazer cuts your eye to reshape the cornia to obtain perfect vision.
As you know I almost lost my left eye in the pits while warming up our car in Tucson in 2007. Even though my eye was impacted by a rock that exploded my sunglasses it did not knock the cornial flap loose. The cornia is cut and folded open during Lasik and never fully reattaches itself. It was explained to me that it sticks to the eye once back in place like velcro, but never grows back together. By all accounts it should have been blown away but it wasn't, so that's good. They will tell you that immediately after surgery and during the recovery period you need to be careful about rubbing your eyes because you could rip the cornial flap off.
12 years later at 54.5 years of age (aaugh!) I heve excellent vision but I'm about 2 years into reading glasses for only the smallest print in low light or if I'm trying to look at something very small. Normal reading in normal light I don't need reading glasses.
I considered mono vision but decided against it for two reasons. 1). The thought of having one eye out of focus for distance and the other out of focus for reading gave me a headache (my mom did it and later had it undone when she had catarac surgery). 2). Even with mono vision you are likely to still need reading glasses eventually anyway so why go around looking like Marty Feldman.
Call me if you want any more info. They had to do two surguries on me due to the extent of my myopia. When all was said and done the biggest thing for me was being able to see the faucet handles in the shower and not having my glasses fog up when I drove my TA/FC (and when snow skiing). 12 years later I'm still reaching for my nose to push my glasses up. Duh.
Also, the little pill they give you before the surgery really makes you relax. So much so, you feel like you wouldn't care if someone walked up and scratched your new car.
RG
Last edited:
DO IT! Had mine done 8 years ago worth every minute and penny. I sent the Ex in on a test monkey case and it turned ok so I went and did it.
Now that said a few things to consider:
Things are much faster and easier now.
Try the mono knowing you may need to get the stupid eye re-done you can only go one way that being to correct to mono then to both the same.
(Men only part here)
Mono works 90+% for women and much less for men like 30% or less. (My theory is brain size and functioning qualities) But it is a fact women only need to see out of one eye due to the ones in the back of their head or something scientific.
Go to the best Doctor you can find. Quality not Quantity.
If you cannot take drops or leave your eyes alone for 4 weeks, stick with plastic add on eyes. No touching to rubbing or itching or... Very important to keep clean, dropped, and no fingers in there.
If you can't follow explicit instructions do not do it.
I would do it over and over again. In fact I did. Was in 3 times. 1st was the mono deal, 2nd was to fix the 'tarded' eye from mono, 3d was to fix the first eye as the no longer 'tarded' one that got fix was better than the strong one so I ended up 20/10 and 20/15.
You'll be fine hell you survived Hofmann's for a few weeks. "You can do it"
Go in on a Thursday morning and you'll be ready to pretty much where ever by Monday.
Now that said a few things to consider:
Things are much faster and easier now.
Try the mono knowing you may need to get the stupid eye re-done you can only go one way that being to correct to mono then to both the same.
(Men only part here)
Mono works 90+% for women and much less for men like 30% or less. (My theory is brain size and functioning qualities) But it is a fact women only need to see out of one eye due to the ones in the back of their head or something scientific.
Go to the best Doctor you can find. Quality not Quantity.
If you cannot take drops or leave your eyes alone for 4 weeks, stick with plastic add on eyes. No touching to rubbing or itching or... Very important to keep clean, dropped, and no fingers in there.
If you can't follow explicit instructions do not do it.
I would do it over and over again. In fact I did. Was in 3 times. 1st was the mono deal, 2nd was to fix the 'tarded' eye from mono, 3d was to fix the first eye as the no longer 'tarded' one that got fix was better than the strong one so I ended up 20/10 and 20/15.
You'll be fine hell you survived Hofmann's for a few weeks. "You can do it"
Go in on a Thursday morning and you'll be ready to pretty much where ever by Monday.
murdock
Nitro Member
Randy's story is just about exactly like mine. I was -7, never really figured out what that meant except I had about a 4 inch range of vision. Had it done in Dec. 1999 and it was the best 30 minutes I could spend. 35 seconds on each eye and it was over. I was reading signs across the parking lot when I left the clinic. At 52+ years I now need reading glasses in less than perfect light, but that is an age thing that would have happened anyway. They gave me plastic eye protectors (think swimming goggles with holes in them) to wear at night to keep me from rubbing my eyes in my sleep. Wear them! You will have to use eyedrops for several weeks/months, I got so good with the bottles that I could hit both eyes waiting at a stoplight. They will probably give you some extensive testing to see if you are a candidate, if you pass, go for it.
Randy
Nitro Member
Now that's here Alan may run into trouble. Last time he went in for a physical the doc told him it was time for the urine test. Alan was outraged because he was never told about the test. He insisted that if he flunked it, it would be because he didn't have a chance to study for it.
By the way, at -6 (minus 6) I could focus perfectly on my wrist watch with it pressed against my nose, but at 12 inches out I couldn't even tell who's arm it was on. Before the surgery I had special grind glasses to keep them from looking like Hubble telescope lenses.
RG
Alan
My wife had it about 10 years ago in PHX at Barnett Delaney. She had no long lasting problems. Halos with headlights for about the first 6 months, needs readers now for low light, but she is 56. I have also had friends use Dr. Schwartz in PHX. He is the eye doc of the Cardinals, D-Backs and Coyotes with excellent results. I believe the technology has advanced to the point where they don't even have to cut the cornea any longer. Find a good doctor, maybe contact the U of A athletic medical staff to see who they use. Good luck in your decision.
My wife had it about 10 years ago in PHX at Barnett Delaney. She had no long lasting problems. Halos with headlights for about the first 6 months, needs readers now for low light, but she is 56. I have also had friends use Dr. Schwartz in PHX. He is the eye doc of the Cardinals, D-Backs and Coyotes with excellent results. I believe the technology has advanced to the point where they don't even have to cut the cornea any longer. Find a good doctor, maybe contact the U of A athletic medical staff to see who they use. Good luck in your decision.
BrettV
Nitro Member
I have been thinking about it for years; now that I am approaching 50 (!) I am getting serious about it. I have severe myopia, -9.5 diopters (I see really well at 3 inches!), but the eye doctor told me at my last checkup that I was still a good candidate. The thing holding me back is that there are times when I like being able to see well really close, like when trying to precisely mark and measure. I assume I am going to lose that, right? I guess that’s what magnifying glasses are for.
