Just got Lasik, ask anything you'd like

[gojays]

Before getting the surgery I had tons of questions. I'd be glad to help anyone here who has any. Ask away.
some basics first...
I did it through the Yonge Eglington laser clinic. www.yelc.com

The doctor was Dr. Rootman. Look him up, he's considered one of worlds best.

I actually only paid $1000 because I volunteered to be part of a study for them. I know, what am I thinking? The fact that Rootman was the surgeon is what convinced me. Regular price would have been $6000. Don't fall for the $499/eye deals. It doesn't include follow up visits or the lifetime guarantee. These things will always need touching up years from now. You really need to take the guarantee in which they cover the cost of all future surgeries.


Pain? A little bit. The hardest part is when they cut the flap. It feels like a thumb being pushed into your eye. It lasts 30 seconds and then is done. The actual laser doesn't hurt. Can't even feel it. Some burning afterwards, but you use the drops they give you and some tylenol it's fine.

Sorry, I should mention one thing about the cost. While it did cost me $1000 upfront, because it's part of the study, they will pay me for my followup visits. I have to go back 6 times over the course of the year. They will pay me $900 for this. So really it cost me $100. Plus my company insurance is kicking in $300, so I'm really making $200.

 

[spacyfoil]

I wear contacts (near sighted, can't see things at distance well.)

Since a year or so I have trouble reading, unless I take my contacts off. Without contacts I can read well.

My question is, once they laser your eyes, now you have lens fit to see far, how well can you read?

 

[VikkiBlue]

Both my parents had it done and my mom was blind as a bat only able to wear hard contacts....now her farsight is incredible...nearsighted she still needs those pharmacy magnifying glasses.

 

[Anynym]

How do you avoid rubbing your eye and tearing the flap off?

 

[Twister]

I heard you have to wear glasses at night for driving or you see halos at night true?

 

[Brookstone]

I had laser eye surgery 5 yrs ago and still excellent both far and near - I'd def recommend but have heard some horror stories

Same here, best thing ever! Though I paid a LOT more back then compared to now.

 

[Brookstone]

How do you avoid rubbing your eye and tearing the flap off?

LOTS of eyedrops. But it is does not irritate you much that would make you want to do that. Not like an itch

 

[alan9080]

Are you over 40?

I was told that its not worth it if you are over the age of 40

 

[Brookstone]

I heard you have to wear glasses at night for driving or you see halos at night true?

Not true. Keep in mind that every individual is different. Not everyone will have the same result. Some are worst than others and some heal faster than others.
Depending on how bad your eyes are, not everyone can be fixed to be 20/20. As for halos, some might get them, some might not, but that will eventually go away. My regular eye doctor actually got the surgery after I did and her halos went away soon after. Whilt it took me a while for the halo to slowly get smaller

 

[Never Compromised]

I can't have the surgery, my pupils are too large.

My brother had the surgery and was very very happy, until he started to develop cataracts 3 months later, which is a known possible side effect. So, he had to have cataract surgery, which totally fucked the point of having the laser treatment.

I know some people that are thrilled with their results, but I also know one guy that has a difficult time driving at night now because of the halo effect.

Works great for most people. But it really really sucks if you are in the minority.

 

[simcity]

All I can say is do your homework. I've had it done, but during the procedure there was a malfunction. After the fact I learned that these accidents do happen more often than you may think.

I can't say who the doctor was because of my settlement but I can say that they paid me to remain silent. Look up the problems that can occur and buyer beware. If I knew what I've learned since then I would have never done it

 

[mochatsubo]

Can you talk about how your eyesight is affected now? Are just inconvenienced or disabled?

M

All I can say is do your homework. I've had it done, but during the procedure there was a malfunction. After the fact I learned that these accidents do happen more often than you may think.

I can't say who the doctor was because of my settlement but I can say that they paid me to remain silent. Look up the problems that can occur and buyer beware. If I knew what I've learned since then I would have never done it

 

[gojays]

I wear contacts (near sighted, can't see things at distance well.)

Since a year or so I have trouble reading, unless I take my contacts off. Without contacts I can read well.

My question is, once they laser your eyes, now you have lens fit to see far, how well can you read?

I can read fine. They did tell me that if I needed reading glasses before the surgery, I would still need reading glasses afterwards.

 

[gojays]

How do you avoid rubbing your eye and tearing the flap off?

They give you goggles that strap around your head.

 

[gojays]

I heard you have to wear glasses at night for driving or you see halos at night true?

I don't have to wear glasses at night, but it is a side effect for some people. I saw halo's in the first few nights, but it's gotten much better

 

[gojays]

Are you over 40?

I was told that its not worth it if you are over the age of 40

I'm just under 40. We talked about the age thing and the issue is reading. They said that at age 40 I'll probably need reading glasses. But it's fixed my near sightedness.

 

[diehard]

Before getting the surgery I had tons of questions. I'd be glad to help anyone here who has any. Ask away.
some basics first...

What was the problem of your eyes that required surgery?

 

[El Mariachi]

I would never recommend this type of surgery for two reasons.

1. You are dealing with your eyes. If they work fine, why bother them? If something goes wrong, during surgery, no matter what you do or how much you get compensated for (if you do that is), it wont still be worth as your sight.

2. Its still too far early to know the long term side effects of such things. Years from now, say 5 - 10 - 15 years, no one knows what the long term side effects could be.

Therefore, its really not worth messing with your life unnecessarily. Most doctors who are in that business would suggest you do it only for the money. IF they dont tell you to do it, how are they going to make money to eat and live their luxury lives ? Ask a relative DR or someone who cares for you for their honest opinion. A few of my DR friends have said its ok , but when asked if its ok why dont they do it for themselves, and they said , they are not willing to take the risk.

 

[wonkyknee]

Someone who has disability insurance might find that if the surgery somehow goes bad you won't be covered for an elective surgery like this. I'm not sure how often it ever goes that bad, so it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Cobster]

I was a NERVOUS WRECK when I went 3 years ago to Herzig, I bailed on the first appointment to go in, totally chickened out.
A buddy of mine did his a year before that at Herzig and was very pleased and it took some more convincing on his part.
I then re-scheduled and went through with it and so glad.

It's a pretty scary procedure to be honest, but lots of eye drops and rest helped heal it.
There are some terrifying stories of course and when you're signing the waiver and reading what it says, it really makes you re-think about doing it. lol

All in all, glad I did it.
No more contacts or glasses.

It's a very tough decision to make and understandably so, but, the procedure has changed over the years.
Before they were slicing the flap on your cornea with a knife, now it's a laser (obviously).