Author Topic: Lasik Surgery  (Read 12850 times)

civil4life

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Lasik Surgery
« on: October 15, 2017, 09:29:36 AM »
Hi All:

I have been contemplating Lasik vision surgery for a while.  Yesterday I went for a consultation and confirmed I am a good candidate and found out about costs.  I plan to do some shopping around, but the information I have at least gives me a bit of baseline for discussion.  If I do get it done it would not be until next year.  My main reason for getting the details now is that I need to decide by 10/31 about how much I want to put in my FSA.    I have a few questions for the group about some of the options for the surgery.  I wear glasses now only for distance.  I usually wear while driving and watching sports on tv.  My vision is middle of the road.  Not horrible but not great.  It has only been in the last few years that I have really worn my glasses on a more regular basis.  In the past couple years I have discovered online prescription glasses so I do not spend more than maybe $30 for a pair of glasses.

Based on my vision and the options the cost varies between $1800 to $3500 total.

1. Tear duct plugs $400.  To help the healing process they place a plug in the drain of the tear duct so the eye can stay moist.  Anyone have experience with this?  Personally this sound really unnecessary to me.

2. There is a newer technology called Contoura.  As explained to me, regular lasik kind of just fixes your prescription by adjusting the overall thickness of the cornea.  The new technology actually maps the whole cornea and fixes the cornea itself by fixing the abnormalities.  This is a more permanent correction and increases the overall success of the procedure.  This costs $500.  Based on the information from my exam I think this is a good option for me.  I would love to know about other people's experience with this as well.

2. Warranty- 1 year - $1000 / lifetime - $1400.  The main points of the warranty are that if X years down the road my vision gets worse I can have surgery again for $100 copay.  Only condition is that I have to have a dilated vision exam every year for it to stay in effect.  Obviously the one year makes no sense and I would only consider the lifetime.  I am 33 so the likelihood of me needing a revision 10-15 years down the road is likely.  However at $1400 that money could be invested and making money for me for another 10 to 15 years and would cover the cost of a revision.  So I am thinking no on the warranty.

Overall, I have never heard anything bad about Lasik.  Anything I have heard has been overwhelmingly positive.  But for the most part it is a cosmetic procedure.  For me it really is on the borderline of a need vs want.  My vision is not bad enough that it significantly impacts the quality of my life.  However if I waited until/if my eyes got worse the cost could jump up to $5k. Is it really worth the money?

Thanks in advance for thoughts and opinions.

pbkmaine

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Lasik Surgery
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2017, 09:50:19 AM »
My husband had it done 15 years ago and would not do it again. Unless fabulous progress has been made since then, the surgery, no matter how advanced, cannot anticipate the changes in focal distance that come with age. So he still needed reading glasses, and a few years later, he needed prescription glasses again. In addition, it makes cataract surgery a bit more difficult.

iluvzbeach

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2017, 10:32:17 AM »
I had it done 8 years ago and it is well worth the cost, IMO. I’ve since had one eye touched up, at a greatly reduced price, so that one eye is for distance and the other up close. No reading glasses needed.

I had traditional LASIK both times, so can’t speak to the other types of solutions. I haven’t heard of the tear duct thing, but can tell you dry eye is a real risk and I’ve suffered with it a bit on the eye I had touched up.

As far as warranty goes, IMO, that should just be part of the fees you pay and not at additional cost.

StarBright

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2017, 10:43:57 AM »
I had my eyes done separately and did one 5 months ago and the other a month ago.

I had bad vision - but the most annoying thing was that one eye could no longer take a contact and the other eye had a hard time with glasses. I never got to 20/20 with both eyes at the same time. On top of that I used to be a fairly active person and have always had issues with glasses fit, so I had cut back on jogging, yoga, biking, swimming, etc.

I am glad I did it, but definitely do your research. There is plenty that can go wrong and 3% of people wish they had never had the procedure.

I found a lasik surgeon with a ton of experience and paid top dollar. I also accepted upfront that the procedure will make me LESS dependent on glasses but that I will likely need them as I get older.

I can see 20/20 but still have a bit of a prescription in one of my eyes (-.5 with .25 astigmatism). But - I can see my clock in the morning and see my kids' faces across the breakfast table and can jog without glasses sliding down my face.

At my age and situation it was the right choice for me but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.

boarder42

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2017, 10:52:13 AM »
I had it done 10 years ago. My left eye is getting worse and will need to be redone.

Don't do the tear duct thing that's not worth it.

Warranty. Don't do it. 1400 compounded at 10% for 10 years is 3600. I'm sure there will be advances in eye surgery as well as the fact that you could just invest this money and you'll come out ahead.

I have no idea as to your question 2 it wasn't available when I had it done

LASIK is the best thing ever!  I'd pay 10k to have it done.

BlueMR2

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2017, 11:04:11 AM »
I've got a friend that had it done and he says it's the best thing he's ever done (probably done 5-10 years ago).

I keep contemplating it, but they still have the warnings about there being a chance of developing slightly blurred night vision (which would be a stumbling block with me renewing my FAA medical certificate).

spicykissa

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2017, 11:22:32 AM »
I had a consultation, and was not a good candidate--they did offer me something called PRK, but the healing time was longer and the procedure itself more invasive.

My in-laws had it years ago, and both say they would not do it again, and both now need glasses. YMMV.

Ocinfo

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #7 on: October 15, 2017, 12:28:06 PM »
I’m a bit over 1 year post LASIK. The way that success is measured is not what it should be. For example, I easily have 20/15+ vision on an eye chart but get a bit of double vision of bright objects (think white text on black background) especially in low light. No real answer as to what is actually wrong (likely combo of slight astigmatism, pupil size, and tear film issue). That being said, my vision is good in most settings so very mixed feelings.

I had the latest version of LASIK by a very experienced ophthalmologist that is a team doctor for several professional sports teams. Basically, what I’m saying is that there are a lot of side effects that are not classified as such since they don’t prevent you from having great vision on a high contrast eye chart (dry eye, night vision problems, etc...). Only you can decide if it’s worth the risk.


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GizmoTX

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #8 on: October 15, 2017, 01:19:07 PM »
DH had lasik surgery 15+ years ago & it was a huge success. He's almost 70, has 20/20 vision, & still does not need reading glasses, which is an unusual result. His surgeon fixes a lot of lasik mistakes.

I wanted lasik but was rejected the day before surgery because my corneas are too steep. (Same surgeon.) I now wear bifocal contact lenses.

I developed dry eye about 9 years ago & my ophthalmologist inserted silicon plugs in my lower tear ducts during an office visit. No more scratchy eyes, no need for eye drops, & I never know they are there.

Cpa Cat

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2017, 01:47:59 PM »
I had PRK. After 5 years, I wear glasses for reading, watching tv in the dark, and driving in the dark. I can do all three decently without glasses, and technically do not need glasses to drive. But I am much more comfortable with glasses.

I love not needing glasses, and in that sense, it was worth it. My eyesight was terrible. I was 100% dependent on glasses. I was once on a camping trip where my glasses fell off into a lake and I was completely blind for the rest of the trip. It's worth it not to worry about that sort of thing.

I do not love that my night vision was never great after surgery. I do not love that after only 5 years, I put glasses on my face at least once per day.

I wish I had a warranty, but at the same time - what if you move? It seems to be that they're banking on you not making your annual appointment at least once so they can void your warranty. Can you get the vision exam anywhere? Do they have other branches in other states/locations?

I will consider doing laser eye surgery again when I'm wearing glasses permanently.

Mtngrl

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2017, 01:51:43 PM »
I had it done 15 years ago and think it was money very well spent. True, I have to wear reading glasses now (I'm 57) -- but prior to the surgery I was legally blind without glasses and found wearing contacts in the dry Colorado climate difficult. It is wonderful to wake up in the morning and be able to see.
I wouldn't bother with the tear duct thing -- my husband and I used eye drops after the surgery several times a day and did fine.
Our surgery came with the warranty they want you to pay for. My husband did have a correction done on one eye after a year. Then our surgeon was in a car accident, became disabled and sold his practice and I seriously doubt if they would honor the warranty now (and we have long since moved away.)

rjbf65

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2017, 02:29:04 PM »
Had it 8 years ago.  Best money I have ever spent.

sunnyca

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2017, 02:29:16 PM »
I had LASIK done 10 years ago and in my opinion, it was worth every penny. Hasn’t affected my night vision, but I have accepted that I’ll probably need reading glasses or have the LASIK redone when I’m about 50 or so (I’m 36 now).

My mother had hers done by the same surgeon and she’s 60. She still doesn’t need reading glasses, but she has started wearing glasses at night to drive in the past five years.

cheesecat

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2017, 02:49:05 PM »
My husband and I had LASIK a little over two months ago. We had a top surgeon in our area and the procedure went well, but we have mixed feelings about it. Our price included lifelong touch-ups and a year of free exams. Never heard of the tear duct thing.

For some people, the recovery period is negligible, but we both had trouble with various things, including dry eye, halos at night, and light sensitivity, the last of which was sometimes extreme, like painful to drive even in sunglasses extreme. That has all mostly faded, thank goodness. One of my eyes settled slightly worse than the other; I'm going in to see what can be done about that eye in a week or so.

Most side effects improve with time, which they tell you up front, but they make it seem like 'time' means a few days or a couple weeks. Nope. You may have to wait months, maybe even a year, for full recovery. It's also very disconcerting how side effects can come and go and come back again; that's part of the recovery process. And yes, some people regret it or have to wear glasses later, though my father-in-law had it done decades ago and his eyes are still perfect. As with many medical things, YMMV, and life is a gamble.

All that said ... I'm very glad I did it. I wore the leave-in-overnight monthly contacts and did fine with that, but in the last couple years my eyes had started to be more sensitive and I had to take the contacts out at night more often. It got annoying. I hate glasses, have never felt comfortable in them, and was so happy to throw them away (donate them)! Like someone above mentioned, it's absolute bliss to wake up in the middle of the night and be able to see. And I no longer have to take contacts/case/cleaner and glasses/case when I travel!

One tip: you'll spend more money on eye drops than you think, at least for the first couple months, because there are different formulas on the market, and you may have to try a few before you find one that your eyes like.

Weigh the pros and cons, understand the possible recovery timeline, and be aware of the risks. Then go for it if you want! Good luck :)

civil4life

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #14 on: October 15, 2017, 04:09:27 PM »
Thank you all for the responses.

The place I went to is a chain all over the US.  I know I will be moving so that is another part of the warranty consideration.

I should have asked this as well.  I live in the Baltimore/Washington Area.  Anyone have a recommendation in this area?

boarder42

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #15 on: October 15, 2017, 04:15:28 PM »
Thank you all for the responses.

The place I went to is a chain all over the US.  I know I will be moving so that is another part of the warranty consideration.

I should have asked this as well.  I live in the Baltimore/Washington Area.  Anyone have a recommendation in this area?

No reason for a warranty did you read what I wrote above.

Mr. Green

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #16 on: October 15, 2017, 05:26:57 PM »
I had it done almost 10 years ago. Best 5 grand I ever spent. I would do it again in a heartbeat. My vision before was 20/200. I couldn't see the big E on the top of the eye chart. 20/20 vision after and it's still 20/20 now. I was in my 20s then, 30s now. Lasik doesn't stop aging so your eyesight may get worse as you get older. There's nothing they can do about that. The tear duct plugs weren't an option when I did it. I'd be a little nervous about them putting something in my tear ducts. There's a whole regimen of drops you'll have to put in your eyes after, lubricating drops included so lubrication shouldnt be an issue. I'd rather take some drops for a couple weeks then plug my tear ducts.

My procedure had a warranty too. They would do the touch up for free down the road. I've never been back to the eye doctor though so I blew that. Having to go to the eye doctor for no reason ever year is a hassle anyway. I figure the money spent on a yearly exam for 20 years will approach the cost of a second procedure so it doesn't seem worth it. And that's assuming they can even do it a second time. They might change enough of your cornea that it's a one time deal.

I highly recommend it if your vision is as bad as mine was. If my mission was better I might reconsider because we are talking about a laser messing with your eyes.

meghan88

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #17 on: October 15, 2017, 05:28:48 PM »
There are two types of corrective eye surgery, or so I am told: lasik, which just changes the shape of the cornea, and lens replacement (e.g., for cataract surgery) which replaces the lens under the cornea.

My sister, who had pretty bad vision and cataracts, had replacement lenses in both her eyes.  These replacement lenses (multifocal) corrected both her cataracts AND her bad vision.

Mr. Green

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #18 on: October 15, 2017, 05:38:10 PM »
I live in the DC area. I went to TLC Laser Eye Center in Rockville. One of the doctors there did Tiger Woods' eyes and I figured if athlete's go there that was good enough for me. Had a great experience. Not sure if that doctor is still there.

StarBright

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #19 on: October 15, 2017, 06:38:39 PM »
Regarding the plugs- you can always have them inserted at a later date. It is a standard treatment for dry eyes and is not lasik specific.

I did a lot of reading on the lasik subreddit in the months leading up to my procedures and felt like I got a good feel for the positive, negative and potentially long healing period (which I have also ended up having). I highly recommend reading over there.




turketron

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #20 on: October 15, 2017, 07:44:12 PM »
For me, it was 100% worth it, but I would say it depends on your age and how bad your prescription is. I had LASIK about 4 years ago, I was around 27 at the time. My prescription was bad (my contact prescription was roughly -6.5/-7) so I *needed* either glasses or contacts to do pretty much anything. From a quality of life standpoint, not having to worry about glasses or contacts to drive, play sports, or even just to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, it's been amazing.

From a financial standpoint, it cost me $4k, all told. I planned ahead of time so I was able to max out my FSA, which really helped. This total included a lifetime warranty with similar conditions as yours- I need to have a yearly checkup with my regular doctor to maintain "eligibility," but any touch-ups I need should be at no extra cost. Additionally, I was paying probably a couple hundred bucks for new glasses/contacts each year, so not having to pay that for the next decade or so should offset a large part of the cost.

They warned me going in that it wouldn't correct for reading glasses, so I anticipate needing those at some point in the future. Still, I should be able to get a good 10 more years before having to worry about that.

GreenQueen

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #21 on: October 15, 2017, 08:48:15 PM »
I got LASIK a few years ago. It was the best money I’ve ever spent. I love it. I travel a lot and it’s been a major boon.

Skip the tear duct plugs. This was mentioned as something that could be done afterward in case of very dry eyes, but not essential. Sounds like an upsell.

I got it done in Canada through a chain that has a few places in New York. They offer free lifetime corrections as long as I go to them for an exam every 2 years. Exam cost $90. At my last exam I met a women who got it done 20 years ago, did the exams, and was getting her “free” adjustment back. She was thrilled with it.

In terms of recovery, the first 3 hours were very uncomfortable for my eyes (i was flat on the couch in the dark using the numbing drops they give) and then I could see perfectly. Really amazing.

Indexer

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #22 on: October 15, 2017, 10:52:17 PM »
I got LASIK about a year ago, and LOVE it. Best money I've ever spent.

1. NO to the tear duct plugs. WTF? I didn't do that. I did have to use eyedrops regularly for the first month. A good big box of eyedrops is $20-40. Refrigerate your eye drops; it feels amazing when you put the drops in your eyes. :D

2. YES. I did this. I see in 20/15, and can make out most letters at 20/10. I see so much better now than I did even with glasses or contacts before. Getting Contoura improves the odds of better than 20/20 vision. $500 to see everything better? Worth it to me.

3. skip this... there is something far more important.

Use the best surgeon in your area. I'm frugal, except when it comes to my eyes(and health in general)! Done right, LASIK changes everything for the better. Done wrong, well read the negative posts in this topic. I did a ton of research before picking my surgeon. I read plenty of reviews, reviews where people had bad reactions, negative side effects, and had poor service getting it corrected. I met personally with a couple surgeons, and I asked the tough questions. Some LASIK shops run like factories, get you in and out as fast as possible. My LASIK surgeon is now my regular eye doctor. He takes less patients, but spends more time with each one. As a result, I spent more, $4,500(including Contoura), when I could have had it done for $2,000 somewhere else(their reviews were kind of scary...). I didn't have to pay for a warranty. Any problems, they fix it. If I didn't get to 20/20 on the first try, they would fix it. Checkups next day, at one week, one month, one quarter, six months, and at one year were built into the price. Anything goes wrong, they fix it, even if I need it redone years from now. You are trusting this person with your sight, get it right! ;-)

Gondolin

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #23 on: October 16, 2017, 08:45:40 AM »
Depends on your age. I was like you with borderline vision. I had a great experience and will probably have 15 years of perfect vision before aging to the point where I need reading glasses. Dad got it at 40 and has nearly a decade before he needed reading glasses. Even so, his base vision is still way better than the 20/400 he had before.

thedayisbrave

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #24 on: October 16, 2017, 09:20:54 AM »
My boyfriend has his done this past July.  He constantly says it's the best thing he's ever done.  He spent right at $4K and some change, and while he could cash flow it he opted for 0% financing for 2 years.

When he told me how much he'd save in contacts, contact solution, etc. it sounds like he'll actually come out ahead in a few years.

boarder42

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #25 on: October 16, 2017, 09:43:32 AM »
My boyfriend has his done this past July.  He constantly says it's the best thing he's ever done.  He spent right at $4K and some change, and while he could cash flow it he opted for 0% financing for 2 years.

When he told me how much he'd save in contacts, contact solution, etc. it sounds like he'll actually come out ahead in a few years.

this is one thing in life that i think is worth delaying FIRE for even if it didnt work out to be cheaper in the long run.  i'd pay 10k to have it done its so life changing.

jc4

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #26 on: October 16, 2017, 10:48:13 AM »
Positive report here. Spent $600 ( $2600 - $2000 from work HRA), so not fair on a cost comp.

But 2 years in. Still perfect vision. I didn't get anything extra: plugs, warrenty or what not. I was very diligent about the eyedrops.

I have not porblems or complcations. Walked out of the office. Could see crystal clear immediately. Went home, took a nap. Had friends over to play bocce ball in the yard that night (with protective glasses on of course).

Also, fit with Mustacianism. My annual exam / contact cost was $100 (on the mustacian plan). That puts me at a 6 year payback or 17% guarenteed return. Better than paying off debt or vanguard.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2017, 10:49:49 AM by dpc »

turketron

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #27 on: October 16, 2017, 10:49:38 AM »
this is one thing in life that i think is worth delaying FIRE for even if it didnt work out to be cheaper in the long run.  i'd pay 10k to have it done its so life changing.

Agreed - though there's a decent argument to be made about recouping most of the costs due to money saved from not buying glasses/contacts/solution etc, I'd pay several times over, it was that much of a quality of life improvement for me.

Case

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #28 on: October 16, 2017, 02:04:24 PM »
Hi All:

I have been contemplating Lasik vision surgery for a while.  Yesterday I went for a consultation and confirmed I am a good candidate and found out about costs.  I plan to do some shopping around, but the information I have at least gives me a bit of baseline for discussion.  If I do get it done it would not be until next year.  My main reason for getting the details now is that I need to decide by 10/31 about how much I want to put in my FSA.    I have a few questions for the group about some of the options for the surgery.  I wear glasses now only for distance.  I usually wear while driving and watching sports on tv.  My vision is middle of the road.  Not horrible but not great.  It has only been in the last few years that I have really worn my glasses on a more regular basis.  In the past couple years I have discovered online prescription glasses so I do not spend more than maybe $30 for a pair of glasses.

Based on my vision and the options the cost varies between $1800 to $3500 total.

1. Tear duct plugs $400.  To help the healing process they place a plug in the drain of the tear duct so the eye can stay moist.  Anyone have experience with this?  Personally this sound really unnecessary to me.

2. There is a newer technology called Contoura.  As explained to me, regular lasik kind of just fixes your prescription by adjusting the overall thickness of the cornea.  The new technology actually maps the whole cornea and fixes the cornea itself by fixing the abnormalities.  This is a more permanent correction and increases the overall success of the procedure.  This costs $500.  Based on the information from my exam I think this is a good option for me.  I would love to know about other people's experience with this as well.

2. Warranty- 1 year - $1000 / lifetime - $1400.  The main points of the warranty are that if X years down the road my vision gets worse I can have surgery again for $100 copay.  Only condition is that I have to have a dilated vision exam every year for it to stay in effect.  Obviously the one year makes no sense and I would only consider the lifetime.  I am 33 so the likelihood of me needing a revision 10-15 years down the road is likely.  However at $1400 that money could be invested and making money for me for another 10 to 15 years and would cover the cost of a revision.  So I am thinking no on the warranty.

Overall, I have never heard anything bad about Lasik.  Anything I have heard has been overwhelmingly positive.  But for the most part it is a cosmetic procedure.  For me it really is on the borderline of a need vs want.  My vision is not bad enough that it significantly impacts the quality of my life.  However if I waited until/if my eyes got worse the cost could jump up to $5k. Is it really worth the money?

Thanks in advance for thoughts and opinions.

Super interesting thread.... i have considered lasik off and on for years.  I guess the longer i wait, the less its worth it.

Its intereseting how mixed the reviews are on it.  I was expectign everyone to say it was the best thing ever.  I always have endedo up not goign through with it out of fear for ‘minor’ side effects.  Things like night vision issues, changes in quality versus time, etc...  Turns out these things are for real as evidenced by this forum.  It seems like people with no side effects (yet) are all saying how awesome it is and you should do it no doubts.  But, then those who had any issues did not feel this way.  Pertty obvious outcome... the important question then is the statistics on frequency of problems, and it seems like the risk of small side effects is large enough to be of concern.  One poster seemed to imply this  can be avoided by spendingmore  money on a good doctor, etc.... but, i think people here are generally researchers and any ways we need more statistics.


Jaayse

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #29 on: October 16, 2017, 03:25:12 PM »
I just had PRK done (in the military so it was free) since I had a scar on my cornea that wouldn't allow for Lasik.  I had something around 20/500 vision, extremely dependent on glasses/contacts.  PRK is cheaper and not very advertised, but it takes you out of things for around a week and there is a lot of pain the first few days since they literally grind down your cornea and then let it grow back once corrections are made.  You're good after the first week to see to drive, but your vision will change over two months as layers of skin regrow and your vision sharpens.  Lasik has more possible complications with the 'flap' later on. 

The advice for preventing dry eyes was to use a hot gel bead mask on my face twice a day to melt the waxy plugs that keep your tear ducts from being open.  I did not have any dry eyes issues doing this, but I do know some others who have continued to have to use eye drops.  I would recommend doing this and then seeing if after surgery you need the plugs, not everyone does.

I would not recommend the insurance, you're paying nearly the same price as the surgery in today's dollars for something that you may never need in the future.  The procedure will not likely become more expensive over time, especially with new technology coming out constantly.  I agree with those who say you're better off investing.

There is always a small chance of major issues, I don't think I would have made the choice to do a major surgery like this if I wasn't so blind and dependent on glasses and contacts to start.  It was actually my contacts that gave me a corneal ulcer that left the scar during my first deployment.

CapLimited

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #30 on: October 17, 2017, 12:52:57 PM »
For Lasik in the DC/Baltimore area, Dr. Roy Rubinfeld is the man to see.  He is very well regarded, and his specialty is fixing other eye surgeons' mistakes.  He did my Lasik 11 years ago -- I went from REALLY nearsighted to better than 20/20.  Using reading glasses now, but otherwise I'm happy I did it.

acroy

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #31 on: October 17, 2017, 01:02:25 PM »
DW and I both had it done 12yrs ago

- very worth it
- did not pay the $100 difference for 'Contura' or whatever they were marketing it as last time. it sure seemed like a gimmick. do the research
- do not buy warranty

GREAT investment. Our eyes were *much* worse than yours, I was so near-sighted if lost my glasses I could never find them again... scary actually.

StarBright

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #32 on: October 17, 2017, 02:29:45 PM »
DW and I both had it done 12yrs ago

- very worth it
- did not pay the $100 difference for 'Contura' or whatever they were marketing it as last time. it sure seemed like a gimmick. do the research
- do not buy warranty

GREAT investment. Our eyes were *much* worse than yours, I was so near-sighted if lost my glasses I could never find them again... scary actually.

The bolded was me too! And actually my daughter knocking my glasses off at the playground (and me not being able to find them) was the impetus for me looking into lasik (despite my large pupils). While I still have some small side effects, being able to see my children from more than 6 inches away is the most amazing feeling. Every night when we sit at the dinner table I just smile as I look at them.

DarkandStormy

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #33 on: October 17, 2017, 02:39:30 PM »
My husband had it done 15 years ago and would not do it again. Unless fabulous progress has been made since then, the surgery, no matter how advanced, cannot anticipate the changes in focal distance that come with age. So he still needed reading glasses, and a few years later, he needed prescription glasses again. In addition, it makes cataract surgery a bit more difficult.

My dad had his done in 1999 and said it was the best money he ever spent.  Delayed his need for reading glasses by making one eye 20/25 (or was it 20/15?) by a few years.

Bourbon

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #34 on: October 17, 2017, 02:54:34 PM »
I was in the 20/400+ range when I had it done about 5 years ago.  Great decision. Biggest complaint is that my eyes are more sensitive to poking, onions, etc.

When I woke up at night for the year after I would occasionally reach for my glasses, best feeling to realize I wasn't tied to them anymore.

I do expect to need reading glasses etc still as I age, but getting it done at 30, and the amount of improvement - definitely worth it to me.

I also had a PRK style procedure, no flap, 1 week recovery.  Read flap horror stories and decided better safe than sorry.  Wife has since had LASIK and no complaints.

afuera

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #35 on: October 17, 2017, 03:51:36 PM »
I had PRK done about a year ago and my husband had Lasik done around March.  I had horrible eyes -4.75 and -7 and pretty bad astigmatism and both eyes.  He had bad eyes but not as bad as mine.  We both love it and wish we would have done it sooner.  It is completely life changing especially for me since my allergies have been getting worse every year which left me unable to wear my contacts for weeks at a time.  I do notice some increased sensitivity to things like sweat in my eyes but its really not bad and doesn't really impact my life.  Other than that I haven't had any negatives with night vision or anything like that.

civil4life

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #36 on: October 17, 2017, 04:32:23 PM »
Thank you everyone.

I have decided to wait another year to reconsider. 

I think it still is more of a want than a need for me.

aspiringnomad

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #37 on: October 17, 2017, 09:34:17 PM »
One more data point: I had Lasik 3 years ago at age 32 a few months after finding MMM. I was cutting back on all types of expenses, big and small, in response to reading this blog, but had wanted to get it for a while so I finally decided to take the plunge using HSA funds. It's one of the best decisions I've made. Until I read this post, I hadn't even thought about the fact that my vision was surgically corrected in probably 6 months, maybe more because it hasn't come up in conversation recently and my brain has had no reason to think back to the days when my daily ritual included waking up half blind and fumbling around for my contacts. If you're still looking for recommendations around DC, I live in the city and had it done at the EDOW.

boarder42

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #38 on: October 18, 2017, 04:51:28 AM »
interesting decision OP from the overwhelming evidence supporting how everyone has felt afterwards.  hopefully you get it done next year and you'll likely be saying dam i should have had that done a year earlier.

Dave1442397

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #39 on: October 18, 2017, 06:05:08 AM »
I'm waiting for this to come to market:

http://ocumetics.com/

http://www.eyedesignoptometry.com/bionic-lens-update-2017/

It doesn't look like it'll be available for another couple of years, but I think it's the best option I've seen to date. I'm so sick of contacts and reading glasses!

Case

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #40 on: October 18, 2017, 06:11:00 AM »
interesting decision OP from the overwhelming evidence supporting how everyone has felt afterwards.  hopefully you get it done next year and you'll likely be saying dam i should have had that done a year earlier.

Interesting response ... did you not read the entire thread?  There are many responses that are not overwhelmingly positive.

The other interesting aspect of this thread, is that the response here differ from what you read about LASIK with google searches (and not for the better).

What this means is, you're taking a risk in order to get a great benefit.  It's a pretty personal thing to determine if the risk is something you want to take.  Where you draw the line in the sand (in terms of when a risk is too great) is definitely personal, but the main thing that cannot be denied is that there is a high enough risk of minor complications that everyone should be aware of them. 

When you couple the 'minor' complications with the fact that glasses are required eventually anyways (as you get older)... it might not look so rosy.

Something I'm curious about is what the real statistics.  Also, while people may need reading glasses when they get older, is there overall vision still greatly improved?

boarder42

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #41 on: October 18, 2017, 10:47:17 AM »
interesting decision OP from the overwhelming evidence supporting how everyone has felt afterwards.  hopefully you get it done next year and you'll likely be saying dam i should have had that done a year earlier.

Interesting response ... did you not read the entire thread?  There are many responses that are not overwhelmingly positive.

The other interesting aspect of this thread, is that the response here differ from what you read about LASIK with google searches (and not for the better).

What this means is, you're taking a risk in order to get a great benefit.  It's a pretty personal thing to determine if the risk is something you want to take.  Where you draw the line in the sand (in terms of when a risk is too great) is definitely personal, but the main thing that cannot be denied is that there is a high enough risk of minor complications that everyone should be aware of them. 

When you couple the 'minor' complications with the fact that glasses are required eventually anyways (as you get older)... it might not look so rosy.

Something I'm curious about is what the real statistics.  Also, while people may need reading glasses when they get older, is there overall vision still greatly improved?

i dont think you're taking that great a risk in order to get a great benefit.  We live in a society of complainers so most of the reviews people will post online will tend towards the negative side.  If htere was a site where everyone who had lasik were required to post how the felt 2 days - 1 month - 6 months - 1 year - and 10 years after people have had it i would bet its over 90% positive.

even in the posts here where people had minor complications most if not all that i read said they'd still do it again.

So yes pointing out some shortfalls of it was great to read thru but by in large if you had posted the question as would you get lasik again i''d bet its over 90% positive if not 100 from the people of this thread.

boarder42

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #42 on: October 18, 2017, 10:48:33 AM »
I'm waiting for this to come to market:

http://ocumetics.com/

http://www.eyedesignoptometry.com/bionic-lens-update-2017/

It doesn't look like it'll be available for another couple of years, but I think it's the best option I've seen to date. I'm so sick of contacts and reading glasses!

a permanent fix like this for all areas of seeing would be phenomenal and when i need reading glasses i'll likely have it done

SKL-HOU

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #43 on: October 18, 2017, 11:47:08 AM »
I had it done in 2002 in my home country. It was only about $400-500 (different economy). The doctor was very good (trained in the US). I would do it again in a heartbeat!

DarkandStormy

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #44 on: October 18, 2017, 11:49:14 AM »
I had Lasik back in late January (I was in the -7 range or worse) and have been corrected to -1ish (20/40 or so).  It's been a bit frustrating as many others had instantaneous 20/20 vision after their surgeries.  But because I was so nearsighted I became one of the ~15% who require another treatment.

So I go back in December for round #2.  When I paid, the cost of all followups, and future treatments were covered for 2 years.  They gave me one of those starter pairs of -1's which I really only use when driving or need to see far.

I'm hopeful that when I get to 20/20 I will be overjoyed like so many others who've gotten Lasik.  The only downside (besides, ya know, not being 20/20 yet) is I now have halos around lights at night whereas I did not with contacts or glasses.  I understand this is a common side effect.

Case

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #45 on: October 18, 2017, 02:53:43 PM »
interesting decision OP from the overwhelming evidence supporting how everyone has felt afterwards.  hopefully you get it done next year and you'll likely be saying dam i should have had that done a year earlier.

Interesting response ... did you not read the entire thread?  There are many responses that are not overwhelmingly positive.

The other interesting aspect of this thread, is that the response here differ from what you read about LASIK with google searches (and not for the better).

What this means is, you're taking a risk in order to get a great benefit.  It's a pretty personal thing to determine if the risk is something you want to take.  Where you draw the line in the sand (in terms of when a risk is too great) is definitely personal, but the main thing that cannot be denied is that there is a high enough risk of minor complications that everyone should be aware of them. 

When you couple the 'minor' complications with the fact that glasses are required eventually anyways (as you get older)... it might not look so rosy.

Something I'm curious about is what the real statistics.  Also, while people may need reading glasses when they get older, is there overall vision still greatly improved?

i dont think you're taking that great a risk in order to get a great benefit.  We live in a society of complainers so most of the reviews people will post online will tend towards the negative side.  If htere was a site where everyone who had lasik were required to post how the felt 2 days - 1 month - 6 months - 1 year - and 10 years after people have had it i would bet its over 90% positive.

even in the posts here where people had minor complications most if not all that i read said they'd still do it again.

So yes pointing out some shortfalls of it was great to read thru but by in large if you had posted the question as would you get lasik again i''d bet its over 90% positive if not 100 from the people of this thread.

I think conclusions like that need more data. This thread is clear evidence that that the % of people who would do it again is not 100%.  Proposing that the data is skewed because people in general are complainers.... is a guess based on life experiences.

My main point is to consider the various view points in a more statistical fashion.  When done so, it seems to look something like this:
-most people are extremely happy with their results, and it is life changing.
-a small but considerable percent of people have minor side effects, but would still do it.
-a small but considerable percent of people have minor side effects, and wouldn't do it again.
-a very small percentage of people have disaster scenarios.

« Last Edit: October 18, 2017, 03:19:03 PM by Case »

ChpBstrd

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #46 on: October 18, 2017, 03:19:12 PM »
I had mine done in 2010 for $4,300 at VLC. That was for the top-of-the-line package at the time. The price included lifetime warranty IF I got a regular eye exam once per year.

One eye came out 20/20 and the other slightly better than 20/20. Distance and nightime sight improved dramatically. No side effects or issues. My sight has been stable for almost 8 years now.

It's kind of a luxury not having glasses. In hindsight, I should have invested the money in Netflix or Bitcoin. :)

mxt0133

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #47 on: October 26, 2017, 12:43:27 AM »
Just adding one more data point.  My wife just got her surgery done 5 days ago.  She is recovering well no issues so far and is loving being able to see without contacts.

Thanks to boarder42, I told her to look into whether the tear duct thing was worth the extra $400 and she decided not to do it after doing some research.

So after spending my remaining balance on our FSA it was ~$300 out of pocket.  If it lasts 3 years it would have saved money vs the contacts/fluid every year.  Taking into account I was going to loose the $2K FSA if I didn't use it.

CG6152011

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #48 on: October 27, 2017, 07:39:22 AM »
I am 8 years post LASIK and I would do it again if I needed it. Best money I ever spent! I would find a well regarded institute that has a lifetime warranty, my Dr did. Also the plugs don't seem worth it.

Alternative thought: if you are planning on changing jobs and your company pre-funds your FSA, max your FSA to cover the full cost of the surgery. When you leave you are not required to pay back. I was not planning on this but lucked out when I left my company, they assume the risk by getting to keep whatever it is people don't spend :). I even called HR to ask about it and they said not to worry, its all part of the game.

loyalreader

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Re: Lasik Surgery
« Reply #49 on: October 27, 2017, 08:33:43 AM »
Hey Civil, I had Lasik surgery here https://www.lasikplus.com/location/baltimore-lasik-center/ 12 years ago. Honestly one of the best decisions I've ever made. This (same) doctor made me feel very comfortable before and during the surgery ('you will smell something that is like burning hair'... barf) and they have a great reputation.

Twelve years later I wear glasses when I drive at night to help with halos, but the government says I'm legally allowed to drive without them and still don't need reading glasses. Pre-surgery I couldn't read my alarm clock that was an arm-length from my bed so... you get the picture.

Agree with others about the tear duct business. That wasn't even offered to me and my recovery was fine. Good luck!