-----------------------------------------UPDATE----------------------------------
Since a few days, I have had evaluations from 2 different optometric clinics specialized in ocular surgeries.
Because of my high level of myopie (-9,5) and my age (49) (in addition to astigmatism), it appeared clearly that my best option is not with a traditional laser surgery, but with an intraocular surgery to replace my natural lens with new lens (multifocales, meaning I will see clearly close and far). The name of the procedure is : Phacorefractive Surgery. This is way more expensive than the traditional « Lazik » as some persons previously indicated in this post.
I received two « quotes » (I put here the price for the 2 eyes); one from Dr Michel Pop clinic (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) : 6000$ CAD and the second from Iris Clinic : 8760$ CAD (Laval, Quebec, Canada.
I have planned to take my final decision this week-end, (October 20-21, 2019).
Apart from the quite important difference in price, the two clinics have a very distinctive approach. Not only for the surgery itself, but also at the human level.
Example of difference for the surgery : Iris talked to me about advanced imaging techniques (Verion System) to guide the surgeon through some steps and laser-assisted surgery (Catalys) that allows for the automation of some steps (meaning more precision than human intervention alone and less time for the human being « into » the eye, so less risk).
At the human level, I had simple and warm interactions at the Iris Clinic (receptionists, optician and optometrist, which made me feel that I was with « specialists humans » and not just with specialists , difficult to explain) compared to the general feeling at the clinic Michel Pop, where people are still welcoming, polite and helpful, but where we feel a kind of concern for efficiency a little exaggerated that puts a bit of a « cold » in the communication (not sure if we can say that in English, sorry if it is not the case). Moreover, the big boss, Dr. Pop took all the time necessary to answer my many questions. So a really different feeling between the two clinics, but not to the point of feeling like "a number" as some people reported to me to have felt. It seems to me that the human level is important in this kind of service, especially if there are postoperative complications.
The most common minor complications are: dry eye, bright halos in the evening, etc. There are of course also serious and even very serious potential risks, as in any surgery. For my part, I have never had surgery, so I must say that it makes me pretty nervous. But with regard to minimal risks, I am particularly concerned about the issue of dry eye: I would find it really disabling to have to use drops (artificial tears) for the rest of my life. And I know that some of these artificial tears are very expensive ... which would be counterproductive because one of my motives for doing this surgery is to eliminate the costs associated with buying contact lenses ...
Anyway, thank you again everybody for your input and recommendations. I have read all of them very carefully and that helped me a great deal in my reflection.
Yep, this is exactly what I had a year ago. And the price was comparable.
I was pretty nervous about it. I considered not going through with it. But a year later, I am absolutely thrilled and so happy I did.
My eyes were -14.5 and near -16 - - considerably worse than yours and they kept getting worse into my sixties. Lasik is not really an option for people like me.
My eye doctor told me I was the perfect candidate for this type of surgery, I developed cataracts which meant Medicare would pay for that part of the surgery, but at first, the cataracts weren't bad enough for Medicare to approve payment. So my surgery was delayed by one year - which turned out to be a blessing in disguise:).
Like you, I was super nervous but four years later I'm still thrilled with the results.
I laughed out loud when they told me I might have to wear glasses and my vision might "only" be -2.5.
Ha - I wasn't even able to get any contacts to correct my vision any longer - they did not exist and the glasses I wore were like the bottom of a Coke bottle - super thick and heavy (couldn't do plastic since glass still gives you sharper vision) pressing a groove into my nose - yuck! At my vision strength, every 5% improvement was a huge help so my glasses were always expensive, like $1K to $1200. I got them made on vacation in Germany since I couldn't get some of the Zeiss glasses in the US - the precision machinery and expertise to be had in Germany was simply better.
I'm still reaching for my glasses in the morning out of habit - I'm 70 and wore glasses since the age of nine.
It's positively thrilling to have good eyesight - I can even read and work on the computer without glasses - I was over the moon.
Best of all, I don't wear any glasses, except for driving to enhance my distance vision, although I could get away with not wearing any glasses and have on occasion when I forgot to wear them even though I keep a spare pair in the car - since it is so minimal. Something like -1.75. That is nothing compared to what I dealt with before.
I further lucked out in that the FDA had just approved a "new" lens a month before my surgery which had already been used in Europe with great results for two years. They were exactly what I wanted. The doctors had just finished training in working with the new lenses two weeks before:).
No major dry eye issues either, although sometimes I use preservative-free eye drops to help with mild dry eye as needed. I am sensitive to the sun, but I always was anyway, it's just that now - living in Florida I wear cool sunglasses:).
Who would have thought there would come a day when I'd finally be free of heavy glasses and the threat of blindness - I don't think I could have even passed the eye test for my driver's license anymore.
Of course - one little hiccup happened come surgery time:) - all the machines went down right after I'd already received prep and sedation! So the doctor did my first eye manually himself. He said he actually preferred that and I was fine with it although I had to sign extra paperwork saying I was OK with it. By the next eye surgery weeks later, all the laser machinery was back up but I have to say I felt really beat up and looked it too after the machine surgery. The doctor was way better:).
I had it done at St. Lukes Clinic in Tarpon Springs, FL and I can only say good things about everything from doctors to treatment to attention - they listened to me and explained all my various lens options very well - most of all they answered all the questions I had - patiently. They took my concerns seriously and I knew exactly what to expect.
I simply do not need to wear glasses in my everyday activities, not even for reading, but I do when driving, being an old lady and all, my reflexes are probably not as they used to be so I prefer crystal clear vision and who knows if that -1.75 may make the difference in seeing a danger on time.
Anyway - just thought to add my experiences in case they may prove helpful to someone else - and yes, there are tons of people from Canada and the US that come to St. Lukes for surgery, they are as good as it gets!
