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#160785 - 03/05/04 10:43 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,261
Between Here and There
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Quote:
Quote:
... the only drawback to this entire experience has been the halo effect. I knew of this common side-effect, but the halos around every light at night is still a bit annoying.
Ok, when I first heard about this, my first thought was "isn't that how everyone sees the streetlights?"  I've seen halos around lights all my life. My mom, too. I have no concept how "normal" people see them.    
Huh  Thats funny I have always seen halos around lights at night and have never thought anything of it till just now I have been wanting to get this procedure done for quite awhile and probably will once I get a few extra bucks. But I always think of the What If's..
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#160786 - 03/05/04 11:38 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Power Poster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,920
OK
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I have a friend who went to some hot shot at the local hospital and got MESSED UP! This poor guy now has double vision past 50 yards or so, glare, halos + he still has to wear contacts and glasses...He started as blind as Andy was. I think that was probably part of it. This proves that the most expensive doesn't mean the best either. The guys I went to took their time evaulating, and made sure that I understood everything. The total cost for me was $2k, easily worth every penny!!!
Hey, that sounds like me on a good day!!! Had an eye patch by the time I was a year old and glasses at 19 months. I was put into bifocals at 6. Finally got contacts after my first year of college as long as I promised to wear reading glasses. Now I have bifocal contacts. They are not great, but I can read ok most of the time. My double vision is getting worse (so says my opthomologist). Says surgery may be in my future, but it won't be Lasik. I've seen 1 1/2 of everything for as long as I can remember. I don't know what it would be like to see only one of something!
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#160787 - 03/05/04 11:46 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Platinum Poster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 975
first lily pad on the right
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I've always wondered: how do the doctors know what prescription to give a 19-month-old? I mean, when I got glasses, they put that thing over my eyes and had me read the letters followed by a bunch of, "Okay, is this better or is this better?" So how do they know if the baby is really seeing clearly? Something I've been curious about because I have a nephew who got glasses really young.
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#160789 - 03/08/04 09:16 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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10K Club
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 20,656
The Swamp
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My eyesight is awful just like many of you have stated. My contacts are minus 7.75 and - 8.0...My question is this...my eyedoctor has never been able to put contacts in my eyes (I have to do it) because my eye muscles are terribly strong and they won't stay open with someone else's hand there...I also had "tatoo eyeliner" done awhile back and she stated I was probably the worst patient she ever had...so...how do you keep you eye open knowing they are cutting on you?????? I'd love to have it done...but I'm afraid I'd make them botch it all up!
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#160790 - 03/08/04 09:24 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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They give you valium and they keep your eyes open with a clamp
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#160791 - 03/08/04 09:27 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Platinum Poster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 975
first lily pad on the right
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Oooooh, they put these big metal things on your eye that holds the lid open (it kinda reminded of a big paperclip bent all up). There is no way possible to blink with these buggers in your eye. Then they put numbing drops on your eyeball. It's the weirdest thing to be able to see them literally brushing your eyeball with a Q-tip type thing and be able to see it but not blink or feel it.
Edited to say: Actually, they put the numbing drops in FIRST and then they do the metal "eyelid holder-openers".
Last edited by croak44; 03/08/04 09:29 PM.
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#160793 - 03/08/04 09:34 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Gold Star
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 358
Massachusetts
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If I could ask, how many people here who have had it live in the Boston area? I've been wearing glasses since I was about 10, contacts since I was 14. My vision in my left eye is -7 and my right is only -2.5 (whenever I order contacts, people always feel like they have to double check that that's right  ), and I also have astigmatism in my right eye. I've always thought about the LASIK surgery, but very recently I have been seriously considering it more and more, partially because I hear so many stories of people who are thrilled with it, and because I too am sick and tired of glasses and contacts. The many people I've heard from all find it the best thing they ever did, but none of them live around here... and I wouldn't mind getting a personal experience from someone if they have them to offer.  Also, I too would be very leery about using any "Two eyes for $1000!" doctors, but does anyone know the "average" cost these days? I hear a lot of $2,000-$3,000 ranges.. does that sound accurate? I think that could easily be money well spent for me...
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#160794 - 03/08/04 09:55 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 875
Big Sky Country
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I'm sure costs vary by region (and some good ol' supply and demand), but most centers seem to work on a "tiered" basis. I had my procedure done in Denver, where the tiers varied from $299/eye for a -1.25, up to $1,599/eye for the -8 and beyond range. Who knows - maybe your quirky prescription will end up saving you a few bucks! I agree that you should not buy on price alone, but don't get sucked into a "it costs more so it is better" mentality, either. The marketing campaigns for the laser centers are pretty slick, and I've seen them try to capitalize on every angle, from cost savings to elitism. Whatever you do, insist upon learning the background of the physician and how many surgeries he/she has performed. If they won't disclose, don't go! Lastly, make sure you are comparing apples to oranges. Some centers have an all-inclusive package, which includes pre- and post-op eye exams, while others appear to be very competitively priced, but add on a $600 referral fee for the follow-up optometrist. 
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#160795 - 03/09/04 12:01 AM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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10K Club
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 27,754
On the Net
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Also, when I had mine done, where I did, touch ups were free for 2 years. Many packages now include free touch ups for life. But inquire as to what goes into that as you will have several visits pre- and post-surgery.
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#160796 - 03/09/04 03:13 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,896
R.I.P. Chief Illiniwek
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My doctor not only gives free follow-up surgery if you need it, but also contacts and glasses if you need them (as a result of the surgery, or if the surgery was not enough), and drops, and check-ups!
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#160797 - 03/09/04 03:21 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Gold Star
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 415
1st Tee
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The only thing that I had to pay for was the antibiotic drops that I had to start prior to surgery. All my follow ups are covered + I even got a free T-shirt!!! It truely is a miracle. Playing golf this weekend with my new eyes was great. It was windy, sunny & the pollen is drifting (welcome to spring in N. Fla, normally a nightmare for my contacts, no problems now. Everything was so much clearer and brighter. I've found the goggles to be a pain in the *#^. I go in for another follow up Thursday, hopefully that will be the end of the goggles
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#160798 - 04/23/04 09:24 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Gold Star
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 318
USA
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I asked my eye doctor about laser eye surgery and he said my eyes were too bad to make it worthwhile. I've probably got most of you beat in the bad eye category - my right eye is -12.25 and my left -14.25. However, my eye doctor said I was a good candidate for clear lens extraction, where they remove the lens from your eye so you can see better. Has anyone heard of this or had it done?
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#160799 - 04/23/04 10:58 PM
Re: LASIK, LASEK, & PPK
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,355
The O.C., California
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Quote:
I asked my eye doctor about laser eye surgery and he said my eyes were too bad to make it worthwhile. I've probably got most of you beat in the bad eye category - my right eye is -12.25 and my left -14.25. However, my eye doctor said I was a good candidate for clear lens extraction, where they remove the lens from your eye so you can see better. Has anyone heard of this or had it done?
I think my numbers were worse than that. I was always nearsighted, but when I went for an evaluation for Lasik 5 years ago I found out I had cataracts! (I'm not that old) But....it's a good thing!
I had the bad old lenses extracted and had synthetic lenses implanted. Now - 20/40 in one eye and 20/30 in the other - uncorrected. And, unlike Lasik, it was covered by medical insurance.
I asked my doctor why this type of surgery was not done strictly for a case like yours (and like mine pre-cataract).
He said mainly it was due to cost - insurance would not cover it. Heck, if I had known it was available I might have given it some serious thought, regardless of the price.
I know how frustrating it is to have such poor vision - I started wearing glasses when I was 5.
Good luck!
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