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Re: [RC] LASIK (was Did you know??) - Sharon LevasseurWow, lots of people interested in this topic! I'm getting private emails too so
I'll put all that info here as well.
I am 30 years old and had it done in January. My eyesight was around 20/300
prior to surgery.
During the screening process I found out that, for all practical purposes, my
actual prescription had stabilized in recent years (the computer said so) but
my regular eye doctor had been giving me progressively stronger contacts
because I felt like I needed them ("which one is clearer, this one or that
one?"). Wish I'd known what they were doing, I'd have told them NO!
The surgeon told me that like almost everyone in the world, I will need reading
glasses at some point after I hit 40.
It was not at all painful. They put numbing drops in my eye so I couldn't feel
anything, then propped it open and stabilized both my head and my eyeball so I
couldn't move them one bit. I think the worst part (and it wasn't that bad)
was the pressure on my eyeball when they stabilized it and cut the flap. I
won't lie, I was nervous, but I think if they'd given me more Valium I would
have been better off.
No real discomfort afterwards, but I did have problems with my eyelids sticking
shut overnight because of all the eye drops I had to use to combat the dryness.
I'd be happy to give you the name of the center where I had it done, but it
isn't likely to be of much use to you! These places are all over the country
now, I'm sure there's one near you that would be far more convenient.
Try this site for more information about vision surgery... it looks REALLY
comprehensive! http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/ LASIK is for
nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astygmatism. There are several other
surgeries that can be required because of different vision problems or other
circumstances. The top link at this site talks about that. A free screening
session at your local eye surgery center will tell you which you're a candidate
for (if any).
Keep in mind that all the reputable sources of information about eye surgery are
going to bend over BACKWARDS to scare you. They want you to know all the risks.
But I asked my surgeon what the probability was that something bad would happen
(or even that my vision would not be corrected better than 20/40) and he said in
all the years he's been doing this, it's NEVER HAPPENED. So learn the risks,
but be aware they're trying to scare you so you won't sue them in the extremely
unlikely event that something goes wrong.
I recommend going to your local eye surgery center and having them do the free
screening to see if you qualify. They should show you an informational video
while you're there. If it doesn't explain the process well enough, tell them
you want to see more! You can probably even watch a real surgery in progress,
I could have done that before I had mine done if I'd wanted to.
Just one quiet word of caution... not all eye surgery centers are alike, I
think. Some have newer technology. So just do your research. Also, ask
around locally and you'll be able to find people who have had the surgery...
ask them where they had it done and how their experience was.
-Sharon L.
Quoting Steven Proe <trails@xxxxxxxxx>:
Hi Sharon: Can you please tell us your age and how long ago have you had the LASIK surgery? Also is there only one type of LASIKsurgery that you had? Can you read newspapers ect with small print, without glasses? If you can provide the name of the bussiness, so that I and others can contact them for additional information. Do you know what your vision was (20-20 example) before the LASIK? Thanks for the info. Steven Proe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Levasseur" <sharon1359@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 7:24 AM Subject: Re: [RC] LASIK (was Did you know??)Just thought I'd speak up here and share my LASIK experience. I used to wear contacts that I could leave in my eyes for up to 30 days (although 3 was my personal max). When I camped with my horse I needed to be able to see as soon as I woke up, rather than having to try to put contacts in my eyes with dubiously clean hands in a dirty dressing room. It worked reasonably well for several years. But I was tired of having to worry about rubbing my eye and either losing one or folding it under my eyelid, getting dirt under them, and all the other stuff that goes along with using contacts. It was especially inconvenient when I went to rides, as I had to remember to bring extra contacts in case I ripped/lost one. It just so happens that I got a new job and switched to Anthem Blue Cross for my health insurance, then found out there was a LASIK discount available. Instead of about $1200 an eye, I could pay only $895 an eye! When I checked into it further I discovered that in order to sign up for the discount program I would need to have the surgery done at a clinic about an hour away; they were the only clinic enrolled in the discount program. However, when I mentioned this to my *local* LASIK center, they said they would MATCH THE PRICE without me running it through my insurance at all! I used my Medical Savings Account (or whatever it's called) to pay for it, and am paying that back out of my paycheck on a weekly basis. The morning after my surgery I was 20/20 and two days later I was 20/15. I am still 20/15 three months later and cannot believe how much easier life has gotten now that I don't have to worry about my contacts. Not to mention how much less STUFF I have to carry in my toiletries bag when I go away to rides!! If you're eligible but you're on the fence... DO IT. You won't regret it. -Sharon L. in Maine =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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