I was wondering if anyone had this done? About how much is it? Was it painful? Who did you go to? Hubby told me i could get it done but im scared too.

I know people where it worked wonders and others that had serious complications (but eventually got everything fixed and good). I haven't heard of anyone doing it more recently...the complications I heard about were some 5 years ago. It may have improved quite a bit since then. I'd suggest doing some research (non-forum) on what the rates are. It works and it's great, but the side effects if things go wrong really suck until they get fixed (assuming they are correctable).

I was wondering if anyone had this done? About how much is it? Was it painful? Who did you go to? Hubby told me i could get it done but im scared too.

LOVE IT! Went to Lasix plus in Annapolis (Dr. Goel). Improved from 20/2000 to about 20/25. Had moderate discomfort for about three hours after surgery (they tell you to take a nap that long, but I woke up early) I was able to drive glasses free after that.

Cost was $2500 or so (with insurance covering some), but it was the best money I ever spent.

Had it done about 4 or 5 years ago. Needed glasses for driving, reading, etc. Now have 20/20 distance vision, but still need glasses for reading. Doc told me that going in. He said, if you need glasses for reading now, you'll still need them for reading when I'm done." Didn't have the night complications they talk about. The headlights from other cars making the star type things. Now things were very bright for a few weeks. The actual surgery took no time at all and was painless.

I was wondering if anyone had this done? About how much is it? Was it painful? Who did you go to? Hubby told me i could get it done but im scared too.

I had my eyes done a month ago. I went from about 20/400+ to about 20/25 - 20/30. It's only been 4 weeks, so my eyes are still dialing in - they'll tell you it could take up to 6 months to reach the final prescription (my sister took 3 months, my brother-in-law was almost next day). They will also tell you there are no guarantees, and they will (at least mine did) tell you what the risks are.

The trip home from surgery was painful even though I kept my eyes closed the whole way home, but not as painful as I was expecting. Once home I put in the prescribed drops and went to bed and I was "fine" when I woke up. I even went to work the next day - NOT recommended, however!

I had it done at TLC Annapolis, and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone. The cost, before any discounts or insurance, was about $4500, but that was for the custom mapping for each eye and lifetime "enhancements" (read: tune ups). All of my follow-up visits are with my opthalmologist, so I don't have to keep driving up the road.

Consultations are free, so go ask questions, lots of questions! The first thing is to find out if your regular opthalmologist is partnered up with any of the laser centers, and then to see if you're a good candidate.

Even if my eyes never make it to 20/20 I've gone from blind as a bat to seeing, reading (signs), driving and LIVING without glasses. Because of my lenses, glasses cost me over $400 each time - now I have a $20 pair from Wally-World for reading and the computer. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

LOVE IT! Went to Lasix plus in Annapolis (Dr. Goel). Improved from 20/2000 to about 20/25. Had moderate discomfort for about three hours after surgery (they tell you to take a nap that long, but I woke up early) I was able to drive glasses free after that.

Cost was $2500 or so (with insurance covering some), but it was the best money I ever spent.
:yeahthat: Dr. Sonny Goel. Had it in 2001. $3,000.00 with lifetime enhancements. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I was wondering if anyone had this done? About how much is it? Was it painful? Who did you go to? Hubby told me i could get it done but im scared too.

I DO know someone who got it done. Not sure how much, would say about 3-4k, but could be wrong. They said it wasn't painful and they went to a Dr. in Annapolis.
I thought about getting it done myself, but i'm a whimp also...

I was wondering if anyone had this done? About how much is it? Was it painful? Who did you go to? Hubby told me i could get it done but im scared too.
I did it at Lasik Plus in Alexandria in 2004. It was about three grand and was the BEST thing I ever did for myself. It is an intense experience but I wouldn't call it painful. If you are candidate, go for it. I was 20/400 and now I am 20/20 and don't even need reading glasses although they said I might.

I called my insurance company got info on what is covered. Made a appointment with the Lasik Plus Center in Baltimore. They said about 3-4 grand but with my insurance any where from 2200-3400.

Sweet, I am glad you posted this. I was thinking on doing so a few weeks ago but never did. Got some questions answered. I would like to get this done, I am near sideded and only use the glasses when I drive and work. When I get home I take them damn things off.

Could I ask what the ages are of the folks that had the surgery done?

I'm 40, and I've read that it becomes less effective as you age past 40?

Any input?

Thanks!:buddies:

Had it done some years ago while in my 30's. Used my flexible spending account for the tax break and I think the cost was around $800 per eye. Have better than 20/20 now though I'm on the verge of needing reading glasses. Surgery was a breeze, in fact I took the subway to a bus and then drove (shhhhh) 2 miles home from my car (I don't reccommend the last part). Feels like you have sand in your eye for a few hours. Went to work the next day with no problem, could have gone back that evening had I had a night job.

Hubby told me i could get it done

That was very nice of him to allow you to do that. :buddies:

I know. I was very surprised. Hes getting his favorite foods for dinner tonight!

That was very nice of him to allow you to do that. :buddies:
Some hubbies want a wife with good vision... some want big boobies... :shrug:

Could I ask what the ages are of the folks that had the surgery done?

I'm 40, and I've read that it becomes less effective as you age past 40?

Any input?

Thanks!:buddies:

I was over 40 when I had it done and still had good results for distance vision.

Laser surgery does nothing for the presbyopia that comes with age, though. I needed bifocals for reading before I had the surgery and I need "cheaters" now for reading, but I can walk around and drive fine. Some people have gotten monovision done where one eye is corrected for reading and the other for distance. That helps with the reading for a while. My sister had hers corrected that way and she read without glasses into her later 50's

I got it done by Lasik Plus...

Dr Scott is the head Dr there in Annapolis...

I was -5.25 in L and -5.00 in R

and now I see 20/20 :)

the cost was 3100 with lifetime touchups

Could I ask what the ages are of the folks that had the surgery done?

I'm 47 (don't tell anybody!) - the only thing I found regarding age was: if you need reading glasses / bi-focals now, you'll need reading glasses afterwards.

I experimented with contacts a couple of years ago with one eye corrected for reading and the other corrected for distance - maybe if I had requested that be done during the surgery it would have eliminated the need for reading glasses? But all the doctors I spoke with recommended I get both eyes corrected for distance and use the over-the-counter reading glasses.

I had the procedure done about 10 years or so ago - I played collegiate tennis and the combination of contacts and sweat were causing eye infections. My insurance initially denied the surgery, but my coach and my eye doctor actually wrote letters in favor of the surgery and they finally caved - my senior year, with one season left. :killingme Oh well.

I had mine done in Towson, I can't remember the name of the doctor. I was fine before and during the surgery - when I was 'done' and I couldn't see, I flipped out. They actually took me to a little 'quiet room' and gave me a valium because I was really upset about the fact that I 'couldn't see' - no one had bothered to tell me about that part of it. It took a solid 3-4 hours for my vision to completely come back, and then it was blurry for a couple of days - sunglasses when out in the sun immediately after the procedure are a MUST... and even to this day I will get headaches if I don't have sunglasses on while driving or outside unless it's rainy/completely cloudy.

My vision went from about 20/150 or so to 20/15 - I actually had better results than they thought I would (keep in mind that I was 21 at the time too though). The surgery was well worth it, but my vision has changed over the years and I know that I'll have to either start wearing glasses again within 10 years or go back (at my expense this time) to have it 'tweaked'.

The only thing that I really dislike about the procedure is the effect that it had on my night driving... my vision is horrible at night. Especially around streetlights or oncoming headlights of cars - that 'halo' effect stinks and you end up seeing rings around the lights. That does scare me a bit because the night driving seems to be getting worse with age (and I'm only 30) - to the point that it is getting hard to see out after dark, period - halo effect or not.

Could I ask what the ages are of the folks that had the surgery done?

I'm 40, and I've read that it becomes less effective as you age past 40?

Any input?

Thanks!:buddies:I was around 50. About 4 years ago. If you're eyes are still changing because of age, it won't be less effective, you'll probably have to go back again in like 10 years if your eyes keep changing. And like my doc told me, if I was wearing glasses to read now, I probably will have to use them after the surgery. He was right. It only corrects your distance vision. My distance vision is 20/20, maybe a little better.

As reminder to those who work for Uncle Sugar during this open season, you can use the Flexiable Spending Accounts to pay for the part that insurance does not, tax free. Something to think about.

Could I ask what the ages are of the folks that had the surgery done?

I'm 40, and I've read that it becomes less effective as you age past 40?

Any input?

Thanks!:buddies:

I was 46 when I had it done. I was a smoker at the time and for five years after. During that time my night vision was so bad I was not comfortable driving at night. It only got that way after the Lasik. I quit smoking three months ago and the night vision got better to the point I now see better than my husband at night. I don't know how that could be related but it happened that way for me.

I had it done and they messed my eyes up. I think theres a thread still somewhere if you search for it.

I went in for the exam and wanted the surgery as I hate glasses, contacts - the whole mess.
Broke my heart when they told me I could not have it done because my eyes were still changing! Never heard that before. They told me to come back in a few years.
I know two friends who had it and both now need reading glasses, one needs glasses almost all the time so it's not permanent.

I went in for the exam and wanted the surgery as I hate glasses, contacts - the whole mess.
Broke my heart when they told me I could not have it done because my eyes were still changing! Never heard that before. They told me to come back in a few years.
I know two friends who had it and both now need reading glasses, one needs glasses almost all the time so it's not permanent.You must be young if your eyes are still changing.

It is permanent. You will always need reading glasses regardless. They tell everyone that up front. Comes with getting older.

I had mine done at 40 and didn't need reading glasses until I was 47. Even now I only need them if the light is low and the font is small. Well worth the money. :yay:

I got it done by Lasik Plus...

Dr Scott is the head Dr there in Annapolis...

I was -5.25 in L and -5.00 in R

and now I see 20/20 :)

the cost was 3100 with lifetime touchups

Hoover went to the same place and it worked for her... she had stereo-scope done - one eye for distance, one for closeup. It took her a bit of time to adjust to it, but once she did she was good to go. :yay: It took her about 6 - 8 months to adjust.

Since the first procedure she has had to get glasses for night time as her eyes have slipped a bit. Once her prescription holds steady for a couple of years she will have them touched up (for free)

I will be going to LasikPlus in Baltimore.

My old man got it done over 10 years, one of the first few rounds the military was paying for. 40 then, almost 52 now. Went from 20/400 to 20/15. He uses glasses when reading and driving at night now, but other than that he does well. I can only imagine the process has improved over the last decade, so don't worry!

Kinda neat story, since he got in on LASIK when it was still brand new (almost a NAVY test rat), the doctors kinda sucked. His cornea wasn't set properly and started to heal with a wrinkle and a small gap. Had to go back in and get his cornea fixed. I wonder how deep a surgeon would be if that happened these days. :)