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Ruby Mountain BearsOkay, I am making an appointment today to see a surgeion in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I have developed very bad astigmatism in one eye. Last year my Dr. told me I was a good candidate for lasik. So I am going for it. 
I hope.
Has anyone here had it done. My brother in law had it done about 10 years ago and said it was the best thing he'd ever done.
Give me your feed back.
Kathy
My neighbor had it done a long time ago... said it was the best thing she ever did.
Wild Thyme OriginalsI've also heard nothing but fabulous things about Lasik..... I'm sure that as with any surgery, you should carefully investigate the qualifications of the surgeon... etc.... My aunt had it done a few years ago, and has been really pleased with the results! I SHOULD have it done... I am legally blind without huge "coke bottle glasses." I wear extended wear contacts most of the time. My eyes are just awful! Though my near vision (anything within three feet of my eyes) is actually much better than normal! Go figure! I guess it's some sort of compensation! I can't even recognize my own children without lenses though if they are standing 5 feet away from me!
Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild tHyme Originals
Ruby Mountain BearsOkay I did it I have an appointment, next tuesday. YEAH for ME!!!!!!!!!!!! This is just for a comprehensive two hour exam to make sure I am a good candidate. But still Excited.
kathy
Past Time BearsGo for it, Kathy and much good luck!
I had LASIK done in SoCal about 7 years ago by a man who, at the time, was something of a pioneer in the field, and had done some of the FDA research required to sanction the operation for certain purposes. My vision, at that time, was at -9 diopters, or more, in each eye, and my major correcton was for astigmatism. My glasses were about as coke-bottle as they get, with incredibly thick edges due to my big astimatic correction.
The surgery went flawlessly; took about 15 minutes; required literally just a day of healing time, during which the worst it got was a feeling of real "scratchiness" in my eyes (that every contact lens wearer also knows too well!) I could see almost perfect, literally, IMMEDIATELY after the surgery completed. I slept for a day and then saw things I hadn't seen, without prescription lenses, in my entire life memory.
My eyes have waned back toward "imperfect" in the time since my operation, as eyes tend to change. But what that means, in practical terms, is that I'm seeing at about 20/30 in one eye and 20/50 in the other. I use wafer-thin glasses only when it's pitch black and raining, or when my eyes are EXTREMELY tired... and I don't really need them, even then. Before LASIK, though, the first thing I did upon waking was put on my glasses... and then, once my face was washed, my contacts. I couldn't function, on any level, without them.
Just fyi, my original vision was estimated to be something like 20/3000 in both left and right eyes. Meaning that I needed to be a near 20 feet away from something the "normal" person could see from a distance of 3000 feet. Eek!
I don't think calling LASIK a miracle is too strong a word choice. I had worn glasses since the age of 5 and couldn't recognize people from five feet away (very like Kim) by the time I was in early teens. I was afraid to swim in the ocean because I literally had such blurry vision I could not find the shoreline once out to sea. No joke. In college, I broke my nose by swimming face-first directly into a windsurf board, from deeper depths, as I shot upward through the water toward the surface after falling in, because I couldn't make out the difference in colors and contrast between the board and the water surrounding it. Seriously. Swim... whack! Ouch.
Most people I've talked with find their procedure goes smoothly, without pain to speak of (all the "work" is done UNDER the flap and away from the corneal nerves), with a quick recovery, and brilliant results. My sister, and at least five of her friends -- all of whom are from the SoCal area -- worked with the same doctor, and every one of those people is an evangelical convert to the cause.
I say, go for it, and with gusto! Make sure you have a reputable doctor with many procedures under his belt; eye surgery is not the place to go bargain shopping. And then whee! You can see!
My doctor, for anyone interested, was Dr. Glenn Kawesh, and at the time of my procedure, he was located in SoCal, in the LaJolla/San Diego-ish area.
Good luck!
Ruby Mountain BearsHi Shelli,
I had been putting it off because I was afraid. I had better than perfect vision until the age of 35 when I began to see a blur on the screen. Since then my vision in my left eye has a correction of -6.00 +4.00 I am literally blind now without my glasses. Even with the correction I can't see perfectly. I have real trouble making out anything far away. My right eye is still fairly good. Last year the New doctor (cause we moved) thought that maybe I had Kerataconus, a really scary disease that leads to blindness. Fortunately the test determined I did not. Just some defect in my Cornea that has caused this vision deterioration.
There is absolutely no family history of any eye disease. In fact my Grandmother is still alive and sees very well. My father doesn't wear glasses, and my mother only now needs them to read at 65. My fathers mother, and father never wore glasses either. Great Grandparents lived until their 90's with good vision.
I am hoping that Lasik will restore my vision. I shouldn't have waited so long.
Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Kathy
Don't be afraid. It's really not painful or creepy -- especially once you get that pre-surgery Valium in you; whee! -- and unless you're one of those folks who is entirely grossed out by "all things eye," you'll probably find it even less time-consuming and annoying than a visit to the dentist. You even get to lie back in a chair much like a dentist's chair.
Your eye problem does, indeed, sound scary. Hopefully, LASIK will be corrective for you. I know what it is to feel blind and disoriented. Not a happy place, that.
Please let us know how it goes for you. I'll keep fingers crossed, since not everyone is a good candidate, for a variety of reasons.
Good luck!
Apple Dumpling DesignsKathy,
Having had several eye surgeries myself I can attest that they are not painful. The worst part is the scratchiness post-surgery that Shelli spoke of. I would do whatever it takes to preserve your vision because once it's gone you can't get it back. If your doctors think Lasik is a viable option for you then you should do it. My best advice is to make sure you are comfortable with your doctor and they take time to explain everything and answer ALL your questions. I am very fortunate that my eye doctor is incredibly generous with his time and compassion. You will look back and think "that was so easy."
Best of Luck,
Shantell
I had Lasik about 5 years ago. No problems here, my eyes are still about perfect. I was also near blind when I had the surgery. They really numb you up for the surgery and the vallium relaxes you. I think each eye took less than 10 mins. I know scratchiness is normal, what helped was sleeping all day the day of the surgery, I woke up the next day with no pain itchiness or anything. I wore protective eye shileds at night, so I wouldn't rub my eyes while sleeping, but was able to drive right away. So much better than having to wear glasses or contacts. I have super sensitive eyes and never had a problem with the surgery!
Posts: 8,574Wow Shelli, what a great description and encouraging word you had for
Kathy. You explained a lot for me too...I am so glad you had such a positive experience......Kathy yu'll be in our hearts and prayers when the time comes, god luck and keep us posted!
:hug:
dilu
Good luck with your eye surgery Kathy - hope that it is a reall sucess.
Hugs
Carolyn
Baird'sBears
Do It, Kathy!
My little Sis had it done 4 years ago, and loved the results!
Eileen
Posts: 3,540I've been reading this thread with great interest, as I'd wanted LASIK done years ago. I was a bit put off by friends saying it created nightblindness. I do have to say, this was back in the early 90s in Oregon, so by now the proceedure MUST be improved.
I'd say GO FOR IT!!! It sounds like it really will work wonders for you :hug:
Ruby Mountain BearsI have done some research on it and am pleased with the choice of Dr. I am going to Salt Lake City, the Dr there is a pioneer in the latest technology and helped to develop the new wave front Lasik. So that's why I chose him, plus my case is not the norm and I wanted some one with Good credentials and experience with abby normal!!! HA HA
anyway My friends mother had hers done by him last month and could see perfectly almost immediately.
thanks for the encouraging statements, I'll let you know how it goes.
Hugs,
Kathy
Posts: 1,277Best of luck, Kathy. I hope it goes well for you.
I too am blind without glasses or contacts. I have had accidents like running into things if I don't have my glasses on. Not so long ago I was going into the kitchen and missed the doorway just a little. 
That didn't feel too good. And on a rare occasion I've misplaced my glasses...talk about panic. I really should find out if I'm a candidate for lasik. If my eyes could be fixed, I would have to call it a miracle.
Terries BearsI also had lasik about 5 years ago, and I agree with Shelli.....miracle is not too strong of a word. It definately changed my life! I never went anywhere without my contact lenses, spare contact lenses and glasses! My glasses were also the "coke bottle" variety.
Debbie I think that the problems with night bllindness depended somewhat on the shape of your eye and I am sure they have made a lot of progress in the last few years.
Kathy, my sister had her eyes done this summer with that new surgery that they are doing for astigmatism and she didn't have any problems either. Good luck with your appointment and keep us posted.
UKGood Luck for Tuesday Kathy !!
Kim-Bee BearsGood luck :hug: I havent had any personal dealings with Lasik but I hear good things
Ruby Mountain BearsSo I went to the doctor today! 
I am not a candidate for lasik. The good news is that my husband who insisted I get this second opinion, is to be greatly thanked.
Last year as I had mentioned before, the Dr. here in town thought that I had a condition called Kerataconus which leads to blindness. When he ruled out Kerataconus, He said that I could have Lasik to restore my vision. I was trepidacious being a spineless coward. Finally I decided I was ready to do it, my husband insisted that I go to a specialist in Salt Lake City for a second opinion.
Anyway when the Doctor looked at my eye mapping he knew exactly what was wrong with me. Not Kerataconus, but his ugly step brother. A condition called
Pelliculis Marginal Degeneration of the Cornea. Basically that same outlook as for Kerataconus. It causes a deformity in the Cornea that progressively worsens. I do have some options. I will be having corneal implants to try to stabilize my cornea and improve my vision, and hopefully stop the progression of disease.
God's hand is so easy to see after the fact. A friend at work ( her mother actually) just had Lasik so I asked where she had gone and was going to go there, anyway she couldn't remember the place her mom had gone. So I looked one up on the net. Found a place that specialized, reputable etc.
Turns out the Doctor I saw today specialized in Corneal disease, for ten years he has been working in Corneal transplant in Wake-forest, and the last five years with corneal implants. Yeah for me!!! That's how he knew immediately what was wrong with my eye. Anyway I will be having the implants on Feb. 1. He also told me if I had had the Lasik last year when it was offered to me I would be blind now.
God is so good to me. I know it was the grace of God that guided me to this Doctor at this time, He just came back to Salt Lake this past year!!!
So I ask you all to pray that this surgery can restore some of my lost vision, and stop the progression of this disease.
HUgs, Kathy
Upstate New YorkOh Kathy ...
You have received some very good news for sure, and you've been protected!
And HEY ... February 1st is a good day, it's my birthday!
:hug:
Goodness, what a hard thing to hear, Kathy; but yes, I think there seems to be some divine handiwork in how all this worked out for you. I'm glad you found someone to assist you, whatever the method, and wish you the best of luck. I'll be thinking of you on February 1st...
:hug:
Terries BearsKathy, that is too bad that restoring your sight isn't going to be as easy as you first thought but at least there is help and I agree, it was more than luck that guided you to this specialist. I will also be thinking of you on Feb 1.
Apple Dumpling DesignsKathy,
It sure sounds like little angels have been guiding you. I'm so sorry to hear that things will not be as easy as you had first thought. I completely understand your fears as I too am going through eye stuff that seems to be never ending.
I'm off today to hopefully have my eye reopened (long boring story).
Love and prayers coming your way...
Shantell
Past Time BearsGood, good vibes being sent to both of you - Shantell and Kathy. You surely did have some wonderful guidance in going the proper direction with your eye problems, Kathy. Shantell, I hope your procedure will be successful and Kathy, you will be in my thoughts on Feb. 1. :hug: :hug: :hug:
