Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Anyone ever had Lasik?
Or any similar laser eye surgery?
I'm going slowly insane with my contacts. Ever since I started spending more time on the computer at this job actually having to do things like write up project plans and budgets my eyes start to burn. I bought rewetting drops and they help immensely, but I don't want to have to spend about $10 a week just so I don't feel like clawing my eyes out. Plus, these contacts are costing me $100 for a 6 month supply. At this point... Lasik seems almost economical.
I have -7.5 in the left eye and -6.5 in the right (translate: blind as a bat) so I'm worried about the whole corneal thickness business. Anyone had a correction with that bad of a prescription?
Tell me your tales and ease my worries. I don't want to try to get this fixed only to end up blind.
Re: Anyone ever had Lasik?
I had it done 9 years ago and it could be the best money I've ever spent.
Don't go cheap. We're talking about your eyes, so you want the best that you can afford. I spent $1800 per eye.
Research your docs. While mine didn't have the thousands of procedures that others did, he was the head of corneal transplant surgery at one of the top 10 hospitals in the country and the guy that all the other docs sent their Lasik patients with flap issues to for correction, so I felt comfortable having him do it because if they screw up your flap, you're going to have issues.
Follow the post op instructions TO THE LETTER. This includes no TV the day of surgery and no computer for a few days (you tend not to blink as much during these activities and it could cause your flap to dry out). Put those drops in every hour like they tell you, whether you think you need them or not. I did all of this and had zero problems. A coworker who had Lasik and then went home and watched TV didn't end up with the vision she would have liked.
And when they read you the surgical release form and go over all the possible complications "up to and including enucleation (removal) of the eye" don't freak out. I asked how often these horrible complications happened, and was told "only when someone doesn't follow the directions."
My husband did, he was also in the blind as a bat catagory (he was so blind that when he started looking into the laser eye surgery he was afraid that he wouldn't look good without glasses...he didn't know what he looked like because he'd never been able to see himself clearly without them).
he got laser (not PRK) about a year ago. He has an eye phobia (can't even put contacts in) and he still said it was the easiest thing and best thing he's ever done. They give you drops to take for 5 days before hand, you go in and they put numbing drops in and put a little clamp around your eye (this is the most uncomfortable thing but still not bad) the laser itself for him was 45 seconds an eye (for people having it done beside him theirs was only about 15 seconds an eye, so this will depend what kind of problem you have), they give you more drops and shades and have you sit for a few minutes then off you go home to sleep. They give you a pill that'll help you relax during the surgery and then one afterwards that will help you sleep.
He had to keep the glasses on for 3 days or something afterwards and no tv, computer,reading...anything that will strain your eyes, no shower for 24 or 48 hours also no exercising for 2 weeks since it also puts stain on the eyes. It'll be the most boring few days of your life. and if your H can leave and stay somewhere else the day of the surgery it's a plus, since you'll really just need to sleep. His eye was red for about 2-3 weeks afterwards but felt fine (this is normal)
H was given the okay to drive without his glasses the day after his surgery. He was nearly 20/20 already.
because one eye wasn't QUITE 20/20 he did go back for a touch up about a month ago in that eye but after doing it once already it was nothing, and he figured he might as well go for perfect. He constantly tells people how it was one of the best decisions of his life. Everything is easier, and he's more confident.
I love you both for that. Ok... I need to bite the bullet and do it.
My mom had it done about 9 years ago and she likes it, but she has all kinds of issues like halos over lights and dry eyes. But, she's always had dry eyes. She also still needs glasses to drive. Then there was the guy I worked with who went back to work the day after and he's had a horrible horrible time with pain and not being able to see at all.
Lesson learned, the bad experiences I've seen are not the only experiences.
Things have also changed A LOT in the way they do things over the last 9 years. This was still a pretty new procedure then.
Just pay attention to the eye drops, and baby your eyes after the procedure, you have to remember it is a major surgery so you are going to need some time to let your eyes heal. going back to work the day after seems like a horrible idea. You'll be fine, best of luck:)
I want!!
I am worried about dry eyes, since mine seem to be on the dry side already. My whole body seems to be on the dry side lately.
I had it done about 9 years ago because I could not get the hang of contacts. I was also in the blind as a bat category, and had to have my eyes done at two different locations (right eye was nearsighted, left eye had astigmatism) best money I ever spent, about $2,500. My brother had it done about 15 years ago (in Canada with a SCALPEL ugh, I had a laser) and still sees auras at night around lights. I never had this problem.
The 2 worst things about Lasik for me was 1) smelling my eyes burning as they zapped it while I was awake and 2) the annoying as hell itching that I couldn't do anything about other than pouring eye drops all over my eyes every 12 seconds for the next few days.
I had Lasik done 12 years ago because the contacts were a pain in the butt. The most important first step is to find the most qualified retinologist to do the procedure. Back in 2000 I found a Dr. who had done 15,000 Lasik surgeries and I spoke to 2 of his patients who had similar eye health as I did (blind as a bat and a detached retina!). It's also critical that you find out from your retinologist if you are a good candidate for Lasik. I was a good candidate and now I see 20/20 in both eyes which is miraculous.
Take your time with this process and remember: only hire the best, most qualified retinologist to do the surgery. You only get 2 eyes in your life and once the Lasik is done it can't be reversed. Good luck!
I got Lasik in 2007. I love it! Sadly my eyes weren't quite stable yet, though luckily they are changing very slowly. I have just recently started to notice my sight starting to get a little out of focus, not bad enough yet that I feel I need to go back for glasses though, maybe in a couple years. But then again I was only 19 when I got mine done
so maybe I should have waited a bit. Definitely find a good doctor, that is most important. My Dr had done a ton of surgeries and even taught other doctors how to preform lasik, he also did the surgery on 3 people I know (my aunt, chiropractor, and our bank account rep at work) and all had amazing results.
I was naughty and got on my computer when I got home, but I blinked constantly for the few minutes I was on itbecause I didn't want to hurt my eyes haha