Lasik Eye Surgery for Fisherman

[BigEbass]

Hey Everyone - HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!

I have quite poor vision (near sighted with astigmatism).  I have tried contacts and only tolerate them for one day's usage and for reading somehow they do not work for me - I was told that is because they do not completely correct my mistake astigmatism....I was also told that I would be a prime candidate for lasik....

When I go fishing now I either wear clip on polarizers or I wear my contacts and sunglasses.  When I go swimming or anything else I must try and tolerate the contacts (and I have tried a bunch of brands too to no avail).

Basically with my insurance covering 15% of the cost and from the tax break from a flex spending account it will likely cost me around 2500-2800 bucks.....

Its a high cost, but man would it be nice to not fool with glasses or contacts or whatever - I can afford the cost, so should I take the plunge.

I will add to this your rec's on a good pair of sunglasses too - for both eye protection and durability and comfort.

[BrianinMD]

I had Lasik on December 29th, 2007, I was 20/400 before the procedure and was able to read a clock 10 feet away afterwards. Before the 15 minute process I could only may out the color difference of the clock. It was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. My vision is now 20/20 in one eye, 20/25 in the other. The only issue I have is being a little more sensitive to bright light.

[BigEbass]

I had Lasik on December 29th, 2007, I was 20/400 before the procedure and was able to read a clock 10 feet away afterwards. Before the 15 minute process I could only may out the color difference of the clock. It was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. My vision is now 20/20 in one eye, 20/25 in the other. The only issue I have is being a little more sensitive to bright light.

Awesome - without my glasses I can only see a blurry big "E" - the top big letter on the eye chart - my vision is bad too!! 

[MSPbass]

Yes. Do it. DO IT.

I did about 4 years ago and still can't believe the results. To boil it down: it made my life better.

As far as glasses, anything $200 is going to be high quality. Costa, Maui Jim, Oakley, Smith, whatever. Just find a pair that fits your head well and looks good. I went for a cheaper brand though. Native Eyewear. About $100 a pair and I love them. Great warranty too (I've used it). Have since gotten another pair; so now I have black and amber.

[bwell]

Do it!  I got it done 2 years ago and I am loving it.  It was totally worth the money.

The procedure sucked, and you'll want to get to bed ASAP because your eyes will be a little itchy and you cant see anyways...  Then when you wake up the next morning you can look out the window and see things you could never see before without glasses or contacts!  You wont regret it if you get it done...

If you go through with it, let us know how you like it.

[I.rar]

ive been thinking about doing this also later down the road when money allows. my mother in law has had it done and she says its great. im just concerned about the procedure itself because they remove a piece of eye film? how does that feel? painful? pressure?

personally , i think i would be terrified...

[BrianinMD]

They don't remove it, the lift a flap up but its not fully removed. It is not bad at all, you don't feel anything, the only way you know it happened is if the doc tells you or you notice a change in your vision.

The whole process was 15 minutes for both eyes to be complete. I had no discomfort during or after. They will tell you to keep your eyes closed as much as possible for a few hours afterwards. I got home and took a nap, woke up ready to go.

[bwell]

ive been thinking about doing this also later down the road when money allows. my mother in law has had it done and she says its great. im just concerned about the procedure itself because they remove a piece of eye film? how does that feel? painful? pressure?

personally , i think i would be terrified...

They numb you up pretty good, the only thing you will feel is a little pressure when they put your eye in a vice type thingy (don't let my wording scare you, I don't know what to call it).  Your eyes might itch a little and you have to wear goggles to make sure you don't rub your eyes...

After I got home from mine, I popped a couple Tylenol PM's and drank a beer and I was out cold till the next day (I know that wasn't smart for me to do that but I didn't want to wake up till morning).  Woke up the next morning with crystal clear vision...

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I would highly advise it.  I actually just had it done April 19th and am really pleased.  Mine was $4200, I don't have vision ins. but it was considered "cosmetic" surgery becase I was 20/150 and could be corrected easily.  I would have tried to find cheaper but my wife had it done by the same doctor last year so we had a standing relationship.  Plus he was highly recommended and uses a special laser that is for a stigmatism, I think htye said three or four in the country.  One thing you may want to check into is a GE company called Care Credit, you can get 36 months no interest financing on medical procedures.

[bassdocktor]

I'm actually in the recovery process of surgery right now. Word of caution if you are looking into the LASIK PRK which is the no touch/no cut. Your doctor may tell you you'll see fine in just a few days but its actually closer to atleast 2 weeks.

Today was 3 weeks since I had my eyes lasered and distance is still kind of blurry, there's a sharpness missing. It's kinda like wearing an old pair of glasses. I do go back to the doctor tomorrow so we'll see what he says.

A nice advantage of the PKR is they don't have to cut that little flap so any of the complications from the flap.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

b

I'm actually in the recovery process of surgery right now. Word of caution if you are looking into the LASIK PKR which is the no touch/no cut. Your doctor may tell you you'll see fine in just a few days but its actually closer to atleast 2 weeks.

Today was 3 weeks since I had my eyes lasered and distance is still kind of blurry, there's a sharpness missing. It's kinda like wearing an old pair of glasses. I do go back to the doctor tomorrow so we'll see what he says.

A nice advantage of the PKR is they don't have to cut that little flap so any of the complications from the flap.

I would contact your doctor about that....I had perfect vision 6 hours after my surgery, a little light sensitivity for a few days but vision was not impaired.

[.dsaavedra.]

[bassdocktor]

BigRick it's actually common with the PRL to not have clear vision right away. That's one of the major differences between the cutting LASIK and the one I had.

If you aren't familiar with the PRK they use a laser to reshape the the front of the eye. The reason it takes alittle longer to initially see clearly is that the cells on the front of the eye are regrowing and as they move through your field of vision it can be blurry.

I've actually see the doctor a few times since my surgery and he's happy with how I've been healing.

On an upside no real problems with dry eye. Anyone who's had LASIK knows what I mean.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

BigRick it's actually common with the PKR to not have clear vision right away. That's one of the major differences between the cutting LASIK and the one I had.

If you aren't familiar with the PKR they use a laser to reshape the the front of the eye. The reason it takes alittle longer to initially see clearly is that the cells on the front of the eye are regrowing and as they move through your field of vision it can be blurry.

I've actually see the doctor a few times since my surgery and he's happy with how I've been healing.

On an upside no real problems with dry eye. Anyone who's had LASIK knows what I mean.

Oh ok....I gotcha I had mine cut that's the difference....

[moby bass]

I've thought about this but have never had it done. To tell the truth, I cannot stand to have anything in or touching my eyes.  I cannot wear contacts, I cannot use eye drops.  I know, psychological.  Just reading these posts is making my eyes twitch and water.   

[RWHusker.]

Great thread.  I've been considering but scared.  I'm so blind without contacts/glasses that I about made love to the dog instead of my wife the other night.

I'm checking into it after the great recommendations.

As for sunglasses I wear Costas.  I've stepped on them twice so on my third pair for the price of two.

GO BIG RED!

[bassdocktor]

RWHusker, I'm with you about being scared. I finally decided to do because I was going to have to buy new contacts and also needed to update my glasses so that was gonna make a dent in the payment.

And if it helps my biggest worry was hearing "opps" during the procedure and being blind but my research showed no one has actually been blinded by the procedure. Any major problems like that were associated with infections post-op.

Although the recovery is longer the PRK is nice because the actual lasering of the eye can be as short as 30 seconds. Mine took 1 minute for 1 eye and a minute and 20 seconds for the other.

[I.rar]

thanks guys. doesnt seem as bad the way yall put it but im still worried i would hear the 'oops' too lol. ill look into both procedures and see what i would be more comfortable with.

[I Love BassResource]

The wife and myself both had it done.  It's one of the best investments I've ever made. Painless, quick, and the recovery is quite easy.

[Carrington]

i would say get it, the day i turn 21 i am getting it since thats the earlies the doc will sign off on it.  but at the moment my parents own a golf cart and i cannot even see it if im 15 feet away.  i can only make out a very vague black line that outlines the shape of the cart and thats it.  so i need the procedure lol because im tired of glasses.

[bassdocktor]

Just thought I'd provide an update. Everything is fine just one eye is healing alittle slower. Doc is happy and said it's just alittle bit longer.

Also I went back and changed my previous posts it was actually PRK not PKR.

[MSPbass]

There are no Oops'. It's all done by computer and incredibly precise. No one is actually holding a ray gun or anything. It's a modern marvel I tell 'ya! Freedom from glasses is so worth the cost. DO IT.

[TommyBass]

I had it done around 3 years ago and have perfect vision to this day.  I had relatively poor near vision to begin with, but I may have not been quite as bad as some of you.  I also had a slight astigmatism.  Most of the good doctors can give you an evaluation to tell you if its right for you.  There are several factors that go into you being a canidate, such as cornea thickness etc. 

I could see as good as I could with contacts within 8 hours of surgery.  The biggest blessing for me has been the absense of contacts during my eye allergy season.  My allergies would get so bad that my contacts would always slide around... making fishing and hunting almost impossible without glasses (which I hate).   Now I just live like a normal person with good vision and almost forget I even used to have a problem.

My one bit of advice.... DO NOT skimp on your doctor.  Go big or go home, your eyes are a great gift and there is no sense risking your future vision over a couple thousand dollars.   

[b.Lee]

I have good vision... so i don't know what it is like, but I will say do a lot of research for doctors before taking the plunge.