Lasik Surgery...

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008, 19:35 (GMT) Post subject: Lasik Surgery...

Well, after being close to legally blind for about the past 43 years or so, I go in two weeks from now for Lasik. Actually, to be technically accurate, PRK, a variation of lasik since my corneas are just a bit thinner than average. Other than that apparently I'm an ideal candidate with really healthy eyes.

I know LOTS of folks have had Lasik, I'm curious as to who has had PRK surgery? It was thoroughly explained to me... as a matter of fact, this place is incredible... a 2-hour consultation entailing about 10 different types of tests, many which I'd never done before in my life. I DO know the healing time is longer on PRK and that it takes longer to achieve the end result, but was told that often the end result is actually BETTER than with traditional Lasik.

If anyone has anything they'd like to share on this, I'd welcome it.

Brad Venable · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008, 20:10 (GMT) Post subject:

I've been thinking about this too, Scott.

Good luck and hope all goes well.

Brad

Todd Ethridge · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008, 21:06 (GMT) Post subject:

One of my former co-workers just had it done a couple of weeks ago and he is SO glad.

He said the doctor was a few minutes late coming in and when he arrived he said, "whew, the hangover just wore off and my hands are finally steady." Laughing

Caryn Clark · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008, 21:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Can't help you on the PRK question - but good luck with it all.

Getting LASIK was the best thing I ever did. I was only sorry I waited so long to do it.

And, I was blind... -8.5 prescription for contact lenses.

Jim Feldman · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008, 22:06 (GMT) Post subject:

i had my lasik procedure done almost 10 years ago, and i, too, couldn't be happier with the results!!

after the surgery i was seeing star bursts at night when I would look at lights (ie headlights), but that lasted for a few months and i've been seeing clearly every since!

a friend of mine had it done too, though i think she had the PRK. it took her a long time to heal. but she's much better now and also loving it.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008, 22:54 (GMT) Post subject:

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008, 01:09 (GMT) Post subject:

This guy had it done and it didn't turn out so well... be careful!

Diane Havens · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008, 14:19 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott --
Thoughts and prayers for the best results and speediest recovery!
(Brave man!)

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008, 16:02 (GMT) Post subject:

I started wearing glasses in 1954 and got contacts in 1976. Then, a couple years ago I had surgery. It wasn't lasik or PRK; I had cataracts, but the result is the same: for the first time since I was 5 years old I can wake up in the morning and see! Actually, in one way having cataract surgery is better than lasik: it was covered by insurance. And for me, the operations were no more stressful than going to the dentist (something that doesn't freak me out). Good luck. I'm sure you'll be very pleased with the results.

Allison Scussel · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008, 01:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Sorry for responding so late, but I've been MIA for several days b'c of medical reasons. (not eye related)

Scott, I had Lasik just over two yrs ago. Not PRK, just the regular. What exactly is the difference between PRK and the typical lasik?

Eye surgeries have come a long way over the years and are constantly improving. My eye doctor, board certified for over 30 years, has to have staff meetings approx once a month because of the speed in which technology is moving.

My vision was -450 in the left and -500 in the right eye with a stignatism. I was driving the day after the surgery. Night time vision took a bit longer to heal. Like JimRon said, you'll experience that "halo" look for about 6 months.

Dry eye is also very common. Air conditioning and/or heating can really dry your eyes out, so buy yourself a pair of goggles to wear for a while. Walmart sells them for $4 in the automotive section. You'll also be using lasik moisturizing drops for about 6 months.

It took me 6 weeks after surgery before I could make my own tears. I was on a flight to LA when they started to show comedy skits. I laughed so hard, I finally created my own tears. The stewardess thought I was really upset. My friend had to explain that I was actually thrilled that I was crying all on my own.

For the actual procedure, they'll probably give you 5mg of valuum to relax you. It's just enough to take off the edge and anxiety.

Each eye takes 5-10 minutes. While they prepare to work on one eye, they'll tape the other one closed. When my doctor pried the one eye open for surgery, I was ditzy from the medication and had to crack a joke. "Did anyone see the movie, 'A ClockWork Orange?'" My doc burst out, "I love that movie!"

The benefits from lasik far outweigh the side effects. Wish you lots of luck and enjoy your new vision!! By Christmas, you'll be thrilled with the results.

TTYL Allison

Scott Pollak · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008, 02:44 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for all the feedback, Allison. So far I have yet to meet or hear from one single person who wasn't thrilled.

PRK is the only type of corrective eye surgery that the Navy will accept for pilots. In other words, if a prospective pilot has had lasik they won't consider him, and my doctor said that often the end result from PRK is BETTER than from Lasik, which, I guess, is why the Navy has that stipulation.

Here's the difference and here's a link:
http://www.eyetopics.com/articles/54/1/PRK--LASIK-Without-the-Flap.html

As the link says, PRK is lasik without the flap. For people like me with thinner corneas, Lasik would risk cutting too deeply into the eye since they FIRST cut a protective flap, peel it back, THEN do the corrective cutting. PRK, on the other hand, is the ORIGINAL Lasik where there is no flap cut, and instead the correction is done directly on the front of the cornea. The healing time is longer and there's a bit more discomfort. For the first 24-48 hours I'll need some mild pain relief and my eyes will feel irritated. It'll take 4-6 days to really start seeing pretty well, and up to 3 months to get to where things are crystal clear.

The BIGGEST difference between the two is that the results and healing time from Lasik are much quicker than from PRK.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008, 08:10 (GMT) Post subject:

When I had my cataract surgery they gave me three types of eye drops. One was an analgesic. They also gave me a prescription for some sort of pain killer but I never needed to fill it.

Claire Dodin · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008, 10:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Scott!
Good luck with this!
I also have a friend who's had this surgery (I imagine she had the regular one) and although she hated the actual surgery, she is sooo happy with the results! She said the best part was to be able to see the shampoo bottle in the shower! She recommends the surgery to everyone.
It will change your life!
Very Happy

Deby Cedars · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008, 12:30 (GMT) Post subject:

I highly recommend an herb called eyebright. That is the name of plant. It has little blue flowers....google it!

Caryn Clark · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008, 12:38 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott, now that I'm thinking about it, I think I almost had to have PRK. I think b/c my vision was so bad to begin with, and I had very dry eyes to start. I think that's why... I don't remember exactly. Turns out I didn't though, and I had Lasik.

However, I do recall that my friend (who also happens to be my eye doctor's wife) had PRK. I recall talking to her about it when I thought I might have to have it... she said it was no big deal, just that the downtime/healing time was longer. I think she said a couple of weeks before you're 100%, as with Lasik, it's just a couple of days.

As far as the halos go, I had Lasik 3 years ago, and I still get them at night... I really can't drive at night, unless it's in my town b/c I'm familiar with it. It is apparently the product of the surgery combined with the very poor vision I had to begin with (-850).