Eye Surgery

Beer_Nut

Here and there
Joined
Jun 2, 2004
Messages
1,005
Age
45
Location
Toronto, Canada
I just want to get everyone's opinion on corrective laser eye surgery.

As some of you know I'm trying to get on the police force and I have found that my uncorrected eyesight is not good enough. Therefore my only option is to get laser eye surgery. I found this place where it is within my price range (here). I'm not particularly nervous about it because it seems really safe now, but I just want to get everyones take on it (forget Clockwork Orange references).

Thanks.
 
This is one of the things that really freak me out.. like.. just thinking about it. I have this problem with things close to the eye, or touching the eye.. Uh, it's scary and just the thought of it makes me feel really bad.
But, if you're one of those normal people who don't have an eye problem like mine, I think it's a great thing. It's still really scary to me but I don't see why not to do it if you can afford it and all. Seems good to me.
 
I think you should definately go for it Beer_Nut- especially if that's what you need to do to achive your dream.
I have to put contact lenses in everyday which is a real drag- and also, I always get annoyed when I think about things that I can't do- just because I'm a glasses wearer- for example- I've spent my whole life never being able to see a thing whenever I go swimming as I have to take them off.
I think it's also really unfair what assumptions are made about people who wear glasses (dork, nerd, etc) and I had that a lot of my childhood which is why I'm wearing contacts these days.
I think having the surgery would be worth it as the price of new glasses and contacts every year really starts to build up so having the surgery would mean not having to spend money on glasses anymore.
I wanna get it done someday although I'll probably be scared- I think I'm over eye trauma now though (on account of: poking myself in the eye twice a day to get contacts in and out!)
Definately go for it!
 
B
Beer_Nut
Thanks for the advice
i freak out over that to.. close to the eyes.

but i think Ariana's advice was really good! made sence.. i don't know what it's like though to have to consider it. But what ever you choose i want to seport you in that(as a BB friend and all), and arians advice did make good sence..

and like she said.. If it will help you get to do what you dream of, and get you do be a police officer, i'm thinking in the log run it might be worth it for you.. i think i would do it! (really!) i think it's great that this is posible today though! that one can make eyesight better like that! And yeah it does seem very safe.

anyways i wanted to wish you good luck, hon!

BTW: lol i totaly thought of clock work orange too... LOL
 
One of my friends had it done and it went fine. I was thinking about it as I hate wearing glasses and lenses annoy me. I mentioned it to my opticians and they said if i'm serious about it to come in and speak to them about it as I can do it through them.

Make sure you check out the place first, it is tempting to go for something lower in price but check that they don't make any compromises.
 
Beer_Nut said:
I just want to get everyone's opinion on corrective laser eye surgery.

As some of you know I'm trying to get on the police force and I have found that my uncorrected eyesight is not good enough. Therefore my only option is to get laser eye surgery. I found this place where it is within my price range (here). I'm not particularly nervous about it because it seems really safe now, but I just want to get everyones take on it (forget Clockwork Orange references).

Thanks.

I vaguely considered it too Beer_nut, for similar reasons, but it proved to be either affordable but dodgy, or waaaay beyond my budget. I was curious, since you mentioned Lasik MD was affordable, and it turns out they have a rather fabulous reputation. Damn Canadians. Get all the fun... And all the vision... all the moose... cool hats...
 
B
Beer_Nut
Thanks for the info about Lasik MD, it makes me feel much better.
My mom had it done about 7 years ago (I think it was about that) and she regrets it.

She couldn't see anything far..and after the surgery..she was great. But now, she can't see anything up close! And needs reading glasses.

I just worry because they don't know the long-term success of some of the surgeries..and as you can see it didn't work out very well for my mom.
 
Jill_Valentine said:
Crikey. There's no chance it's just age-related nearsighted-ness?

Apparently they overcompensated the opposite way or something to that effect...but this WAS 7 years ago and the technology has gotten better so that's probably not too much of a concern anymore!

Although we had a seminar here at work on both Lasik and Laser eye surgery and one thing they DID say was they don't know what the long-term results will be really. Not yet anyways.
 
Jenny said:
She couldn't see anything far..and after the surgery..she was great. But now, she can't see anything up close! And needs reading glasses.

They say that your chances of needing reading glasses after the age of 40 is fairly high. But I think I'd rather be able to see distance and need reading glasses, than need bifocals at 40 (which is likely anyway).
 
Beer_Nut, I am an optician and I can tell you that Lasik surgery is very safe, becoming more affordable and depending on your current Rx, you could be completely without glasses for a while. There are some drawbacks to it though that you do need to consider. While they are able to correct for distance vision, there is a chance that somewhere in the future depending on your age that you will need reading glasses sooner that you thought. There is also a slight chance that you will have to go back in a few yrs to have the procedure redone, I have had one particular patient that is having to redo surgery because it didnt last but 5 yrs. Get all the necessary info regarding the procedure and weigh the pros and cons seriously before you commit. Our doctors husband had it done 5 yrs ago and he is doing great still, just do your research.. Let me know how it goes!!
 
B
Beer_Nut
You are a Goddess, thanks alot!
J
Jill_Valentine
Opticians rule! In an eyesight kinda way.
What better advice do you need than SlayersDesitny excellent, professional opinion?

If it were me, and a future job that I wanted depended on it, then I would probably do it. It's getting more common and any repercussions are less now because of technology, so I don't think I'd be scared about side-effects or complications. I"d just be scared about the procedure and recoup time. But, I'd probably do it.
 
SlayersDestiny said:
Beer_Nut, I am an optician and I can tell you that Lasik surgery is very safe, becoming more affordable and depending on your current Rx, you could be completely without glasses for a while. There are some drawbacks to it though that you do need to consider. While they are able to correct for distance vision, there is a chance that somewhere in the future depending on your age that you will need reading glasses sooner that you thought. There is also a slight chance that you will have to go back in a few yrs to have the procedure redone, I have had one particular patient that is having to redo surgery because it didnt last but 5 yrs. Get all the necessary info regarding the procedure and weigh the pros and cons seriously before you commit. Our doctors husband had it done 5 yrs ago and he is doing great still, just do your research.. Let me know how it goes!!

Thanks alot!!! I knew we had a diverse group on here, but an optician... wow. I have done alot of research already and have been to a consultation with another clinic (just way too expensive). I'm not too worried about needing reading glasses because everyone in my family has bifocals. I'd rather need reading glasses than bifocals (imho).

While I am a little nervous, I'm actually really excited to get good eyesight again. I have my consultation with this new place on Friday and if all goes well I may be having the surgery soon, I actually can't wait (in an eerie sort of way.
 
Hmm, I've been thinking about this too, for similar reasons, Beer_Nut (I want to fly Navy helicopters, and I can't do it being as near-sighted as I am) and thanks for starting the thread (Woot for SlayersDestiny for knowing TONS) But I'm in the "I just don't know about the long-term side effects or anything" boat, and I just keep flashing back to that episode of the Simpsons where Bart sees the future, and Ned Flanders has gone blind cause he had Lasik...I know that's silly, but it freaks me out!
 
I'm a bit nervous about these kind of operations myself, but I've heard that the technology has gotten so much better over the years, and with our own board-optician saying it is safe, it probably is safe to do it now.
I would defenitely have one if I could afford it and wanted to do something that really depended on having good eyesight.
 
I would probably do it if it wasnt so expensive, contacts are a pain. I am also a little bit of a chicken, but I think I could do it if it meant no more contacts.
 
I think that you should DEFINITLY go for it!! Imean, you just want to make sure that all of it is safe, and so forth. I have had to wear glasses since I was 10 years old, but now I wear contacts, and it's a pain. If that's your dream, then go for it!! I'm sure that everybody here would support you no matter what!! Good luck!!! :hihi:
 
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and info. I have my consultation on Friday so I'll let everyone know what happens.
 
S
SlayersDestiny
Let me know how it goes!!! I am excited to hear about your consultation!!
I went for my consultation today and I booked my surgery for May 13 (Friday the 13th to be exact... lol... It's a good thing I'm not superstitious).

The place looks pretty good and the people were great. My doctor is going to be Dr. Misra (I really like being able to check her out first). This place is in my price range ($1900 CAD for both eyes and a year's worth of visits).

I'm really excited about it, but also a little nervous. Not about the result, I'm actually nervous about the procedure... gimme that valium, I'm gonna need it.
 
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