Eye Surgery

I had lasik done about 7.5 years ago - the best $3200 I ever spent. Had it done at Gimble's in Calgary. I was -3.0 and -3.5, and now I've stabilized at 20/10 and 20/20. Can't ask for much better than that.

I also had a fair amount of astigmatism. They got it all out of the left eye, but I still have a trace in the right, ie. the only time it effects me when shooting is if I look at a red dot sight, I get a slight ghost under the dot - doesn't effect one's shooting at all, but noticeable at first. Now I don't even really notice it at all. There doesn't seem to be an issue with either irons or scopes.

What a nice world it is without glasses. I wouldn't hesitate to have it done, and recommend it to anyone that asks. Good luck with the descision.

jc
 
My proceedure was done at LasikMD in here Calgary. I can't say enough positive things about the entire experience with that company, location, and it's staff. My friend and his girlfriend went for Lasik shortly after seeing my results, they're also quite happy with the outcome. I am thankful EVERYDAY that I had this done.

BEFORE:

OD: -3.00-0.75x101
OS: -3.50-0.50x007

OD MIN: 45.0 MAX: 45.3
OS MIN: 44.1 MAX: 44.8

I am 29 years old. I had mild dry eye before the procedure. My pupils were larger than average but within the equipment ability. I have thicker than usual corneas. My left cornea has scarring from previous debris damage. The operation was done on a B&L 217z and I used a B&L Zero Compression MicroKeratome.

1 WEEK BEFORE THE OPERATION:

I went through nearly 3 hours of thorough testing on a variety of equipment, many of which I've never seen in any optomitrists office. That day I saw 4 technicians, 1 counseller, and 2 doctors, each of them double checks the previous persons results then does their own set of tests. I was told by my surgeon the risks and likely outcomes based on my results, which were good. I went home confident about getting LASIK done.

SURGEORY DAY:

I spoke with the counsellor briefly, paid my bill, and got my drops, meds, sunglasses, and a few other items. I was then taken to a relaxation room where I met another technician who verbally walked me through the procedure and asked if I had any other questions before we went in. She offered a mild sedative, I took it. We headed to the operating room where I met up with my surgeon again and 3 other techs. After a bit of small talk I laid down on the bed and the procedure started. The eye lid holders didn’t hurt going in and I found them comfortable, the suction ring felt a little strange, the cutter felt cool, folding back my cornea was kind of neat, the laser freaked me out a little because of the snapping sound it makes (I’m a flincher), the burning smell wasn’t bad at all. Meanwhile the doctor is talking me through everything and explaining what he’s doing or about to do. During the operation everyone chatted and laughed, it was relaxing. Everything was over before I knew it. The surgeon tested my eyes and examined them, another technician did the same. 20/20 right off the table. I went back to the relaxation room with my sunglasses and sat for an hour, putting drops in every 10 minutes. My eyes were checked again and I was given the clear to go home. When I got outside I noticed my vision was blurry around the edges, I hopped on the train and made my way home to bed. I slept 2 hours, after which my vision was even blurrier, no pain at all. The rest of the day I took it easy and lounged around the house.

24hr POST-OP:

This check-up took about an hour. Everything was tested and turned out fine. I was retold my drop schedule and went my way home with 20/30 and blurry edges. I also noticed halos around large lights. No pain or discomfort.

1 WEEK POST-OP:

All this week I’ve been having issues with my right eye being fuzzy, there was no sharpness at all. The left eye was great. Halos were gone by the end of the week. I’m not having any issues with dry eyes. I follow the drop schedule to a tee and everything else they’ve told me. Check up went fast, and everything looks great. 20/20 with both eyes. The technician and some nice people on this forum, to me to chill out about the fuzzy right eye, still to early to tell anything. I’ve been night driving without any issues. My night vision is much better than when I had 20/20 with glasses.

1 MONTH POST-OP:

Quick check-up. 20/15 both eyes. No issues. My eyes feel great and are working great. No dryness, halos, bursts, anything. The fuzziness issue is gone, my vision is stable. Next check-up, June 29th.

3 MONTH POST-OP:

Nothing new to report. Quick check-up with the Dr. 20/15 both eyes and no complications or side effects. No halo, starburt, dryness, double vision, or anything. I go back in 9 months for a 1 year evaluation and a 2 hour battery of tests. Now I just wait for the long term outcome, but I feel pretty confident at this point.

UPDATES approx 9 months post op: Things I've noticed...

- My eyes are more sensitive to ciggerette smoke, they tend to get a bit irritated. It goes away.
SMOKERS :rolleyes:

- My night vision is fricken amazing, beyond normal human night vision for sure, and I've been with friends that have witnessed this.

- My outlook, confidence, and mood has all improved. I appreciate having my vision more, and how beautiful some things are visually (swaying trees are so vivid and detailed now, and the color so rich), now that I'm not looking from behind a pane of glass. It's like seeing again for the first time. I can be more active in sports and physical activities. No more worries about getting rain drops, finger prints, scratches, or fogging on my glasses. I hated fogging when walking in to a building from outside in the winter. Grrr!!

Another thing to mention is that the older you are the more likey your outcome won't be the miracle you're hoping for. Between 25 and 35 your vision is at it's most stable, and the best time to have the proceedure done. That doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the operation when you're in your 40's and your eyes are changing again (difficulties seeing up close). It's the best money I've ever spent, period. I'd do it in a heartbeat again without question. It's changed my life.
 
Ontario IPSC shooters will likely know Dr Al, who's got more initials behind his name than I'd ever attempt to get right. He's an eye surgeon but is mostly interested in Glaucoma.

I asked him about the surgery back in 1998-9. He laughed and said that it does work, and works quite well for the right candidates. Then he mentioned that he'd just been to a conference on the subject. Four leading doctors presented papers outlining their techniques. Three of them were wearing glasses during the conference.
 
Worth every penny!! I had it done about 5 months ago. Don't worry about recoil, I was shooting my 338 two weeks after the surgery. (Had to get ready for moose) My eyes were dry for about a month, and any time air was blowing on my eyes for about another month after that. They don't get sore now unless I stay up for more that 30 hrs. I get some glare still in places like a 7-11 with all the exposed lighting, and there is some starburst with street lights or headlights. The reality is, I had those problems WITH my glasses. All the eyedrops make life miserable for a few weeks but it's worth it. I would do it again if it cost $10k

Also, I'm told the reason you may hear of people getting a bad surgery is the doctors fault. Now they don't give the surgery to people who aren't suitable candidates. Testing is a lot better too. Find someone with a good reputation. Remember it's your friggin' eyesight, don't go for the bargain basement eye surgery. Do you want to look through tasco's for the rest of your life or swarovski's?
 
Very few people have complications and regrets, but those cases definitely exist. it's all probability and statistics until the sample is drawn and you end up on one side or the other. The fact that complications are unlikely will not diminish the effect - if it happens to you, it happens 100%.

The probability of something going wrong is probably better than winning the lottery. have you ever played the lottery? if so, clearly you thought you could hit that remote chance. So the chance of a problem with eye surgery is just as possible.

In the end, you need to ask yourself: "Do I feel luckly?" ;) as long as you know the risks, and if you are willing and happy to deal with the reasonable worst case scenario, you're good to go!
 
Lazerus2000 said:
3.] Divers and pilots may notice vision distorting with pressure changes [ barotrauma ]

LAZ
Click to expand...

I had laser surgery in 1995. Before the operation I could not read anything, or recognize someone 3 feets away. Now I have a perfect vision. The operation litterally changed my life.

The only downside is that I lost maybe 15% night vision... not enough to cause me any problems, but I do notice it sometimes.

I dive and fly and never had any problems...
 
laser eyes

just stumbled across this (ancient) post and thought i'd throw in my two cents worth in case anyone is thinking about laser. had mine done over six years ago, and in general couldn't be happier. having worn glasses since the age of 7 (i.e.41 years), i can honestly call the procedure a life-altering experience of the best kind. vision is now 20/20 in one eye and slightly better in the other. no glasses needed except the last couple of years, now reading glasses are a fact of life. this is something, by the way, that has nothing to do with and cannot be corrected by laser or anything else. it's just a natural result of the aging of the eyes. for driving, work, and life in general i have no need of glasses and sure as hell don't miss them.

on the flip side, there are a few negatives. my night vision, never the best, has declined somewhat. the "starburst" effect around point light sources after dark is still prevalent, though not troublesome. sensitivity to bright sunlight is increased. eyes may be uncomfortably dry more often than for most folks. most importantly, my vision, although 20/20 and better, is still not up to the level of my eyeglass-corrected, pre-surgery levels. i now wear prescription shooting glasses for all shooting activities.

but so what??? I DON'T WEAR GLASSES ANYMORE!!! all of these little inconveniences and gripes don't hold a candle next to that!

in short, LASIK has vastly improved almost all facets of my day to day life, and i would do it again in a heartbeat.

p.s. when i had mine done, i did both eyes at the same time, and was back to work two days later. at the time of the surgery, i was offered some painkillers and something "to relax you" just before i went in. i declined. based on my experience of the next 24 hours, i strongly suggest that you accept the little pills.
 
Originally Posted by Lazerus2000
3.] Divers and pilots may notice vision distorting with pressure changes [ barotrauma ]

LAZ
Click to expand...

1000+ dives since surgery, to 200ft, no distortion what-so-ever. taking my pilots permit this fall.
 
i tried to do it and couldnt. i was stressed the day of the surgery ( not about the surgery) and when i got to the clinic i asked for valium. an hour later the nurse hadnt given it to me and now i was really annoyed. they gave me the valium 10 minutes before the surgery ( obviously it had no effect) took me in the room told me to lie down, yanked my eye open without telling me what was happening then shined this crazy bright light in my eyes. i kept saying i cant take the light but the jackass kept trying to force my other eye open. i finally reached up and covered my eye and he stopped. i said i cant take the light in my eye its killing me. he said " you will be happy with the results" i said i dont give a #### about the results if i cant take the light in my eye i cant sit still for this. doctor said " ok we will give you your money back goodbye'
i think the stress from the start of the day combined with the stress of dealing with knobs at the clinic ramped me up and i became too sensitive to what was going on. i was pissed after and im not sure if i want to try again.
how did you take that goddamn light blasting in your eye??
 
JLJ said:
how did you take that goddamn light blasting in your eye??
Click to expand...

That was the most uncomfortable part of the process for me - and I did it twice in 6 months (undercorrection the first time). You were suffering from anxiety, no question.

I am usually a very tolerant individual - BUT TAKE THE DAMN PILL!! It will much lessen your discomfort. It's mostly mental anyway, ie. it was worse the second time for me because I knew what to expect.

Love the results though - no glasses! :dancingbanana:
 
Sharkson said:
That was the most uncomfortable part of the process for me - and I did it twice in 6 months (undercorrection the first time). You were suffering from anxiety, no question.

I am usually a very tolerant individual - BUT TAKE THE DAMN PILL!! It will much lessen your discomfort. It's mostly mental anyway, ie. it was worse the second time for me because I knew what to expect.

Love the results though - no glasses! :dancingbanana:
Click to expand...


i wanted the pill and kept asking but the asshats didnt give it to me until 10 minutes before surgery.; i kept asking and they kept saying " plenty of time no need to worry"
 
I once had a biopsy done on my eye...the doctors seemed genuinely surprised that I couldn't just sit there and relax...'Don't move your eye now.." as he leans over and tries to take a slice with a scapel...A F*CKING SCAPEL.

After 10mg of valium I was able to let them do it but whoa...talk about creepy.

jl
 
So I'm thinking about sucking it up and getting this done (I'll finally be able to use open sights comfortably :dancingbanana: )

What are the recent going rates? I know they had it starting at $498/eye or similar but I'm sure they'll find a million reasons to double or triple the price.

Anyone had it done recently? What was the damage?
 
Had mine done a year ago today, cost me $2400.

The results are mixed, right eye is better than 20/20, no reduced vision at nite or any kind of starburts. The left eye is a different story, come out legaly blind, major loss of vision at nite and nothing but starbursts.

One year later the eye has self corrected to 20/40 with some loss of nite vision and some starburst at nite. The up side to this, I don't notice that anything is wrong unless I close my right eye and my dominate eye is the right eye so it did not affect my shooting at all.

Going this friday to see what going to be done with it, after 8 visits the eye has not stabalized yet for any kind of correction. Hopefully this time is it.

So my opinion is; right eye says "go for it" and the left eye says "you must be nuts".
 
I followed this thread for quite a while and it was one of many factors that pushed me into having Lasik performed. Mind you I vacillated for over 3 years because I really don't want anyone screwing with my eyes. I never wore contacts because I couldn't put them in. The whole open your eye and stick your finger in made it impossible for me to use contacts. Hopefully that's enough background re hesitation and being scared ####less.
I had Lasik done on my right eye which was 20/400 (yes, four hundred). My left eye is/was 20/25.
One month later, and getting better each week, right eye is now 20/20. No night loss. No haloing.
Surgery cost 2700 at Bochner in Toronto. Absolutely no pain, no trauma, didn't run out of the place like I was prepared to do. Frankly the whole thing was over before I realised that they had actually started. (Total time 3.5 minutes on the bench).
Excellent follow up and proactive approach.
I don't know what the 'bright lights' are that others have commented on but it was the best use of money since my LE carbine. Hey, maybe I'll actually be able to see the target now!
Regards,
Maim08
 
Maxin08, you're the first post which mirrors exactly how I feel. Can't even think about touching my eye without flinching myself into spasms.

Would love to get my eyes fixed, just more worried about screwing things even worse. I am 20/400 in one eye too....yoinks that sucks.

I hate the thought of losing night vision......cause when the Zombies attack, that's usually when they come around, and if I get chewed on because I couldn't see them.....i'd be P.O'd. :runaway:

Seriously though, I think its time I went and talked to 30 other docs to get lots of opinions....

I appreciate all the info though, more is always good too. Thx everyone.
 
Getting mine zapped tomorrow! A little nervous, but mostly excited. Let ya know how it turned out on Friday, no TV, reading or computer for 24 hours after...hopefully, that'll be the only bad thing!
 
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