Actually its a very short procedure..i dont think it lasts more
than 30 mins. it is just the high precision thats invloved.
no pain as well..just some iritation. its one of those things:
if all goes well, you will be really realy happy..but if it screws
up..then there may be no turning back.

Sounds pretty dangerous... do you really have to keep your eyes open and stare into a light for 2-3 mins? Do they put some thing in your eye first? I can't even keep my eyes open for 30 seconds without dust going in them and making me blink! Personally I would never get it done, there's always a risk of you going blind instead of getting "perfect vision". Anyway, if you do decide to give it a try best of luck with that, make sure you make the right decision and get all the information you need from proffessionals!

I've had lasik, I'm incredibly happy with it. I can actually see better than 20/20. I had it done at Boling Laser Center in South Bend, IN (they're one of the best in the country).

The procedure: First, you have the pre-op evaluation. That is just a standard eye exam and then you look into a machine that makes a map of your eyeball for the computer. After that, they dilate your eyes and put numbing drops in your eyes as well. The numbing drops are so they can touch your eyeball with a special instrument that measures the pressure in your eyes. It doesn't hurt. You just see a blue light coming toward you. No biggie.

48 hours before they give you Vitamin C, some eyedrops, and pre and post op instructions.

You have to take 1000mg of Vitamin C for 48 hours before and 48 hours afterwards. The Vitamin C is to promote healing. I was told that it would be best to start Vitamin C a week prior to surgery instead of just 48 hours before, so I did. I think it helped.

There are two sets of eye drops. One is a steriod eye drop that is supposed to help prevent any kind of inflammation you may have post op. You have to take that 3x/day 48 hours before and then continue the drops for 2 weeks afterwards.

The other eyedrop is an antibiotic (to prevent infection). You have to take that for 2 weeks after the surgery.

The operation is relatively quick. Prior to the surgery, they double check everything and make sure nothing has changed in the couple of days between pre-op and day of. They give you a valium to relax you if you want. The valium is just to sedate you so you aren't too anxiety ridden. You don't have to take it if you don't want to.

After the valium, they give you some numbing drops and it's off to the first laser suite where they make a laser incision in the lens of your eye. You don't really feel anything. They keep your eyes open with lid calipers which are kind of creepy and makes you feel like you're going to be tortured (hense why you want the valium) but they don't hurt. A little bit of pressure but that's it. It doesn't hurt at all. The flap creation takes about a minute and then you have to wait 20 minutes before they move you into the other laser suite where the rest of the procedure is done.

The actual lasik, where they're reshaping your eye, you don't even realize it. You are looking at a fixated red light and there is a pulsating light next to it. Again, some pressure, but nothing horrible. The lasik I had utilized what they call activtrack, which meant it my eye moved, the laser would reposition itself. It was definitely cool.

I love not having to deal with glasses and I'm incredibly satisfied. I would definitely way all of your options, though. It took me a couple of years to actually get up the gumption to go and have it done.

I should also tell you that lasik doesn't prevent you from needing glasses in older age when you have to start wearing reading glasses. There isn't anything that can prevent that. That is the hardening of the cornea.

I wish you luck! It's definitely worth the money!

I've always thought.. "If my eyesight gets really bad, then I'll consider this expensive laser surgery". That's if I have a lot of money in the future. But personally, I would choose the most natural option, because I'm that kind of person - like to improve naturally
I think those eye exercises seem pretty interesting. I would probably resort to trying a few and if I see a change (positive change), then continue (if they promise the eyesight to become increasingly better and possibly 20/20?). Just a personal opinion. But I'm also a person who must always consider and compare prices x) Baha, perhaps that might be a reason why I also prefer natural methods.



^ That sounds a bit scary..
Kind of put me off. What if you do lasik eye surgery more than once? keep making flaps in your eye?
heh, interesting to learn this, though.

I've even been a bit nervous of using eye/tear drops o.o'
Even if a relaxing drug such as valium is used.

Anyways. Just on a personal thought, if it was me, I would probably try out some more of those eye exercises to see if they work to make the eyesight better. Then if you're not a scaredy-cat like me and have the money for it, it's your choice whether you want to proceed with the eye surgery

I'v had freinds that got it done and after 5 days laying in bed and taking eye drops there fine if i needed it i would do it i would just want to be asleep

If you are going to get Lasik surgery done on your eyes just make sure that the surgeon is competent enough because I have even heard that if anything goes wrong you might as well have to get corneal transplant to correct the condition. Apart from the major issues the minor glitches are that you have to keep your eyes moist and you also might face some issues with night vision and so it might hamper your driving or job as such.

I agree with webs. If your vision is not all that bad, you don't need to blow $1,500 on it. If you are worried about your apperence try contacts. A newer safer version of lasic is intralasic.

So what is this intralasic business?

It is a blade free procedure done on the eyes while you are under anesthetics.
It is done with lasers instead of blades for presicion.
You shouldn't drive or operate machinery for several hours afterward.

OMG !! Is Lasik that dangerous a surgery ??

I thought i could do Lasik and rectify my eye problems.. But reading all this stuff over here, i am thinking about getting to glasses/contact lenses now..

Lasik can seem to be dangerous when you hear the unsuccessful stories, but in the end they have many more successful operations. I would recommend researching more lasik information before making up your mind about the surgery. I had it done a few years ago and it worked great for my eyes as I can see great.