Lasik Eye Surgery - Any info ?

Captain_Tripps · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 260 City: Dallas

I am thinking about pulling the trigger on Lasik. I have an appointment tomorrow for the intial exam. I live in Dallas and was going to see Dr. Boothe. He is "suppose" to be one of the best.

I was wondering if any of you had anything you could share with me to help me make my decision one way or the other.

I hear lots of great things. A few negative. I just am curious if it is a good idea.

Thanks

franknbeans · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 272 City: Ft. Worth

yes, dr boothe is the best. one of my good friends (like a second father to me) used to sell the lasers to the eye doctors around here. He told me that if I were ever to get it done, talk to either Boothe or Carter. (boothe being his first choice)

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

Most people love it and it's all good. If it's bad, it's really bad...

I'm waiting, I want a smaller complication rate...
________
Mexico hotels

B-rad · Posted: Apr 16, 2003 10:42 am Post subject:

A friend of mine in Dallas just had his done by Dr. Carter. He has no complaints and only good things to say about. He said it's amazing being able to see
everything now w/o glasses.

riverfreak · Posted: Apr 16, 2003 11:14 am Post subject:

every year it gets cheaper and cheaper, I hear Dr. Boothe is great, have it done in the off season or you will miss out on quite a bit of riding time.....I'm planning on late September.....I should be ready for the water by April.....

BillJ · Posted: Apr 16, 2003 12:55 pm Post subject:

The success rate is extremely high if you are in the target range, which is about -1.5 to -8.0 diopters. If your vision isn't very bad or is really bad, then the complication rate is much higher. Also, the size of your pupil is very important. If it's too large when fully dialated then you will have more vision problems at night, such as blurry vision, halo effects, etc.

Pick a good doctor with a lot of experience (which it sounds like you've done) and follow all recommendations on recovery. My sister had it as well as 3 of my close friends - all are completely happy with the surgery. None of them had any complications or need any type of vision correction after the surgery.

My sister was really tired after she had hers done - she'd wake up in the middle of the night and look at the clock, then she'd realize that she could actually read the clock for the first time in 25 years (she wore hard contacts so no sleeping in them) so she lay there awake thinking about how great it was.

Captain_Tripps · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 260 City: Dallas

Thanks for the info everyone.

I think I am going to go ahead and have it done this week or next. I won't be able to wakeboard for 4 weeks, but it will be worth it not to have the problem of my contacts moving in my eye when the spray hits me in the face.

Mariognarly · Addict Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 853

My mom had laser eye surgery done on her about 9 months ago and her vision is now perfect. She hasnt had one single problem with her eyes at all. THe surgery did wonders for her eyesight. A couple days after the surgery her eyes had a little trouble adjusting to light. She was unable to drive at night.

I also know a few other who have had it done, with similar success. Although I hear in some cases that your night vision can be affected and you be worse off with the surgery, than you would be if you didnt get it. I dont know a whole lot about it though, just some experiences that I have witnessed.

Nathan Newman · Addict Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 711 City: Baylor

My mom, dad, brother, and sister all had lasik. I'll get it in about a year once my eyes stop changing. It's a super easy surgery, just don't read anything that day, and use plenty of eye drops. Make sure you get the surgery in the winter, not now, otherwise you won't be wakeboarding this summer. Your not supposed to do any watersports until like 5 months after surgery.
but the actual surgery takes like 30 seconds per eye, super easy Cool

Tyler T · Posted: Apr 18, 2003 7:15 pm Post subject:

ive really been givin this procedure some thought too now that im 18...im pretty near sighted and i hate my glasses, i never wear them

kyle · Guest

tyler, your eyes dont stop developing until you are about 26, you wouldnt be able to recieve lasik. my dad is an eye doctor by the way, the risk level is very small but think if 99% of the procedures goto plan then therre is that one person out of a 100 who is Bubb Rubb. you only have one pair of eyes. 1 in a 100 doesnt sound that good

Slaytwebeling · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 892 City: Houston

My mom got both eyes done at 40 and she had no problems. She is really glad she did it to

Tyler T · Posted: Apr 19, 2003 3:08 pm Post subject:

hey, thanks for the advice, i guess i didnt realize that, i'll have to do some more research and just give it some more time.

MobyRick · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 247 City: Greer, SC

I had it done at a TLC facility and that doctor had done thousands. He had two complications which one was the patients fault and easily fixed and the other was a slight infection which was taken care of quickly. If you investigate your doctor and follow his instructions to the T you should have no problem. I love it and would recommend it to everyone. I would not go to someone just because they were cheaper though. Remember, a lot of time you get what you pay for.

Ruune · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 8:05 am Post subject:

Just did a search on this subject because I'm going into aviation after I finish my bachelor's thesis in Feb, and I plan on getting this done. I'm curious about recovery time- as I will have to get the procedure done twice on my left eye (9 diopters), but I'm told I'm a prime candidate for this surgery. So far, I've been told that I wont be able to drive a boat for a week or so. Also, I cannot wear contacts for 4-6 weeks prior to the procedure. Sad

ChumpChange · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 9:28 am Post subject:

I have three friends that had it done, and all of them have perfect vision now. They all swear by it.

Ruune · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 9:37 am Post subject:

how long were they off the water? I've got a consultation scheduled for Jan 5th, and as I said before, I'm probably going to need 2 passes on my left eye or both. It's going to cost $2048.50 per eye (includes 15% insurance coverage), but the corneologists I was referred to my my opthamologist are the best around here, so I think it's going to be worth the money.

ChumpChange · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 9:44 am Post subject:

The three friends I know are from work. They do not wake so I can't answer.

BR_WB · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2850

I wouldn't get it done until the optomologists (sp?) quit wearing glasses and get the surgery themselves...

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

My dad got me lasik for my graduation. I'll go in to Carter eye center in Dallas to get it done in January. Is it really 5 months without watersports? GEEZ I dont know if I can deal with that. I thought they told me 2 weeks where I can't get in water and 1 month without lake water. I didn't ask about watersports those. Ouch. Its pretty sweet, we get $1000 off because of insurance at Carter. I'm definately going to get wavefront mapping. They garenteed me 20/20 vision if I had it done. Looking forward to getting it done in January.

BillJ · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 11:47 am Post subject:

Ruune, I recommend doing some research regarding the complication rate for -9 diopters. From what I've read the more correction required the more chance of complications - and requiring two procedures seems like it would mean double the chance of problems. Maybe it's better with the newer technology.

Good luck with the surgery.

King of the Tigers · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 12:55 pm Post subject:

I've heard good stuff about it but don't ever plan on flying for the military. From what I recall because the cornea never heals after Lasik it will rip off in a high speed ejection.

Ruune · Posted: Dec 22, 2003 1:22 pm Post subject:

BillJ, I've spoken to several opthamologists, and as long as there is enough tissue to work with in my eye, I'll be ok. I'm going to a corneologist on 1/5/04 to get the final verdict. Also, the newer technology uses a laser instead of a scalpel-type cutter to peel back the cornea, and another laser to reshape the lens. My dad had the procedure done by a guy in houston, who also removed a cataract. His correction was similar to mine, using 2nd generation laser equipment- I'll be using 3rd or 4th.

MobyRick · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 247 City: Greer, SC

I had mine done back in Dec of 2000. I couldn't get in the water for 4-6 weeks. If you're going to do it do it in the winter. I can't say enough about it though. I paid around $5000.00 back there for it and I would still pay that now if I had to do it all over again.

Ruune · Posted: Dec 24, 2003 6:08 am Post subject:

awesome rick... I'm lookin' at around 4800 for both eyes, and thats w/ the best doctors in my area.

Ruune · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 8:00 am Post subject:

well it's official- I'm having the procedure done January 29th. Dr. Stuart Terry is performing the procedure. I have a .825 diopter correction in my left eye, and after consultation with him, the laser tech, and my optometrist, they are all in agreement that 85-90% of my correction can be rectified. Dr. Terry will be using the new 5 micron intralase laser. Pretty mind boggling- they can target specific parts of individual cells and not damage any of the surrounding cells in the process.

As of tomorrow, I'm ditching contacts for a new pair of glasses (dont you just LOVE insurance? Twisted Evil

) for two weeks- which was their recommendation for someone with soft, non-toric, daily wear (take them out at night) lenses.

Total time off the water will be one month... but it will be February, and at least I can drive the boat after 1 week! Twisted Evil

ahh... to be able to see the alarm clock in the morning! To be able to keep my eyes open when I land a trick. Damn, its gonna be a good year!

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

damn, I need lasik for driving at night..people say I squint alot, but I think they are lieing. I just cant justify 5K....it sucks though walking into a bar and you gotta squint to see the pretty lady at the end of the bar Evil or Very Mad

I need to find me a suga momma..daddy needs some new eyes!!! Mr. Green

Ruune · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 8:11 am Post subject:

actually, lasik can reduce your night vision! If you decide to do it, make sure you get all the facts.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 8:15 am Post subject:

Spend the $5k. Giving the stare at the pretty lady at the end of the bar wont be cool when she walks over and its some dude with a mullet. Then again, all those 10's you took home were probably 3's, and you are none the wiser. Ignorance is bliss.

Ruune · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 8:17 am Post subject:

I plead the 5th.

LOL

Twisted Evil

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

jason_ssr, very good point!!!!! Makes waking up easier too, when you dont wake up to a coyote ugly! See I still got both arms Mr. Green

Lucky · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 8:54 am Post subject:

Best thing I did this year. I had it done in Nov. Easy Easy, no pain, no discomfort. Nothing like not having to wear glasses.

Captain_Tripps · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 260 City: Dallas

I remember asking about this.

Well I ended up getting the Lasik about 1 week after I posted this topic.

Recovery time was really quick. I couldn't be on the watter for about 4 weeks. There was no pain involved. My eyes were kind of irritated for a few days (real dry feeling)

I see at almost 20/20. The only draw back that I have seen is my night vision isn't that great. Some halos and start bursts that make my depth perception a litttle off. I think it is alot like wearing dirty contacts.

I did the intralasik. All laser kind. So there was no blade involved in my procedure. If you can afford it GO FOR IT!

churchy · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 8:59 am Post subject:

I had lasik done last Jan. I am 20/15 in both eyes now.. It kicks ass. Also, used the flex plan so it saved me some cash..

Porterwake · Posted: Jan 07, 2004 9:39 am Post subject:

My sister got it, she's as happy as hell with it

pretty amazing stuff they got now