has anyone had LASIK done? (I did!)

[GlassJaw]

I hear there is a good chance you can permanently lose your eyesight

I'm not sure where you are getting your information but that is completely false and untrue. You take more risk getting into your car everyday than anything going wrong with LASIK. I seriuosly suggest you go to an optometrist or LASIK doctor and getting the facts. The facts differ greatly than what you'll find on the internet. I read the horror stories too and while some of them may be true, most would have been easily prevented.

Oh, bye the way, in this thread CarlZog is looking for gamers in the Prov area:

Yeah, he's in my Tues night Adventure Path group. He has a lot of other pulp and sci-fi games he's interested in running though (like Alternity). RI isn't really a hotbed of gaming activity though. :\

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

You bet. The only sort of mind alteration you get is the valium.



Thanks. I went to my optometrist today and I'm already seeing 20/15. It still will take a little while to fully heal and the overall clarity will still improve but I'm definitely glad I did it.

Do you happen to know what your vision was before the surgery?

 

[GentleGiant]

I SO wish I had the money to do it. Playing American football, even with contacts, isn't exactly optimal.
Plus all the other things you can do without worrying about your damn glasses all the time.
So congrats GlassJaw on the successful surgery, just one more reason for me to start saving up.

Gulla (Håkon), what did you pay to have it done in Norway?
It's egregiously expensive here in Denmark (some places charge up to $3000 for EACH eye).
On the other hand I know that a lot of people travel to Turkey to have it done (and enjoy a couple of days in the sun too).
This clinic should be very good and has a good reputation internationally too:
http://www.lasikinturkey.com/ (they even have a Danish version of the website, which I think is cool ).
They even offer this package deal, so all you have to do is pay more is for the flight to Istanbul:
Package: Treatment + Examinations + Medications + 2 days in a 4 star Hotel, also transportation to and from the Hotel, will be met at the airport and leave happily from istanbul: 1400 EUR (about $1,863 with the current dollar level).


Oh, a question for GlassJaw:
Do you happen to know what kind of laser is being used at the clinic you went to? The one they use in Turkey is called Technolas 217-C LASIK 3 GENERATION

 

[GlassJaw]

Do you happen to know what your vision was before the surgery?

Not exactly sure. I wasn't blind without my glasses but I certainly couldn't drive. Everything was very blurry. I had an astigmatism. My guess is maybe something like 20/85.

Do you happen to know what kind of laser is being used at the clinic you went to?

Actually I don't. I know a lot of people ask though. I wasn't that concerned because my uncle is my optometrist so I just went where he recommended. I didn't really "shop around" before I went.

This is where I went by the way: http://www.tlcvision.com/

 

[RangerWickett]

GJ, if you were blind at 20/85, then I must be frikkin' seeing another dimension, because I've got 20/120, and I can see objects fairly well even at distance, just not details. Like if a book is 20 feet away, I can tell there's a book there, and I can get a basic idea of what its cover looks like, but I can't actually make out the features that well.

 

[Gulla]

Gulla (Håkon), what did you pay to have it done in Norway?

I paid NOK 25.000 (about US$ 4000 or €3000).
That is about the standard rate now as well. But then Nowray hae never been known for its low prices (at least not since we found oil in the late sixties).

Håkon

 

[qstor]

I SO wish I had the money to do it. Playing American football, even with contacts, isn't exactly optimal.
Plus all the other things you can do without worrying about your damn glasses all the time.

I'm still kinda leary plus its expensive still

I played lacrosse in high school and college with contacts on and never had any problems. I've run a lot since as well and haven't had any worries. My old eye doctor was pushing the surgery but I didn't want it. I might think about it if I win the lottery lol..

Mike

 

[johnsemlak]

Anyone have a ballpark figure for how much it costs? I thought I'd heard around $3000. That might be worth saving up for...

The cost is considerably lower in some countries; In Russia it can be done for around $800 I believe (a friend of mine had it done for half that).

Of course, the procedure was developed in Russia.

 

[Larcen]

... Of course, the procedure was developed in Russia.

Ha! Why did this remind me of Ensign Chekov constantly reminding everyone that everything was invented in Russia? Er, now I don't know if you meant it as a joke or not!

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Ha! Why did this remind me of Ensign Chekov constantly reminding everyone that everything was invented in Russia? Er, now I don't know if you meant it as a joke or not!

Well, IIRC, Radial Keratotomy was invented in Russia. That's where they use scalpels to reshape your cornea. I believe that Americans added lasers to the process, which I would think would be a bit safer.

Brad