I got LASIK on Thursday!!

[Porridge]

I meant to post to ask for dust but I forgot...anyway, I had LASIK surgery on Thursday to correct my vision. It went really well, the procedure was a cinch, the surgeon was the nicest man in the world, the staff were lovely, and it hardly hurt a bit. It was all over so quick! My eyes were a bit stingy and gritty and blurry the next day - like I got suncream in them. They are fine now. I''ve had my first checkup and my vision is 20/20! I''m so thrilled with it! Anybody thinking about it I''d be happy to answer questions!!

 

[Maisie]

Wow thats fantastic! I bet you are thrilled! I don''t need anything like that (yet!) but I always love hearing how these procedures have gone.

 

[lulu]

I am jealous. I''ve been evaluated and it turns out my corneas are too thin. One thing on me is too thin and it has to be my corneas?

 

[packrat]

That''s great Porridge! My husband and I talk about it now and again..I''m too chicken about anything w/my eyes tho!

 

[makemepretty]

Yay! You won''t regret it. I had mine done 8 years ago and still going good. My brother and sister had theirs done and both wear glasses again though. My sister in law had the new specific kind and hers is great. I actually went to Canada to get mine done because it was only $1,000 there. Well worth it. I don''t miss glasses or contacts at all.

 

[Steel]

Porridge - Congratulations. I am super jealous.

Are you comfortable sharing where you got it done and for how much?

 

[kcoursolle]

I would love to do this someday as I have poor vision and can''t really even get along without glasses around the house. I can''t wear contact well either, so someday hopefully lasik will be an option.

Congrats!!

 

[CaliSun]

Wow! Congratulations!!
I had my LASIK done about 3 years ago, and my only regret is not having had it done sooner!!
I don''t miss glasses at all, I''ve always been a spaz with contacts and it''s fun being able to buy whatever sunglasses I want without worrying about the prescription!

Congrats and best wishes!

 

[whitby_2773]

wow! congratulations, porridge!

i''d love to have it but i''m too scared....

 

[Porridge]

Thanks everyone!! I''m so thrilled with myself, I''m seeing things I never knew were there lol. Love hearing about all the success stories. Lulu that sucks! Hopefully someday there will be a way!

Steel I went through Eye Laser Ireland. Not sure what part of Ireland you''re in but they''re based in Dublin and Cork. They have offices in Limerick too for the pre-op and post-op care. I went to Cork because I knew the surgeon (he did FI''s and FI''s brothers eyes 13 years ago! Both still have perfect sight). Depending on your eyes and whether you go standard or custom they cost between €800 - €1800 per eye.

Anyone else thinking of getting it done but think they''re chicken, I really didn''t find any problems. There''s anesthetic drops in your eyes so you don''t feel a thing. Find a reputable surgeon to put you at ease!

 

[LaraOnline]

Wow, that is so awesome! What an amazing technique, it must be very exciting to have 20/20 vsion.

 

[Kelli]

That''s great! I think my fiancee may end up getting lasik one day. Good to hear it''s so easy!

 

[Steel]

Date: 4/26/2009 5:04:46 AM
Author: Porridge
Thanks everyone!! I''m so thrilled with myself, I''m seeing things I never knew were there lol. Love hearing about all the success stories. Lulu that sucks! Hopefully someday there will be a way!

Steel I went through Eye Laser Ireland. Not sure what part of Ireland you''re in but they''re based in Dublin and Cork. They have offices in Limerick too for the pre-op and post-op care. I went to Cork because I knew the surgeon (he did FI''s and FI''s brothers eyes 13 years ago! Both still have perfect sight). Depending on your eyes and whether you go standard or custom they cost between €800 - €1800 per eye.

Anyone else thinking of getting it done but think they''re chicken, I really didn''t find any problems. There''s anesthetic drops in your eyes so you don''t feel a thing. Find a reputable surgeon to put you at ease!

Thanks for replying. I am desperate to get it done but I have such poor luck (

) I worry about coming out worse than I went in.

I am coy about revealing my location but any of those 3 work for me. The Dr. you saw in Cork - are you happy to give his name or initials? I am so jealous, but even happier that you are enjoying your new eyes! Good for you.

[Any signs of dry-eye or halo''s?]

 

[Porridge]

Steel, not going to tell you to do it in case it does go wrong and you blame me

but the first consultation is free, you can ask all about the statistics, specific to your surgeon, what can go wrong etc. It was definitely less than I thought. The surgeon in Cork was Gerard O'Connor. I think he's also the head ophthalmic surgeon in CUH. He actually couldn't be nicer!

No signs of dry eyes, but definitely halos, at night time. They said that would be the way for about two weeks, cos apparently I have really big pupils! Paranoid about that now! I have a check up in two weeks and another in two months.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Porridge,

That is so awesome that you had a successful procedure and now have 20/20!!! What was your vision pre procedure, if you don''t mind sharing?

 

[Porridge]

IWPO it was -3!

 

[Steel]

Date: 4/26/2009 12:49:37 PM
Author: Porridge
Steel, not going to tell you to do it in case it does go wrong and you blame me

but the first consultation is free, you can ask all about the statistics, specific to your surgeon, what can go wrong etc. It was definitely less than I thought. The surgeon in Cork was Gerard O''Connor. I think he''s also the head ophthalmic surgeon in CUH. He actually couldn''t be nicer!

No signs of dry eyes, but definitely halos, at night time. They said that would be the way for about two weeks, cos apparently I have really big pupils! Paranoid about that now! I have a check up in two weeks and another in two months.

Ha ha!

So pleased you do not have dry eyes, that is great news. I hope the halos disappear **dust**.

I have taken down his name. It is great to have a name and positive experiences.

It is such a worry but the thought of being spec free is to tempting!

Ohhh I am green with envy....

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Wow, isn''t technology incredible. I am so happy for you!

 

[Porridge]

Thanks Steel! I''ll post back every now and then with progress reports, but as it stands everything is just fine. I know quite a few people who have had it done too with the same results! Oh, also, before you go into the surgery, they give you a valium-type pill so you''re calm. I fell asleep in the waiting room for 45 mins!! I was completely zen walking in there

Thanks IWPO! It is amazing. I love waking up in the mornings and being able to SEE!

 

[Steel]

Date: 4/26/2009 1:48:39 PM
Author: Porridge
Thanks Steel! I''ll post back every now and then with progress reports, but as it stands everything is just fine. I know quite a few people who have had it done too with the same results! Oh, also, before you go into the surgery, they give you a valium-type pill so you''re calm. I fell asleep in the waiting room for 45 mins!! I was completely zen walking in there

Thanks IWPO! It is amazing. I love waking up in the mornings and being able to SEE!

I just told my DH about you and he thinks I should research it and go ahead if I want. So please do come back and let us know how you get on.

I am pleased they give the pill - I have been crazy to get it done since I saw it on Newlyweds and she got valium too!

This must be new - not jewellery enabling, surgery enabling!

 

[packrat]

Um, can you *see* what they''re doing to your eye?

 

[MishB]

I had mine done about 6 months ago, I had my last appointment a month ago and they said I didn''t need to go back again, I am better than 20/20 in each eye. It''s been pretty much trouble free.

You''re technically ''awake'' during the procedure, but you don''t really know what''s going on, besides some consciousness of sounds and lights, I don''t remember the laser at all. I do remember the metal ring they put in your eye to keep it open, but it wasn''t painful at all. It''s not the most pleasant process to go through, but I wouldn''t let that put you off.

Congratulations Porridge, I am sure your results will be as good as mine.

 

[Julianna]

Date: 4/26/2009 12:53:04 PM
Author: Porridge
IWPO it was -3!

Mine was -7.5 in my right eye and -8 in my left (equivalent to 20/1000). I had mine done a year ago and now I see 20/20. Matter of fact, I have my one year checkup this afternoon. Good for you for getting yours done, I don''t miss contacts one bit. Even after the first day it felt completely natural like I''d seen perfectly my whole life (instead of the truth, which is that I''ve had glasses or contacts since I was 5 years old).

Yay LASIK. Best surgery ever. And fun too!

 

[Julianna]

Date: 4/26/2009 3:56:11 PM
Author: packrat
Um, can you *see* what they''re doing to your eye?

You can''t see when they cut your cornea because everything goes black. That''s the only funky bit, when they''re actually cutting. The rest is fun and butterflies and frolicking through meadows. Also, you CAN see when they put the corneal flap back down after the eyeball evaporation; my doc used what looked like a teeny brush to push it down and it was wicked cool to watch. I couldn''t "feel" it, only the pressure of it. I might''ve started laughing because it reminded me of those cheesy 3D movies where something sharp comes out of the screen like it''s going to poke you in the face. It was great. I couldn''t have had a better time if I was at effin'' Disneyland. I''m serious.

 

[Vani]

Thanks for sharing! I''m thinking about getting mine done too. Makemepretty: do you mind saying why your brother and sister had to wear glasses again? (or does anyone else know how often this happens?) The thing that would worry me is having it done, not having good enough vision and then not being able to wear contacts in future

 

[AmberGretchen]

That''s awesome Porridge - I''m so glad you had such a positive experience! I really really want to get this done, just have to figure out how to pay for it

 

[Porridge]

Date: 4/27/2009 6:49:09 AM
Author: Julianna

Date: 4/26/2009 3:56:11 PM

Author: packrat

Um, can you *see* what they''re doing to your eye?

You can''t see when they cut your cornea because everything goes black. That''s the only funky bit, when they''re actually cutting. The rest is fun and butterflies and frolicking through meadows. Also, you CAN see when they put the corneal flap back down after the eyeball evaporation; my doc used what looked like a teeny brush to push it down and it was wicked cool to watch. I couldn''t ''feel'' it, only the pressure of it. I might''ve started laughing because it reminded me of those cheesy 3D movies where something sharp comes out of the screen like it''s going to poke you in the face. It was great. I couldn''t have had a better time if I was at effin'' Disneyland. I''m serious.

Yup, that''s really the most accurate description!

Honestly, this stuff sounds icky, but once you''re in there it''s grand! Nothing hurts, you can''t feel a thing.

 

[Porridge]

That''s great Steel! It was so funny after they gave me that pill - they said "you''ll be called in about 45 mins" and I was asleep about 2 mins later! In a waiting room full of people! They were wetting themselves laughing at me when they had to wake me up. So it really does work to calm the nerves

 

[Bia]

I want to do this but I'm scared

Porridge: Did you get the LASIK (non- laser) or the iLASIK (laser) ?

 

[Porridge]

Bia if you mean by laser that the corneal flap was cut by a laser rather than a knife then I got iLASIK!