I have been wereing contacts since I was 11 , I hate always having to take them out then put them back in , just the routine, I am very intrrested in lasik and would like to know, 1. Do you feel it when the do the surgery 2. How much did it cost you 3 What was the recovery time 4 Did you have to prep in anyway before surgery? 5 Are you happy with your choice to get it done?

I have had laser surgery done and I also work at the ophthalmologist's office where I had it done. You would have to have an evaluation to see if you are a candidate for surgery because it depends on the corneal thickness and what your prescription is. It is a very good surgery and I would recommend it to anyone. There are actually two different types of surgery. The Lasik is where you cut a flap in the cornea and laser underneath. The recovery time for this is only about 4-5 hours and the vision is pretty much immediately good. If your corneas are thin or you have dry eyes, the second option is called ASA. It's basically the same procedure except that the laser is done on the surface of the cornea. The recovery for this is 2-5 days because you have to give your corneas time to replace the cells that were removed. Also, since it's on the surface, it takes more time for the vision to come around. This is actually the safest, older version of laser surgery. Both are very good options. One thing, if you get Lasik, make sure the doctor does Intralase instead of a mechanical laser because the mechanical laser has a much higher rate of complications. You are awake for the surgery but you do not feel anything because they numb your whole eyeball. They also usually give you a relaxer so you're not nervous. The price can range from approx. $2000-2600 per eye depending on the procedure. Since you wear contacts, you will need to have them out for a certain amount of time before the measurements can be done. This is because contacts slightly change the shape of your eye. If you wear hard contacts they change the shape a lot more so it will need to be much more time out of contacts.

I heard you can be 18 years old and get lasik eye surgery, but now i hear only some type of eyes can get it that early.
Do anyone know the requirements to get lasik surgery.
Also is it safe and how long does your eye sight stay good after the surgery?

P.S. Oh yah i have pretty bad sight but I have no diseases or anything like that

You have to have thick enough corneas, as well as stable vision for about three years. You also need the money, it is an elective procedure that insurance usually does not cover.
The procedure is very safe in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Your sight will usually stay until you get to your 40s, where your lens might start to stiffen and you become presbyopic. There isn't surgery for that.
The risks are there, as this is a surgery. The most common is dry eyes, some people have this forever. You may also go blind. that is rare, but should be taken into account, as you don't want to be that one in a million. As my ophthalmology professor said, "it doesn't matter if the odds are one in a million, if it happens to you it is one in one"
Talk to your surgeon about all the risks involve and ask him directly what his rate of complications are.

These are my questions:
~How long does the surgery range to and from?
~What is the average cost?
~What are some other options?
~Does the patient remain awake or asleep during the operation?
~Is it worth it?

I work at a Lasik eye surgery place with one of the most respected OD doctors in my area, good thing i came across your question.

1.) the surgery takes about an hour, it doesnt take that long.
2.) where i work its about $2,000 per eye.
3.) glasses and/or contacts
4.) awake, they need your eyes to be open, duh. but you can ask to be put to sleep, haha.
5.) i think it is. ironically, i wear glasses, and in the future i wll for sure get Lasik eye surgery. all of the patients are happy that they got it.

good luck.

I'll turn 17 next August, do I need to go to a doctor to start tracking the changes in the prescription starting from now? Because the prescription doesn't have to change for at least 1 year.

It's always good to make sure your eyes are healthy...and when you go to the optometrist, they will measure your vision.

Some surgeons will perform LASIK at age 18 and with a stable vision (common practice in my area is 2 years stable prescription), but it has been shown that your vision can continue to fluctuate until the early 20s. That is a question you will need to ask refractive surgeons in your area what their preferences are.

Happy birthday next month!

Couple of questions but first some background. I'm in my mid-teens and I've had glasses since 5th grade. I can not stand it. I got contacts about three years ago, but it's not the same. Both of my parent has vision problems as well, but both have had surgery. I want to get something done, but I've heard you should be over 20. Correct? Also, is there a recidivism rate for the surgery? Can your vision go back and, to be frank, stink again? I really do not like my glasses and contacts. Anyone who has them knows how depressing it is to know that you can't wake up and just be able to see. Do you have any idea how much I envy people who can do that? People who don't have to pack extra junk for contacts when they go on a trip. People who don't have to worry when they go rafting or on rides that their glasses might fall off. Sorry about that.
Please answer my question. And thank you.

Hey, I feel your pain. I'm 18 and already my vision is -7/20

...pretty bad I know. I actually jsut recently spent $300 on a years worth of contacts -.- but anyways, I actually asked my eye doctor about the eye surgery and she said that I may not be able to qualify. One because at the age of 18 I am still too young to risk it. and two, because my eyes are so nearsighted, they would have to cut way to close during surgery,that it would possibly do a lot of harm to my vision.

However, they are in the process of creating these things called "intacs" I'm pretty sure they're called. Basically they're contacts that go...in your eye =P It's a one time thing, so it's basically an alternative to lasic.

Do some research on it in google, see what u find =)

good luck

edit: lol contacts that go in your eye...-shock shock- -.- sorry I was rushing. I meant to say, they are literally inside of your eye...i'm not sure how they are placed there but I assume the cut back the layering as they do during laser surgery and place it in there.

It is not out yet, but they are developing it, and by the time u are old enough, I'm sure it will be out there =)

I just had lasik eye surgery a little over a month ago, and I'm still experiencing blurriness. It's not as clear as I hoped for. Will it take some time for the eyes to heal before I can see clearly? Thank you in advance. : )

It in fact can take several months for the final results of LASIK . You may have good and bad days for up to a year. Sometimes blurriness, especially after LASIK, is a sign of dry eyes. I would advise that you use preservative free artificial tears. You can not over use tears and it will help with the healing process. If this does not help, or if you are concerned in any way, contact your doctor.

I really want to wear my contacts up until the surgery or atleast up until a few days before the surgery. My doctor told me not to wear my contacts 2 weeks beofre the surgery because they change the shape of your cornea or generally your eye, not sure. Anyway, did anyone wear their contacts up until the surgery and was it a big deal or do you think I can get away with it?

You absolutely should not do it. They should be out two weeks for standard lenses, one month for toric (meaning astigmatism) or extended wear (meaning lenses you sleep in) prior to the surgery. The lenses change the physiology of your eye and could make the treatment algorithm false. I hope you wouldn't pay all that money for the treatment only to jeopardize it by not following the protocol.

I am going tomorrow to have a blade free lasik procedure performed and the doctor prescribed 2 5mg pills of Valium to be taken an hour before the surgery. Now, I understand all of the precautions (don't take if pregnant, no heavy machinery, no driving, etc.) but one kind of threw me off. Why is it that I cannot eat or drink grapefruit when taking the Valium? It does not say to stay away from citrus-which maybe I could figure out, but only grapefruit in particular is mentioned.
Anybody know?

Q What's Wrong with Grapefruit Juice?
What is it about grapefruit and grapefruit juice that interferes with the effect of some drugs?
A Answer (Published 11/3/2006)

Actually, grapefruit juice more than grapefruit itself seems to be the problem – something it contains interferes with the absorption and metabolism of a number of drugs (although there is increasing concern that eating grapefruit might do the same). The affected drugs include calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure, non-sedating antihistamines such as Hismanal (astemizole), certain tranquilizers including Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Halcion (triazolam), and others, a number of cholesterol-lowering drugs, including Lipitor (atorvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin) and other statins, and the immunosuppressive drugs used to prevent rejection of transplanted tissues organs and the antiviral agents used to treat HIV/AIDS.

With the tranquilizers, you may notice increased sedation. More dangerous side effects including kidney toxicity; increased susceptibility to infections could develop among those taking immunosuppressive drugs. Grapefruit juice can even enhance your response to caffeine, resulting in nervousness and over-stimulation.

Orange juice doesn't appear to have these effects and neither do any other types of juice made from citrus fruits.