To lasik or not to lasik, that is the question
June 23rd, 2008
I’ve worn contacts since I was in the sixth grade. I graduated from high school in 1984, which means I’ve been wearing contacts for something like 100 years, plus or minus. I had my lasik eval today after having to push it back and push it back and now that I’ve gone in I am still totally on the fence about the whole thing, even though my brother has had it and loves it, my husband has had it and loves it, one brother in law and one sister in law, had it/love it, and a really good friend and her DH, both had it, both love it.
First up, the cost. It’s about double what I was expecting to hear. The doc that I went to does not advertise cost, but they do advertise that they are not like the ‘discount lasik chains’ out there, so I knew it would be pricey. But $2k per eye, I was not prepared for.
Second, I kind of felt like the doc was giving me a sales pitch. Let me revise that… the doc was giving me a sales pitch, which I guess is OK, it’s his job to get people to have lasik, but still, it felt kind of cheezy.
Third, I am such a chicken shit. I came thisclose to having it done three years ago when DH had his, and after watching his procedure I chickened out. I’ve regreted it ever since, but do I regret it enough to go through with it now?
So, more thinking to do, which is kind of disappointing, because I thought I would go in today and just be totally swept off of my feet and ready to take the plunge with no hesitation, and I’m not, so, crap, back to thinking about it. I’m really big on the doing, not so much on the thinking. If I think about something for too long, I eventually just blow it off and nothing happens.
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I had my LASIK in December and I’m so glad I did, but I completely understand your concerns. Until it turned out fine I was worried that I was going to take a liveable situation (wearing contacts) and make it worse by honestly being blinded. You have worn contacts for this long, a bit longer won’t matter until you feel ready. Even though it’s a fairly simple procedure it’s still a big deal so don’t rush into it.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I paid $6000 for both eyes in 2000. I’m so glad I did it. My place offers free touch-ups if needed, and to be honest, I probably should get one soon. Also, it is affiliated with Wills Eye Hospital, and the doc who “did me” was a Wills doc.
Benefits? I’m sure your husband has told you them: no worries about falling asleep with contacts, you can see underwater, you can see your naked husband clearly in the morning (!), one less step morning and night, no more buying solutions, no more putting in contacts with spit when you are desperate, etc…
For me, the scariest moment was when my first eye was being worked on all all vision disappeared for that brief time my lens was being, ah, cut. A part of my brain was thinking, “This is what its like to be blind.” It was very brief though, and when they ask you a few minutes later if you can read the clock on the wall, your heart will fill with wonder, as you clearly, WITHOUT glasses or contacts, CAN SEE!
Good luck and be at peace with what ever you choose to do.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:10 am
I was reading your post, and i felt like somebody had been reading my thoughts!
I have terrible eyesight … -8.00 and I am going to go blind if I dont do something. I have been reading about the laser and allot of the reports are very good. Living in Norway at the moment, and I have spoken to a couple of people here who have had the surgery done and have as bad eyesight as I do. They recovered well and the BEST part is that they did not have to pay a thing!
Apparently, over here if your optometrist advises that your eyesight is in bad condition he will prescribe the laser and then you get a booking with the specialist and you go in for surgery.
So I will be looking at going under the laser some time next year. Will let you know.
Good luck on your side!
June 24th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I have always wanted LASIK as well. A friend of mine got it done in February, but after hearing what they actually do, I am not sure if I still want it or not. I know several people who have had it done - some with good results, some with bad. I think my problem is that they can’t guarantee it will work. So if you go and pay all that money and it doesn’t work, you’re out of luck!!
It would be nice though. My husband is a diver and wants me to get certified, but why do that if I can’t see anythign. We go snorkling a lot and it’s sort of hard to see everything. I wear glasses at work b/c my eyes dry out too quick if my contacts are in staring at the computer but I abhor my glasses for just about anything else. I’m constantly changing into my contacts.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’m in the chickenshit camp myself (she said pushing her glasses back up her nose)!
June 27th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I’m a chicken too. A very very smart man I know scared me after he went to his consultation and agreed to do it but the 2 eyes 2 months apart. The doctor refused and that made this man think - and he said to me “there is no reason for them to do both eyes together, one should be able to have one done and see how it goes (in terms of problems) and if everything is okay, come back for the second eye.” He’d gone to a top-notch doc who refused his approach and around the same time I had a friend who did have problems (spots, dry eyes, really messed up her vision a lot) and I was so relieved that at my consultation (years ago) they had to refuse me because they were not yet doing astigmatism. They offered to put me on a waiting list so I could be “one of the first”. Right. I never went back, never was tempted. I figured I had enough signs that it wasn’t for me…