<p>Very nervously agreed to S2 having Lasik surgery. Our optometrist recommended a surgeon and says S2’s prescription is stable enough to make him a good candidate.</p>
<p>It would be bladeless. Any questions we should ask before signing up? I know he would LOVE to ditch the contacts - just mom-nerves at the thought of messing up his sight.</p>
<p>How many procedures has the doctor done? What his (her) side effect rate? </p>
<p>Can I suggest something? No offense meant to the optometrist but I would recommend having your S2 see an ophthalmologist who doesn’t do the procedures to make sure he is a good candidate. At one point I saw one of the lasik places for a consultation, and they were giving me the big sell, etc. I had to go to an ophthalmologist anyway and they checked out my eyes, and said with my eyes being so dry I wasn’t a good candidate, that I could end up with problems. They told me it was really important for anyone thinking of this to get fully checked out, and my take is an Ophthalmologist being an MD makes a difference…</p>
<p>Questions I would ask…is the person doing the procedure a doctor, or a technician? Is the doctor with the practice board certified in Opthamology? Does he/she personally supervise the procedure? How many procedures have they done? What percent of their patients need to have more work done after the initial procedure? </p>
<p>Ditto dmd77… how many procedures has he/she done? Over how long of a period of time.</p>
<p>We basically found someone who, that’s all they did; came from a recommendation from our ophthalmologist.</p>
<p>It’s kind of fun. I would want to know exactly what the process is and what’s done. </p>
<p>The no blade surgery is so computer controlled, I would want to know what the doctor even does. Even mine, years ago, only involved the doctor lifting the top layer and then waiting while the machine worked before putting it back and smoothing it. These systems are simply amazing. </p>
<p>It’s all about outcomes and experience. How long have you worked with the system and what are the outcomes and complication rates. I am the beneficiary of a system called “custom cornea” basicly the machine maps your cornea finding both major and minor “imperfections” and the laser corrects them. Even though they call it “blade less” a corneal flap is made so care must be taken not to rub the eye or wrinkle the flap after the procedure. I am so glad I did it wishing a great outcome to you (and a few MG’s of Valium to the patient-it certainly calms the jitters)</p>
<p>does he/she have newish laser equipment?</p>
<p>Frankly, when I had it done about 12 years ago (by a well-established lasik doctor…only does lasik), I didnt want to hear any details (too grossed out by it…lol). When the doc took out pics to show me, I quickly said, “I dont want to know anything about what goes on.” But, your son may want all the details if he is not squeamish.</p>
<p>The recovery was quick back then, so surely it is still today. Back then, they gave you a 2-step drug…one that first makes you a little loopy, but awake, during the procedure, but then about an hour later, it makes you go to sleep…so that you sleep thru the scratchy eye feeling. I had the procedure done in the morning, then was driven home (slept in car), and slept the rest of the afternoon. when I woke up around 5, scratchiness was gone.</p>
<p>I dont know if this is still the case, but we were able to use FSA money to pay for it. We had a few thousand in it for son’s ortho, but the ortho delayed a year so we had to find a legit way to spend it…so lasik was it.</p>
<p>Make sure it comes with a free revision surgery if it does not come out well. I had it done about 5 years ago, had terrible ghosting and starburst patterns, and still needed glasses. I had gone from a diopter of -5.50 to about a -1.50 and was not happy. Luckily, a revision solved most of the problems and I ended up with better than 20:20 vision. I am still a little more light sensitive and live in polarized sunglasses.</p>
<p>Thanks! I’d already compared “machinery” and this guy comes highly recommended and has quite the resume… Apparently now they use 2 lasers. One to create the corneal flap and a second type of laser does the rest.</p>
<p>It’s $2200/eye. Not too bad - fairly “middle-of-the-road” around here… Our insurance would have paid some if we used “their guy” but this guy has better recommendations.</p>
<p>S2 is very excited! He will have valium. I may also need one :-). Magnetron, I will call back and ask that question - didn’t see your post earlier and that is a really good question.</p>
<p>I had mine done about 2 years ago. I would want to know how many checkups that he will need to go to and whether they are going to do the checkups or your regular eye doctor. It’s important that your DS goes to those checkups. Also he needs to make sure he uses eye drops there are ones for people who have Lasik. There are different brands I used Eye Blink. He should use them for a while not just right after the procedure. They told me to keep using them for a number of months afterwards because your eyes can be drier for quite a while and you don’t want to have them get too dry.</p>
<p>My son informed me on Thursday nite that he was having procedure done the next day. He hated glasses, the contacts (tho with blue contacts, he was a twin to Harry Potter). He is thrilled ever since, and has encouraged his g/f to do the same. He has had no regrets.</p>
<p>I think as others have said the main things to watch out for is that you want someone with lots of (successful) experience and dry eyes is one of the big contraindications. My college roommate (Ms. Dry Eyes) had it done and is miserable. Not only does she not have 20-20 vision, but she’s completely dependent on eyedrops now.</p>
<p>I had the surgery with a flap years ago, and have been very happy with the results. I went back to my office job the day after surgery. I currently keep eye drops by the bed and use them at night about 4 times per week, and that’s it. About two years after my surgery, my husband decided to have surgery. He went to the same doctor as me, but of course the doctor was now selling the “new and improved” lasik. My husband had a very difficult and painful recovery for the first few days, and missed over a week of work. There were many, many follow up appointments. After about three months it all worked out, but it was tough for a while. The doctor kept setting appointments with no charge every one to two weeks until my husband was satisfied with the recovery.</p>
<p>The point of my story is to understand the type of procedure and the recovery time. We had no idea that the different form of surgery would have a much more difficult recovery.</p>