Lasik

[Retired Educator]

Surgery went off without a hitch and can see perfectly today, just us little slight fuzziness. Sitting in my living room now trying to decide whether I’m going to go out in the snow and wind and try to get the big one.

Glad it went well. When you have time I think you are going to want some UV protectant sunglasses. I did notice that everything was brighter without glasses.

 

[lunkerslayer]

I don't know if this is a fact and it probaly isn't a the place to ask but since we are family here, I was wondering since lasik isn't covered by most eye insurance would lens replacement be insurable for cataracts or glocouma lens replacement

 

[LBrandt]

Iam in the process of having both the cataract and glocouma fixing done but because of my diabetes it is covered by insurance.

 

[spinner7456]

Best money Ive ever spent. Might have got lucky but i have had no issues so far . Had it done in Fargo back in 2007. Was good to go later that evening and for sure the next day.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Iam in the process of having both the cataract and glocouma fixing done but because of my diabetes it is covered by insurance.

It's one of those things that its not completely broke so why fix it mentality. I should inquire more becuase my glasses are giving me pain behind my ears. I louthe wearing glasses it's not mandatory yet, lasik seams like a great investment to better life.

 

[eyexer]

My employee benefits pay for it. But with my age and needing bifocals now I doubt it would be worth it. Anybody have old age eye crap going on and got it?

 

[Retired Educator]

I was in my 50's when I had my Lasik done. Was wearing bifocals then and still needed cheaters. Perfectly fine with that arrangement. Have glasses laying all over (those 3 for $10 at Walmart) so don't worry about loosing or breaking them. I've been told that they can even fix that now with the Lasik surgery. Is it worth it? At the time my surgery cost about $1700, don't know how many pairs of prescription glasses I haven't bought in the past 15 or so years but that is certainly a savings. Still have 20-20 vision.

Have also had cataract surgery in both eyes. Insurance paid for them because it was a medical condition that required surgery. Not sure all insurances have the same coverage.

As I said earlier I'd do it again in a minute. Love being outside and seeing without glasses.

 

[lunkerslayer]

I was in my 50's when I had my Lasik done. Was wearing bifocals then and still needed cheaters. Perfectly fine with that arrangement. Have glasses laying all over (those 3 for $10 at Walmart) so don't worry about loosing or breaking them. I've been told that they can even fix that now with the Lasik surgery. Is it worth it? At the time my surgery cost about $1700, don't know how many pairs of prescription glasses I haven't bought in the past 15 or so years but that is certainly a savings. Still have 20-20 vision.

Have also had cataract surgery in both eyes. Insurance paid for them because it was a medical condition that required surgery. Not sure all insurances have the same coverage.

As I said earlier I'd do it again in a minute. Love being outside and seeing without glasses.

Edgamicator thats what i was looking for thanks

 

[Allen Gamble]

Best investment in my body I've ever made next to back surgery. Thanks mom

 

[Up Y'oars]

16-1/2yrs for me and Lasik; August 2001. Best $2,900 I'd ever spent, when comparing all of those disposable contacts, or daily-wear with exzyme cleaning solutions, itching and watery eyes, or the ever maddening hair caught under your eyelid. Talk about PISS A GUY OFF! I was near sighted and the doc in Fargo got one eye at 20/10 nearsighted and the other eye 20/10 farsighted. He said that would be the best of both worlds because one eye would compensate for the other.

I'm now at 20/30 farsighted (mostly) and only use reading glasses for work at home or on the computer.

Yes, you'll have an evening of discomfort but they dispense valium and that tablet cures everything! I drove home the next day with dark sunglasses on. Had to drive at night the next evening and didn't have any of the honeycombing that some people get as an after effect. I had my one-year check up in Bismarck and Dr. Baglien said he could barely even see any scar tissue remaining. Two thumbs up if that's what you're investing in.

Don't wait to get it done. As you age your eyes will always weaken in your late forties. It's worth the cost.

 

[sl1000794]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes in Mar/Apr in '16 when I was 70. I was near sighted with astigmatism and had worn glasses (-2.75 diopters) for 60 years. It took every bit of 2 weeks to get my eyesight back from each surgery. I am now 20-20 with both eyes (haven't seen a 20-10 eye chart) but I need +1.5 cheaters to read. That is something I am happy to exchange. My surgery was paid by Medicare, but with my astigmatism I had to get Toric lenses that were not covered and that was 2k each eye out of my pocket. If you have cataract surgery and do not need astigmatism correction you can get multi-focal lenses and you can read and see distant perfectly. Probably 4-5k out of pocket.

 

[Fordboy]

Has anyone had lasik done lately. Just asked eye dr about it yesterday and said $5000 to have it done. Is that out of line or the going rate? Price was with pre opp stuff and sounded like any touch ups with in 2 years. Just seeing if I need to shop around a little more

 

[Maddog]

16-1/2yrs for me and Lasik; August 2001. Best $2,900 I'd ever spent, when comparing all of those disposable contacts, or daily-wear with exzyme cleaning solutions, itching and watery eyes, or the ever maddening hair caught under your eyelid. Talk about PISS A GUY OFF! I was near sighted and the doc in Fargo got one eye at 20/10 nearsighted and the other eye 20/10 farsighted. He said that would be the best of both worlds because one eye would compensate for the other.

I'm now at 20/30 farsighted (mostly) and only use reading glasses for work at home or on the computer.

Yes, you'll have an evening of discomfort but they dispense valium and that tablet cures everything! I drove home the next day with dark sunglasses on. Had to drive at night the next evening and didn't have any of the honeycombing that some people get as an after effect. I had my one-year check up in Bismarck and Dr. Baglien said he could barely even see any scar tissue remaining. Two thumbs up if that's what you're investing in.

Don't wait to get it done. As you age your eyes will always weaken in your late forties. It's worth the cost.

Sounds like my story. I had mine done in 2000. I now use readers.
I hated glasses and contacts and I didn't get along.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[frozen4sioux]

Not to scare anyone but my lasik was a complete fail.

I now see blured lights have glasses and contacts, i see double moons, my eye dominance flips regularly and my depth perceptions has deteriorated and worse of all my low light vision is terrible, so dawn and dusk driving and hunting is very impacted.

but good luck. Best to have it done by a reputable US doctor and not some lazer happy indian (dotnotfeathers) hak in winnipeg.

 

[Allen]

Ditto! I have my 3 year checkup this coming January. Had mine done in Bismarck...very little discomfort. So nice spending $3 now for reading cheater glasses. But I sure can see a great a long ways away. My last checkup still had my vision at 20/10, which is friggin awesome. I too regret not doing it earlier after paying for contacts for so many years. Driving at night can be sensitive for a bit and I do have what is called “dry eye”, where my I tear up when walking sometimes.

The cost of prescription glasses these days is nuts. Talk about a markup!

Good luck......but enjoy your new vision..

Pdogger, talk with your eye doctor about Xiidra. Expensive as hell but it helps with the Lasik induced dry eye.

- - - Updated - - -

I was in my 50's when I had my Lasik done. Was wearing bifocals then and still needed cheaters. Perfectly fine with that arrangement. Have glasses laying all over (those 3 for $10 at Walmart) so don't worry about loosing or breaking them. I've been told that they can even fix that now with the Lasik surgery. Is it worth it? At the time my surgery cost about $1700, don't know how many pairs of prescription glasses I haven't bought in the past 15 or so years but that is certainly a savings. Still have 20-20 vision.

Have also had cataract surgery in both eyes. Insurance paid for them because it was a medical condition that required surgery. Not sure all insurances have the same coverage.

As I said earlier I'd do it again in a minute. Love being outside and seeing without glasses.

I'm a little suspicious on the they can fix your near vision and distance vision with Lasik. They can do one or the other as far as I know. There are some Lasik doctors that will fix one eye for distance and one for near vision to remove the need for glasses. In theory the brain just learns to seamlessly switch between the two eyes depending on the distance you are looking. Years ago (10+) I chatted with a guy who had it done and he seemed to like it, but he wasn't a hunter.

 

[Retired Educator]

Pdogger, talk with your eye doctor about Xiidra. Expensive as hell but it helps with the Lasik induced dry eye.

- - - Updated - - -


I'm a little suspicious on the they can fix your near vision and distance vision with Lasik. They can do one or the other as far as I know. There are some Lasik doctors that will fix one eye for distance and one for near vision to remove the need for glasses. In theory the brain just learns to seamlessly switch between the two eyes depending on the distance you are looking. Years ago (10+) I chatted with a guy who had it done and he seemed to like it, but he wasn't a hunter.

I wouldn't be scared of the near/far option. I didn't have it done that way because I made sure the Dr. knew that good far vision was my main concern. Wanted to be able to see an animal at a distance as well as a golf ball that I hit 350 yds. (Still don't know if that part works as a 250yd drive is a monster for me.) I'd bet that the majority of contact wearers are using a pair of near/far contacts.

 

[huntinforfish]

5K seems steep to me. I had mine done in the cities this spring and my wife was a year prior and we both pair under 4K all said and done. That includes a lifetime commitment, day after exam, week after exam, one month exam, 3 month exam, 6 month and a year. I have heard of cheaper as well, but it seems the follow up care is not there nor is the lifetime commitment. I am 8 months post surgery and my only complaint is a little dryness still, but getting better steadily. I see at 20/15. I would shop around a bit more.

 

[Paddledogger]

5K seems steep to me. I had mine done in the cities this spring and my wife was a year prior and we both pair under 4K all said and done. That includes a lifetime commitment, day after exam, week after exam, one month exam, 3 month exam, 6 month and a year. I have heard of cheaper as well, but it seems the follow up care is not there nor is the lifetime commitment. I am 8 months post surgery and my only complaint is a little dryness still, but getting better steadily. I see at 20/15. I would shop around a bit more.

I would agree....$5K seems rather high. I am 3 years post and still love being able to spot movement a long as ways away when deer hunting. I son and I were out and glassing the area. He was couldn't believe how I was able to point in directions for him to check with the binoculars and see deer. Like Ret. Ed said....nice being able to see where my gold ball lands. Looking forward to next after pretty much taking summer off from back surgery. But I did get 1 round in down in Arizona in mid-Sept. Don't swing as hard...but I do hit straighter.


Good luck on the final decision....I have no regrets getting Lasik. I had mine done at TLC in Bismarck by Dr. Wexler.

 

[Bauer]

Crazy how this post just popped up, I had mine done the 19th and am in hog heaven right now. I went through TLC in Bismarck (9th and AveC) Total cost was $4300 with a referal card I had (I now have some if anyone is interested you get $400 off) I am totally impressed with the staff there and my eyes are doing great. Dr. Towle is the vision specialist I saw and Dr Wexler is the surgeon.

I had the surgery done at 9:30 monday morning, by 9:45 I was on the way to the motel. I had a pretty extensive burning sensation in my eyes until I fell asleep. I woke up 3 hrs later with very little pain and able to see quite well. I went in tuesday morning for a post op appt and was 20/20 in my left and 20/50 in my right (minor heart attack) but they said it can be quite normal. I went back again wednesday for my 3-5day checkup and was 20/15 in my left eye and 20/25 in my right so things are still improving. My only complaints are not being able to rub my eyes and wearing the damn goggles at night. As long as you keep your appts for vision check ups, they have a lifetime committment on the surgery for touchups or whatever may be needed. Im told I can expect 12-15 years of great vision and maybe need cheaters after that point. That will but me 45-47 yo.

I struggled with getting this done since my wife had hers done over a year ago. I cant believe I waited this long!

 

[Snowman]

Had mine done over 20 years ago. Got so I couldn’t shoot my bow with glasses, and couldn’t see the target without. My health insurance paid for it all. Do have to use cheap reading glasses for small print.