| Author |
Message |
    
kdm
Citizen
Username: Kdm
Post Number: 83
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 3:02 pm: | 
|
I've read the basics about the surgery and think I'm ready to talk to some doctors. Can anyone recommend a doctor in Maplewood area? How much does it cost/eye around here? How do you decide where to get it done?
Thanks. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 113
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 4:13 pm: |
|
My sister had it done, and now she has absolutely perfect vision, with the $1000 trifocals she must wear because it was botched, as many procedures are. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1080
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 4:33 pm: |
|
I used Dimond Vision . Dr. Kornstein . I waited untill the procedure was available 100 % laser . My sister & I went together . I think it was the best $4000.00 I ever spent , I have perfect vision for both reading & distance , the 1st time I ever drove a car without glasses was the day after the procedure , to drive into the city for the postop. It's now been about 1.5 yrs.. My sister on the other hand would never do it again & would recommend you not to. She is fine now but went back & forth after the procedure many times to get it fixed. The difference is this , she admitted to me that she moved during the procedure , I did not . It hurts kind of like getting your tooth drilled with a weak novicaine shot , but it only lasts about a minute. Grit your teeth & suck it up DO NOT MOVE !!! it's only a minute. |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1598
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 5:02 pm: |
|
I heard a horror story about this.
After the procedure was finished, the doctor said to the patient, whom we shall call "Lily", "How are you feeling, 'Rose'?"
He had used the wrong patient's prescription.
So be very, very careful. |
srg227
Citizen
Username: Srg227
Post Number: 40
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 5:12 pm: |
|
I will never understand why anyone would consider screwing around with his or her eyesight. Wearing glasses or contacts might be slightly annoying, but pales in comparison to how you'd feel if the operation went awry and you lost your sight.
I'm sure that these kinds of operations are 99.9% effective. But you don't repeat this experiment thousands of times; you only do it once. And aggregate statistics won't be much comfort if you end up in the 0.1% group.
But what do I know? Caveat emptor. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4226
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 5:14 pm: |
|
I know someone that happened to as well. Dr. used the wrong prescript. That was a year ago, not sure how it was resolved.
My mom recently had laser surgery for cataracts and is very pleased with the results. She will have to go for the other eye in a few weeks (aggressive cataracts!) and might not need glasses when all is said and done, but she does have a blind spot from a ruptured blood vessel. Because her vision is now better, she says the blind spot is more obvious. Not sure how lasik and this type of laser surgery compare however. |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 378
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 5:17 pm: |
|
my better half had it done in dec. she is now better than 20/20. she used dr decker in millburn
oots |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 147
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 8:01 pm: |
|
My mom had a laser procedure four years ago and has had blurry vision in left eye ever since.
I am blind in one eye since birth. I inquired about lasic when it first came out and no physician would accept me because of the risk if there is a mistake in my functioning eye.
Re-read the prior post -- is convenience/vanity worth the risk? |
Eponymous
Citizen
Username: Eponymous
Post Number: 163
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 8:29 pm: |
|
Don't rely on anecdotes like these. Check the overall stats; it's very reliable with a good doctor.
Oh, and I have no doctor recommendation.  |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1604
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 11:12 pm: |
|
VIG, my dad had similar surgery for cataracts a couple months ago. He has had terrible vision for most of his life. After the surgeries (one eye at a time) he no longer wears glasses for distance or for reading. It's really amazing. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11127
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 4:35 am: |
|
There is a difference between cataract surgery which is to treat disease and Lasik surgery which is purely cosmetic.
A co-worker, who is very nearsighted, but with contacts had, repeat had, 20/20 vision had one eye done by a well known surgeon in Manhattan. He now has 20/70 vision in that eye which can not be corrected. The doctor wanted to do his other eye, but he declined. However, my friend ran across a woman at the Doctor's, also high myop, who was happy to have 20/50 uncorrectable vision to get rid of her glasses.
My opthamologist refuses to do the procedure because he doesn't believe in cutting into healthy tissue for cosmetic reasons. He does tons of cataract surgeries btw and is head of the othamology department at a major local hospital.
|
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1611
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 9:47 am: |
|
I suppose it depends on the level of myopia and the thickness of the glasses, etc. Personally, I wouldn't do it (full disclosure: my vision is pretty good) but I could understand why others would do it.
And yes, cataract surgery is a completely different animal. Got it. The fact that it can restore vision to previously very nearsighted patients is quite astounding. |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 496
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 11:23 am: |
|
I think its unfair to say lasik surgery is purely cosmetic. Something is wrong with your vision and there is a procedure that can correct it. I have never worn glasses or contacts, but I've heard enough complaints to know that both can be a hassle (how many times have I taken my mother to the eye doc to have adjustments made) and certainly expensive over time.
I would imagine the original poster is a reasonable person who is quite able to weigh the benefits and risks on their own. I know a handful of people who have had the procedure and are thrilled. I'm sorry that I don't have a recommendation.
|
Tofugrl3
Citizen
Username: Tofugrl3
Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
|
How is LASIK purely cosmetic? I wear contacts, never glasses, and am considering going for LASIK. My friend recently had it done and is thrilled with the results. Her image has not changed, as she simply does not put in contacts every day. Cosmetic surgeries alter the appearance of the person. LASIK simply restores vision. I'm curious to hear where the cosmetic part comes in... |
kdm
Citizen
Username: Kdm
Post Number: 86
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:22 pm: |
|
I think the only cosmetic part of Lasik is that insurance companies treat it that way. To me, a part of my body doesn't function well and there is a very reliable way to correct it. I understand that eyes are delicate and you only are given two of them. However, if I break my glasses or I lose them (say when I'm on a boat) I'm screwed if it is an emergency situation. Honestly, appearance is not even a consideration for me. I wear contacts to play sports but they hurt my eyes too much to wear full-time.
The big questions to me are:
how good is the procedure today vs 1, 3 or 5 years from now?
are my eyes (20/400+) so bad that I'm not a good candidate for Lasik?
will I need reading glasses (if so, when)?
if I have it done today what will my vision be like in 20 years? I read that 1998 was the first approved use of Lasik in US. That means there is no long term data. |
John
Citizen
Username: Jdm
Post Number: 32
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 8:34 pm: |
|
kdm,
Try one of the many medical-info sites on the web. Anecdotes on a bb are interesting, but not the kind of information on which to base such an important decision.
My two cents, |
mimi
Citizen
Username: Mimi
Post Number: 227
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 7:51 am: |
|
best money i ever spent. i was definitely scared enough, and had heard enough horor stories, to go with the best doctor i could find. not a factory-like center. i wasn't looking to save a buck.
i highly recommend dr. speaker at http://www.lasiknyc.com/doctors.html on 57th in manhattan.
my vision continues to be perfect after about 5 years.
good luck.
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page