Lasik

My entire life I've had horrible vision. Right now it's somewhere in the 20/200s, I'm on the borderline of being legally blind. I was told that I might need some kind of surgery before I turned 22 just to keep myself from becoming legally blind. All I've ever really wanted was to wake up in the morning/early afternoon and see the sun creep through the blinds of my bedroom without reaching for my glasses or putting contacts in.

So my mother had an eye doctor's apointment today, she asked if I could drive her since her pupils would be dialated (sp). So I went with her and since they had lots of cancelations, I decided to get my eyes checked out to see if they were deteriorating even more. As we sat in the lobby (our pupils dialating) she told me to ask the doctor if I can get Lasik. I told her there was no way I could cover it with my current expenses. She told me not to worry about it and talk to him anyway.

He did an overly-elaborate check on my eyes to see if they were healthy, and if I met the requirements of it. He said he wasn't sure in the beginning because of my age (20 years old), generally they don't accept people younger than 23-25 around here because their eyes are still changing. I asked about the expense of the surgery, he said it would run about 4500 dollars for the surgery and a lifetime guarantee (so long as I get my eyes checked yearly, any problems will be taken care of at no cost to me), but my insurance might offer a discount price, despite the fact that it's written off as cosmetic.

I was happy to hear that my eyes were in perfect health, and haven't changed for the past year or so. The deterioration finally curved off, and I won't become worse, at least not that much. He said my age shouldn't matter for the surgery anymore and we set up an appointment for Monday with the surgeon that would do it to get a full analysis on my eyes and see exactly what it would cost etc. If everything goes smoothly, I'll go in for surgery on Wednesday.

I checked out the guy when I called my insurance company to see if they offered a discount (anywhere from 5-15%) and it turns out that he's one of the best in the country, which was hard to believe since I live in such a small area. My mother also revealed to me on the drive home that I had a savings account that I didn't know about with about 5 grand tucked away for when I did something worth while (like graduate college), but she knew how much it means to me to not need glasses or contacts, so she wanted me to make this dream come true.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, I've known a lot of disappointment in my life, and recently it seems to be the only thing that comes to me... but at the same time... this is something that I've wanted for my entire life... quite literally a dream to me. Right now without my glasses I can't see more than 3 inches in front of my face (literally) and the thought that I could wake up in a week from now and see everything the way I was meant to... it just makes me feel warm inside and breaks this depression that I've been going through since my Grandmother died and my fiance left me.

I also couldn't help planning on buying these if the surgery can be done:

http://mi.oakley.com/site/media/cache/420168f1934bf.jpg_0_0_0.jpg
Oakley Julliettes... sunglasses I've wanted since high school...

http://9mmsfx.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/itachi.jpg
Sharingan contacts... just for show.

If any of you believe in prayer, I know this sounds stupid, but please just put a tidbit in for me. This honestly is something that I have dreamed of my entire life, staring me in the face. If any of you know anything about the surgery or have done it yourself, please fill me in. I would like to know anything so I don't look like an idiot on Monday.

Thank you.

-Andrew

My vision was bad I couldn't read a clock 5feet away. I got lasik done about 2yrs ago let me tellyou this shit is wonderfull. the only bad part is that you have to wear protective glasse/goggles no matter what it is your doing such as sleeping, smoking a cig, working, just going outside but it is a small price to pay and well worth it. the surgery itself only takes like 2min per eye.
Sound kind of stupid but I havent worn glasses for like 8 yrs before surgery so everything was blurry. the things i stared at afterward were small and trivial but vibrant and clear tree leaves, the clock, normal things that people saw clearly except me I stared at for like 2 weeks after. Sometimes I still do.

I look forward to it.

If you were to get any contacts.. get the white out.. very freaky look.

http://www.langeeyecare.com/white_out.jpg

gotta stick with my anime heritage

a bit obsessed with naruto are we? http://www.usoutdoorstore.com/outlet/index.cfm?fa=products.showDetail&productID=38728&flag=Standalone

I own a pair of these...great minds think alike I guess

for us stupid people in the peanut gallery what is lasik?

and is it just me or does EYE surgery scare the crap out of you too... laser scares me too. maybe with the thought of, what if they screw up... where is your lifetime garentee now? i just couldnt imagine being blind for the rest of my life.

What do you mean by having to wear protective glasses/goggles all the time? I've been wanting lasik for a while myself too, but it wont be worth it if i still have to wear something on my face.

viscious I'd say GO FOR IT, you only live once and if there's a chance to better your life for the rest of the time you're in it, is there really a price you could put on that? If you have a dream GO FOR IT, dreams are for reasons unbeknownst to us, except for those of us who get to live them. one thing that's beter than having a dream, that's living it buddy.

oh I'm so doing it if they give me the green light. I've been near blind all my life, I don't care really if it gets worse by mistake, law suit pays well.

and element, difference being that the juliettes are 200 more lol


i like to waste money

I've found a way to drastically and quickly improve my terrible vision without lasik. But I'm not telling you because I haven't made millions off it yet. Sorry.

lol, lies!

Good luck vicious. Hope you get the go ahead on that.

$4500 on the surgery and $500 on the glasses :p

You'll deserve them and good luck man. Never relized you were that bad off. And yes, I'll pray for that all goes well and this dream will come true.

something i should probably ask a doctor rather than car enthusiasts, but, can astigmatism be cured thru lasik?

I'm not sure, but I'll be sure to ask today when I go in (in an hour). I actually feel really good about it, today's been great so far. Let me tell you why:

I woke up to a phone call from a preschool outside of Charlestown for an interview tomorrow at 1 (I want to be a teacher, so this would be a great experience).

I was then called a couple hours later from another preschool that is here in Berryville for an interview tomorrow at 10.

I got my hair cut (I miss my hair though... it was 4 inches long, now a quarter of an inch).

I was hit on by a girl my age, maybe a lil younger, that works at Food Lion. She said (and I quote), "I've never seen you here before... I'dve noticed a cute guy like you." *smile*


Good times.

I'm not sure, but I'll be sure to ask today when I go in (in an hour). I actually feel really good about it, today's been great so far. Let me tell you why:

I woke up to a phone call from a preschool outside of Charlestown for an interview tomorrow at 1 (I want to be a teacher, so this would be a great experience).

I was then called a couple hours later from another preschool that is here in Berryville for an interview tomorrow at 10.

I got my hair cut (I miss my hair though... it was 4 inches long, now a quarter of an inch).

I was hit on by a girl my age, maybe a lil younger, that works at Food Lion. She said (and I quote), "I've never seen you here before... I'dve noticed a cute guy like you." *smile*


Good times.

high off life? I used to have 3" of hair. i use 3/8" buzzer every other weekend now. lol, good luck :)

So this is what happened. I was in there for 3 hours because my eyes are SO fucked up. And in these 3 hours I learned the following:

Astigmatism can be cured with Lasik.

During the procedure there will be a "suction cup" on my eye. This looks very uncomfortable and I'm sure I'll bitch about it.

In Lasik, a clone is made of your cornea for your protection, and if something goes wrong, a backup. This makes Lasik more secure and easier to do.

I also learned that my cornea is so thin that it can not be reproduced. It is "unique" and there is no possible way to do Lasik.

BUT there is a procedure called PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) that can be done on my eyes. Basically this means they will shoot my eyes with the lazer, and hope for the best.

I had to sign a thousand release forms and other legal documents that stated (basically) "If we fuck up, and you go blind, you can't sue the shit outta us."

The last legal document is in my possession and can not be signed until the day of the surgery (Monday) because it requires legal witnesses. The opening statement of this form says (and I quote):

"The long-term risks and effects of PRK surgery are unknown."

Sweet.

being an experiment, you should ask for testing money. well, good luck!

I'm not an "experiment". The same surgery has been done hundreds of times before by this doctor alone. I'm not too worried about it, it's worth the risk. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be doing it.

good luck with it. i need that as well

I don't know about all offices, but my office offers no interest financing for a year. So if you don't happen to have the money up front like I am blessed to, you can pay it off at about 200-300 a month.

ok while were on the subject
First off i am in no way trying to be a dick or funny but im just wondering what is it with anime? i cant stand it it drives me crazy just how like the special effects are slow and theres a sword slice then freeze and stuff im just wondering how you got into it and why you like it...no harm meant i mean its your thing im sure i like stuff that you think is weird but yea just let me know bud thanks. Good luck with the vision.

You can also save money out of each paycheck through work if they offer "flex spend , or pre tax " health account. Basically, the money you put in there has to be used for health purposes such as prescription co-pay, doctor co-pays, OTC health items( some limitations on this ), and other medical services. You usually have until March of the following year to use the money, or you'll lose it. The best part is it's tax free,,(you are not taxed on that portion of your pay that you put into that account.)Many employers now offer these accounts as an added employee benefit, and if yours doesn't, it might be to your benefit to ask that they start one up.It is becoming very popular amongst employees, and other tax free accounts are available such as dependant care, transportation reimbursement. Lasik and other forms of that surgery are covered by most health flex spend accounts.

Astigmatism can be cured with Lasik.

shweet, now all i need is da mon-ay

Basically this means they will shoot my eyes with the lazer, and hope for the best.

that sux, bro. but the way u just said that, lol

I had to sign a thousand release forms and other legal documents that stated (basically) "If we fuck up, and you go blind, you can't sue the shit outta us."

gotta love those release forms. "If you die cuz we made a mistake, its not our fault."

The opening statement of this form says (and I quote):

"The long-term risks and effects of PRK surgery are unknown."

Sweet.

atleast you're getting your vision corrected, so good luck, hope everything goes well.

ok while were on the subject
First off i am in no way trying to be a dick or funny but im just wondering what is it with anime? i cant stand it it drives me crazy just how like the special effects are slow and theres a sword slice then freeze and stuff im just wondering how you got into it and why you like it...no harm meant i mean its your thing im sure i like stuff that you think is weird but yea just let me know bud thanks. Good luck with the vision.


I think your idea of anime is that it's all the same and it's all loaded with those crappy effects. I watch a lot of different types of anime and I understand the type you're talking about and it irritates me too. Anime itself can be many different things and the ones I watch have really good story lines and a lot of advanced character development.

Basically if you watch it and put aside that they're not actually human, it's the same thing, but it makes more financial sense to make it that way.

I got in to it young and stuck with it. I dunno I like it?

I didn't take any offense to it so don't worry.

I think your idea of anime is that it's all the same and it's all loaded with those crappy effects. I watch a lot of different types of anime and I understand the type you're talking about and it irritates me too. Anime itself can be many different things and the ones I watch have really good story lines and a lot of advanced character development.

Basically if you watch it and put aside that they're not actually human, it's the same thing, but it makes more financial sense to make it that way.

I got in to it young and stuck with it. I dunno I like it?

I didn't take any offense to it so don't worry.

Not to mentin you got more room and flexibility with what you can do in anime compared to a high budget film. Hell alot of movies these days are takin a page from anime by using cgi more in there special effects.

^which is bad, because CGI humans suck.

Something about shooting a lazer in your eye and hoping that it works, just sounds so unprofessional.

meh, I live on the risky side.