Lasik surgery

[Kingfisher]

My wife is considering having Lasik surgery. I have noticed several FM'ers have had successful surgeries. Would like to know who some of the top Lasik surgeons are around the state.

[lawdog]

Hey McGurk, does your optometrist sell as many prescription glasses and contacts as most, or does he have other reasons to be unsure of it??? They are trained in using lens for seeing while opthamologists are trained more in surgical procedures. They each have their purpose, but in some respects, Lasik is the bain of eyeglass sales which drive the optomotrists practice.

Just a point to consider, not an indictment of your eye doc...

[McGurk]

I've always thought of him as a straight shooter, but I see your point. I do think if he wanted make the big money, though, he'd switch over to Lasik. $2000-$5000 up front? Sounds like a it would take a lot of prescription glasses/ contacts to get that kind of money out of one person over a much longer time.

Anyways, if I stopped wearing glasses, everyone would quit thinking I was smart, and I need every advantage I can get!

[Big Roy]

That' the first I've herd about the scar tissue thing, in my opinion that's b.s. , both my wife and myself had the surgery 5 years ago and we never had problems, she was at a minus 11 (coke bottles) and I was at a minus 3,both of us are over 40, same with my family, the in-laws and outlaws, all of us are seeing 20/20, your vision will get better after about 6 months once the eye heals. Best of all it worth every penny for ice fishing....no more fogging up glasses going in and out of fish shacks. Check into your work health plan and see if they have a medical reimbursement plan, you set aside X-amont of money every year and it will be deducted off the top of your yearly income and it will get deducted from you check monthly so you do not even pay any interest.

[lawdog]

If you notice BigRoy, that IFallsron guy never explained his post about scar tissue or gave any credible substantion of his accusation. He apparently just thinks he's smarter than the opthomologists who spend years in school learning about eyes and eye surgery...

[Poutwhacker]

I had mine done in Crosby at the Crosby Eye Center (Dr. Luca) 4 yrs ago and I would recommend them. Best thing I ever did. And when you consider the price of glasses, bifocals, etc the cost is not that bad. I use Walmart reading glasses in low light conditions. To be able to swim, ski hunt without the hassle of dealing with glasses is great. I think most eye surgeons are very good. I would definitely get it done and go with whoever you feel most comfortable with. But any surgery has risks. There is a good chance you will need to use reading glasses after it is all said and done (I was 44 when it was done), but it is well worth the trade off.

Good Luck and see what you've been missing.

[Scott M]

Would like to hear some more stories about Lasik since this post died two years ago. Do the eye DR.'s give you any odds, like 1 in 1000 cases go blind, have complications, get scars, or things of that nature?

[JP Z]

More like 1 in a million (so you're saying there's a chance) sorry....had to throw a Dumb and Dumber reference in there. Go to the crosbyeyeclinic HSOforum and then they may have some better stats. I used Dr. Poland, and would recommend him to everyone. Great guy, fishes a lot and was one of the founders of the process in the states. He went to Russia and learned it from the doctors there back when they used KNIVES.

[knotnstore]

I went to Lasik-Plus in Edina 18 months ago. Mine was $650 an eye and I wish I would have done it years ago. My wife did hers a year before me and she was nearly, legally blind. After a two hour nap, she is 20/20!!

I have referred 8 people with no problems. FYI, I hate needles and Doctors (yet I'm still a man's man) and it was no problem. Kirch

[lawdog]

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Dr. David Whiting did mine at Lasik-Plus in Maple Grove. He is a good guy and he did a great job. I have had NO problems whatsoever. I think I paid like $2500 and that came with lifetime check ups and corrections. They have cheap packages, but I went with the better laser and the top program because I figured my eyes are worth it...

I too would say it was some of the best money I've ever spent. For an outdoors person with lots of recreational interests, its the best...

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I see it was over two years ago I made this post and my opinion has not changed one bit. Best money I ever spent...

[cliffy]

It was also two years ago when I posted on this thread....I am still glad I did it....BUT...my right eye has gone down hill a little.....looks like I will be using glasses for reading..etc. in the near future. I think this isnt such a uncommon thing....luck of the draw I guess.

Cliffy.

[iffwalleyes]

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It was also two years ago when I posted on this thread....I am still glad I did it....BUT...my right eye has gone down hill a little.....looks like I will be using glasses for reading..etc. in the near future. I think this isnt such a uncommon thing....luck of the draw I guess.

Cliffy.

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Here is my question on this those of you that have had sight go down hill are you still able to see long distance. Is it just close up reading that is affected? I want to get this done pretty bad but I am not one that really wants to have to wear glass again either.

[Hibbing]

It has been over 5 years for me and it still is the best money I ever spent! Even better than the $ I spent on my FL-18! The only time I need glasses is late at night if I reading. Then again, most people need them when thay get a little older.

[JP Z]

My dad had it done over 10 years ago (back when they took a knife and made a bunch of slits in the eye) and his closeup vision is bad where he needs readers..........but that is just a fact of getting old. Your far away vision will remain good.

[dirtking]

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Dr. David Whiting did mine at Lasik-Plus in Maple Grove. He is a good guy and he did a great job. I have had NO problems whatsoever. I think I paid like $2500 and that came with lifetime check ups and corrections. They have cheap packages, but I went with the better laser and the top program because I figured my eyes are worth it...

I too would say it was some of the best money I've ever spent. For an outdoors person with lots of recreational interests, its the best...

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This post sums up my experience to a tee. Had mine done Mid. December and am seeing better than 20/15 - I can't wait for trap season / hunting season! (missed a deer with blurry contacts - I said thats it I am getting my eyes done)

[paceman]

I had mine done 7.5 years ago up in Canada. The cost was around Just under a thousand bucks total. The best money hands down I have ever spend. I am now 38 and my eyes are still 20/15 in both eyes. A week after the surgery I was laying in a muddy field goose hunting with rain off and on. A misserable hunt with glasses, but I was seeing crystal clear. I was picking up birds way off in the distance that my buddies could not. Everything sportwise has improved drastically. I can drill the long three pointer like never before and my golf game improved much more than I could have imagined. I really am happy with the results. I had -7 in both eyes and had to wear hard contacts before.... I don't miss those days.

[cliffy]

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Here is my question on this those of you that have had sight go down hill are you still able to see long distance. Is it just close up reading that is affected? I want to get this done pretty bad but I am not one that really wants to have to wear glass again either.

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I just have problems with things up close in my right eye. My night vision is still not where I would like it to be. At night, anything that is lit up....lights, license plates..etc....is a little fuzzy. I can still get around...but I find it rather annoying at times.

Over all, I am glad that I had the surgery....but perhaps I was a little too optimistic . There are no guarantees....I have a couple of friends that had this surgery and had to go back to glasses within a year.....but I think that is rather rare. Its something you need to seriously think over before doing........not a split second decision. Good luck

[tjsdad38]

Greatest thing I ever did for myself, it's like a miracle.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I really want to have it done, and I'm a manly man and all, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have severe issue with things touching/being near my eyes. I can't even put in contacts. The mistake I made a few years back was watching the LASIK surgery video and now I just can't do it. The part about the suction, and the tool they use to hold your eye open looks painful as hell. Anyone have similar issues?

[JohnMickish]

Anybody else experience night vision problems?

[tjsdad38]

The suction holding your eye tight was nothing, you just feel a little suction then a poof of air, and then it's over. You feel nothing, it's awesome. Take your skirt off and go get it done. Absolutely no night problems or any other kind of problems for me. Great present for me, will be for you too..........

[Bryce]

Going on 5 years. Slight astigmatism ( slightly blurred nighttime vision ) but not that bothersome. 2 clicks of correction in my right eye ( good excuse for poor shooting performances ) and left eye is 20/20. Best investment ever. Would redo in a heartbeat if vision ever deteriorated futher. Have not read entire thread so don't know if MN Eye Institute is mentioned. Were almost double the price but I'll go with the guys that invent the machines that everyone else uses.

[huntnfish]

Before reading the responses I was on the fence if I wanted to get it done or not but now I think I am decided. It would be nice to be able to see the alarm in the morning and not have to worry about fuzzy contacts. Cliffy, where did you get yours done and what did it run if you don't mind me asking?

[cliffy]

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Before reading the responses I was on the fence if I wanted to get it done or not but now I think I am decided. It would be nice to be able to see the alarm in the morning and not have to worry about fuzzy contacts. Cliffy, where did you get yours done and what did it run if you don't mind me asking?

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I had it done two years or so ago at Valley Laser Eye Center in Fargo. Dr. Larry Womack. Very good people at the center....treated me very well....even gave me an extra valium for the ride home .

If I remember correctly, it was about 1300.00-1500.00 per eye ball. This was a little more than usual....they had just started using a laser machine to cut the flap instead of the knife machine..so it was a little more....and I had some custom work done....its difficult to explain..but they had some option with the new machine that was suppose to increase the odds of better vision..etc...so that was a couple of dollars more. I am sure the prices have come down since its no longer “new technology”.

I had some problems right after the surgery....as I explained before...and I have noticed a decrease in vision to this day....but overall, I am happy with the results.

Good Luck.

Cliffy.

[dirtking]

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Anybody else experience night vision problems?

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Had halos around lights afterward but they are going away. Had the procedure done less than 2 months ago and halos are almost gone - night vision overall is good.

[fishing 101]

I also went to Dr Womac in Fargo, April 5, 2005. Hands down, the best money I ever spent. It took me two years to finally get enough nerve built up. Personally, if you are nervous, I would ask for 2 or 3 extra valum pills. I never did settle down the entire process. But the next morning I could see perfect. 2 years later - still 20/15. They struggled to get me to 20/20 before with contacts and glasses. You name it, life is a lot better - softball, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, camping, work, driving). The only complaint I have is I am always wearing sunglasses when it is bright out, but I had sensitive eyes before the procedure too. Do your research, and you won't be sorry.