I just got CustomCornea Laser surgery done this past Friday. The procedure was painless!! The first day there was just a burning sensation but nothing too extreme. The next day I woke up and the burning was gone. I went back to the office the next day for a recheck and the doc took off the bandage lens on my cornea. He tested my vision and I read 20/30 (my vision was still on the blurry side). Today my vision is perfect. The only problem is that you have to keep putting in rewetting drops because your eyes are so dry post-op. But that should subside in two weeks. :dizzy:

Question for people who have gotten this procedure done: When they are cutting your cornea flaps, why does your vision get all dark? That was probably the only part of the procedure that freaked me out! LOL.

That would be weird. I know you didn't ask me since I have never had either procedure...not yet anyway. I have my appointment to see if I am a candidate tomorrow and the place that I want to get my Lasik specializes in the Custom Lasik/ Custom Cornea procedure so, I am glad to hear that it is painless. I think that the fact that your vision goes black is kind of frighening but, at the same time, I might take some comfort in it. I almost would prefer that my vision goes black before they cut my cornea until they tell me to sit up and SEE! Heehhehe! I am pretty weird about my eyes and anything being done to them. I can't even begin to imagine seeing the tool they use to cut your cornea coming towards my precious eye. I might faint! Which would be another first since, I have never done that in my life. Anyway, I am so glad to hear that you are doing well after your procedure.
If you don't mind my asking, I have a few questions. What is with the bandage lens? Is it like a contact and is it something that you could remove like a contact? I think I would rather remove it on my own. Also, how long did the procedure take? Did they use that thing that suctions your eyes forward to keep your lids open? Was that uncomfortable? I have so many questions. I am such a newbie to this whole Lasik world. I know that my doctor will probably answer all of my questions tomorrow at 6 when I have my appointment, but, I would love any answers you could give me.
Congrats on your new eyesight!

Hating glasses - I am glad to see that you are going for a consultation tomorrow! I hope you are a candidate.

To answer your questions: The bandage lens is a protection lens that they put on your cornea after they have done the actual laser procedure. It actually protects the corneal flap that they had made. You sleep with it in your eye the first night, then they remove it the next day. You don't even know it's in your eye because you can't even feel it. Do not remove it yourself! The doctor has to do it for you! They numb your eye before they take it out, so it is painless! The whole procedure took about 3-4 hours. It's more waiting around than anything. They first numb your eyes and dilate it, take pictures of your eyes, so the laser machine knows exactly how to reshape your cornea. Then you have to close your eyes for 15 minutes and relax until they bring you into another room where they cut your flap. The doctor did use a gadget that prys your eyes open, but all it feels like is a little pressure. Then you have to rest your eyes again and then they bring you into the laser room. The doctor will lift your flap and laser away. All you have to do is stare at this blinking red light above you. That takes about a minute and a half for each eye. I have to warn you that there is a slight burning smell as they do the laser. (Like when you go to the dentist to have a cavity filled - that smell). Any other questions I will be happy to answer. Ask away.

I heard Custom Cornea is the best now! The laser machine is actually calibrated to make your cornea optically perfect. It is said to have less side effects: glare at night, halos, etc.

Thank you for your help Kimster. I am looking forward to my appointment today. This surgery is all I can think about. It helps to know that it is all painless. And, I am glad to see someone else on the board who has actually had the procedure done with the newest technology. I have heard that it is much better, even less painful and actually healthier for the eyes.

Thank you for all of your help and I hope you are doing well and seeing all of the things you couldn't see before, better than ever!

Kimster, I forgot to show you this. You asked in your original post if it is normal for your sight to go dark when the cornea is cut and this is what BrightEyes told me..
"they numbed my eye..used this suction cup thing that pulled the lens away...one eye tickled the other felt like they were pressing my eye a little bit..the suction thing also cut the lens...when that happened your vison fades.."

So, I think what you experienced was normal. That is good to know from both of you so I can be prepared for it. That would be a pulse raiser for me if I didn't know it ahead of time!

I am one month post-op from Wavefront Custom Lasik. I love it.

I am old--- older than most people who have the procedure. I am 57 almost 58. I had worn thick glasses since the 4th grade and have dreamed of having the lasik but was told that I was not a good candidate before the wavefront procedure. I had a strong prescription and a large amount of astigmatism in both eyes.

I had the procedure done on December 9th in Wilmington, NC. The procedure was painless but not without anxiety. I had the machine malfunction after the right eye was finished. I had to leave the operating room for an undetermined period of time ( I was on Valium so I have no idea how long it was). I became increasingly upset with the wait. I was taken back into the operating room, put under the machine again and I was told that there was still a problem and the machine needed to recycle which would take 9 minutes. I was taken off the table for the second time. By now, my heart is pounding and I am ready to throw up. My poor husband is in the waiting room, thinking this procedure is going to take 10 minutes until he is to rejoin me in recovery. He says it was over two hours but I really don't know because of the medication. I was taken back into the operating room and then I had trouble keeping my eye focused on the blinking light.

The next day, I drove myself the 50 miles to my 8:00 am appointment and had no real problems. I was like a kid in a candy shop with pure joy. I did have some trouble with the halos around the headlights on the oncoming cars. My vision was 20/30 in the first eye and only 20/40 in the second one. I know this is not what most people get at the first checkup but I want you to know that I started at 20/400 or worse in each eye. One week follow up was slightly worse with each eye being only 20/40. I go tomorrow for my one month checkup and I expect that the vision will be slightly better. You can legally and safely drive with 20/40 vison. The doctor says I can get an enhancement if I want to achieve 20/20. After my little problem in the operating room, I'm not sure if I will get an enhancement or not. I can read the newspaper and use the computer without any glasses--- although since I elected not to get monovision I was told that I would lose all of my near vision. I am not sure how "near vision" is defined but I have not had any problems with vision I have now. I may actually need "glasses" to thread a needle or tweeze my eyebrows but that is no big deal.

I don't want to sound negative and if I do, I apologize. I am thrilled with my results. I think you have to realize that 20/20 vision and never having to wear glasses for any reason should never be promised.

I do have halos at night but they are improving and hopefully when my eyes are completely healed they will no longer be a problem. My brother-in-law had regular lasik five years ago when he about my age and the halos are gone and he is very happy also. You just have to have reasonable expectations or else you may not be happy with your results.

Oceanmama1

OceanMamma, I am glad that you still have positive things to say about your eyes despite the problems that happened during your actual procedure. I know that the machines can tend to have problems. Although it is a different laser all together, I have experience with Laser hair removal and I know that sometimes the machines go wacky. And if you get a new machine altogether, it needs to warm up and calibrate upon being plugged in. It can be nerve wracking, especially when you just want it to be over with. I am glad that your eyes are good! I realize that I may not see as well as I really want to and that I may need some use of glasses after the procedure...assuming I am a candidate, but, as long as I don't need to depend on my glasses, I will be over-joyed with the results. Since last week when I decided that I really want the procedure if I can have it, I have been on the internet learning. I am so happy that I found this board because it has been a great comfort to me.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Dear Hating Glasses,

I also did an extensive internet search before my surgery. Just remember that most people who are thrilled with their results do not take the time to post. I wanted to post my story to inform people that you have to be realistic about results. There is one site where all the horror stories are posted but I noticed there today that there are no recent posts, most are four or five years old and have been seen thousands of times. Wonder if they would allow a realistic but positive post to be made? Somehow I doubt that because they seem to be on a crusade. I feel very sorry for anyone who has had serious problems which are rare. I signed a 9 or 10 page release that listed every possible outcome and it was very scary. I signed it a month before the surgery because I think if I waited until the night before, I never would have gone through with the surgery. Pick a surgeon who is well trained, expect to pay a fair price and avoid the bargain basement approach. I paid almost $3000 and will have to pay another $250 per eye for any enhancements. There are a lot cheaper places where you only see the surgeon on the day of surgery and deal with techs the rest of the time. This might be fine if you have a slight correction and no astigmatisms but if you have a "difficult" situation be sure you go to a first class surgeon.

Good luck, Oceanmama1

Just had to add something positive...i am one month post op as well...day after was 20/30 two weeks 20/25 and today 20/20 both eyes...my left feels a bit cloudy at times..as if looking through a dirty contact...but was told this should pass..it is a common complaint..sometimes taking 4-6 months..I had dry eyes..30 plus years of hard contacts...and like kimster...i felt i was putting drops in every minute..thinking i had made a mistake getting lasik...but now..i put them in more because i feel i should...than because they feel dry...i didnt expect this good a result as i was very farsighted..but i would have been happy if i could drive legally...I hope you are on your way to putting those glasses on a souvenir shelf ;o)))

Bright Eyes, Good News! I had my exam yesterday and I am a candidate! I am scheduled for my surgery for this coming Wednesday at 11:40 AM! I am so excited! Nervous, but excited none the less! I have a very strong astigmatism...which I knew about...and found out that I am very slightly farsighted in my right eye (I think - it would make sense that it is my right since I favor that eye - according to the "Strongest Eye" test). I never knew that I was farsighted but, I did read that that actually can be the case. We over conpemsate with out nearsightedness to fix a slight farsightedness or something like that. That is why some people need reading glasses post op. It was a little hidden problem with their eyes, over shadowed by their nearsightedness. Weird huh? Anyway, I am having LadarVision because with my eye weirdness, it is the best option. I can't wait! 6 days and counting! Hehehe! The Doctor said that he can rid me of the astigmatism and he worked my vision out to 20/20 so, I should be seeing as well as you soon enough. I can not even fathom being able to see 20/20. I realize that that is not a gaurentee but, he said that what he worked out for me during my tests had me at 20/20! I don't even think I saw 20/20 in my mom's womb! I haven't a clue what it is even like! I may have the issue of halos due to one of my levels. I am just a grain of sand outside the level I need to be at to get Custom WaveFront CustomCornea. But, the laser he has set me up for is wonderful.
Ok, I just wanted to say thank you for all of your advice and help! You really put my mind at ease!
I am so glad to hear that a month pre-op, you are doing so well! Maybe in another month you will be at 20/15 or better! But, 20/20 is so fantastic!

Hello Hating Glasses - Congratulations!! :p I am so happy for you! You must let us know how it goes with you after the procedure! You are going to be ecstatic when you wake up in the morning and not have to reach for your glasses. :D Yay!!

Just got back from my one month check up. I am now 20/40 in both eyes but my near vision has improved (two lines) so that I can read the newspaper and use the computer without glasses. I am 57, almost 58 so the near vision is a plus, trust me). The doctor and I discussed things and decided that I will have the enhancement on my left (dominant eye) after another month of healing and will leave the right eye undercorrected at 20/40. This will not be true monovision but what is called partial monovision. I think I could happily live with them as they are right now if the halos continue to improve. Getting the dominant eye enhanced will just add to my pleasure. I will not have to have the suction device and have the flap cut again. She will be able to just lift the old flap, do the enhancement and I'll be on my way. She says it will be a lot quicker and even easier than the first surgery. Remember I had the problem with the laser which the doctor and I discussed at length today. She apologized over and over about my bad experience. She said she talked to the CEO at Baush and Lomb and told them that she wanted the laser machine replaced because of my experience. She will have the new laser before she does surgery on me for the second time. I too may just write a letter of complaint because what I went through was horrific. Anyway, I am thrilled that I have not lost all of my near vision as was thought and that I will have the partial monovision in a few weeks and I should be seeing 20/20 at distance which will be just perfect for this old lady.

Again, I just stress to go to a good surgeon and you will not be disappointed.

Realize too that if you are young now and get distant correction that you will eventually lose your near vision when you get to be in your mid to late 40's when presbyopia sets in. That is part of the normal aging progess that causes people to get bifocals or reading glasses over normal eyes when they get to be middle aged. That is a very common problem of aging.

For my prescription, my astigmatism and my age, I think I have had wonderful results with the lasik. Remember everyone is not 20/20 from the beginning and that does not mean that the operation was not successful.

Oceanmama1

yeah hating glasses! I am happy for you...like ocean mama says...i am thrilled with my outcome.i would have been happy with 20/40 as well..as long as i could drive without glasses..going to glasses was hard after contacts..i had to turn my head to look for traffic! that blind spot out the side of my glasses...just happy to know i wont have to deal with bifocals now..my hsb hates them...he tried to get lasik but has a small cataract to watch for now..he was bummed...but we will see...good luck with your procedure..you are going to love your new sight!