Hi all,

I am 25 and was told be an optometrist to wait until I was about 30 to get Lasik because the eye changes rapidly until then. Was he telling me the truth? I am only asking this because a lot of the people around my age have had it done already. I don't wear contacts because I am afraid of putting things in my eyes (just got glasses 2 years a go). For obvious reasons I don't want to wear glasses, so I was wondering what the surgery is like and if anyone had bad experiences?

Any advice would help.

Thanks.

hope not. im 23, and i know people who had it done around 18-19 yrs old too...but my eyes had been at the same prescription for years...so i should be ok.

d_j,
My knowledge of the surgery is that the doctors like to wait until a patient is either 18 or 21 before they will do the procedure because of the changes that occur in the eye as we grow till one of those ages. I can't remember which for sure. You should be ok but, a Lasik Specialist would be better suited to tell you. As for the fear of having it done, when it first came out I said, "No way! Never me!" due to my own fear of having anyone mess with my eyes...particularly my eyelids. But, I actually psyched myself out of that fear. Not to say I was a little freaked out before my procedure (which was 2 weeks and 3 days ago). But, the fear you have is actually way worse than the procedure. It is a sinch and if you are a candidate, which only a Lasik doctor can tell you, I wouldn't hesitate. Trust me, I used to get the worst case of the willies just thinking about anyone touching my eyes. Have no fear. I don't want to discourage you from listening to your doctor but, all of my eye doctors for the past 5 years told me that I was not a candidate for the surgery. Turns out, not only was I a candidate but, 2 days post-op I was seeing 20/15. In case you are not familiar with the 20/20 chart, 20/15 is better than 20/20 and my doc has informed me that with my prescription the way that it was, I should not be seeing as well as I am already. Get the exam from a reputable Lasik doctor. I really believe that my regular eye doctors told me I wasn't a candidate because they knew that they would stop making money off of me if I was told otherwise.

Good luck and have no fear! It is honestly the best thing I have ever done for myself!

for more info on lasik you can go to here:

www.eyesightonline.com

I would go to the FAQ, it might answer some of your questions.
The testimonial section has a few descriptions of what the surgery is like.

All you need is to be over 18 (and you are) and to have stable vision for at least 2 years. If you've had stable vision for 2 years, then I wouldn't wait untill you 30. Not to mention, you'de save money on the glasses and contacts you'de buy for 5 years, by throwing them all away and having lasik.

Hi "Afraid",

I'm 67 years young, but I thought I'd share my vision experience with you to help you overcome your fear. I started wearing glasses when I was in college, but later, I transitioned to hard contacts when I began my career in the aerospace world. After a few years, I started having to wear reading glasses in addition to my normal vision glasses. Needless to say, this became a real nuisance!
However, as the field of vision correction became more advanced, I chose to have radial keratotomy performed by a well-known doctor in Glendale California. If you are not familiar with this "old" technology, it involves cutting the cornea with a micro-thin roller blade held within a micrometer-type instrument. Radial cuts on the surface of the cornea reshapes the eye's cornea "lens". After the first "surgery", my vision was so improved in the one eye I had done that I went back to have both eyes done. The doctor performed Monovision surgery on both eyes (one eye for near vision and the other eye for far vision. This was done in 1977, and was the greatest solution for my vision problems for the next eighteen years.

Then, my vision started to deteriorate again, and I starting checking into LASIK. I found a remarkable doctor who had treated a lot of professional atheletes, celebrities, and others, and subsequently had him perform the same type of LASIK vision correction on both my eyes (Monovision-one eye for reading and the other for distance). This procedure was done about 1995, and my vision is just now starting to show signs of gradual degradation again. I have recently started to wear reading glasses again.

As to your being "afraid of LASIK', I would offer two pieces of advice; first, my own experience provides an excellent example of what can be achieved by proper use of medical advances in vision care, BUT, as my second piece of advice, I caution you to make sure you select the Doctor and the FACILITY/EQUIPMENT CAREFULLY!! Your doctor should use the 4000 tracks/second auto tracking feature which automates the laser cutting activity. DO NOT GO TO ONE OF THE LOW PRICED "PRODUCTION MILLS" FOR THIS TYPE SURGERY. Good Luck!

I absolutely TERRIFIED of anyone touching my eyes, let alone peeling the lens of and reshaping it. I heard they give you sedatives, is this correct? And if so how did that help?

Also, can you rub your eyes afterwards, I would think it would cause problems. I don't know that I could deal with scratchy eyes and not rub them.

fastplant,
Have no fear. I was the biggest baby ever the world's history about having my eyes touched. Even that little pressure gauge thing that blows air in your eyes used to freak me out. Trust me. It is so much worse in your mind than it actually is in reality. You don't feel the procedure. There is the most minor of discomfort with your eyelids during the procedure but, it isn't pain. It is just the inability to blink that might freak you out the most. But, like I said, I used to get the worst case of willies even thinking about my eyes and eyelids being messed with. As for the sedative, they gave me valium but, they gave it to me less than 2 minutes before I went it because no one had asked me if I wanted any before I was ready for the procedure so, it didn't really take until just after the procedure for me. But, I would imagine that if you get to take it in plenty of enough time for it to get dispersed throughout your body, it should help.

This was the best thing I have ever done for myself. If you are a candidate and you chose not to do it...forgive me for saying this but, you are a fool! Hehehe!

I didn't feel the itchiness because I was told to get home A.S.A.P. and take a nap. Once the numbing drops wear off, you may feel some slight burning or itchiness but, if you can get to sleep soon enough (within and hour of the procedure) you won't feel it. The only time you might feel the desire or need to rub would be when you are sleeping. But, they give you a pair of goggles to wear to bed for the first 3 nights post op. You can choose to wear them for long after if you want. That is up to you. The only discomfort I experienced was dryness and the feeling of an eyelash in my eyes now and then throughout the first 2 weeks of healing. I had my procedure done 4 weeks ago tomorrow. I still experience dryness but, nothing I can't handle.

If this is something you are thinking about, go for it. First see if you are a candidate and then if you are...just do it. You won't regret it. Being able to see without glasses or contacts is way worth any minor discomfort you might experience.

If this is something you are thinking about, go for it. First see if you are a candidate and then if you are...just do it. You won't regret it. Being able to see without glasses or contacts is way worth any minor discomfort you might experience.

Thanks, that eases my mind a bit. I'm going to check into it.

My pleasure! Glad I could help! Just make sure that you go to a reputable doctor. Remember the old saying, "you get what you pay for." My suggestion is to go to LasikPlus.com and see if they have someone in your location. They are one of the best in the business and they are mostly nationwide I think. They are who did my procedure and they really work to comfort you and make it the easiest experience as well as the best!

Good luck and keep us informed!

How long does it take before you really can rub your eyes? I ask because I find myself doing this all the time now (probably from lack of adequate sleep).

My doc said not to rub for 4 weeks. I was a rubber before my surgery as well but, you get used to keeping your hands off your eyes.