Laser Eye Surgery Before, During or After?

[yorkiepoo]

Hi, I was just wondering if any one else has been thinking about getting Lasik or another form of laser eye correction, and if so, when you be the best time to get it done? It seems that it would be good to get it done before dental school so that you start off with the corrected vision, because (by my logic at least) maybe if you get it during or after then you will have skewed perception from what you originally learned on. Any thoughts?

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[jeezy]

i'd get it today if it was up to me, but my eyes are pretty bad and i dont want PRK or that other procedure where they stitch a contact in your retina.

 

[foreverLaur]

Do it anytime. You can get it done on a Friday and resume normal work/school activities on a Monday. I did and my dad did it. The only difference? I roll out of bed and I can see- I don't have to search for glasses or put my contacts in!

 

[LJGDDSII]

I had mine Lasik done 5 years ago. I would do it over again and pay twice as much. I love the fact that I can see with out glasses or contacts. Before the procedure I could not see the big "E" on the eye chart.
I will say this for about 6 months after the procedure my eyes were sensitive to bright lights. So I would get it done as soon as possible so that your eyes are completley healed before starting dental school.
I went back to school a week after my procedure and there were some powerpoints that were a little fuzzy because it is a light projection. But that is the only thing that took a while to correct itself. Any other questions let me know I'll be more than glad to answer them.

 

[Cymbidium]

I just had it in April. Absolutely the best money I've ever spent. Period.
Like LJGDDSII, the Big "E" was fuzzy for me too. I had 20/1000 vision. Now I'm 20/15 in both eyes. It's AWESOME.

 

[lemoncurry]

I had it done almost 10 years ago and my eyes are still great. I, too, had 20/15 when i was done. It's deteriorated a bit since then, after hours in front of a computer screen, but I still don't need glasses. I would do it again if I needed to.

I say get it done as soon as you can schedule it in. I was back to work the next day, albeit a half day.

 

[makushin]

Hi, I was just wondering if any one else has been thinking about getting Lasik or another form of laser eye correction, and if so, when you be the best time to get it done? It seems that it would be good to get it done before dental school so that you start off with the corrected vision, because (by my logic at least) maybe if you get it during or after then you will have skewed perception from what you originally learned on. Any thoughts?

It doesn't matter when you get it, if your eyes have stabilized and you have the money you may as well do it now. You will be amazed at how minor a surgery it is.

I had PRK. Contrary to popular belief, LASIK is only marketed because it has a shorter healing time-- it is not a superior procedure. The military prefers PRK for spec ops and pilots, so that should speak volumes.

I used London Place Eye Center in New Westminster, British Columbia. They are cutting edge, and use a procedure that involves no physical contact with the eye, only lasers. (scalpals or abrasives are normally used in LASIK and PRK respectively, to destroy the epithelial layer) However, the best is never cheap.😉

 

[dantheman2007]

whats the diff. bet. in price bet. LASIK and PRK?
thanks

 

[rose786]

It would be so nice to not have to wear contacts/glasses, but I'm a total chicken when it comes to this stuff. I get nervous just watching a nurse draw blood from me.

 

[JamieMac]

I would do it over again and pay twice as much. I love the fact that I can see with out glasses or contacts.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. It was probably the best money I have ever spent.

On another note, I believe you must refrain from physical activities for a week or so.

 

[bioteach]

I had PRK done a few years ago and I LOVE it. Where I went, the Lasik and PRK cost the same. Lasik is much more popular because it is *nearly* pain free. PRK hurts like an MF. Instead of creating a flap (like in lasik) they shave off the top of of your cornea. For two days solid (until the epithelium started to grow back) I was in agony. I was poppin' vicodin and my eyes were contantly tearing up. They were so sensitive to light that I had to wear sunglasses while only having one candle in the room at night. It was horrible for 48 hours straight. Woke up after the second day and no pain whatsoever. Very strange how the eye heals.

That said, I'd do it again in a second. I had extremely poor vision (-8.0 prescription) and now I am at 20/15. I've heard that the military uses PRK because the flap created by the lasik is always more vulnerable to being damaged than a "whole eye".

The reason I had to go PRK is because the combination of really bad vision and thin corneas made it too difficult to create the Lasik flap.

 

[Mia305]

I am actually conisdering LASIK in the near future. Would someone be able to tell me how much it costs? What I have been told usually ranges from $1000-2000. It is a set price or done on a case by case basis?

 

[hamco]

I'm definetely getting a Lasik. However, I'm going to wait until after I finish with Dental School. I mean, your eyes are going to deteriorate as you study like hell. I've lived with glasses since middle school. Another 4 years is not going to kill me

 

[dental0903]

I would really like to get LASIK or PRK done as well in the somewhat near future. I'm just wondering if the use of loupes would cause any type of problems with vision? When you buy loupes, are they customized to your vision? If they are, would that cause some problems if you had LASIK or PRK? Any input from current dental students would be greatly appreciated!! 😀

 

[yorkiepoo]

I would really like to get LASIK or PRK done as well in the somewhat near future. I'm just wondering if the use of loupes would cause any type of problems with vision? When you buy loupes, are they customized to your vision? If they are, would that cause some problems if you had LASIK or PRK? Any input from current dental students would be greatly appreciated!! 😀

yeah, I'd be interested in know that too!

 

[dr bojangles]

i had both the eye doctors at the practice i go to tell me that i should wait til after graduate schooling. essentially after all the long nights of reading, straining my eyes in low light, staring at computers, etc. when your young and studying hard, your eyesight can change prescription drastically in a short time. as you get older, your eyesight "settles in" and becomes steady (meaning much smaller or negligible changes). truth of the matter is, you can do it when you want. but in my opinion, why risk it when there is greater chance for possible consequences?

 

[DDS2012]

I am actually conisdering LASIK in the near future. Would someone be able to tell me how much it costs? What I have been told usually ranges from $1000-2000. It is a set price or done on a case by case basis?

i'm actually working for lasik on my year off right now

it runs $1000 to $3500 for both eyes depending on the prescription and type of surgery

 

[lemoncurry]

When I had mine done, the office that did it had a guarantee that if your vision went bad again (other than the natural aging of the eye), they would re-do the operation for free. At least that is how I remember it. Call up some reputable clinics and ask if they have such a guarantee. If they do, I would go ahead and get it done before d-school. If you need it again afterwards, take advantage of the guarantee.

 

[Mcglock]

I thought you could only have it done once. Is that not the case?

 

[lemoncurry]

i don't see why not.

 

[DDS2012]

I thought you could only have it done once. Is that not the case?

it depends on how thin your corneas are, and how much they have to take off (your prescription)... most people can have it re-done though

 

[icechewer]

I just had lasik performed last night (wednesday) They gave me 40 mg valium, I slept for 12 hours and today I see 20/15!! 🙂 Before surgery I was 20/300 😡 No pain whatsoever, even today (thursday). Now I can pull teeth without my glasses getting splattered with blood. j/k

btw, does anybody know if the slight night time halos go away after a while? It's kind of like when I first started wearing contacts but I think they go away.

 

[lemoncurry]

takes about 3-6 months, if i recall correctly.

 

[UNR.Grad]

I'm a tech at a Lisik office if anyone has some questions about it.

 

[SuiteGrl]

So sad, so many of you have horrible vision! Mine's pretty bad too 🙁 but I'm planning on getting surgery this summer before I start school in August. Sadly, my cornea aren't thick enough for regular lasik. Good luck all!

 

[sts9]

this is an awesome thread! i was toying with the idea of getting lasik this semester because i hate contacts/glasses, and im going backpacking through europe before dental school, so it would be annoying to have contacts there. definitely going to get it sometime

 

[denticus]

I had mine Lasik done 5 years ago. I would do it over again and pay twice as much. I love the fact that I can see with out glasses or contacts. Before the procedure I could not see the big "E" on the eye chart.
I will say this for about 6 months after the procedure my eyes were sensitive to bright lights. So I would get it done as soon as possible so that your eyes are completley healed before starting dental school.
I went back to school a week after my procedure and there were some powerpoints that were a little fuzzy because it is a light projection. But that is the only thing that took a while to correct itself. Any other questions let me know I'll be more than glad to answer them.

How much does it cost $

 

[TaylorAtDuke]

Just a few words of caution about laser-eye surgery that the dentist I shadowed gave me... she had a friend who was a plastic surgeon who got lasik... and apparently there is a risk of blind spots in your vision occuring. He got spots in certain areas of his vision and could no longer practice.

My dentist said she will never get lasik just becuase of that risk. She laughed and even said if you ask all the Lasik eye doctors... they havent had the procedure themselves. Many still wear glasses - because if they got the blind spots, they could no longer perform the surgeries!

So i'm sure you can ask your own eye doctor about it more. But just so you know, there is a risk of little "blind spots" - and as a dentist - or any other kind of surgeon... it could be detrimental to your career if it happened!

 

[Cymbidium]

How much does it cost $

Mine was 5K total. But I went to the best of the best out here in LA. My surgeon also does the lasik for extreme makeover.

 

[Composite A2]

I really want to do this, the only thing holding me back is not the money but the fact that I am scared of something going wrong. However I hate my glasses and hate my contacts just as much.

 

[tiny]

I'm a tech at a Lisik office if anyone has some questions about it.

weird... i'm an OR tech at a lasik clinic too

ditto about the questions, if anyone has any, feel free to ask

 

[jekl]

I've got a question...

How long do you have to wear just glasses (no contacts) before the surgery?

 

[Dannijo4]

You have to wear glasses for about 2 weeks before your sugery.

My surgery costed $4500, but I got it customized, which is an extra $1000 and I got a laser instead of a blade, which is an extra $600.

The nighttime halos go away in a couple of weeks.

 

[firecracked]

I got a question.

How long should your eyes be stable before you get Lasik?

My eyes haven't for about 1.5 years, but they used to change all the time. This is the first year they haven't changed, and I'm nervous about getting Lasik anytime soon in case they change again.

 

[tamkhan]

Isn't LASIK sort of dangerous? I mean, what if the cornea incurs major damage? You'd have to get a cornea transplant to fix that.
I'm thinking of getting a LASIK done, with a laser. I'm afraid, though.

Also, if anyone in Canada has gone through process, please post where you had it done. Thanks

 

[tiny]

1. for the glasses question, we only ask that you take your contacts out 48 hours before your surgery so your corneas can go back to their normal shape.. i'm sure it differs everywhere

2. with your prescription changing, when you go in for a consult, the OD will let you know your chances of regression after surgery - they're usually pretty slim - but some people come in for enhancements sometimes

3. tamkhan, i'm in canada.... actually from ontario too but i'm out west in alberta right now.. i can refer you to one of our toronto clinics, pm me if you're interested.... but about the corneal transplant thing.... they screen for soft corneas, keratoconus, etc. (conditions that would make it easier for your corneas to deteriorate after) in your consultation, so unless something is skipped over, everything should be fine... i think the statistic for needing a corneal transplant is like 1 in 100 000 .. i've never heard of it happening