Laser eye surgery

Alright, thanks!

Has anyone here actually gone through laser eye surgery? I’m seriously considering pulling the trigger soon. My parents finally gave me the green light—they even chipped in to help cover the costs—but I can't shake this nagging anxiety about whether vision actually stays stable after the procedure. They told me the chances of things regressing are slim, but I’m a bit of a worrier, especially since my life revolves around studying. I’m a law student, so I spend basically all my waking hours with my nose buried in textbooks. I’ve seen so many people ruin their eyesight just from staring at fine print for years on end; is it possible that same kind of strain could mess up my results? I really don't want my folks to throw their hard-earned money down the drain for nothing... Anyway, I'm sitting at a -2.00 prescription right now, and it seems to be creeping up on me slowly.

thanks!

😉boy, you've got a ton of reading to catch up on!

Hey, if you wouldn't mind, could you give me the lowdown on how everything turned out with your wife's laser eye surgery at Light Polyclinic? I was actually seriously considering getting it done myself, but now—I don't know—I'm feeling pretty iffy about it. Thanks in advance!

Robin Mendoza3 said:Hey, if you wouldn't mind, could you give me the lowdown on how everything turned out with your wife's laser eye surgery at Light Polyclinic? I was actually seriously considering getting it done myself, but now—I don't know—I'm feeling pretty iffy about it. Thanks in advance!

Hey, check this out—there’s actually a thread here that goes on for 41 pages! Definitely give it a read before you make up your mind. Honestly, the most interesting stuff starts around pages 13 or 14.

I have an appointment scheduled at Light Polyclinic in two weeks for a consultation and potentially surgery.

I’ve been psyching myself up for this procedure for quite some time. I have meticulously read through this entire thread to gather as much information as possible.

To be honest, I'm feeling a bit conflicted. There are plenty of success stories here, but there are also some—unfortunately—very unsettling accounts.

I am in my early 50s. My prescription is +3.00 in both eyes, with a cylinder of 0.50 in the left eye. I rely on glasses with that correction whenever I'm driving or just need clear distance vision.
On top of that, I require reading glasses with an additional +1.50 boost in both eyes.

I would appreciate it if anyone who has dealt with a similar situation could share their experience. Did you decide to go through with the surgery? What was the actual procedure like, how was the recovery, and how much time did you need to take off work?

Additionally, if anyone has been treated by Dr. Sharice, please let me know the name of the clinic and what your experience was like.

I must admit, after everything I've read, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. And frankly, dropping $150 just for an initial exam feels a bit steep.

But that isn't even the biggest concern. It's the thought that if complications or lasting side effects occur, you're looking at a $3,000 bill... at that point, one might seriously reconsider the whole thing.

🙄

Robin Sanchez32 said:I have an appointment scheduled at Light Polyclinic in two weeks for a consultation and potentially surgery.

I’ve been psyching myself up for this procedure for quite some time. I have meticulously read through this entire thread to gather as much information as possible.

To be honest, I'm feeling a bit conflicted. There are plenty of success stories here, but there are also some—unfortunately—very unsettling accounts.

I am in my early 50s. My prescription is +3.00 in both eyes, with a cylinder of 0.50 in the left eye. I rely on glasses with that correction whenever I'm driving or just need clear distance vision.
On top of that, I require reading glasses with an additional +1.50 boost in both eyes.

I would appreciate it if anyone who has dealt with a similar situation could share their experience. Did you decide to go through with the surgery? What was the actual procedure like, how was the recovery, and how much time did you need to take off work?

Additionally, if anyone has been treated by Dr. Sharice, please let me know the name of the clinic and what your experience was like.

I must admit, after everything I've read, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. And frankly, dropping $150 just for an initial exam feels a bit steep.

But that isn't even the biggest concern. It's the thought that if complications or lasting side effects occur, you're looking at a $3,000 bill... at that point, one might seriously reconsider the whole thing.

🙄

I'm in a similar spot. I'm 45, with a +4.50 in one eye and +5.00 in the other, plus 0.50 astigmatism. Back in March, I had a consultation with Dr. Smith—just a talk, no full exam yet—and he told me that because of my age-related farsightedness, laser correction isn't really an option for me. Instead, he suggested replacing my natural lens with a multifocal one. He did warn me that night driving might be tricky and that I'd still likely need +0.50 glasses for computer work. That didn't change my mind about wanting to ditch the glasses and contacts, nor did the price he quoted. Luckily, I stumbled upon this thread and read it thoroughly (thanks to Kenneth Fisher, Tommy13, and the other forum users). After talking to some other ophthalmologists—specifically the highly regarded Dr. Vukovic from Miami—I decided it's better to just sit tight. Dr. Vukovic advised that given my high prescription and age, doing nothing is actually the best move; otherwise, I might do more harm than good. For now, I'm sticking with my glasses and contacts. If anyone else with a positive (+) prescription has had good results, let me know.

Sean Brown3 said:I'm in a similar spot. I'm 45, with a +4.50 in one eye and +5.00 in the other, plus 0.50 astigmatism. Back in March, I had a consultation with Dr. Smith—just a talk, no full exam yet—and he told me that because of my age-related farsightedness, laser correction isn't really an option for me. Instead, he suggested replacing my natural lens with a multifocal one. He did warn me that night driving might be tricky and that I'd still likely need +0.50 glasses for computer work. That didn't change my mind about wanting to ditch the glasses and contacts, nor did the price he quoted. Luckily, I stumbled upon this thread and read it thoroughly (thanks to Kenneth Fisher, Tommy13, and the other forum users). After talking to some other ophthalmologists—specifically the highly regarded Dr. Vukovic from Miami—I decided it's better to just sit tight. Dr. Vukovic advised that given my high prescription and age, doing nothing is actually the best move; otherwise, I might do more harm than good. For now, I'm sticking with my glasses and contacts. If anyone else with a positive (+) prescription has had good results, let me know.

My sincere thanks to Sean Brown3 for sharing her experience; I'm sure it will be helpful to many others as well.

I suspect my own prognosis will mirror hers, though I am about seven or eight years further along the timeline.

I intend to seek a second opinion from an ophthalmologist at Rebro Hospital for Light. My gut tells me they won't give me the "green light" for surgery.
P.S.
I'm not entirely sure if I can visit Smith just for a consultation. It feels a bit futile to undergo a full, expensive examination only to walk away with a $233 negative response.

Greetings to all the forum users, wherever you may be!🙂😲☕👍

I’m curious if anyone here has gone through laser vision correction! How was the experience for you? Does the recovery process take forever, or is it pretty quick? Also, who would you recommend as the top specialist in Chicago for this kind of procedure, what’s the typical price tag, and is there a specific prescription limit? Right now, I’m sitting at -4.00, but my vision seems to be getting worse constantly.

Matthew Lee11 said:I’m curious if anyone here has gone through laser vision correction! How was the experience for you? Does the recovery process take forever, or is it pretty quick? Also, who would you recommend as the top specialist in Chicago for this kind of procedure, what’s the typical price tag, and is there a specific prescription limit? Right now, I’m sitting at -4.00, but my vision seems to be getting worse constantly.

Check it out—this thread is 45 pages long! You'll find a ton of personal stories and links to scientific studies in there. Honestly, the most interesting stuff really kicks off around page 13.

Thanks so much, Kenneth Fisher3! You’re an absolute legend.

Hey, Matthew Lee11! I haven't personally gone through that myself, but a close friend of mine went to a private clinic recently and she was absolutely thrilled with the results. If you want, I can shoot you a DM with the address and what they charge

Oops, you might want to take a quick look at the thread above—laser eye surgery could actually be a game changer here.

I posted this on the automobile forum too, not sure where it fits best, but I'm posting here because I seriously need some answers ASAP (basically looking for anyone's experience) 🙂

At the end of January this year, I had laser eye surgery at Visumed and everything went perfectly.

So, my driver's license is expiring in just a few days, so I went to the Crnomerec Health Center yesterday for my medical checkup, and the lady there (you guessed it) put a 5-year restriction on my license even though she literally said my vision is great!

I tried being super nice about asking why, since my vision is totally normal now and shows zero signs of getting worse...

Anyway, I'm stressing out because why would I want to explain myself to the cops that I don't wear glasses or contacts? And honestly, why would I pay for another quick checkup every five years when I can see fine now and don't need a specialist? Plus, the chances of my vision slipping are the same as anyone else with healthy eyes, right!?

So, basically, what I wanted to ask is: have any of you done a medical exam after laser surgery? Did you get cleared from those driving restrictions and the periodic checkups? And if you did, where did you go for the exam?

Thanks a bunch for the help!

Sarah Walker5 said:I posted this on the automobile forum too, not sure where it fits best, but I'm posting here because I seriously need some answers ASAP (basically looking for anyone's experience) 🙂

At the end of January this year, I had laser eye surgery at Visumed and everything went perfectly.

So, my driver's license is expiring in just a few days, so I went to the Crnomerec Health Center yesterday for my medical checkup, and the lady there (you guessed it) put a 5-year restriction on my license even though she literally said my vision is great!

I tried being super nice about asking why, since my vision is totally normal now and shows zero signs of getting worse...

Anyway, I'm stressing out because why would I want to explain myself to the cops that I don't wear glasses or contacts? And honestly, why would I pay for another quick checkup every five years when I can see fine now and don't need a specialist? Plus, the chances of my vision slipping are the same as anyone else with healthy eyes, right!?

So, basically, what I wanted to ask is: have any of you done a medical exam after laser surgery? Did you get cleared from those driving restrictions and the periodic checkups? And if you did, where did you go for the exam?

Thanks a bunch for the help!

Laser surgery basically just corrects your existing prescription; it doesn't stop your vision from changing later on. In other words, there's no more difference between going for a license renewal before surgery versus after. Before, you used glasses or contacts to bring your prescription down to zero, and now, your treated cornea does that job. The way a prescription naturally shifts stays the same in both cases—and that potential shift is exactly why they slap those restrictions on you.
Now, the real question is whether people who were nearsighted or had laser surgery have the same risk of their vision shifting as everyone else.
Even if vision tends to stay stable for adults who were previously nearsighted or had laser surgery, the chance of things getting worse is still technically a bit higher than for someone without a vision restriction. It comes down to the fact that glasses and lasers target "zero," whereas people with normal vision often have a tiny bit of farsightedness that they compensate for through accommodation. That little bit of extra "plus" might make near vision slightly harder, but it actually makes them less likely to drift into being nearsighted.
Still, nearsightedness can develop later in life. For example, if I had taken my test at 17 before I was nearsighted, I wouldn't have a restriction. But I know plenty of people who became nearsighted after 25, and some even say it can happen after 30.
Then there's age-related farsightedness, which can progress so much—even well before age 65—that it ruins not just your near vision, but your distance vision too. It's kind of strange that the current trend is allowing people to drive up to age 80 without mandatory medical exams, especially considering how common eye issues become at that age. Maybe they just assume seniors are conscientious enough about road safety that they won't drive if their vision fails, whereas everyone else needs a formal check-up to ensure they're being responsible?

Noah Parker2 said:It's like this:
My wife got home from her surgery at Light Polyclinic about two hours ago. I have to tell you all right now—BE CAREFUL.
Here’s the deal... the surgery was on both eyes to correct a -5 prescription... the first eye was handled by Dr. Smith and turned out fine, but they let some kid mess around with the second eye, and we've had actual PROBLEMS with that one... apparently, after the surgery, they put some kind of corrective lens in that eye?!?!?!
But of course, before the procedure, you sign a contract stating you're prepared for ANY possible issues... in other words... if you end up losing your sight because of some idiot who's basically just an intern... you can cry to the heavens for all it matters.
Then... forget about them telling you it's a "minor" surgery... and the discharge papers she got? They're legendary... basically, there isn't a single useful detail in there.
They told her verbally that they restored 60% of the vision in one eye... now... who's the crazy one here...? THIS SURGERY COSTS $2,000 $0.00 (for both eyes) and they're giving back 60%... unbelievable... honestly unheard of?!
When she asked the nurse working there if that meant 60% vision is fully restored and that's it... the nurse just said she'd have to ask Smith... because "how should I know," she doesn't know...
The discharge papers look like this:
ON JANUARY 12, 2008, AT LIGHT POLYCLINIC, THE FOLLOWING SURGICAL PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED:
OPERATION: LASIK OU.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENT:
- UPON ARRIVAL HOME, TAKE A 2 MG OR 5 MG ASPIRIN TABLET
- SLEEP FOR A FEW HOURS
- IF YOU HAVE PAIN AFTER WAKING UP, TAKE A VOLTAREN RAPID TABLET.
(THE CLINIC DOESN'T PROVIDE THE TABLETS; YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY THEM YOURSELF AFTER THE SURGERY... BECAUSE IT'S APPARENTLY NOT WORTH IT TO INCLUDE THREE TABLETS IN THE $2,000 $0.00 FEE, SO PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO CUT CORNERS EVEN ON THAT. BUT WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL WITH DRIVING TO THE PHARMACY TO PICK THEM UP?? NOPE... APPARENTLY NOT... AND THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED SOME SUNGLASSES... WHICH YOU ALSO HAVE TO BUY YOURSELF TO SAVE MONEY... AND THE ones FROM $13 ARE FINE... BUT LIKE I SAID... $6.75 ISN'T ENOUGH TO cover that "extra equipment")
- EYE DROPS: USE TOBREX 5X DAILY (3 DAYS), EFFLUMIDEX 5X DAILY (10 TO 14 DAYS), AND SZSTANE 5-7X DAILY (30 DAYS)
- PATIENT REQUIRES MEDICAL LEAVE
Follow-up tomorrow
If needed, contact Dr. Smith at: xxxxxxxxxx

PLEASE, WHAT KIND OF ABSOLUTE GARBAGE DISCHARGE PAPER IS THIS?!?!?!

After the surgery... you aren't allowed to go near bright lights, you can't wash your hair, you can't go into dark rooms, etc., for at least 10 days; you can't lift anything heavier than a bag of groceries for 7 days, etc... in other words, anyone who thought this was a surgery where "now I'll just head home and watch TV" is DEAD WRONG... BUT OF COURSE, THEY WON'T TELL YOU THAT BEFORE THE OPERATION... JUST SO YOU DON'T BACK OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE...

So, THINK VERY HARD BEFORE DOING THIS... as for what happens next... I'll update you in 10 days.

Give me a break.
You don't need to go out and buy any medication, not even the pills.
You get two tablets of Normabel and Diamax (to relax and manage eye pressure), which is more than enough for that day.
Before the operation, you receive all the instructions, notices, and disclosures regarding potential complications; just because you might have been too lazy to read it all or ask the doctor every single question you had doesn't mean you weren't informed and warned.
After the operation, the patient and their companion are briefed once more on the rules of conduct following the procedure, because, at the end of the day, it IS a surgery.
It's not like there's a pool of blood on the floor, but it still counts as surgery.
😠

Alright, here’s the lowdown... back at the end of August, I went in for laser vision correction at Light Polyclinic. I was rocking a +5 prescription in both eyes, plus some astigmatism. Honestly, the actual procedure? Totally painless and over before you know it.
The catch was the recovery. It dragged on forever. For the first two months, my vision was a mess—it felt like I was looking through a bucket of water. I’d wake up with blurry vision and go to bed the exact same way. I was constantly running back for checkups because, let's face it, your eyes are your lifeline, and I was freaking out. Slowly but surely, things started clearing up. Now, I can say I see almost perfectly, though I still deal with a few nagging issues here and there. If anyone’s curious about anything, feel free to pick my brain—since surgeries for farsightedness aren't exactly common practice.

😉

Megan Parker4 said:Alright, here’s the lowdown... back at the end of August, I went in for laser vision correction at Light Polyclinic. I was rocking a +5 prescription in both eyes, plus some astigmatism. Honestly, the actual procedure? Totally painless and over before you know it.
The catch was the recovery. It dragged on forever. For the first two months, my vision was a mess—it felt like I was looking through a bucket of water. I’d wake up with blurry vision and go to bed the exact same way. I was constantly running back for checkups because, let's face it, your eyes are your lifeline, and I was freaking out. Slowly but surely, things started clearing up. Now, I can say I see almost perfectly, though I still deal with a few nagging issues here and there. If anyone’s curious about anything, feel free to pick my brain—since surgeries for farsightedness aren't exactly common practice.

I have a question regarding laser eye surgery. I've had strabismus in my left eye since birth—had an operation for it when I was five. I'm 14 now. I used to wear a patch over my healthy eye, though I wasn't exactly diligent about it because it was a constant nuisance. The goal was to force the left eye to work, but I haven't worn the patches for the last two months—mostly because wearing them at school makes everything look blurry. A week ago, I went to see a doctor to check my status. He told me my vision in the left eye is only at 25%, and he measured my prescription—my left eye is a -2.5. Now I'm stuck. Is it even worth getting laser surgery? What are the actual chances of my eye returning to normal, and how long would the recovery take? It’s not like I’m blind, but if I cover my right eye, you can clearly see how much weaker the left one is. Also, what kind of price tag are we looking at here?
Thanks for understanding... please advise.

Price?
Laser surgery at the hospital is covered by insurance... totally free

As for recovery? If you ask me, just a few days
The first day, maybe even the second, might sting a little, but after that, you're golden

But hey, who knows how it'll go for you...