Laser Eye Surgery
Out of context: Reply #19
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- Jaline0
I had it done early last year.
One of the best things I've ever saved up for.
It cost about $4000 (CAD) for my prescription of between -7 and -8 in each eye, plus an astigmatism.
I wore glasses and contacts for about 16 years before the surgery. My eyes are very sensitive and most contacts would be rejected by my eyes after a couple of years of wearing them. They'd become very uncomfortable. I'd need to clean them 10 times before placing them in my eyes. Glasses aren't practical when you have eyesight as bad as I did. I didn't mind the aesthetics at all. It was more about comfort and needing to deal with them in the weather, not being able to see in the shower, can't wear them at the beach, etc. At the same time, they were more comfortable than wearing contacts. So I swapped them daily.
Laser surgery: I wanted PRK surgery on the assumption that I wanted to do very aggressive sports or in case I got into an accident, but my surgeon persuaded me to do the regular LASIK one instead. During PRK surgery, the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea. This laser is used on the surface of the cornea, not underneath a flap of the cornea, like in LASIK eye surgery. It's harder to do any damage to the cornea itself in the long term, but the recovery time is much longer and more painful. My surgeon mentioned that it would be too much of a risk to do that particular surgery for me because of my prescription and eye problems, and most people are fine with the regular LASIK procedure. Anyway, I trusted my surgeon and did as he said. Also, I think I would have other things to worry about if a serious accident happened, and I play intensive sports but they're not overly physically aggressive. I don't get hit in the face all the time like you would if you took up boxing.
I have no fear of people doing stuff to my eye. The surgery was about 3 minutes in length, not counting the drops you have to use before and after the procedure. I could smell something burning, and everything went dark for about 5 seconds, but otherwise the surgeon was just saying numbers to his assistant and they both worked very quickly and carefully.
Post-surgery: I took many eye drops for weeks after, but everything was great after about 7 days. I can see more halos when I'm driving at night, but nothing disruptive or annoying.
I have 20/20 vision now. Hope it stays that way for a while longer!