PRK surgery

[metaldector]

I had the Lasik evaluation last week and they say I can be corrected to 20/20 or better. But the price @$4200 is to say the least quite expensive. I've got to think about this a while, oh, they offered a finance plan. Think of the scuba gear one could get to $4200? :jawsdown:

 

[chickdiver]

See another doc. $4200$ is OUTRAGEOUS.

 

[KPScuba]

I am considering eye correction surgery and have asked in a previous post about divers' experiences with LASIK. I am also a candidate for PRK, and am wondering if anyone has had this procedure done instead of LASIK, and what the outcome was.

THANKS!

-Jessica

I had PRK about 5 years ago. There was some discomfort or pain for about a day or two on one eye, then I was fine. About a month later they did the other eye. It was sore for about a week, or a little more, then was fine. I knew this would probably be the case ahead of time, but I opted for the PRK to avoid having to worry about the flap. I am very active and my job involves working with horses, and a swish of a tail could easily lift a lasik flap. For me, knowing that once my eyes felt ok, there were no other special precautions other then normal meant a lot.

Prior to PRK I had about 20/300 vision correctable to 20/15 with contacts. I was warned that the surgery may not correct me quite as well as the contacts, but I should at least get to 20/25. Contacts had started to damage my eyes, and I really didn't like wearing glasses with my active lifestyle. Though I did not dive back then. Fortunately for me, my left eye corrected to 20/15 with 2-3 days after surgery, and the right eye corrected to 20/20 within a week of surgery(the one that was sore longer- no explanation, just was). But within about 1 to 2 months the right eye finally caught up with the left at 20/15. Since then I have had no adverse effects and am very happy with my eyes. My wife is insanely jealous of me, especially since the opthamologist who did mine was a family friend and did mine for free if I would be one of his first patients(his wife was his very first). My wife was pregnant at the time, so was not a candidate. Now we live elsewhere, so would be hard to get back to him.

I am very thankful for this surgery and now that I dive, I am even more appreciative. This was a miracle from God for me. Good luck in your decision. I know that some people do not get as good of results as I did.

 

[KPScuba]

Well I did it! I had LASIK done last Friday, and I was seeing 20/20 the next day! Everything is going well, and I'm planning my next dive trip to The Keys in April, so hopefully I'll be plenty healed by then.

-jessica

Hello, didn't pay attention to all of the thread and when I posted just a little bit ago, didn't realize you have had your surgery. Congratulations and good luck. God bless. Hope your dive goes well.

 

[nusspli]

I had the Lasik evaluation last week and they say I can be corrected to 20/20 or better. But the price @$4200 is to say the least quite expensive. I've got to think about this a while, oh, they offered a finance plan. Think of the scuba gear one could get to $4200? :jawsdown:

I paid $3000 for LASIK. Around here (MA) that price is comparable to other facilities.

 

[Cudabait]

Wore glasses from elementaty school. Four years ago I had Lasik surgery on both eyes. Vision was over 20/400 in each eye. Farsightedness and severe astigmatism. My vision uncorected was exactly like opening your eyes underwater....exactly! Vision was correected to 20/20 and 20/30... I can't complain about that. I still use cheaters which I buy for about $8.00 pair for really close work. I would do it again in a heartbeat. regards,

 

[OCdiving Deb]

... that to have Lasik, one first must stop wearing contact lenses for a period of time before the surgery? I heard that the time w/o contacts = 1 week for every year that one has worn contact lenses. If that is true, I would have to wear my glasses for 30 weeks before getting LASIK.

That is probably the biggest obstacle for me right now. What do you know about this?

 

[plsdiver4377]

... that to have Lasik, one first must stop wearing contact lenses for a period of time before the surgery? I heard that the time w/o contacts = 1 week for every year that one has worn contact lenses. If that is true, I would have to wear my glasses for 30 weeks before getting LASIK.

That is probably the biggest obstacle for me right now. What do you know about this?

If I remember correctly this time frame depends on which type of contacts you wear. I wore soft (diposable) and I had to go without for about 2 weeks, although I know of other people who only had to go without for a week (I had an eye infection which increased my time). I was told that if you wore gas-perms or other hard lenses you had to go without for a longer period of time since your eye shape had been restrained by the contacts themselves. I would make an appointment with am affiliated eye doctor or the surgeon themselves for a consultation regarding your particular situation (it would be worth the peace of mind).

Cheers, Jim

 

[firediver293]

I paid $0.

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

And you can too...just raise your right hand and sign on the dotted line. Uncle Sam will hook you up.

 

[nusspli]

I heard that the time w/o contacts = 1 week for every year that one has worn contact lenses.
QUOTE]


Absolutely not true.

I had been wearing soft lenses and was told that contacts flatten the shape of your eye and must be removed before consulation in order for the eye to reform to its original shape. Most doctors insist on not wearing contacts for at least one week prior surgery. Also, contacts cannot be worn for about two weeks prior evaluation and corneal exams. So if you plan it right, you only have to be without contacts for a little over two weeks.