Lasik eye surgery

[VBshooter]

Anyone here taken the plunge and had this done? I am thinking seriously about it, I am nearly blind in one eye but the other with glasses sees OK except for shooting a gun. I see a clear image of a target but the sight picture is a little blurry, And no amount of adjusting seems to improve it, So I rely on instinctual shooting sometimes,,looking for some input for others who have gone this route and how they feel about it, ,Good , Bad Or Indifferent,, Thx

[meadmkr]

I had LASIK about 3 years ago and love it. Am still 20/15 in both eyes and love the ability to see across the room in the morning without reaching for the glasses. Before the surgery wore progressive lenses and now need 'cheaters' (reading glasses) for up-close details but with 48 y.o. eyes it was inevitable

My biggest challenge is seeing the rear sight on most rifles and on some pistols. For that I either need to shoot with my arm full extended or use 3-dot sights. I put Trij. night sights on my Glock 22 can align the sights well enough for good groups on a man-sized target out to 15 yards. Just don't ask me to keep 'em in the x-ring. Been considering adding some type of laser sight but haven't done so yet.

For most of my firearms I added optical sights and for those I haven't I use the 'bifocal shooting glasses' I got via ebay.

[gregj]

A coworker's wife had her's done with good success, but he wasnt too successful with his. I've read enough horror stories to make me leary of having it done.

Like anything else there is some bad with the good. Problem I have is these are my only two eyes. They wont grow back, if they botch the surgery, there's little that can be done.

Might try reading this site: http://www.lasiksucks4u2.com/

Good luck with your decision.

[VBshooter]

I to have reservations due to having just the one half decent eye,that gets hosed and I'm SOL ,,I would imagine like anything else you get what you pay for , so it;s wise to find an experienced well know doctor to perform it.. Decisions ,,,,Decisions

[Bags30]

I had it and am glad I did. Had 20/15 vision after the first week but it has faded to 20/20 in two years since but I am not complaining. I also use reading glasses.
Talk to an objective optometrist (One who doesn't make money off your decision) before you do.
My coworker has been through it and liked it at first but results faded. He has had to go back four times, that I know of, and now needs reading glasses just to see what is on his dinner plate (no kidding). Haven't spoken with him about it lately but I think he is really regretting it.
His current doctor says he never should have had the first surgery due to bad astigmatism

[Paliden]

I've looked into this a lot for myself. Without my glasses or contact I can't do a lot. What I have learned is this, you only have one pair of eyes period, mess them up and your screwed. Lasik has come a long way but I still hear good and bad. Even after Lasik depending on your age YOU STILL NEED READING GLASSES!!!!!! Your not young anymore. Bottom line is this: pretty good chance of success, but a decent chance of not working and being worse, say for example 70/30 or 80/20. So know much of a gambler are you??
Me they make some good optic and laser sights, I went that route.

[navvet]

yeah Ive been thinking of it myself. Im concerned if the SHTF that glasses will be a big negative.
It would be good to not need them. But, without them I cant see poop. Up until I was 45 I could see a nats ass from 100 yards. Now I cant see my hand with them off.
It is just to much of a risk when there is a chance of messing it up for good.

[jadedone4]

... had Lasik in 2004, move to 20/15, no contact lenses, no glasses - in general got rid of the PITA things associated with both. It took me almost three (3) years of "research" before I did this (not to mention rolling pennies to pay for it - as insurance considers this a "cosmetic" procedure). What I can tell you, from my experience, is that this was a GREAT investment for me.

I would not necessarily call them "cons" but there are some drawbacks that some folks are not aware of.

a. you only gain whatever corrected vision via Lasik on the "plane of sight" and not the periphal vision; therefore, you will need to re-train you brain/muscles to move your neck to line up on what you want to see. This took sometime for me to adjust to, just like if something wasn't "focused" I would try to move my glasses up/down to address (duh, you ain't wear'n them anymore....).

b. just like everything else with Mother Nature - it ain't gonna work the same as it did at 18years of age. As we get older, Lasik or no Lasik, stuff don't work the same. I talked to parents and family about "when" they started to notice that the newspaper/reading print was smaller or unclear; and factored in that average age to be when I would probably need reading glasses, etc. Right now with Lasik from '04, the only time that I need a pair of reading glasses is for very small items (i.e. looking at a measuring tape for the fractions of an inch, reading the BS fine-print on most stuff like my health-insurance.... ) - otherwise, no "objects may appear further.." only applies to my bank account balance.

c. get a REPUTABLE surgeon, not some "fly-by-night" store-front set-up that has some "special per eye..." price; this ain't Larry, Moe and Curly, or even Manny, Moe and Jack - you ain't getting one-eye free with the purchase of the other. I have found that the Washingtonian's Best Doc's edition lists some reputable folks. My surgeon performed on some well-known folks and when I needed to have minor scar-tissue removed, didn't pay a dime, the office stated that they wanted to "get it right and make me happy..."

d. do your research, read over and over again what you should expect - and not the simple glossy promo stuff from the office's or the doc's internet site. Do searchs on "complaints" "reviews" of both the procedure and the doc's reputation - so that your comfort level(s) are well-placed and YOU feel confident in the decision - go or no-go - on this action.

e. lastly, don't frigg'n get caught-up in the BS hype about going to Canada to have Lasik done for half price what you'd pay stateside. While I hate the BS bureauracy in US of A, ain't gonna trust a country who doc' s speak different languages depending on where you cross the border. There are reasonable and reputable surgeons here stateside... support your locals.