Anyone had it done? Anyone considered it? I'm going to look into it. I got glasses for the first time in 5th grade, wore one contact in high school (only one eye needed correction), then got another pair of glasses about 12 years ago that I wore on and off for about a year, then nothing until we moved here three years ago when I got contacts (both eyes this time). My eyes really aren't that bad. I can actually legally drive without correction, but I like being able to read the street signs! lol Anyway, I mentioned it to dh yesterday and he said they do it on base. I told him I knew that, but I thought it was for active duty people only. He thinks it's for dependants, too. Gosh, if I could have this done for free or for a small co-pay, I'm gonna do it! I'd love to not have to worry about contacts, or pay for them. I just bought a year's supply yesterday and they were $150 (I will get $30 from a rebate). I don't like wearing glasses because they get so dirty so quickly, they hurt my nose and ears after a while, and I just don't think I look good in them. So if there are any btdt's to share, please do! I do know a woman at my church that had it a couple years ago and she didn't have a very good experience, but her eyes were very bad (almost legally blind) and she ended up with terribly dry eyes for a long time afterwards. She still needs glasses, but a much weaker prescription. She's also in her 50's or 60's and I'm only 33. I am doing my research online, so I'll know what I'm in for. Dh has an appointment at the hospital this Wednesday, so he's going to stop at the clinic and get me some info. TIA for any thoughts.

By Tink on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 06:19 pm:

One of my former coworkers had it done about a year ago and has been 100% satisfied. Not a single complaint. I've really considered it since I'm a perfect candidate for it but it will have to be one of those things I have done when I get on Extreme Makeover. I'd say look into it! I'd love to have it done.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 06:44 pm:

I'd love to have it done! Maybe one day...................

By Debbie on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 07:56 pm:

I have a good friend that had this done. She had very bad eyesight(she couldn't really see a thing without her glasses). She had a great experience. I talked to her the afternoon she had it done. She was fine except for a kind of gritty feeling in her eyes which lasted for a couple of days. She said she has almost perfect vision now. Dh has been talking about doing this. I don't know if he qualifies for the surgery though. His bad eyesight is just from old age.

By Vicki on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 08:08 pm:

My dh had it done about 2 years ago now. His eyes were pretty bad and he had to wear glasses to see much of anything at all. He wore glasses from the time he was about 10 years old. He is 100% satisfied with his results and LOVES that he is free from glasses and contacts. The most important thing is to have a Dr do it that is very good at it. We had to pay for all of it, so we really researched and got a good one!!

By Cat on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 11:39 pm:

Thanx everyone for sharing yours or your friend's stories! I'm glad to hear it's usually so successful! We'll have to wait and see what the clinic says and if dh is right about them doing dependants. I'll let you know!

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 05:37 am:

One of my coworkers had it done about 5 years ago and has had no problems and loved the results. My former boss's wife had it down about 6 years ago, same story. You want an opthalomological surgeon who specializes in this and has done it for at least five years.

Questions to ask: how long have you been doing this procedure; how many times have you done it; what are potential complications? What do you do about sterility (very important)? Where is the procedure done and what is the backup in case of complications?

Age is certainly a factor, and it is, I believe, very unusual for a reliable opthalmologist to do this procedure on someone over 50 or 55, so I am surprised they did it for the woman you mention - unless it was to restore her to useful vision with glasses, which seems to be what was the end result. But your age is well within the range I have read of being a safe range for the procedure, and your reasons sound good to me.