LASIK Experience

Once your vision stabilizes, you have your opthamologist fill out the eye evaluation form. Then you're good to go until your next medical.

Just in case, hang on to your glasses so that you don't violate the terms of your current medical if you're ramp checked.

That's what I was told by a friend of mine who works for ALPA.
 
I had my eyes done in Jan of 2002. I got my 1st class medical in June of 2003. I received a letter from the Good 'ole FAA suspending my medical sometime around May of 2004. In order to have it reinstated, I had to get an updated eye exam and send the results to the main AME in Oklahoma. All in all, everything worked out just fine. I have never had any problems since my surgery, and continue to have nearly perfect vision. Having my eyes fixed has literally changed my life. I have been able to do so much more than I ever had before the surgery... skiing, swimming, running, hoops... No longer have glasses holding me back is amazing!! I highly recommend getting it done. Just make sure you find a VERY reputable doctor!
 
One Week

And not the BNL song.

I went for my one week follow up today and the news is good. One eye is 20/20. The other one is 20/30 or so. They expect things to continue to improve and stabilize over the next month or so and they expect that if anything I will be looking at (pun not intended) no worse than 20/20, with a strong possibility that I'll be doing better.

I have to keep putting moistening drops into my eyes for the next month. They said my eyes were dry and I need to make sure they stay moist.

I asked the doctor if he'd fill out the eye evaluation form for me today, and he said he wanted to wait until things were stabilized.

Amazing. Last week, I couldn't even dream of going flying without my contacts or glasses. Less than one week later, and my eyes are good enough to do it, even though it wouldn't be smart.

I think I'll take the day off on the day of my one month follow up so that I can get the eye evaluation form filled out, and then go up and celebrate flying without contacts or glasses!
 
Re: One Week

Well I just go my glasses today. The lenses are kind of thick but the glasses are small and have no support around the lenses. I can't wait to get this surgery once I'm old enough. Off course, these glasses are only needed for school while taking notes down and when driving, but they're still glasses.

My eyes burn when I use the computer. I've heard of something called "Computer vision syndrome" or something like that but I need to do some more research into it.
 
Re: One Week

[ QUOTE ]
My eyes burn when I use the computer. I've heard of something called "Computer vision syndrome" or something like that but I need to do some more research into it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is posting 20+ times a day to JC a symptom?
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Re: One Week

Well in my case it's more like 200.

Now I don't know if I should wear my glasses for my computer or not. I'm nearsighted so I have far away glasses. If I don't wear glasses, I have to look really close at the screen, if I wear my glasses, I can see from a good distance backed up from the screen. I just don't want my vision to worsen.
 
Re: One Week

[ QUOTE ]
I have to keep putting moistening drops into my eyes for the next month. They said my eyes were dry and I need to make sure they stay moist.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the doctor didn't recommend any specific drops, I would recommend "TheraTears"... I tried a few different kinds and this brand was far and away the best that I found.
 
Re: One Week

[ QUOTE ]
My eyes burn when I use the computer. I've heard of something called "Computer vision syndrome" or something like that but I need to do some more research into it.

[/ QUOTE ] don't go giving yourself "syndrome's" now Brian...otherwise your apt to become a hypocondriac!

your eyes probably burn because your in front of the computer at all hours and your not blinking enough. when your eyes get dry.. they burn and itch...start blinking more or using moisture drops while your in front of the computer and your eyes will stop burning! I find that the same thing happens to me because i do sit in front of a computer all day and then most of the night as well.. and when i don't blink enough, my eyes get tired quicker and they tend to burn & itch.

and yes, you should wear your glasses at the computer... any "stress" you can take off your eyes only helps your eyes! when my eyes start getting over dry/burny or tired, i put my driving glasses (my reading glasses make my eyes wig out on the puter) and that really takes away A LOT of the stress!

plus, it'll also get rid of those "eyes are tired" headaches cuz if your eyes are burning and your not wearing your glasses while on the puter - my bet is that you get those same headaches where it becomes imperitive to "take a break".

Try that first - if that doesn't work, then you can give yourself a syndrome!
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I sure wish Lasik could cure my ambliopia - but NOOOOOOO....theres no cure for a pair of eyes that don't work together (unless your a young'in and can get vision therapy).. it's just too late for me!
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Re: One Week

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have to keep putting moistening drops into my eyes for the next month. They said my eyes were dry and I need to make sure they stay moist.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the doctor didn't recommend any specific drops, I would recommend "TheraTears"... I tried a few different kinds and this brand was far and away the best that I found.

[/ QUOTE ]I really like Systane a lot as far as moisture goes and it's what my doc always recommends as well....If you haven't tried it, i'd try that too...
 
One Month

And I'm looking at 20/20 in my right eye and 20/25 in my left. Put them together and it's 20/20.

I could probably go and pass a first class medical right now. The AME would have me look at it with both eyes and say, you're fine.

I'm gonna go flying again this weekend!

Still a little dry, and still need to make sure I keep the eyes moist. Just blinking when I used the computer and things like that should help, and then when I put the drops in, that should keep them moist.

I'm very happy. I've gone from having the big E on the chart acting as a good Rorhshach test to 20/20.
 
Re: One Month

Hey Tony, was this a wavefront-guided procedure? Do you know what laser system was used?
 
Re: One Month

It was a standard LASIK procedure. They didn't think I needed the custom LASIK and they were right.

I believe the laser used was made by Visx.

The thing that sealed the deal for me was that the doc who did my eyes did an astronaut's eyes before.
 
Re: One Month

One of my former students was a Visx salesmen for south America and Canada. The stuff he told me made me only EVER want to do it with a Visx machine - the rest seem lightyears behind...

~wheelsup
 
Re: One Month

Friendly word of advice: never believe ANYTHING a salesman tells you, even one you know. Most all sales types are paid on commission, and if their snake oil ain't sellin', they don't get paid. Even if he's not trying to sell you personally, if he's good, he knows the value of word of mouth--which you've just illustrated so aptly.
 
Re: One Month

[ QUOTE ]
Friendly word of advice: never believe ANYTHING a salesman tells you, even one you know. Most all sales types are paid on commission, and if their snake oil ain't sellin', they don't get paid. Even if he's not trying to sell you personally, if he's good, he knows the value of word of mouth--which you've just illustrated so aptly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, then don't believe anything I say. Come on, Aloft. There are snake oil salesmen, and then there are people who understand that your rep is far more important that closing one deal.

If I close one deal because I pull an O'Lielly, then the word gets out and my rep goes down the tubes. Try selling someone when they've heard you're an O'Lielly.

And what does that do for my commission?
 
Dude only $390 and eye up in Canada

http://www.lasikmd.ca/us_cost.html

Im going!

Any SkyWest pilots have this done by an doctor up in Canada? I can recall a pilot who had this done that works for SkyWest. This Doc had performed lots of Lasik for pilots and a majority of SkyWest pilots. Just happened to forget both the pilot and doc's name.

I'm in need of new eyeglasses its been two years and my lens are scratched. I priced frames around $160 plus cool clip on sunglasses $30. Eye exam $65 and the lenses to go into the frame $70

Grand total $325 plus about $100 worth of contact lenses for the next six months
 
[ QUOTE ]
remember...you get what you pay for.

[/ QUOTE ] Yes, you do... If you pay for a $3000+ procedure, you get better eyesight and and empty wallet. If you pay for the procedure in Canada... You pay about $390-$500 per eye and you get better eyesight and a small headstart on a savings account!
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I had it done in Canada at LasikMD and did not regret it at all. For less than $1200 I travelled, ate out, and stayed in a nice hotel for a few days all while visiting a great city (Montreal) with my wife, and having the procedure done.

The equipment there is about 5 years ahead of the equipment in the US... Due to the (ever so lengthy) FDA approval process. So you are actually getting technology that is more advanced. (This info came from my local optometrist in Portland Maine.) He further stated that the reason for a lot of the expense in the US is not due to better equipment... it's due to the fact that many eye doctors have this equipment but doing the procedure is only something they do periodically... maybe 1-10 procedures a week... thus the higher cost to justify the expense of the equipment.

The clinic in Montreal that I visited solely performed the procedure... that's all they did. I think my Doc alone had done over 30,000 procedures and had done a tremendous amount of research on the subject. Here is a typical breakdown on their staff surgeon's experience.

Anyway, I posted a small tidbit of my experience in another thread earlier...

Not trying to be a cheerleader for them or anything... but just giving the word as a most satisfied customer.

Bob
 
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