Laser eye surgery
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3578
Printed Date: 08 October 2025 at 10:44am
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Topic: Laser eye surgery
Posted By: my2angels
Subject: Laser eye surgery
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 8:06am
| This is completely unrelated to babies but has anyone had or know of anyone who has had laser eye surgery done? Im seriously thinking about doing it cos Im soooo sick of glasses and contact and have only ever heard good things about it but Im sure it cant be all 100% good and no one I directly know has had it done to really tell me what its like. Its pretty expensive so I want to hear as much about it as I can before I possibly waste my money |
Replies:
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 8:11am
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My Dad had it, and he's never looked back! He used to be pretty blind (even had to wear sports glasses to see the lines in the bottom of the swimming pool!!) and after recovering from the surgery (couple of days) he started referring to himself as 'Eagle-Eyes'! He now uses weak glasses to read, which they'd told him he'd need, but drives and does everything else glasses-free. And that was about a decade ago - so I'm guessing the surgery's maybe even improved since then? ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Millie1976
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 8:15am
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Hi there,
My husband had laser surgery around 6 years ago and he has never looked back. He had a check up last year and his vision hasn't changed since his surgery. He sometimes wears glasses just for reading but otherwise his vision is great  ------------- Sebastien 2 years old Olivier 3 3/4 years old |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 8:58am
| A friend of ours recently had it done, no probs at all. I think it was about $5K, so the price has come down quite a bit compared to what it used to be. I can get more details if you need me to. |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 9:16am
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Robyn I want to get it done too (I realised that I am very blind with out my glasses).....but I am a scary cat!!
My BIL had it done in USA a while back and he is very happy with the results but ....  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 10:43am
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My aunty had it done because after 30 years of contact lenses her eyes rejected them and she was so blind that glasses just didn't cut it. Now she only wears weak glasses for reading, and she reckons it was worth it.
It only works for certain types of eye probs tho I think. I know I could have it as I have the same hereditary eye problem as my aunty (astigmatism) but atm the $$$$ is getting in the way! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 11:55am
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oh yah that too....$$$ ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 12:11pm
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My mama had it quite a few years back and she only wears (weak) glasses for driving/when she's on the computer for a million years/reading.
I'm pretty sure she's all for it! I remember having to look after her for a couple of days while she camped out in her room with the curtains shut... being waited on can't be all that bad! Maybe start saving now so when Kobe is old enough to prepare food for ya, you'll have a slave at hand! I'd seriously consider it in a couple of years (when I actually have money)... at the moment I'm still workin' the glasses thing
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 12:30pm
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Red that would be great, any info I can get would be good, I know I will get told heaps from the clinic but it would be good to hear it from someone non medical if you knwo what I mean.
Roskana Im the same, but Ive been told they can give you good drugs to relax you, otherwise I would panic and couldnt do it I think. I just figure with all the years to come with the kids, swimming playing and all that glasses are just such a pain. plus it might help motivate me with my whole weight loss body imagine thing. We cant afford it either but Ive heard that AGC will finance it and you can pay it off but have to look into that further, otherwise will have to wait till we sell the house. Hubby got a big screen tv which cost the same so I figure I should be able to get this done! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 1:11pm
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Oooh I want it too. I heard they just lop off the iris and play around. cool. course I heard that on sex and the city, so may be a tad unreliable as a source.
My friend had it done and thought it was wonderful. He was...23 I think, and no longer needs glasses at all. I've been told that he probably will when he gets older, just as our eyes change and all that. thats an age thing though, not a surgery thing... just fingished typing and noticed Taine - he has a nasty nappy rash so is having "bare bum" time, which apparently has turned into "crapping on the carpet" time. ick ick ick. |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 3:39pm
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Hi there
I am a long time lurker, but not pregnant or planning to be just yet. Getting married in Feb, so maybe planning to try next year! Anyway, just thought I could finally give some advice on a topic I actually know something about! I had the laser correction surgery during Christmas last year. I was terrorfied of surgery, having never been in hospital or anything like that. After having the surgery I would have to say it is the easiest thing I have done in my life, that I have had the most satisfaction from. The op is over in about 15-20 mins, most of the time is the prep, the actual laser takes about 1 minute per eye. They give you a sedative which makes you feel very drunk. There is no pain at all, just irritation. I walked out of the surgery seeing just about perfectly! The next approx 5 hours, is when your eyes are very light sensative and are constantly crying. It is best just to go to bed for the whole day and night. There is no pain whatsoever through out the whole op and healing process. The feeling is like a peice of sand is stuck in each eye, a bit gritty is my best description. The next morning I woke up, took off the sexy goggles (which you have to wear for one week at night after surgery) and my vision was perfect. From the time I walked in to the surgery a complete and blubering mess from being so scared, to walking out with the best vision I have ever had in my life, I totally recommend it! And yep, its about $5k, but they have plenty of finance options available through the clinics. So looking back now, eight months on from the surgery, best thing I ever did (and fiancee thinks so too)! Well that was a very long first post, whoops! |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 3:50pm
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Hi Peachy, thanks for jumping in! I havent come across anyone who has actually done it, just people who know of someone so I have a couple of questions if thats ok.
Im really worried about how they keep your eyes open with some little gadget and how you have ot stay still. Was that really horrible and did you have to stay like that for ages. I just keep picturing myself panicking that I cant blink. Also when the laser is actually doing its thing do you know its happening, someone told me you can smell a burning smell but again that was just word of mouth. Is there anything else you need to do like the goggles (I didnt even know you had ot wear goggles). Is the gritty sand in the eye feeling bearable or does it drive you crazy and last question, how long all up do you think it took you to recover and your eyes feel normal? Sorry for the long post but I thought I would ask you the questions on here rather than PM you so everyone who might be thinking about the surgery can learn more about it. Thanks |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 4:17pm
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You sound exactly like I did before I had it done!
Firstly, the sedative works a treat, it actually makes you feel very relaxed. So relaxed in fact, that its quite a surreal feeling, like you have no worries in the world! The clamp holds your eye lids back, you cannot feel this, just a little pressure on your skin. They then put a suction ring on your eye ball again you only feel pressure. Your vision goes dim, like your looking through a tunnel really. They then make the incision and start the laser. The laser is done in short sharp bursts. Yes, it smells bad and you can see it working by the light guides inside the laser that you have to stare at. Breath through your mouth and you don't smell a thing. If you make one single movement, the laser stops re-adjusts itself and starts again. It is the most amazing technology I have ever seen. Throughout the whole process you actually feel like you are blinking, it is very strange, when there is actually no way possible that you can. The surgeon talks to you the whole way through it, you can ask questions even while they are operating. Its quite a relaxed environment. The gritty feeling afterwards is quite annoying, but it is only about 3-5 hours of feeling like this, they give you sleeping pills, so take one and you will wake up and wont even know about the gritty feeling. The goggles, just like swimming goggles are so you dont rub your eyes at night. The biggest risk of the whole process is infection. You have to put antibiotic drops in your eyes every day for two weeks afterwards and wear the goggles at night for one week. My eyes felt great from the next morning onwards. For up to six months afterwards I could not apply any pressure onto my eyes, not that you really have a need to do that anyway, but they were quite sensative to touch for quite sometime. The only other thing is - no make up for a week or two! Mascara is definately a no no for a few weeks! I cannot describe enough how quick and easy it was. I was absolutely petrified! Oh and one other thing, you defintely need sunnies on inside and outside for the first few days. Day light is very very harsh at first. Hope that helps! |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 4:53pm
| thats awesome thanks. so you didnt panick or feel uncomfortable having your eyes pinned open then? do they do both eyes at the same time or individually? Sorry all these things I keep thinking of! Ive made an appt for the assessment next week, I figure not much point thinkng about it to much if I dont even qualify which knowing my luck I wont. |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 6:59pm
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A friend of mine had it done this year, she was blind without her glasses on. She had to have one eye done at a time so had special glasses made for her in between each eye. She said she would never look back. She had to have it done in Auckland and she flew up to Auckland everytime to have it done. I think from memory she had 3 trips up there. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 26 August 2006 at 1:40pm
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Awwww I wanna have it done now!!!!!!!!!
I would absolutely love to be able to wear sunglasses and actually see!!!!!!! |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 26 August 2006 at 5:45pm
| Nikki I know what you mean. We are probably in the worst financial situation we have ever been in cos we are renting while building and Im not workign etc... but now that I have been looking into it I cant get it out of my mind and really really want to do it. I looked on the website and you can pay it off at $130 a month which is not bad. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 August 2006 at 7:49pm
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Nikki - WINZ paid for my prescription sunglasses... just an idea... ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 27 August 2006 at 2:44pm
| They did???? OoooOOOoOOOooo |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 28 August 2006 at 6:33pm
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I was definately panicking, I was such a cry baby, bit embarrasing really! I started crying as soon I got into the prep room! The doctor reassured me by saying, this is the best thing you will ever do. The first thing they did was made me pop the pill, that was my saviour - I have to admit! They did one eye at a time, removed the clamps etc and then moved straight onto the other one. Once they removed the clamps and stuff and I could still see through the eye they had just lasered that made me feel a bit more comfortable to know that I wasn't going to be blind from it! From my understanding most people qualify for the surgery. They do alot of tests to ensure your suitable though, takes quite a long time. Once I had been for my assessment, I walked straight back out to the reception and booked the op in. I had the op on a Friday morning at 10am and was back to work first thing on the Monday!
Good luck, I am sure you will find it just as great as I did! Nicole |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 29 August 2006 at 10:06am
My Oma had it done a couple of years ago and it has made such a positive differnece in her life!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 29 August 2006 at 4:23pm
| Peaches did you have the blade free surgery or the other one when they use the blade? |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 29 August 2006 at 4:38pm
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I had the one where they slice the clear bit of your eye open and flip it back. Sounds digusting, but its not as bad as it sounds. After the surgery it takes about 3 minutes to glue the clear bit back down onto your eye and then your all done!
Is that the one you are looking at? To tell the truth I didn't get the option of a non-blade type of surgery. |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 29 August 2006 at 4:48pm
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ok ....when I read that peachy...I thought hell NO.....I am not doing that.....
You are so brave...or is it I who is a scary cat? Hmmmm??? Ok so when I have spare $5k (make it never..) or when I win Lotto (Ha ha he he ha oo..oo..he ha ha ha...) I will get it done!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 29 August 2006 at 5:18pm
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The blade free one is $6k and the other one is $5k
She showed me a picture of the little thing they put on your eye to slice the top off (I know sounds gross) but she didnt say anything about that suction cup thingy you mentioned, but then she didnt say a heck of a lot about the procedure, just that I did qualify and did I want to make an appt to see the doctor who does it. It almost felt like a sales pitch. Peachy thats good to know your results were with the slice and dice method cos i wasnt sure if it was worth paying an extra $1000. Roskana I cant really afford it but really want it so figure I even if I work an extra day a week that can pay for it cos you can pay it off at $130 a month. One thing I was confused about is she said with the blade free on you get better results but on a website for another eye surgery place they said you get better results with the slice and dice method. |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 30 August 2006 at 9:31am
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ofcourse you get a better result ...you are paying $1000 more....mehhhhh....**sarcasm**
I still cant afford it with all that is going on at the moment but some thing to consider for the near future....  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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