LASIK eye Surgery question???

Question

Im going in to the Marines in about 6 months and I want to get LASIK before I go. Is this a good Idea?, because I may not have enough time for my eyes to heal in 5 months. and I really dont want blurry vision or any side affects when Im at boot camp, it could really make things tough for me, but on the other hand, my eyes could heal fairly quickly and I would be fine. What do you think???

Answer 1

Please dont do it.

my story in the news.

Botched LASIK Results in Cornea Transplant

Date Published: Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

  

Patrick Sheahan underwent LASIK at the age of 23, hoping improved vision would help further his law enforcement career. When Patrick—a street police officer—went in for a consultation at LASIKPlus they said he was a perfect candidate; his vision problems were so mild that he could almost see without his glasses. But following LASIK surgery at LASIKPlus, Patrick’s left eye began to deteriorate until all he could see out of it was light; he experienced daily dizzy spells and migraine headaches. Patrick began taking painkillers and consulted with his optometrist who told him his left cornea was severely damaged and misshapen.

Unfortunately, Patrick’s story is far from isolated. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received 140 reports of LASIK-related problems between 1998 and 2006, representing just a sampling of what has gone wrong with LASIK. Although the FDA is finally reviewing complaints from LASIK patients who have suffered from a variety of issues, including blurred vision and dry eyes, its actions come too late for Patrick and many others who suffer from irreversible eye damage.

LASIK—laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis—surgery involves using a laser to cut a small flap in the eye’s cornea to allow for reshaping of the corneal tissue with another laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and, sometimes, astigmatism. LASIK was approved a decade ago and an estimated six million Americans have undergone LASIK surgery with hundreds of thousands of Americans undergoing LASIK yearly. The surgery permanently reshapes the cornea, there are no guarantees of 20/20 vision, and the long-term safety of LASIK remains unknown.

When Patrick Sheahan realized something had gone wrong with his procedure, he made an appointment with Dr. Gerald Horn of LASIKPlus, the man who performed the botched LASIK surgery. Horn kept Patrick and his grandfather waiting an unbelievable five hours before finally examining Patrick and admitting to a major complication. Horn blamed the laser, saying there may have been a malfunction and there was nothing further he could do. In addition to shoddy surgical work, Horn was extremely rude to Patrick and his grandfather, rushing the two men out before answering their questions, saying he had a meeting to attend and if they had more questions, they would have to make another appointment to see him. Horn offered no options for vision correction and no sympathy toward his now-blind patient.

After consulting with many corneal experts, the conclusion was that Patrick—now blind in one eye—needed a corneal transplant. Corneal transplants involve cutting the cornea out of the eye and replacing it with a donor cornea. The surgery involves dozens of stitches—30 for Patrick who received his transplant in July 2003. Also, optical stitch removal is tedious; can take many visits; and can only be done a few at a time, when the stitch loosens, and with a needle-like instrument while the patient is conscious.

Patrick paid $18,000 dollars for the transplant and additional $4,000 for a follow-up lens implant in 2005. Patrick’s doctors expect that Patrick will have to undergo many other future procedures and warn that his cornea can reject at any time. Patrick has lost nearly two years of income, his entire savings, and his position as a street officer; he will never be able to work in the same capacity due to his vision problems.

Answer 2

Lasik eye surgery is very safe nowadays. My cousin got her dental implants and Lasik surgery in India by a company called Indian Health Guru Consultants. The Price for dental and Lasik surgery is very less in India. She paid 25% of the price she was quoted in America.

Indian Health Guru Consultants is very famous in India They arrange Dental surgery, jaw surgery, Lasik eye surgery, Dental Implants etc for foreign patients in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines- about their patient stories.

They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as dental and eye surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

http://www.indianhealthguru.com

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

the eye heals quite quickly ask you doc but i would do it

Answer 4

shdn't be a problem. get it done with the advice from the eye doc.

Answer 5

"Dry eyes and poor night vision can last for up to four weeks. Additionally, patients can expect to experience fluctuations in visual acuity for up to six months after the procedure. By this time the eye should be fully recovered and the patient and surgeon should have an understanding of whether the procedure produced the desired results or there is a need for additional procedures. "

I would say that 6 months is more than enough time to heal fully.

Answer 6

You can start to see 20/20 immediately, the only downside is you need to put eyedrops in quite often for the first few months, and then a few times a day after that. Now, a few years later, I need eyedrops (I like TheraTears) just once in the morning.

I would recommend getting the permanent punctal plugs to help alleviate the residual dryness.

I would highly recommend getting it done, the hassle of putting eyedrops in is much less than the hassle of dealing with contacts and eyeglasses!

Answer 7

It sounds like a good idea. But since you are worried about healing, ask your doctor. Talk to your doctor about any concerns, because when you're in boot camp, I doubt you'll be able to go back to see your doctor if you have trouble.