Quoted: i had mine done bout  4 years go.. here's what they did.. they deaden your eyes, then brace then open with a thing like from clockwork orange then put a metal thing on your eye.. and you cant see then they put a saw on the metal thing and it runs a track and cuts a u. they pull the flap then they lazer. first one eye then the other. i am a baby.. doc gave me a script for some half-az pain meds.. i told the doc.. no way give me hydrocodone (vicodin .. one of rush's favs (used to be a pharmacist.. no more about drugs than most docs)).. no real pain .. but a lot of irratation. i had to go back for a touch up after some number of weeks. between that time i had glasses made to correct the correction. i used to wear coke bottles. now i can see perferct in one eye and need very slight correction for the other.. for me it was worth it but if i had known the procedure i would perhaps have bailed.. i asked the doc should i get some valiums or whatever. he said no... but that or some quaaludes (cant get them anymore ....... perhaps a 6 pack of malt liquor would have sufficed) would have helped me through the session.. for me it was great. i like to ski. and do stuff in the rain. my glasses always fogged or got wet and were thick... the procedure has improved since the when i had it done. your taking a chance.. sure but for most people it is worth it...

IIRC, it's much more 'correct' nowadays with new eye-mapping technology.

2+ weeks post surgery UPDATE

My left eye is 20/15 and my right is 20/20 with the slightest astigmatism.  Doc says it is not worth a second go-round to correct the astigmatism.

I can tell the difference between the two eyes, but I see better now then I did with any pair of glasses I used to own.  No pair of glasses were able to totally correct the astigmatisms, so I'm pretty happy.

The side effect I've noticed the most is a little dry eye, and by 9PM my eyes feel sleepy.  Also, the flicker in flourescent lights bother my eyes (can't think of any better description then bother - not hurt - just make me want to close them).  I find that lightly tinted sun glasses in my office make the problem go away.  Doc said that should go away within the month.

Range report is forthcoming.  I did however shoot the Daisy Red Rider at Necco wafers in the back yard.  I CAN SEE A NECCO WAFER AT 11 YARDS!!!! WOOT!  Even more cool: I can see a BB traveling too a Necco wafer at 11 yards.  I never realized how erratic the flight of a BB really is??

Tacberry,  get some artificial tears from Rite Aide and increase the amount of water you drink, that has helped me quite a bit.  Make sure they do not have any preservative in them, that has helped me greatly.  I had my 4 year follow up, don't need reading glasses, but the eye doc told me "by next year your arms ain't gonna be long enough"!  I am still 20/12 both eyes, went from 20/400!!!!

Quoted: Tacberry,  get some artificial tears from Rite Aide and increase the amount of water you drink, that has helped me quite a bit.  Make sure they do not have any preservative in them, that has helped me greatly.  I had my 4 year follow up, don't need reading glasses, but the eye doc told me "by next year your arms ain't gonna be long enough"!  I am still 20/12 both eyes, went from 20/400!!!!

Couldn't get by without the Refresh Plus preservative free eye drops.  I love these things.  I've always been prone to dry eye, so these individual tubes are a God send.  If I knew about them before the surgery I would have been a life time customer.  Great product for anyone who spends all night surfing ARFCOM.

I was told about the future need for reading glasses.  Doesn't bug me a bit.  I don't need them for driving/walking.  You look destinguished with reading glasses!

LASIK = bad for eye integrity, but sometimes the only option, if you want surgery
PRK = best, but won't correct all problems - eye's integrity is much better (LASIK NEVER heals!)

I got LASIK 2 years ago.  My vision is 20/15.  

Sweet.  I got PRK a couple of months ago.  I started out at like 20/200 [before surgery], now I'm 20/20 almost 20/15 sometimes.  The recovery was a bitch though.  And it didn't cost me more than a few tanks of gas for the commute.

Quoted: Sweet.  I got PRK a couple of months ago.  I started out at like 20/200, now I'm 20/20 almost 20/15 sometimes.  The recovery was a bitch though.  And it didn't cost me more than a few tanks of gas for the commute.

Damn, mine only cost $3,600.

Quoted: Don't go through with it! I just read about a new technique that is going to be approved soon  that uses a more powerful laser that can directly correct the eye without having to cut a flap. This method is supposed to give significantly sharper vision and it won't mess with your night vision.

I'd like to hear more about this.

Quoted: Quoted: Sweet.  I got PRK a couple of months ago.  I started out at like 20/200, now I'm 20/20 almost 20/15 sometimes.  The recovery was a bitch though.  And it didn't cost me more than a few tanks of gas for the commute. Damn, mine only cost $3,600.

True, even though it was back before the current price gouging, it was still pricey.  More like $150.