I've had lasik, I'm incredibly happy with it. I can actually see better than 20/20. I had it done at Boling Laser Center in South Bend, IN (they're one of the best in the country).The procedure: First, you have the pre-op evaluation. That is just a standard eye exam and then you look into a machine that makes a map of your eyeball for the computer. After that, they dilate your eyes and put numbing drops in your eyes as well. The numbing drops are so they can touch your eyeball with a special instrument that measures the pressure in your eyes. It doesn't hurt. You just see a blue light coming toward you. No biggie. 48 hours before they give you Vitamin C, some eyedrops, and pre and post op instructions. You have to take 1000mg of Vitamin C for 48 hours before and 48 hours afterwards. The Vitamin C is to promote healing. I was told that it would be best to start Vitamin C a week prior to surgery instead of just 48 hours before, so I did. I think it helped. There are two sets of eye drops. One is a steriod eye drop that is supposed to help prevent any kind of inflammation you may have post op. You have to take that 3x/day 48 hours before and then continue the drops for 2 weeks afterwards. The other eyedrop is an antibiotic (to prevent infection). You have to take that for 2 weeks after the surgery.The operation is relatively quick. Prior to the surgery, they double check everything and make sure nothing has changed in the couple of days between pre-op and day of. They give you a valium to relax you if you want. The valium is just to sedate you so you aren't too anxiety ridden. You don't have to take it if you don't want to. After the valium, they give you some numbing drops and it's off to the first laser suite where they make a laser incision in the lens of your eye. You don't really feel anything. They keep your eyes open with lid calipers which are kind of creepy and makes you feel like you're going to be tortured (hense why you want the valium) but they don't hurt. A little bit of pressure but that's it. It doesn't hurt at all. The flap creation takes about a minute and then you have to wait 20 minutes before they move you into the other laser suite where the rest of the procedure is done. The actual lasik, where they're reshaping your eye, you don't even realize it. You are looking at a fixated red light and there is a pulsating light next to it. Again, some pressure, but nothing horrible. The lasik I had utilized what they call activtrack, which meant it my eye moved, the laser would reposition itself. It was definitely cool. I love not having to deal with glasses and I'm incredibly satisfied. I would definitely way all of your options, though. It took me a couple of years to actually get up the gumption to go and have it done. I should also tell you that lasik doesn't prevent you from needing glasses in older age when you have to start wearing reading glasses. There isn't anything that can prevent that. That is the hardening of the cornea. I wish you luck! It's definitely worth the money!
