Sharing:
I had lasik in 1998, 26 years now. Was 36 then, like -5.5 one eye and -6.25 the other, basically could not see distance at all. Post correction I was 20/15 22 years , now 20/20. Yes I wear reading glasses at 61, that’s an aging thing since 52 or so.
Summer of 1998, I was heavily into MTB riding and racing, glasses were an annoyance.
Turns out I went swimming, wore my glasses in the water deep lake, lost them. Rather than buy replacement I scheduled lasik and got it done within 4 days.
I had been researching lasik 4-5 months, so this made my decision for me.
The surgery was done both eyes same day, one at a time. They put a local anesthesia via q-tip like thing on eye . Then an eye opening clamp put on so no blinking. Then the retinal flap was cut with surgical slice, pulled back , then laser brought in. I was told look directly into the laser as it reshaped the lens - if looked not directly would not be as good a job. I distinctly remember doing that, and the smell of my lens as it was burned away. Took .. gosh 45-60 seconds for the laser itself. Then they flipped the flap back. And did the other eye.
I left with both eyes with gauze , a friend drove me there and home. The next morning.. I was allowed to take off the gauze upon waking. It was an epiphany moment, seeing the clock without glasses .
I had 5 friends who in 1989 and 1990 had eye surgery radial k, the Soviet method. Zero issues for them and most got close to 20/20 but not quite , late 1990’s lasik was considered steps way above radial K.
My brother looked into lasik but never got it done …
I paid $2k per eye, $4k total out of my pocket then. Life changing, zero regrets.
