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20/20 vision. What’s that?

Apparently getting laser surgery, over the course of my life, would be cheaper than what I currently spend on glasses, lenses, eye drops, solution, etc. Assuming, of course, that my eyes don’t crap out again on me further down the track. green eyed girl..

An acquaintance recently encouraged me to do it. $6000 wasn’t a lot of money, she said.

I wanted to ask: “Are you sure you’ve been working in journalism for the past 10 years?”

I could afford Lasik right now and have money left over – but I don’t think I’ll ever do it. I’d sooner pay for my wisdom teeth to be taken out, which is more urgent.

I’m not particularly active or outdoorsy, and I even kind of like waking up to a soft focus world in the morning.

My med school friend, on the other hand (next year is her last year, when she’ll start getting paid – $26,000, just under minimum wage), reckons it’s the first thing she will do as soon as she can afford it.

12 thoughts on “20/20 vision. What’s that?

  • Reply centsofacountrygirl November 9, 2011 at 13:07

    I would love laser eye surgery since my vision is so poor (without my glasses the world past my nose is just made of colored splotches). I’d love to get it, but right now it’s too much money and I have other priorities I have to take care of too.

  • Reply Little Miss Moneybags November 9, 2011 at 13:22

    LASIK was one of the best financial decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Truly.

    My quality of life increased dramatically after having it done, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

    I did get my wisdom teeth out first though. 🙂

  • Reply Cathryn November 9, 2011 at 13:44

    I’d get Lasik, except I’m ridiculously scared that something could go wrong, and I’d be left fully blind. That’s one of my greatest fears, being legally blind. Bear in mind that I haven’t actually done any research on Lasik, so I don’t actually know the real risks. So I think I’ll just keep going with my glasses and contacts for now.

  • Reply krantcents November 9, 2011 at 14:00

    My vision coverage would pay almost all the cost and I would not do it. I am nearsighted, but my vision is getting better. Odd as that may seem at 65 years old. Lasik means they improve the nearsightedness, but I would need glasses for reading which I don’t need currently. I only need glasses for driving! Do I want to trade for reading glasses? I don’t think so.

  • Reply Stephany November 9, 2011 at 14:16

    I have never had the urge to get Lasik surgery. Sure, it would make life a bit more easier but it’s never really been on my radar. I rather like my poor eyesight, thankyouverymuch! 🙂

  • Reply Karen November 9, 2011 at 17:02

    I had LASIK this year actually. It was $3200 USD. Maybe when you come to the US you can get it done then? If you pick a center with multiple cities, you could do a follow up appointment somewhere else. I had the surgery and a followup the next day. There was another appt soon after I believe (and may also depend on the doctor). But it depends on your level of poor sight. Mine was rather spectacularly bad 🙂

    @krantcents I am happy to hear at 65 you do not need reading glasses. The office kept telling me that I would need them sometime in my 40s.

  • Reply Sense November 9, 2011 at 18:54

    I was seriously considering it; had an appointment and everything, but then I Googled. Never ever google ‘complications LASIK’ or ‘laser eye surgery side effects’. i view the surgery like I view birth control pills–it has one AWESOME side effect with a possible thousand other little ones that could really make your life awful. and it isn’t like one or two people out of a million get the complications–a very high percentage (in my view) get the bad side effects. I immediately canceled my consultation after following a few links.

    Eventually, I still want to get the surgery, but I’m waiting for them to start fixing it so less people get the horrible dry eyes and pain.

    • Reply Karen November 10, 2011 at 16:39

      I have dry eyes. But I’m not sure if it is due to the surgery or not. They asked me if I rubbed my eyes a lot or not and I said no (because I didn’t feel that I did) but I know I felt my contacts were dry…which may have really been my eyes. I wore my contacts all the time except to sleep.

      I based my decision on getting it by the number of people I knew who had it done. I also with the doctor that my optometrist’s daughter went to.

  • Reply cantaloupe November 9, 2011 at 19:56

    When I wake up the world isn’t in a soft focus, it’s a straight up blur. If I had to do it on sight alone, I wouldn’t be able to recognize boyfriends in my bed. Corrective surgery would be AWESOME!

  • Reply Kara E November 10, 2011 at 05:29

    My step-dad had Lasik done a while back and ended up having to wear glasses again. He hasn’t made any mention of doing it again.

    My husband really wants to get it done. His eyesight is really bad and because of his field of work, he’s not allowed to wear contact lenses to work. (Prescription safety glasses are the worst!) I’m sure one day he’ll get it done.

  • Reply Insomniac Lab Rat November 10, 2011 at 18:12

    I would love to get LASIK, so that I wouldn’t have to deal with contacts/glasses/solution, especially during allergy season.

    I would be really nervous about the side effects, but I would seriously consider saving up for it…except my ophthalmologist says my pupils are too big, and if I had laser surgery the way that it’s currently done, I would have terrible glare at night. So, right now it’s not really an option for me.

    Maybe the technique will improve, though, and I’ll consider it again if they ever get to a point where I would be a good candidate.

  • Reply fabulouslyfrugirl November 11, 2011 at 14:33

    I’ve been debating the prospect of getting Lasik. It would be amazing to be able to see first thing in the morning, even though I am used to my blurry mornings.

    I guess I should go in for a consultation first, and see if it’s a viable option for me. And how much it costs.

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