My Lasik Eye Surgery

Apr 29
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Video of my successful Lasik eye surgery. I was 26 when I did this. No pain, no halo, no complications. I now have 20/20 vision.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or claim to be one. These are just my opinions. No surgeons will perform this procedure on you anyway unless they determine that you are a good candidate for Lasik.

I’ve got so many questions on my Lasik YouTube page that I decided to answer them all here.

Q: When did you have this done?
A: The actual lasik procedure was done on 8/28/2006. Pre screening was done 2 weeks before that.

Q: What’s the exact name of the procedure?
A: Microkeratome Wavefront Lasik.

Q: How old were you when you got it done?
A: I was 26.

Q: I’m only 13. Should I go for it?
A: Your vision needs to be stable. At 13, I doubt that your vision is stable. Lasik alters the way light reaches your retina. It doesn’t change the shape of your eye. If your eye is still growing then you will need to wear glasses again later even with Lasik.

Q: How much did your lasik procedure cost?
A: I paid $3,000 for both eyes. It was financed through CreditCare for 12 months 0 interest.

Q: Dr. Nick Riviera next to my house can do it for $250 per eye and a pair of Oaklee. Go for it?
A: You only have two eyes, I wouldn’t feel comfortable paying that less.

Q: Did you wear glasses or contacts before Lasik?
A: I occasionally wear my glasses but I used to wear contacts 18+ hours per day.

Q: What was your Rx for your contacts?
A: -4.75 for both eyes for roughly 4 years before the Lasik procedure.

Q: How were you able to obtain the video of the procedure?
A: The surgeon recorded the entire process and actually gave the tape to me after he was finished.

Q: Who performed the procedure?
A: Until I get permission from him, I am unable to provide the name of my surgeon.

Q: Are you being paid for your testimonial by this surgeon or others?
A: Absolutely not! I’ve received many requests to link to other surgeons’ websites but declined all of them.

Q: Why did you turn them down? Don’t you like money?
A: I just want you to be confident that my experience is genuine.

Q: Was the music in the video the actual music they played during the procedure?
A: DJ Polar Bear – Fort Minor PBB Remix. It’s just some random song YouTube offered when I uploaded the video.

Q: Were you awake during this?
A: I was given a pill before the procedure but was completely awake.

Q: But you didn’t blink at all throughout the procedure, you must win a lot of staring contests.
A: My eyes were held open by a clamp and lubricating/numbing drops were continuously applied to my eyes.

Q: Did it hurt at all?
A: I only felt pressure and slight discomfort but no pain at all.

Q: It doesn’t hurt even with the blade slicing your cornea?
A: You feel a lot of pressure at that point but there’s no pain.

Q: I’ve given birth 4 times and I would not do this. How did you find the courage?
A: I went in not knowing how it’s actually done. Had I seen my video beforehand, I probably would not have done it. I wouldn’t even give birth once if that’s possible for a man.

Q: I still can’t see myself going under the knife, is there an alternative to the blade?
A: You can opt for IntraLase Lasik, which uses laser to create that flap.

Q: Can they put me to sleep and perform everything while I’m sleeping?
A: I don’t think it’s possible at the moment because you need to keep your eye still while the laser shapes your cornea.

Q: Is the video in real time? All these Lasik commercials keep saying that it only takes 30 seconds but your video is over 8 minutes for just one eye!
A: It takes less than 30 seconds for the laser to shape your cornea but it takes much longer to prep your cornea for it.

Q: Your eye was bleeding in the video. Is this common?
A: I don’t have an answer for that but I was told that I should have stopped wearing contacts for one week before the surgery. I didn’t like wearing my ugly pair of glasses so I only stopped wearing contacts 3 days prior to the surgery.

Q: Were you able to see when the flap was lifted?
A: It was blurry already without my contacts but it got even more blurry with the flap off. Just imagine a fogged up mirror.

Q: How were you able to keep your eye so still?
A: I was told to concentrate at the light in front of me and moving my eye during the procedure will cause permanent blindness. Just kidding about the second part.

Q: How does the flap stay intact now that it’s been cut?
A: The flap heals itself from I was told and your weekly/monthly check up will determine if your flap is healing probably.

Q: I only see one eye in the video. Are you a cyclop?
A: No, the video for the other eye is pretty much the same.

Q: Were you able to drive home after the procedure?
A: They taped my eyes shut with gauze. My wife drove me home.

Q: Were you able to see once you got home?
A: I was able to see but my eyes were really sensitive to light so I just took the painkiller that was given to me and slept ’til the next morning.

Q: Why do you have to avoid seafood after this?
A: Because the claws might poke your eyes out. I really don’t know. That was just an advice from my parents not the surgeon. I don’t eat seafood anyway.

Q: Were you able to return to your daily activities?
A: I took a week off from work to be safe. I had to use anti biotic drops everyday and was not able to rub or get my eyes wet. I had to wear an eye shield while sleeping to prevent myself from accidentally rubbing my eyes.

Q: How about now? 5 years since the surgery?
A: I’m still paranoid and overly cautious when it comes to my eyes. I still don’t rub my eyes.

Q: How about physical activities?
A: I can still enjoy swimming, weight training, playing basketball and running. Not sure about boxing but I’d probably stay away from that.

Q: Side affects after the surgery?
A: I would say that my eyes become easily dry now. Before I could sit in my car with the A/C pointing at my face and my eyes would not beg for eye drops. I just avoid windy area. I do have eye drop but I don’t carry it with me. I probably use my eye drop once a month.

Q: Has your life been changed by the surgery?
A: I found new meaning in life. I now drive a Ferrari Enzo, have 2 super model girlfriends along with my wife, can now fly and play basketball for Los Angeles Lakers as Kobe Bryant. Ok, not really but I think a 20/20 vision is good enough.

Q: Can you redo this if you don’t get 20/20 vision?
A: I was told that “adjustment” is possible but I don’t know exactly what is involved in the adjustment.

Q: Is your vision still 20/20?
A: A week after the surgery my vision was actually 20/15. I haven’t had an eye exam since then but I do notice that my night vision is not as sharp as before.

Q: Is Lasik right for me?
A: I can’t answer that for you. You should check with your optometrist if you’re a good candidate.

Q: Thank you for convincing me to get Lasik with your video.
A: You’re welcome.

Q: Thank you for convincing me not to get Lasik with your video.
A: You’re welcome.

Q: Is this a permanent fix to my nearsightedness?
A: I can’t answer that either because I’m still unsure how my vision will be years from now.

Ask away if you have more questions!




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14 Comments

  • Thanks for sharing your story about Lasik!

  • Lasik says:

    Thanks for the great Q & A about LASIK. Where did you have your LASIK done?

  • Great information! Thanks for QA

  • As a staff member at a LASIK surgery clinic I can answer the question about LASIK in a 13 year old. No competent LASIK surgeon would perform the procedure in anyone under age 18.

  • Felicia says:

    Hey, I am 19 and I got the pre exam and they said I was a perfect candidate however, last year my eye doctor told me my vision was at a 1.25 and the Lasik doctors told me I was close to a 2, would you have gotten the Lasik if your eyes hadn’t been perfectly stable for a year?

  • BMR says:

    Thanks for sharing your experiences here on your blog.

  • John Laser says:

    Great to see a Q&A and some information from a patient! Most of the blogs about LASIK seem to have been written by surgeons.

    Often heavily plugging their own clinics or services…

  • Erum says:

    Hi, I am damn scared after watching your video. I really wanted to go for lasik because my power is too high and contact lenses irritates me a lot. I cannot bear them for more than 3-4 hours.And I dont want to be dependent on glasses for life long. Are you very sure there is no pain even after the surgery is over???The redness in your eyes during the surgery is so scary.when does it go???does it take 6-7 mins for each eye?Is it possible to do 1 eye only at a time..I only want to go for it because my fiancee wants me to do it..I am very tensed and scared…after all eyes are the most precious organ in life..

  • Gopinath says:

    Great Q & a section….Am from india…After the laser surgery…how long it will take for your vision to be normal and whether u can work in computer after the surgery..

  • Jansen19 says:

    Damn I should not have watched this video, wanted to let my eyes get lasered but this doesnt look to comfortable :D .

    Nice Q & A post though!

  • j. raju says:

    Leave aside negative comments. This is one of the best video i have ever seen. But, the annotations that you have included do not appear, when downloaded and played again using some other video player. Could you suggest in which player, i could also see the annotations. The effort is ineffable. You need not be a doctor, but persons who are interested in lasik surgery will find this video very useful rather than viewing technical savvy useless videos. Keep the good work

  • shawn says:

    should i go for it i m 20 n my eyes are my profession .
    can u plzzz link me up to a trusted surgeon .
    i m in need .

  • this is such a great blog..i wonder if others can take it..i think it really hurts a lot..

  • david says:

    wow. great vid. thanks for sharing :)

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