Since I now have "Cadillac" health insurance, I'm toying with the fantasy of having LASIK corrective eye surgery.

My new health/eye insurance will pay 85% of the bill plus I get a 15% discount on the procedure. The Internet has lead me to believe that the total expense for the whole affair will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $4000.00 (pre- discount). Which would make me responsible for roughly $500 to $600. It is now an option for me because I make good money again.

Who's had it? (Any personal and/or amusing stories are a plus.) How do you like the outcome?
Is anyone out there against this sort of surgery and why?

Some reasons that I want to get it are because my eyesight has been horrible since the second grade and I've had to cultivate a love/hate relationship with corrective lenses. I'm tired of having to squint at the alarm clock at 2AM. I don't like having that to TRY and keep that green algae stuff that inevitably grows around nose pads to a bare minimum bi-monthly. Getting scratches on 1 month old lenses annoys me. When you look me squarely in the eyes, you will see a wrap-around effect of my face where my face looks skinnier through the lens. Contacts dry out my eyes and come with their own set of unique responsibilities and chores.

There are probably more annoying things about having poor eyesight that I've either forgotten over the years or slip my mind at the moment but feel free to share any of your annoyances with me as well.

whooooooaaaaa, ONLY $500-$600???  You have GOT to be kidding me! I've never had fantasies about getting eye surgery, but I think I MIGHT consider it just a teensy bit more if I knew it was only gonna cost me that much.  Wow!  Can we trade insurances?  (Actually, I'm totally clueless about my own insurance.  It's an intimidating concept for me and I'd just as soon have nothing to do with it, than to look into it.  lol I know I have it, but that's as far as my knowledge about it goes.  Every year I have to see an insurance guy to say 'yes, I'll keep my plan', but that's all I ever say.)

I've never had it, but (cost aside), I don't think I'm brave enough.  I know the cases are probably rare nowadays, but I'm terrified that something would go wrong. I mean, that is some REALLY fine and tedious work. The delicate nature of it just makes it seem like such a high risk to me.

However, I too can't stand my glasses and most things associated with them. I think I look better without them, I HATE the algae problem (and thought maybe it was just me), and one of my nose pads keeps a permanent pink scarring patch on my nose... no matter how I adjust it.  Some days it even gets it raw enough to break the skin, somehow and I can't seem to fix the problem.

If you go through with this, you'll have to tell me more.  I'd never be able to afford it even at $500 and I doubt my husband would allow it since it's more of a 'leisure' thing than a necessity.  Whatever you decide... good luck!

Hm. Not sure I can help much, but I do have a bit of a funny story about my eyesight, so I'll share for laughs.

I also wear corrective lenses, and have since the second grade. I've dabbled in contacts, and my eyes are horrible enough that one time when I was picking up a prescription (they read your eye strength with the name) the guy just went "DAMN!" and I knew it was mine.

My insurance is also good, but I'm not wanting to get LASIK just for the reason its 'hey, this is non emergency surgery, stuff could go wrong'.  Have been wearing glasses so long I don't mind them at all and actually see them as part of my 'geek chic' now. The only thing I noticed more when with contacts was more dates, but I'm married, so there's no interest in that for me.

I would rather bump into people than have surgery on my eyes or wear glasses in public.

I want LASIK eye surgery so bad. I'm sick and tired of having to deal with glasses I wish that I didn't have to deal with them anymore. They're such a pain in the butt.

i can't stop saying bad things. Sorry.

Thanks everybody for replying here.

Singelli : My eye doctor explained that algae thing to me once but I honestly can't remember why it happens. Yes, it's common for all prescription eyeglasses with nose pads and it's kind of disgusting.

That pink scarring patch might also be caused from the "temple" (part that goes behind your ear) needing to be adjusted for a more snug fit. Perhaps the nose pads are simply bearing too much of the weight of the frames. Another indicator that the temple needs to be adjusted is when the frames are constantly slipping down a persons nose or if, when they bend over, the frames try to fall of their head.

endings : I'm newly divorced so I can't help but acknowledge the part about getting dates. I suppose it indicates some sort of vanity in me but I don't care - It's just one more thing on a long list of reasons why I want to be rid of them. I do appreciate you and Singelli's reminder that stuff could go wrong though. I hadn't really given it much thought.

Brigand : If I went without glasses, I would have to live under a bridge or panhandle for money because I would be totally handicapped. I can't see anything clearly without then unless it's right in front of my face.

gamerforlifeforever2 : I agree.