LASIK Doctor referal
- Thread starter OCMan_IHB
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caycifish_IHB
New member
I went to <a href="http://www.saddlebackeye.com/">Saddleback Eye Center</a> and was very pleased. They take every precaution to protect your eyes, and give you various tools to help you not screw it up when you leave.
The dryness was bothersome for the first few weeks, but it was normal. For the first 3 months I was putting drops in all the time, whether I needed to or not. I'm still supposed to be putting in drops 4 times a day (my surgery was in January) but I don't always feel the need. It just depends. 2-3 a day is pretty typical for me at this point.
The night vision issues were due to the initial dryness and have gone away.
After your first checkup (a few days later), I suggest setting aside a lot of time to let the weird drops they need to use wear off or have someone to drive you home if you are pressed for time. Driving home right after that was a BAD idea.
Oh, and the Doctor was in the military, so due to my association with the Navy he gave me a discount.
The dryness was bothersome for the first few weeks, but it was normal. For the first 3 months I was putting drops in all the time, whether I needed to or not. I'm still supposed to be putting in drops 4 times a day (my surgery was in January) but I don't always feel the need. It just depends. 2-3 a day is pretty typical for me at this point.
The night vision issues were due to the initial dryness and have gone away.
After your first checkup (a few days later), I suggest setting aside a lot of time to let the weird drops they need to use wear off or have someone to drive you home if you are pressed for time. Driving home right after that was a BAD idea.
Oh, and the Doctor was in the military, so due to my association with the Navy he gave me a discount.
krivitsky_IHB
New member
.
Ask your regular optometrist for a referral. It will be cheaper that way for you.
The optometrist will do the pre-screening and maybe some followup, the lasik doctor will do your surgery. If you go straight to the lasik guy they charge you premium rates for screening and followup.
I've got a relative who is an optometrist in LA. He gets $500 per referral, plus occasional Lakers tickets from the Lasik doctor.
The optometrist will do the pre-screening and maybe some followup, the lasik doctor will do your surgery. If you go straight to the lasik guy they charge you premium rates for screening and followup.
I've got a relative who is an optometrist in LA. He gets $500 per referral, plus occasional Lakers tickets from the Lasik doctor.
CalGal_IHB
New member
[quote author="joeyp" date=1219893145]Ask your regular optometrist for a referral. It will be cheaper that way for you.
The optometrist will do the pre-screening and maybe some followup, the lasik doctor will do your surgery. If you go straight to the lasik guy they charge you premium rates for screening and followup.
I've got a relative who is an optometrist in LA. He gets $500 per referral, plus occasional Lakers tickets from the Lasik doctor.</blockquote>
IMO <span style="color: red;">DO NOT </span>go to an Optometrist for your eyes. ALWAYS go to an Ophthamologist - even for routine eye exams. My husband detached his retina, and the surgeon told him that an Ophthamologist would have caught the problem years before. He would have saved himself months of agony (the surgery was brutal!)
Most insurance companies will pay for an Ophthamologist just as much as they would pay for an Optometrist. So, why not get the best care.
Sorry, I'm very passionate about this issue. I saw my husband go through hell, and I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through that.
The optometrist will do the pre-screening and maybe some followup, the lasik doctor will do your surgery. If you go straight to the lasik guy they charge you premium rates for screening and followup.
I've got a relative who is an optometrist in LA. He gets $500 per referral, plus occasional Lakers tickets from the Lasik doctor.</blockquote>
IMO <span style="color: red;">DO NOT </span>go to an Optometrist for your eyes. ALWAYS go to an Ophthamologist - even for routine eye exams. My husband detached his retina, and the surgeon told him that an Ophthamologist would have caught the problem years before. He would have saved himself months of agony (the surgery was brutal!)
Most insurance companies will pay for an Ophthamologist just as much as they would pay for an Optometrist. So, why not get the best care.
Sorry, I'm very passionate about this issue. I saw my husband go through hell, and I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through that.
PeterUK_IHB
New member
<em>The dryness was bothersome for the first few weeks, but it was normal. For the first 3 months I was putting drops in all the time, whether I needed to or not. I'm still supposed to be putting in drops 4 times a day (my surgery was in January) but I don't always feel the need. It just depends. 2-3 a day is pretty typical for me at this point.</em>
Cayci, my LAZIK Doc used a disolving Plug to fill my tear duct, this helps to prevent your eye/s from drying out, it disolved after a few weeks so he replaced it with another one which has long gone but I don't have a dry eye anymore...
I only had one eye done and experienced starburst at night but that cleared up after about 8 weeks...
The interesting part is that I had LASIK done because I was suffering long-arm disease, eventually I couldn't hold the Menu far enough away to beable to read it and I was tired of having to eat the Chef's Specials all the time..so I had Mono/Blended vision, they do the weakest eye for reading and up close work leaving the dominant one for long distance, it felt kinda strange until my (little) brain got used to using signals from one eye or the other, like for instance right now I'm typing this post on my Laptop and watching Bill Maher on TV at the same time...it's awesome actually.
Having said that, LASIK isn't for everyone, some LASIK Centers offer free consultations, some will use a sales pitch to get you to sign up or use super low prices to get you in and then add "extra's" and even worse, some will still perform LASIK on People who barely qualify, for instance, the Cornea may be at the minimum Thickness recommended by the FDA which can cause problems down the road in some cases and they still carry out the procedure.
Anyone who suffers dry-eye for more than 3-4 months has a problem...
Cayci, my LAZIK Doc used a disolving Plug to fill my tear duct, this helps to prevent your eye/s from drying out, it disolved after a few weeks so he replaced it with another one which has long gone but I don't have a dry eye anymore...
I only had one eye done and experienced starburst at night but that cleared up after about 8 weeks...
The interesting part is that I had LASIK done because I was suffering long-arm disease, eventually I couldn't hold the Menu far enough away to beable to read it and I was tired of having to eat the Chef's Specials all the time..so I had Mono/Blended vision, they do the weakest eye for reading and up close work leaving the dominant one for long distance, it felt kinda strange until my (little) brain got used to using signals from one eye or the other, like for instance right now I'm typing this post on my Laptop and watching Bill Maher on TV at the same time...it's awesome actually.
Having said that, LASIK isn't for everyone, some LASIK Centers offer free consultations, some will use a sales pitch to get you to sign up or use super low prices to get you in and then add "extra's" and even worse, some will still perform LASIK on People who barely qualify, for instance, the Cornea may be at the minimum Thickness recommended by the FDA which can cause problems down the road in some cases and they still carry out the procedure.
Anyone who suffers dry-eye for more than 3-4 months has a problem...
unfrostedpoptart_IHB
New member
[quote author="caycifish" date=1219876233]I went to <a href="http://www.saddlebackeye.com/">Saddleback Eye Center</a> and was very pleased. They take every precaution to protect your eyes, and give you various tools to help you not screw it up when you leave.
.</blockquote>
That's where my wife went, too. Very happy with the place. She said there were people in the waiting room who had traveled from all over the country just to go there! This was almost 10 years ago. I can only imagine it's even better now.
David
.</blockquote>
That's where my wife went, too. Very happy with the place. She said there were people in the waiting room who had traveled from all over the country just to go there! This was almost 10 years ago. I can only imagine it's even better now.
David
irvinesinglemom_IHB
New member
I used Saddleback also. About 7 years ago. (Wow!!!). The medical staff was top notch but I could have killed the front office staff. Rude, incompetent, arrogant. Hopefully they're long gone by now.
irvinehapa_IHB
New member
I am considering LASIK right now and I have had consultations with Dr. Alexandra Chebil at Lasik Center Medical Group, and Dr. Lawrence Chao at Chao Vision Institute. Does anyone have experience with either of these two doctors?
Thanks.
Thanks.
25inIrvine_IHB
New member
I just got a referral to TLC Laser Eye Center (Newport Beach branch). Anyone have any experience with them?
steven_IHB
New member
[quote author="24inIrvine" date=1242390039]I just got a referral to TLC Laser Eye Center (Newport Beach branch). Anyone have any experience with them?</blockquote>
My wife and I both had PRK at TLC last year with Dr. Tooma. They were great -- very professional. There was some eye irregularity in each of us that eliminated the possibility of Lasik. It was very painful for a few days. My vision fluctuated for a few months. But now it's great. Not quite perfect, but close. I do have a little dryness. But I just take drops twice a day and it's fine.
To me it's worth every penny and the pain and recovery time. After 40 years of wearing glasses/contacts, it's like a miracle.
-- Steven
My wife and I both had PRK at TLC last year with Dr. Tooma. They were great -- very professional. There was some eye irregularity in each of us that eliminated the possibility of Lasik. It was very painful for a few days. My vision fluctuated for a few months. But now it's great. Not quite perfect, but close. I do have a little dryness. But I just take drops twice a day and it's fine.
To me it's worth every penny and the pain and recovery time. After 40 years of wearing glasses/contacts, it's like a miracle.
-- Steven
25inIrvine_IHB
New member
Steven, I'm confused. You had something that eliminated the possibility of Lasik but then you got it? Or are there two different procedures?
steven_IHB
New member
[quote author="24inIrvine" date=1242429274]Steven, I'm confused. You had something that eliminated the possibility of Lasik but then you got it? Or are there two different procedures?</blockquote>
There are two different procedures.
As I understand it (this is my memory from a year ago), Lasik is where they slice a flap of skin, peel it back, reshape the cornea, and put the flap back. The benefit is that there's not as much trauma to the eye and you heal very quickly.
There is another equivalent procedure called PRK. In that, they do not peel away a flap. Instead they vaporize the top layer of skin, then reshape the cornea. The disadvantage is that it causes a lot of a trauma, hurts more, and takes longer to heal. My understanding is that PRK was used before Lasik was invented.
The doctor told me that Lasik carries a little more risk because slicing the skin can throw off the structure a little. I don't remember all the details. He did a lot of testing, then said that he would not recommend Lasik for me. He said PRK would be fine. He said that in his office, 15% of patients end up with PRK. The funny thing was that my wife ran into the same issue.
HTH
There are two different procedures.
As I understand it (this is my memory from a year ago), Lasik is where they slice a flap of skin, peel it back, reshape the cornea, and put the flap back. The benefit is that there's not as much trauma to the eye and you heal very quickly.
There is another equivalent procedure called PRK. In that, they do not peel away a flap. Instead they vaporize the top layer of skin, then reshape the cornea. The disadvantage is that it causes a lot of a trauma, hurts more, and takes longer to heal. My understanding is that PRK was used before Lasik was invented.
The doctor told me that Lasik carries a little more risk because slicing the skin can throw off the structure a little. I don't remember all the details. He did a lot of testing, then said that he would not recommend Lasik for me. He said PRK would be fine. He said that in his office, 15% of patients end up with PRK. The funny thing was that my wife ran into the same issue.
HTH
25inIrvine_IHB
New member
Okay, thanks. That is good information to know before my evaluation.
zovall_IHB
New member
I just had Lasik done by Dr. Tooma (TLC Vision Center). So far so good. For the most part, my vision is great now. There is haziness around bright lights but I believe that is normal and will get better with time. My right eye was very watery the next morning but now is fine. My left eye was fine initially but feels a little irritated (like when you wear your contacts for too long) right now - artificial tears are helping with that. There are a bunch of drops that I'm putting in my eyes regularly and my eye doctor has said this is normal and that eyes heal differently.
irvine_grad_IHB
New member
[quote author="unfrostedpoptart" date=1222001495][quote author="caycifish" date=1219876233]I went to <a href="http://www.saddlebackeye.com/">Saddleback Eye Center</a> and was very pleased. They take every precaution to protect your eyes, and give you various tools to help you not screw it up when you leave.
.</blockquote>
That's where my wife went, too. Very happy with the place. She said there were people in the waiting room who had traveled from all over the country just to go there! This was almost 10 years ago. I can only imagine it's even better now.
David</blockquote>
A very good friend of mine worked @ SEC (clinical side). Dr. Manger is top notch-very anal about the procedures, but you want that in an eye surgeon. I was considering doing it for a while but I am going to wait a bit. SEC is more expensive, but from what I hear they're worth it. They actually perform a lot of fix-its from other, cheaper clinics that mess things up. One tidbit: when they say to use drops and never touch your eyes, USE THE DROPS AND DON'T TOUCH THE EYES. I've heard so many horror stories of people rubbing their eyes the day after their surgery, getting infected, and having to go back in again.
.</blockquote>
That's where my wife went, too. Very happy with the place. She said there were people in the waiting room who had traveled from all over the country just to go there! This was almost 10 years ago. I can only imagine it's even better now.
David</blockquote>
A very good friend of mine worked @ SEC (clinical side). Dr. Manger is top notch-very anal about the procedures, but you want that in an eye surgeon. I was considering doing it for a while but I am going to wait a bit. SEC is more expensive, but from what I hear they're worth it. They actually perform a lot of fix-its from other, cheaper clinics that mess things up. One tidbit: when they say to use drops and never touch your eyes, USE THE DROPS AND DON'T TOUCH THE EYES. I've heard so many horror stories of people rubbing their eyes the day after their surgery, getting infected, and having to go back in again.