I have a friend considering laser eye surgury. We were wondering if any other shooters have had this done and if it really helped.

It is well worth it.

Before I had it done, my vision was 20/400 in both eyes. The day after the surgery, one eye was 20/20 and the other was 20/15. And they have stayed that way.

The trade off was that I now wear reading glasses. Being in my late 40's at the time, I was going to have to face that soon anyway.

You can pick up a pair oif reading glasses at Wal Mart for a couple of bucks - a hell of a lot cheaper than prescription glasses.

After the surgery, you can't shoot for a couple of months' at least big bores.

I had it done a little over two years ago.

THE BEST THING I HAVE DONE.

My only advise is shopping at Wall Wart for the Low Price is ok for basketballs and long johns.
But when it comes to your eyes, the budget laser surgery center isn't where to go.
I paid thru the nose for my surgery. After it's all done I would pay twice as much to have it done and still be happy.

muck

Jim,
That explains your accuracy at the shoot last month. I will pass the info along. Thanks guys.
Brain1

I had it done in '03 with an "enhancement" performed 10 months later (read that as correction). I would do it all again if necessary. I had PRK which is the procedure where they do not cut the flap. We also corrected one eye less than the other so that it would handle the reading aspect. A procedure know as monovision IIRC. Anyway, my dominent right eye is 20/10 and my left is around 20/30. This allows me to read without reading glasses and to see at a distance clearly. I had worn contacts for several years to accomplish the same thing. I was 56 when it was done and as I hit 60, I find that everything is good, other than needing cheaters to read small print if the light conditions are poor. Normal office work does not require them. PRK takes longer to heal and stabilize, but it has some advantages. No flap that can open, etc. It is great being able to see without fumbling for glasses or popping in contacts.

I did it 7 years ago this month. Best money I've ever spent. Any kind of surgery on the eyes is scary and has risks...but I think they've got the equipment and procedure down to a science.

I had it done about 8 months ago. I had monovision. I am left hand/eye, be sure the Dr. knows which eye if you go this route. I wore mono contacts for about 3 months. Decided to reduce the spread between eyes to help my depth for sporting clays. The trade off, I can read with out glasses. Need them to thread a needle. Well worth the money.

I had lens implants about 7 years ago. I was 58. I was nearsighted, had astigmatism, and minor cataract problems. Result was almost 20-20 in both eyes. I have, however, experienced the formation of many floaters, some of which are large. I also have reached the point where I need a new prescription for both reading and distance vision. Worth it? Yes. Will it last forever? No. I function and see well without glasses for most activities, but glasses help, and help more all the time.

Good Luck,

Dennis

I had my Right eye done December 05. It turned out 20/15. Had my left eye done ten days later January 06. Six months later my left eye was worse than before the surgery. I had an enhancement done and five days later I had to have a debridement of epitheial cells. Nine months later I had an AK procedeure to correct a stigatism problem. It has been a grueling year and half. Unless your vision is really bad I would think about it hard and long. You only have two eyes. I now have to wear reading glasses but my distant vision is 20/15 in my right eye. My left eye is between 20/20 and 20/30. I can tell a difference in them. The other consideration is dry eyes.
I had my procedures done a University Eye center that specializes in corective vision. One concidered to be the top in the nation.
Longshot

I had PRK-Lasek surgery done in 2003 courtesy of the military. I started with 20/300 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left and ended up 20/20 in the right and 20/30 in the left...which is pretty good for long distance vision in the right eye and reading distance vision in the left eye. I would agree that it is really for those that have a serious correction issue, and be prepared for your eyes to be poked, prodded, and given every test that you can imagine, and some you can't. The docs did say that my vision could change and I would need reading glasses later. I found after it healed that I could not see iron sights as well as when as when I wore glasses, so recently I got a pair of glasses made (but very little correction). I use them only for shooting, and they make the sights and target appear very sharp.

Don't do it. Had it done TWICE on both eyes. First time they programmed in the wrong prescription, second decided to throw in some Kentucky windage (yah, I know YOUR Dr. wont goof!).

Now eyes need contacts as result and are 20-40 without.

...and I heard all those "best thing I ever did" chants too.

Heck, your mind is made up - but go into it with your eyes open (pun definitely intended). Do some research on the net re Laser-eye disasters. Help you relax when the micro-keratome cuts the flap on your 'ball. Heh, heh.

'Flinch

A lot has to do with who does your surgery. There are no "deals" when it comes to Lasic, have it done by someone that has done 1,000 or 10,000, ask questions in your initial eye exam. The onething that many docs don't tell you is every invasion of your eye will push you closer to cataracts, been there, done that. Is it worth it, sure, but it also won't last forever.