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Sunday, September 9, 2007

I soooo want LASIK eye surgery

I started researching LASIK eye surgery at some point in 2006. However, I was still scared of the surgery and wasn't sure if I wanted it, the price was high, and I gave up on it.

Well, recently, I don't know what happened, but I became interested in the surgery again. So I did some internet research, and actually signed up to go to a seminar at Strong Vision yesterday morning. So I went, and... well, it was a bad idea. Because now I really want LASIK eye surgery. And the problem is I really can't afford it.

If money weren't an issue, I would make my consultation appointment as soon as possible, and then have my surgery ASAP after that. It sounded pretty amazing, and this doctor is supposedly the best in the area, and one of the best from all over.

What I would give to be able to fall asleep at night while watching television! Or to be able to see when I get out of bed in the morning! Or to be able to swim with my eyes open underwater! It would be really nice to have it done before we get married and go on our (absolutely fantastic!) honeymoon... but alas, it most likely won't happen. I just don't have $4,000-$5,000 laying around that I can put toward the surgery, and even with the payment plans they offer... it would be a stretch to make the payments every month with everything else we are currently trying to pay for.

It just really sucks. Maybe in June 2009, after my car is paid off... :(

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I highly recommend it! I love it! It's been over 3 years since I got it done (graduation gift) and I couldn't he happier! $4000 seems really high - I only had to pay $1000 for both my eyes, but I think you said something about not wanting to do it in Canada...good luck, I hope you can get it done some day!

Heather said...

Well, I told my mom about one of my friends from high school who had it done in Canada and my mom freaked out. It's not as if Canada doesn't have a good healthcare system... I think it's probably better than ours! But she made me nervous about it, and plus it seems like having to travel back up there for follow-up appointments would sort of defeat the cost savings. Did you have Andrew Taylor do yours? That's where my friend from HS went, in Niagara Falls.

Anonymous said...

I would so recommend it. I got mine done 3 years ago and love it. FI just got his done in Feb, and he loves it. Ours cost $4500 but we did flex spending out of our pay checks and the rest we had 18 months to pay off. So worth it!!

Heather said...

I just found out that the surgery center I visited on Saturday has a fellowship program. They have a fellow working in their center right now, who performs the refractive surgeries with the head doctor right by her side assisting her. Anyway, because it is technically a student doctor (though there is really no more risk in having her perform the surgery over the regular doctor), they reduce the price... looks like I could have it done for between $1000 and $1400 per eye, depending on what type of LASIK they recommend I have done. So I *MIGHT* actually be able to swing it! I think I might schedule a consultation now.

I have flex spending, too, but I only took out like $5 a paycheck this year because I have very few medical expenses. In fact, one of the only things I have to pay for is CONTACT LENSES!! So if I were to try to use flex spending to cover a portion of the fees, I'd have to wait until January when I can switch my deductions from my paycheck.

Anonymous said...

I'm that friend from HS that left the comment about canada! Before i knew it, it posted it from "anonymous"

But you're right, luckily I lived at UB so I could make it up there for the follow up appointments easily. But either way, if you can swing it, it's totally worth it! Like you said, being able to fall asleep watching TV is awesome. And, just random things, like swimming, active stuff like that...

Heather said...

That is funny, Lesley... after I posted again, I thought--Lesley said she reads the blog, maybe that actually WAS her. Haha.

We'll see about the surgery. Now that I learned about the fellowship program, it's a different story. It's still expensive, but may be affordable. I have to apply for financing and see what happens. I'm glad that you've had such a good experience with yours!