I had LASIK done on both eyes about a year and a half ago, and am thrilled with the results. I've worn glasses or contacts since the 3rd grade, and I was so near sighted that the doctor wasn't sure he could correct it all in one operation, but he did and I see 20/20 now, better than I was ever able to get with corrective lenses. I never knew there was so much detail in the world to see!
My doctor charged by how much correction there was to be made, so mine were at the top of his list. I paid $3,200 for both eyes, which included a second procedure within a year if my vision didn't reach and stay 20/20 (I didn't need it). I needed reading glasses with my contacts before the surgery, and I still need reading glasses now - LASIK doesn't correct Presbyopia, the hardening of the lenses that most people over 40 get.
That was when they had to slice a flap from the top of your eye to do the laser part; now they have a better procedure (IntraLASIK) that is done entirely with a laser and your eye is not cut with a blade at all.
It was the best money I've ever spent on me. If you have a "cafeteria" medical savings plan at work, you can pay for it with tax-free dollars.
My only advice (besides to do it) is to go to a doctor in a big city that has done thousands of them. You don't want to be on your doctor's learning curve. They won't be the cheapest, but you don't want to trust your eyes to the lowest bidder either.
I would do it again in a second. I personally know dozens of friends and family members that have had it done, and don't know of any who had problems or wasn't happy with the results. With the older slice-the-eye procedure, there were a couple of people per million surgeries who got infections that had complications. Your doctor will tell you all about the risks involved and the statistics.
Pete
