I got LASIK eye surgery 3 years ago — Here’s My Updated Review
For those of you who have apprehension and doubts about LASIK eye surgery, I would go back to SharpeVision in a heartbeat and do it all over again if I again needed a correction. But I won't need to...because it's been about three years since my LASIK eye surgery and I still have perfect vision! Today, I’m sharing my LASIK eye surgery review with SharpeVision Modern Lasik Bellevue.
Why I Decided to Get Lasik:
- I hate wearing contacts. They dry out my eyes and I have a hard time not poking my eyes to remove them.
- I get minor headaches after wearing glasses/specs for over 2 hours. They never fit my head (I have a wide head and a small nose bridge).
- I'm always misplacing my glasses, dropping them, scratching them, and I am a mouth breather, so they are always foggy.
- Ultimately, I wanted the convenience and to see the beauty of life and travels without hindrance.
Is LASIK Eye Surgery Safe?
Of course, there are risks associated with every kind of surgery, and laser vision correction is no exception. But after doing research, I earned that it is actually safer than wearing contacts and LASIK has a 96 percent satisfaction rate among patients, and this is the highest patient satisfaction rate associated with any elective procedure.
I think a lot of people have the fear of a doctor “messing up” because of blinking or eye movement, but LASIK equipment is designed to automatically shut off if your eye moves and won’t turn back on until the eye is re-centered. At least for me, this calmed a lot of the anxieties I had before researching!
SharpeVision Modern Lasik Bellevue Review
Here’s a rundown of how my LASIK experience went:
1. First off and probably the most important step in getting LASIK: research to find the right surgeon!
I choose SharpeVision and Dr. Sharpe after comparing 8+ different companies. I ended up finding Dr. Sharpe at SharpeVision Modern LASIK on Yelp from his amazing 5-star reviews…and yes his name is really Dr. Sharpe lol! I was nervous about eye surgery BUT the things that made me feel better and go through with it are:
- Dr. Sharpe has been named among the Top 5% of Lasik surgeons nationally and his reviews really reflect that too.
- At SharpeVision, their patients achieve 20/20 or better-uncorrected vision 96% of the time. In younger patients and those with lower (-3 or less) prescriptions, it’s as high as 99% of the time, and in our older patients with higher degrees of prescription (over -6), 89% achieve 20/20 or better-uncorrected vision. Some people have never had 20/20 with glasses, and those people will likely get only as clear as they had with a good pair of glasses. Those that can see the 20/15 or 20/10 (better than 20/20) lines with glasses will likely get that same vision without glasses after LASIK or PRK.
- Dr. Sharpe's informational video about LASIK is incredibly detailed but they will schedule a time for you to talk directly to Dr. Sharpe.
- Not a single person has gone blind from the surgery.
- Dr. Sharpe has done 60,000+ of these things.
The SharpeVision clinic is located in Bellevue, and the office itself was very aesthetically pleasing. Dr. Sharpe was professional, nice, and reassuring— everything you would want from a surgeon working on your eyes.
2. Then I went for a free consultation with Dr. Sharpe to see if my eyes were right for LASIK and if not, for PRK.
During my 90 minute exam, they dilated and scanned my eyes with specialized machines to obtain lots of data, including my corneal shape and thickness, my precise prescription, and the health of my eyes.
I felt so reassured that they took so many steps to not only help me determined if I was a good candidate but also set expectations. I asked Dr. Sharpe why he thought I was a good LASIK candidate, and hearing him break it down made me feel a lot less worried. They explained the steps to the procedure and I realized that they're only touching the very outside layers of my eyes. Knowing about what the complications looked like so I could be aware of any symptoms later was also very helpful.
3. I then made an appointment and was able to come in for the surgery around two weeks after the consultation.
I was told not to wear contacts for 2 weeks before my surgery date. Contacts reshape your corneas, so I was told to stop wearing them so my eyes could go back to their normal state. I was given a prescription to eye drops for after surgery.
4. LASIK Eye Surgery Day
After the two weeks of following pre-surgery instructions (no contacts), I came back to the clinic for the surgery, and I opted to take given Valium to calm my nerves. Since you stay awake for the procedure, it was super helpful for receiving stress and fear during the surgery.
5. In preparation for the surgery, Dr. Sharpe numbed the surface of my eyes with specialized drops, making it so that I didn’t feel any urge to blink.
I wore comfortable clothes. No makeup, perfume, scented products, hairspray or earrings. They may cause laser malfunction. I was also told not to take any antihistamines at least one day prior to your surgery. He talked me through the steps so I knew what was going on the whole time.
6. Surgery time! Was LASIK eye surgery painful?
The surgery lasted about 3 minutes per eye, 6 minutes total, and the surgery wasn’t painful. I felt some pressure, which I was told would be normal during the surgery. Between preparing for the surgery and actually going under the laser, it probably took around 60 minutes total. There was slight discomfort afterward; I experienced a moderate stinging as if someone poked me in the eye. I wasn’t able to see very well and experienced sensitivity to light, so make sure you bring sunglasses and someone to drive you home safely.
I went home and basically slept for 6 hours.
I noticed an immediate improvement in my vision when I woke up; however, I had some watery eyes, discomfort (like an eyelash in your eye), light sensitivity, and halo effect. I was told these were normal side effects that decrease over the course of 24 hours and are usually gone in three to four weeks.
If you have previously had dry eyes, you may have increased dryness and an increased need for artificial tears for two to three months after LASIK. I only used it for a week after surgery.
7. Follow Up Appointment
The night of my procedure I received a text message from Dr. Sharpe just making sure everything was going okay, and that I didn't have any problems. I had my follow up appointment the next day, and I could actually see road signs as I was driving there, it was amazing, and I was so happy with the results and even though I had read online about the quick recovery, I was still surprised by how quickly my vision was corrected!
Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery
The average cost per eye for LASIK is $2300, with a range from $1500 to $3000. An advertised price lower than $1000 is typically only for the lowest prescriptions without astigmatism. Unfortunately, health insurance usually doesn't cover it. Most LASIK providers will trick you to go in to get a “quote” and consultation for surgery.
I appreciated that SharpeVision Modern LASIK had clear and consistent pricing listed on their website. They also have a price-match guarantee, meaning if you receive a lower quote for LASIK somewhere else, they’ll match that price if you bring in your paperwork! There’s literally no reason to have your LASIK anywhere else.
LASIK isn’t cheap but it is SO WORTH THE PRICE. SharpeVision ranges from $500 to $2000 per eye depending on the degree of correction your eyes need. After the procedure, you may need a laser enhancement to get you seeing perfectly. If this happens during the first year, no worries! You’re already covered with the cost of your surgery!
However, some people see great for years after their procedure and then notice their vision starts to get a little blurry. This is where LASIK4LIFE comes in. At $495 total for both eyes, it covers the full cost of additional laser enhancements you may need from one year after your surgery through the rest of your life. There are no restrictions, requirements, or hidden fees.
Was LASIK Eye Surgery Worth It?
So was LASIK worth the price? Three years later, I still have perfect vision. I will say that since LASIK surgery, I have more sensitivity to bright light, so I make sure to always carry sunglasses.
Overall, LASIK eye surgery is worth it! Never did I imagine that I would see as well as I did when I was a kid. I now see better at 33 than I did at 15. LASIK has changed my life because not only do I wake up and I can see but I can see people’s faces clearer. Work is so much easier. I work with on the computer and with a camera and being able to see clearly has been amazing! Even at home, or just being able to see the TV from the kitchen is just amazing! I can see everything! And Leif is jealous, in fact, he is about to get it done too!
I highly recommendSharpeVision LASIK Bellevue. Their entire staff made me feel relaxed, educated, and at ease from the consultation, throughout the surgery and the post-op follow up. The best part? I walked away with perfect vision & I feel like a superhero!
Thank you, Dr. Sharpe and Staff!!
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