[ws6ta]

i went to coal harbour eye center today for a consultation and the price is only $1375 for both eyes :badpokerface: I asked them if I should get the wavefront stuff and they said no need. My brother paid 2800 somewhere else and my buddy went and got a quote at london eye care for 3000.

why is coal harbour so cheap??? where is the best place to go the last thing i watn to do is cheap out on eye surgery!

[ntan]

I got mine done at COal Harbour. My eyes are fine.

[sindragon]

hey op, i know two close people who had eye laser surgey and will check up on price/place. Will update later

[SoulCrusher]

I got mine done at london eye centre in new west a yr ago and paid $2500. It worked well for me but i regret not doing lasikmd.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[rslater]

I got mine done at Coal Harbour. I had prk and had an awesome experience there. In terms of price, your brother and your friend either got surgery a couple years ago or got ripped off, or had other add on's (wavefront etc). Prices have been slowly coming down.

I would argue that Coal Harbour's surgeon is one of the best and same with their medical staff. The surgeon has probably done 30,000 surgeries. With PRK do except a longer healing time, but with long term results that are better. The drops do get a little annoying after a couple days but you get used to carrying them around. After 5-7 days my eyes were perfectly normal and have been great since. Also the depth on my cornea allows for free revisions if need be in the future.

[CP.AR]

Dummy question:

Lasik vs. PRK

What are the perks of each from a real life perspective?
I've read plenty of "technical" differences... but I just want to know from people who did the surgeries

[sindragon]

after watching final destination and the movie filmed in vancouver..... fucking lazer burning through her eye in a painful fashion :heckno:

[ntan]

Dummy question:

Lasik vs. PRK

What are the perks of each from a real life perspective?
I've read plenty of "technical" differences... but I just want to know from people who did the surgeries

Lasik:
Pro: instant recovery, you can usually drive next day
Con: Potential for the flap to open, especially if you play contact sports

PRK:
Pro: flapless
Con: long recovery; typically 1 - 2 weeks

Choose PRK imo

[ws6ta]

choosing prk over lasik seems like a no brainer. if you read the faq's on the coal harbour website it basically says:

What is "No Touch" or "touchless" PRK?

"No touch" is transepithelial PRK (Photorefractivekeratotomy) with the where the top layer of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed by the laser beam.

Is this method of removing the epithelium the most accurate?

In my opinion as a surgeon, it is not as accurate as using the cornea's natural plane between epithelium and it's underlying tissue to gently wipe away the epithelium. I have done over 1000 transepithelial PRKs, and over 5000 alcohol removal PRK procedures. All methods of epithelial removal yield very similar outcomes. I have no strong opinion on one method versus another. I have performed several different techniques and have selected the method I use as in my hands it is the most accurate.

Does a surgical instrument touch the eye in the "No Touch" procedure?

The laser is a surgical instrument. It removes tissue from your eye. The only way to correct vision without touching the eye is to wear glasses (contact lenses touch the eye). "No Touch" is a trademarked name for transepithelial PRK coined by one clinic. It is not a patented form of surgery, it is a procedure developed in 1991. I still do this procedure on appoximately 10 patients per year, only under very specific circumstances.


I even asked them if I should get the tissue sparing things and hes like it would be a complete waste of money. so whats different with this "no touch" is it worth it or a gimmick

[conflagrare]

Lasik:
Pro: instant recovery, you can usually drive next day
Con: Potential for the flap to open, especially if you play contact sports

PRK:
Pro: flapless
Con: long recovery; typically 1 - 2 weeks

Choose PRK imo

I did PRK at Pacific Eye Centre. Dr. David Lin is one of the most experienced in the world. He was one of the founding fathers of laser eye surgery: "He was involved in the original research of excimer laser surgery and corneal topography. Upon his return to Vancouver in 1989, Dr. Lin set up one of the first excimer laser centres in Canada" Our Surgeons (http://www.pacific-laser.com/our-surgeons)

Anyway, it was $3.5k for me, about 2 years ago.

Recovery, as said above, is 1-2 weeks to "function normally" like school/work/drive. 100% recovery was half a year.

[GabAlmighty]

I had PRK done at Pacific Laser Eye Center, best surgeon imo, all the other north american surgeons go to him.

I'm into it for about $4500 after I payed for my recurring check ups on my optometrist. But, that's from the "best" guy available. I didn't skimp out on my eyes because I can't just go ahead and pick up aftermarket ones over night from Japan.

The only thing that's "bad" about it is that my eyes dry out if I'm awake for 16+'ish hours. Or when I have a long shift at work (I'm a lifeguard and all the chlorine dry's the fuck out of everything). I also have some halo'ing at night. One of my eyes is a tiny bit better than the other but it was still plenty good to get me into the Air Force.

I have absolutely no regrets and fucking love my eyes to death.

Best advice is make sure you follow the eye drop regimne they give you post surgery.

[rslater]

The thing about the technology they use now is that the machine will stop within a micro second if your eye shifts. The risk of something goign wrong during surgery is extremely rare. The doctor explained it best to me this way....your eye is like a mountain of peaks. With PRK the laser etches away at certain peaks of the mountains to allow light to refract better to improve your eye site.

[pinn3r]

Does anybody know what the recommended age for laser eye surgery is?
I'm still in my teens, and I keep hearing that I'm still too young for it.
I plan to get it done between the ages of 18-21 since my eyesight is pretty damn bad. I suffer from myopia (nearsightedness)

[GabAlmighty]

I was 19 when I had it done. The rule of thumb is that your eyes need to have "settled" for a few years before you do it.

[DJ Milk]

I was going to get mine done at Coal Harbour last summer during their 10 year anniversary sale for $1500 but the wait time to get in to get a consultation was over a month because of the sale. Also I assume 10 year anniversary means they started business in 2001. I called London Place Eye Center and got a consultation the next day and got the surgery the same week even though it cost $2500. They been in business since 1985 so that makes it 26 years. So I didn't mind paying the $1000 difference and I don't think that would hurt your wallet. London Place is regularly $3000 but if you get a referral from a previous client, they will give it to you for $2500. I read of good reviews for both places so you can't go wrong with either one.

[jackal]

my gf went to london eye for prk and paid 2500. recovery was more like 7 days till she was back to work and she just did her 3 month check and she says she feels 100%.

although like all prk procedures she had very dry eyes for about a month. but putting drops in your eyes is a pretty minimal issue.

[Anjew]

my friend got his done at 23 now he is 33 and he is wearing glasses again. i'll ask him what method... it wasnt lasik i think. i'd wait until you get older before you do it.

[GabAlmighty]

That was also ten years ago, old technology

[J____]

i got mine done at coal harbor as well as all my friends who got laser. They paid 3k+ a few years ago, i paid $1500 for their anniversary deal this year. That's why they're so cheap this year. The surgeon there is one of the best in the world. My eyes are great, I did PRK, the first 2 weeks of recovery I was shitting myself thinking "wtf did i just do to my eyes" but after 1.5-2 months my vision was like a hawk. Best money I've ever spent IMO.

PRK > Lasik IF you can take the time to recover. Even if you can't take the time to recover, get PRK anyway. It's better in the long run. No chance of flap issues if you do any sort of sport that has a chance of getting hit in the eye.

Of course, no body can compare 1 laser institute from another as people only have 1 set of eyes, but all of them seem to have great results and good reviews. However for the price, go to Coal Harbor, you wont regret it.

[VR6GTI]

I got mine done 8 years ago when i was 20 at london place eye center, i believe they have been doing it the longest in Vancouver. I went when i was 16 but they said i was to young and went back when i was 20. Best $3500 i ever spent.

[gdoh]

i just had both my eyes done from coal harbour at the end october 2011, i got the prk done because it makes more sense to get especially with the activities that i do. The main difference between the lasik/prk is that if you get lasik and play contact sports and get bumped in the head it can fuck up the flap that they cut open, but with prk there is no flap so no need to worry about it

the pain is worse and healing time is slower for PRK but i would choose it over lasik any day, the pain drops are your best friend for the first 3 or so days

the whole procedure took about 10 mins, i paid 1800 for both eyes -4.5 and -5

[Alatar]

One brother had his Lasik done at London Eye Centre. Probably 6-7 years ago now. He's had poor night-vision (starbursts) when looking at oncoming traffic, etc.

Oldest brother had PRK done 4-5 years ago at Coal Harbour. No issues, relatively short recovery time, etc.

Ex-gf had her Lasik done ~5 years ago at Coal Harbour. She wasn't yet 25, initial vision went to 20-15, but she now needs glasses for certain situations. She's not too concerned and doesn't feel like going back to get it fixed. Her eyes weren't quite "settled" when she had hers done.

They do recommend you're at least 25 for any laser eye surgery so that your eyesight has stabilized.

In terms of venue/price, if Coal Harbour is that price, go go go! They're the same place that has done laser eye surgery for many of the Canucks, including Markus Naslund. I personally have no Lasik/PRK personal experience given that I've only got 20/10 vision myself.

[iamon]

Is there a ceiling on how bad your eyes are to get laser eye surgery? I had a talk with my eye doctor and they said I probably wouldn't get 20/20 and I assume that it is because my eyesight is so bad, one eye is -925 the other I believe is -875.

[gdoh]

Is there a ceiling on how bad your eyes are to get laser eye surgery? I had a talk with my eye doctor and they said I probably wouldn't get 20/20 and I assume that it is because my eyesight is so bad, one eye is -925 the other I believe is -875.

Coal Harbour Lasik Eye Centre | LASIK & PRK (http://www.seewell.ca/lasik.html)

scroll to the bottom

[iamon]

^ ah I have astigmatism as well. Thanks for the info!

[Death2Theft]

Do the newer methods still have problems with glare at night? Is there any fix for the older eye surgeries done with glare issues?

[gdoh]

i dont notice anything.....when i asked about glare and starburts the reply i got was "we dont do crappy work" lol

[highfive]

Is there a ceiling on how bad your eyes are to get laser eye surgery? I had a talk with my eye doctor and they said I probably wouldn't get 20/20 and I assume that it is because my eyesight is so bad, one eye is -925 the other I believe is -875.

My eyes are just as bad. I got PRK done at Coal Harbour. My left is 20/20 and my right now is slightly worse. They say it's not a big deal they can touch it up for me. Plus my half year-full year recovery period is not even over yet so I have room to improve.

Halos at night is common, but they say with aging your pupils would get smaller? and the halo would be gone after a year.

[Bear2]

I did alot of research before hand and shortlisted to Pacific Laser and Coal Harbour. In the end i used Dr. Lin at Pacific who's suppose to be the best available. I had a consultation with Coal Harbour as well but I didn't get a chance to meet the surgeons at that consultation. However, Dr. Lin himself met with me at my Pacific consultation and spent alot of time answering my questions and concerns. I also knew i wanted the best and money wasn't an issue where my eyes were concerned. Ended up using PRK since my cornea wasn't thick enough for lasik but i would have chosen that anyways given i'm quite active in sports. Paid close to $5k.

My eye's were really bad though, 9.5 and astigmatism. I was damn near blind.

Today everything is great. No halos or dry eyes. Best money i've ever spent.

[ShadowBun]

anyone that did theirs at London eye Center can give me a referral?

Cheers

[1990TSI]

over 2 year bump dude.

[J____]

I got PRK done at coal harbor 3.5 years ago, no glare or stars whatsoever at night. Still 20/20 now but my astigmatism came back a bit, so vision is not as clear as say 3 months after my surgery. Best investment in my life.

[ShadowBun]

over 2 year bump dude.

checked all the threads
this one was the most updated, and no pt making a new thread for asking for a referral.

[DJ Milk]

In one of the old thread someone posted their name that you can use as a referral.

Edit : Nevermond. The 30 page or so thread is gone. I can't find it

[Nabatron]

this shit doesnt last forever fyi to everyone!

[eurochevy]

I got PRK done just for the fact that I play sports and stuff but to each their own. If you can I would say prk just for the fact that its more durable, god forbid anything were to happen with the heal for the flap with lasik

[ShadowBun]

^ yea, looking to get prk because I do contact sports

the thought of the flap opening is just :heckno:

[falcon]

I've been strongly considering PRK for a while now, but I'm still somewhat a skeptic. I've been in school the last year and a half working towards my commercial pilots license. I've got a few months left to go, and while I really want to get my eyes permanently fixed I'm always scared that I'll be the %1 where something might go wrong. And if that's the case, my chances of having a long career as a pilot basically vanish. I'm only considering PRK because there's no way in hell anyone is cutting anything in/near/around my eye. No matter how successful the surgeries are overall.

[Ch28]

I got PRK done just for the fact that I play sports and stuff but to each their own. If you can I would say prk just for the fact that its more durable, god forbid anything were to happen with the heal for the flap with lasik

Pretty much the exact same reason I went with PRK over Lasik.

Coal Harbour Eye Center recommends PRK for a lot of their patients because of the potential risk that you can reopen your flap if you have trauma to the eye. They gave me an example where a lasik patient was rough housing with his buddies one night. He accidentally caught an elbow to the eye. It hurt like a bitch, but he thought that was because he just took an elbow to the face. He woke up the next morning to this immense pain whenever he tried opening his eye. He went into the washroom to check his eye and found out that the flap had reopened and was resting on his eyelash when he opened his eye :heckno:

[Alatar]

As mentioned, neither lasts forever, but will definitely give you better vision that pre-surgery.

One brother who had his Lasik done ~10 years ago still has 20/20 vision.

Other brother who had PRK done ~5 years ago has 20/20 vision in one eye, 20/25 vision in the other. Still better than before.

I know Coal Harbour has a "lifetime guarantee" that covers future corrections (or at least used to) but my brother hasn't bothered as it's still miles ahead of where his vision was, prior to surgery.

PRK brother's diopters were around -4.0 to -5.0 pre-surgery, no astigmatism. Lasik brother's were about -3.0 to -3.5

[zizo]

I would get Visian ICL (lens implant) for high prescription
Pros:
Safe
100% instant results
Can be removed for any reason later
Cons:
More expensive

I know with today's technology PRK is not an issue, but i just hate the fact of cutting the cornea thinning it down, u cant undo it.

[AzNightmare]

I personally know a few people that went with PRK.
No problems at all.

[nabs]

Glad this thread was bumped, I'm thinking of getting it done sometime soon.

[ws6ta]

wow crazy. don't come on RS very often but I sign on and see an old thread started by me.

i had prk done at coal harbour. best money spent period. The recovery sucked. my brother was good to go within 2 days and got it done at pacific. I was out for literally 10 days.

Both of us don't have any problems but my buddy also got it done at coal harbour and his vision is definitely not 20/20 any longer.

If I had to do it again I would go with pacific.

hope that helps.

[Ch28]

Interested in knowing why you'd go with Pacific Laser over Goal Harbour.

[m3thods]

My fiancee used to be a patient counsellor at PLEC, so this may sound a bit biased coming from me but from what I understand, Dr. Lin was one of the pioneers (at least in Canada) for laser eye surgery. I'd imagine that he likely has (or close to) the most experience in the laser-eye game. Some people pay the premium his office charges for that "assurance".

I also hear that he's a real dick. But attitude =/= performance. On the flip side, Dr. Holland (the other opthamologist at PLEC) is a really nice guy and has really good work. He part-times at the eye center at VGH treating trauma, so he also has a ton of experience. My co-worker (who was originally looking at London and Coal as well) chose PLEC and had nothing but praise for Dr. Holland.

[Doubl3_H]

Anyone here went to London Eye Center in New West?

Got a consultation done a while ago, and since my wife's insurance will reimburse $1000, I might go with them.

They have good reviews on Google as well

[Vege]

I got my eyes done at London Eye Centre in New West 2 years ago. I went with No Touch PRK and have had no problems. I currently have 20/15 vision and definitely would recommend anyone to get their eyes done if they have the opportunity.

[VR6GTI]

Anyone here went to London Eye Center in New West?

Got a consultation done a while ago, and since my wife's insurance will reimburse $1000, I might go with them.

They have good reviews on Google as well
I know six people that have got it done there, including myself. No issues with anyone. 10 years later i need touch ups but might go with glasses instead. They will do redo it for free but not sure i want to :)

[Sid Vicious]

if anyone here has any questions/concerns about lasik or prk pm me. my gf is an opthalmic tech at lasik md