Lasiks and Lifetime Guarantee

Edit: I would also want more information about the lifetime guarantee - is it truly lifetime? Or is it a one-time re-do? Does it include the changes for near/far that cause the need for bifocals? I think the fine print would help me decide...

Original: Depends on your age. Right around 40 (and it's strange how close to 40 that number usually is...) you'll likely need bifocals.

Lasik is not a forever procedure. Your eyes are always changing. They will correct your eyes back to 20/20 or better. Once they start changing again, though, your eyesight will deteriorate again.

I would consider your family history - who do you take after eye-sight wise? How bad are their eyes? How bad are yours right now?

Do you plan on having any more children? Is it even a remote possibility? That will likely change your eyes.

Lots of factors to consider.

I have done a lot of research into Lasik for myself and after going to 3 different consultations I realized it isn't for me. One of the reasons is the length of time it lasts. I was told on 3 separate occasions that it would last no more than 10 years because of the changes my eyes go through on a yearly basis. I would pay the additional amount for the guarantee so that I could get it done again but I am sooo afraid of having the procedure done repeatedly. My eyesight is bad enough already and while I know that it is now considered a common procedure I can't get over the fear.

Everyone I know who has had Lasik has to have it redone. Some it has been five years others up to ten. Regardless it isn't forever.

My daughter wants Lasik for her graduation present. If they offer lifetime I am going to be all over that. She will be 22, seems well worth it, ya know?

Mine was included. Here is the weird thing. I was supposed to have to use reading classes 5 years ago and that would not have been covered.
I still have better than 20/20 and don't use any glasses. The doctor said I have the best Lasik he has seen and he really is surprised how long it has lasted. I did have kids after Lasik and it decreased from 20/10 to 20/15, then 20/20 over about 12 years.

I had Lasik done when I was may be about 21. I'm 27 now, I have not had to do another procedure at all. I guess it depends on your eyes. My mom had something similar done but she had a lot of eye problems and still wears reading glasses. I got my Lasik done by TLC. I believe they have a lifetime guarantee...don't remember if I had to pay extra or not. I believe the total cost for everything was under $5,000. Lasik is worth it. I have not had any problems. Though, I was nervous before the surgery They did give me extra valium because I was very nervous. I actually had eye surgery on both my eyes for a lazy eye when I was 18 (before the Lasik) and it was safe to get the Lasik done still! Pretty cool!

It's worth the money. Its worth the extra $400 in case. Again; I have not had another Lasik surgery done.

Good luck dear! :)

I got LASIK in May at ICON in Denver for about $1600 and I am very happy! I am 34 and my prescription had not changed much in the last 15 years. They do adjustments within the first year for free and I am debating on whether to have a very small adjustment done on my right eye. I have 20/20 vision with both eyes, but can't quite see as far down on the chart with my right eye alone.
I am also not sure whether to buy the lifetime guarantee, mainly because I'm moving out of state next year and think I would have to travel back here for checkups and adjustments.
My mom had LASIK 10 years ago and hasn't had any trouble. She does have to wear reading glasses now, but I've heard that comes with age and they can't really correct.

I had a procedure similar to Lasik (I didn't qualify for lasik because my cornea was too thin). It was the best thing I have ever done. There has been no deterioration over time (It's been almost 9 years now). My husband had Lasik about 3 years ago. He agrees it's the best thing he ever did. However, we were both over 30 when we had it done -- so our eyes were pretty stable (meaning we hadn't had much change in our prescriptions for a few years). If you are in your early 20s, then the lifetime guarantee might be worth it. It might also be worth it to wait a few more years to have it done so your eyes would be stable for the procedure.
However, I would be wary of a place that makes you pay extra for the guarantee. Is the initial procedure guaranteed to a certain level of precision without paying extra? If it's not, then you should go somewhere else.