*-Ahem*

This note is to provide some information for people who are interested in getting laser eye surgery done =) In the Edmonton area though.

I strongly advise you to do some shopping around before deciding on a surgeon.

Always go for a consultation first when shopping because regardless whether you are eligible or not, how the staff treats you during the consulation will give you a chance to evaluate how comfortable you are with these people messing around with your eyes.

 The consultation will check your current vision as well as see how you respond to dialating drops which widens your pupils and makes you very sensitive to light so be sure to have someone to take you home after the consultation.

I started shopping around for surgeons around March 2007 and had my surgery done in May 2007 by Clearly Lasik.

I checked out Clearly Lasik, Lasik MD and Gimbel.

•  Gimbel wouldn't give me the time of day. I tried to book a consultation in late March 2007 and they said they wouldn't be able to get me in til June. Not cool dude.
   
•  Lasik MD was quite happy to book me a consultation within the week HOWEVER, in the same phone call of booking a consultation they immediately asked me when I wanted to book my surgery. The reason for going to a consultation is to see whether you're even eligible for the surgery or not because there's some people whose eye problems are genetic and cannot be fixed with surgery. Very unprofessional. Maybe I was unlucky to get a crap receptionist but still it counted against them at the time.
   
•  Clearly Lasik was very helpful and informative. The surgeon is quite pleasant and the staff as well. They have different payment plans, I can't remember them all but I can tell you the one I got not only corrected prescription vision but also the small percentage of error not included when you get glasses or contacts from the optomitrist. Also if my vision regresses I can contact their office to book a surgery to fix that for free! As long as they stay in business which I'm sure they will =)

Going through with it

First you go for the consultation to get your vision checked out and see how you react to dialation drops. Make sure you have a ride home after. They will explain every detail of the surgery to you which includes the LASIK procedure vs PRK procedure. I went with LASIK and haven't heard good things about PRK and knew one person who had problems with his eyes healing after he had PRK done even after 6 months.

I totally recommend Clearly Lasik! That's where I got it done =) However as for pricing, it depends on how bad your vision is.

When you settle on who you want to do it and book the date, make sure you also book about a week off from work/school after the surgery for a healing period.

The staff should provide all the drops and sunglasses you need for both the consultation and post-surgery. Also your eyes will be quite dry after the surgery so make sure you get the option to get permanent tear duct plugs. They make a difference between putting drops for moisture in your eyes from 20x/day to about 5x/day.

Your night vision may decrease BUT as I went into surgery almost legally half blind, any night vision is good for me haha.

The healing period is about 6 months.

My vision regressed within I think a few months of the surgery but it's because my vision was so bad. Fortunately with the Lifetime Package I got, I was able to go back to the office and they performed a correctional surgery for free!

 Don't just listen to me though, if you go into Lasik MD or wherever and you feel comfortable with the office and the staff and the surgeon, by all means go for it.

 This is just my experience and suggestions.