Looking to have a LASIK procedure done soon and curious in recommendations you may have for doctors or clinics. Thanks

Hands down Dr. Jeff Whitsett in Houston. He is the best, you will thank me later.

No doctor is the "best" at LASIK, because a trained monkey can perform LASIK. Certification takes 5 whole patients. What really differentiates doctors who perform LASIK is that there are some who will say "You are a bad candidate for LASIK and you shouldn't do it" and there are some who will take your money so long as you can fog a mirror, long term consequences be damned.

General rules of thumb:
1. Don't go anywhere with "LASIK" in the name
2. Don't go to someone who advertises on TV/radio or claims to be the "official eye doctor of (insert sports team)" - these people are generally jerks and have paid for that designation
3. If you are over 50, you are probably too old for LASIK and should wait for cataract surgery instead
4. If you go to a clinic and anyone other than the ophthalmologist is performing the exam to see if you are a LASIK candidate, leave
5. If your optometrist recommends someone, it's most likely because they get a kickback on the referral, not because they are the "best"

Lastly, LASIK evaluations are free. You can have as many done as you want so long as you don't mind getting your eyes dilated over and over. This gives you the freedom to price multiple places and find someone who makes you feel comfortable.

I had mine done at Mann Eye in Katy, I had a great experience with them. It's been several years and I haven't had any problems. I also have about 4 friends that used them as well with no issues.

agdoc2001 said:

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3. If you are over 50, you are probably too old for LASIK and should wait for cataract surgery instead

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Never heard this one before.

Booma94 said:

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agdoc2001 said:

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3. If you are over 50, you are probably too old for LASIK and should wait for cataract surgery instead

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Never heard this one before.

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It's not really a hard rule - the problem is presbyopia. So say you are 55, nearsighted, and wear bifocals. If you have LASIK, you will still need readers for close vision, just nothing for distance. So you spent 4k and are still in glasses 50% of the time. (Unless you can tolerate monovision)

I am amazed that technology still doesn't have a complete fix for this. A zap of the lens or whatever and you are good for both near and far.

agdoc2001 said:

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Booma94 said:

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agdoc2001 said:

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3. If you are over 50, you are probably too old for LASIK and should wait for cataract surgery instead

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Never heard this one before.

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It's not really a hard rule - the problem is presbyopia. So say you are 55, nearsighted, and wear bifocals. If you have LASIK, you will still need readers for close vision, just nothing for distance. So you spent 4k and are still in glasses 50% of the time. (Unless you can tolerate monovision)

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I need glasses for far. Nothing for close/reading. Most of my friends need reading glasses.

agdoc2001 said:

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Booma94 said:

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agdoc2001 said:

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3. If you are over 50, you are probably too old for LASIK and should wait for cataract surgery instead

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Never heard this one before.

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It's not really a hard rule - the problem is presbyopia. So say you are 55, nearsighted, and wear bifocals. If you have LASIK, you will still need readers for close vision, just nothing for distance. So you spent 4k and are still in glasses 50% of the time. (Unless you can tolerate monovision)

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I went to Berkley Eye in Kingwood and because I haven't lost my reading yet, they suggested I only get one eye done if I could deal with monovision.

Monovision took a while to get used to, but glad they talked me out of getting both eyes done.

I have perfect reading vision in my left eye, 20-10 in my right eye.

I do wear glasses for computer work, but that's it. Just reduces strain.

Great advice all, thanks.

I have an eval at Mann Eye tomorrow.

They told me you don't see an opthalmologist until surgery day who "reviews charts" beforehand. Optometrist for the first two.

I've heard good things about Dr Dell in Austin. I might try getting an appt for 2nd opinion

Ghost of Bisbee said:

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Great advice all, thanks.

I have an eval at Mann Eye tomorrow.

They told me you don't see an opthalmologist until surgery day who "reviews charts" beforehand. Optometrist for the first two.

I've heard good things about Dr Dell in Austin. I might try getting an appt for 2nd opinion

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AVOID DR DELL!!!!!!!!!

infinity ag said:

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agdoc2001 said:

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Booma94 said:

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agdoc2001 said:

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3. If you are over 50, you are probably too old for LASIK and should wait for cataract surgery instead

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Never heard this one before.

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It's not really a hard rule - the problem is presbyopia. So say you are 55, nearsighted, and wear bifocals. If you have LASIK, you will still need readers for close vision, just nothing for distance. So you spent 4k and are still in glasses 50% of the time. (Unless you can tolerate monovision)

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I need glasses for far. Nothing for close/reading. Most of my friends need reading glasses.

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Right - so if you had LASIK in both eyes, it would just reverse that. You'd use glasses for reading rather than distance. Only solution would be to have only 1 eye done for monovision (if your brain can tolerate it) or to wait and have cataract surgery or a refractive lens exchange.

agdoc2001 said:

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Ghost of Bisbee said:

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Great advice all, thanks.

I have an eval at Mann Eye tomorrow.

They told me you don't see an opthalmologist until surgery day who "reviews charts" beforehand. Optometrist for the first two.

I've heard good things about Dr Dell in Austin. I might try getting an appt for 2nd opinion

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AVOID DR DELL!!!!!!!!!

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Eek. Ok, thanks. I'll take your word for it!

Any others in the Austin area you'd recommend? Mann eye seems good so far. I'm going to get a 2nd opinion somewhere

I've had good experience with the Wongs at Austin Eye

Mann Eye has so many locations and physicians that it's hard to generalize - some of their locations/physicians are better than others.

Awesome, thank you. Just scheduled a consult with Dr. Shannon Wong at Austin Eye.

At Mann Eye, Paul Mann is who would do the procedure.

Price quoted at Mann was just under $4K all in.
Price quoted at Austin Eye was about $5.7K all in, but maybe they will consider negotiating if he thinks I'm a good candidate.

If I go through Austin Eye, happy to mention your name as a referral if you want to email me at ghostofbizbee@gmail.com. No worries if not though

Please get eval from Dr.John Branch/Dr. Reynolds. Amazing surgeons. Patients literally rave about them!

FYI for those interested, this post is incredibly comprehensive with reviews and comparison shopping:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/s/m7T2O1Ntwe

rancher1953 said:

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Hands down Dr. Jeff Whitsett in Houston. He is the best, you will thank me later.

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This is who my eye doctor referred me to. In the process of saving up.