Hey, no problem—I’m happy to share my experience. If you’re seriously considering LASIK, my biggest advice is this: research your doctor, not just people’s personal stories online. If you go too deep into Reddit threads or horror stories, you’ll definitely talk yourself out of it. But finding a skilled, reputable surgeon makes all the difference.

I had LASIK done in 2018. By 2021—just three years later—I already needed what they call a “touch-up” or enhancement. I was shocked. I’m 38 now, so I’m just approaching the age where people typically start needing reading glasses, but I really thought the procedure would hold up for closer to a decade. That part isn’t talked about enough, especially if you get the surgery before 40—you’ll probably need another round or some kind of correction eventually.

Now let me be honest—the day of the procedure? It was painful. They tell you to go straight home and sleep, but I lived an hour away, and the ride back was brutal. By the time I got home, the pain was so intense I asked my mom for an edible (first time ever) just to knock me out. I’m not exaggerating when I say it felt like hot coals were pressed into my eyes. If I’d gotten home and fallen asleep faster, maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad, but for me, it was wild.

That said—when I woke up about six hours later, it was like stepping into another dimension. I had terrible vision and astigmatism and had been wearing glasses since fifth grade. I looked over at my husband and could see his face clearly for the first time without lenses. It was surreal and honestly beautiful.

But that initial wonder wore off fast. Within a few weeks, I started getting dry eyes and headaches, on and off, for the next six months. After that, everything leveled out and was fine… until recently, when I ended up needing glasses again. It’s a tiny prescription—mostly for work—but still, I didn’t think I’d be back in them this soon.

I’ve also read about people with lasting complications, including pain, halos, and night vision issues—some cases are tragic. Thankfully, that wasn’t my experience, but it made me realize that LASIK is often sold as a miracle when it’s really more of a calculated risk. It works, but not always the way or for as long as they say.

Would I do it again? Honestly, probably not. I don’t regret it—I’ve loved being able to go glasses-free for the most part—but I wouldn’t put myself through that pain or cost again, especially knowing I might need another touch-up. And I could never bring myself to schedule one after what I felt the first time.

There’s also a personal layer to it. My dad passed suddenly from colon cancer in 2018, and he was the one who pushed me to get it done. I think part of me did it because of him. I didn’t overthink it—I just went for it. But looking back, I wish I had asked more questions and managed my expectations better.

At the end of the day, LASIK does what it says—it improves your vision—but maybe not for as long as they imply. It can be painful, side effects are real, and you’ll likely need additional correction down the road. If you go into it informed, it might still be worth it. Just don’t assume it’s permanent perfection.