Sept 2005 Sky & Telescope (US Ed) did a really good write up on eye health and observing. They had an entire section that discussed LASIK in detail, including the latest techniques and had interviews with various folks that have had it.
I won't reiterate it because its too good of an article for me to try and summarize.
My point is - if LASIK is a consideration for you, get your hands on a copy of that magazine
One other note...
I used to work for Bausch & Lomb at their solutions manufacturing facility. Two things I learned while I was there that have saved me a ton of money over the years:
- B&L does "Private Label" solutions here in the US. So if you go into a big name drug store (chemist) they have all of the big name products, but right next to them, they also have a "house brand" or "generic" that is quite a bit cheaper. That cheaper version is usually made by one of the more expensive ones using the same formulas and equipment - it just has a different label on it. The easiest way to tell is to compare the date/lot code stamps on the outside of the boxes. Each company uses their own style and coding - once you match them up - you'll know who makes the cheaper one.
- B&L got in big trouble about 10 years ago for misleading marketing. They had two types of soft lenses: the type that you can wear for a year and the disposables that you wear for a week. The annual ones cost about $100 a pair and the weeklies were about $3-5. Somone figured out - they were the SAME LENS from the same manufacturing line!!! So I buy and wear the disposables, but treat them line annuals: take them out every night and disinfect them. I enzyme them once in a while, but once they get too cruddy - maybe after 4-6 months, I toss them. I picked up a "one year" supply of disposables that have lasted me 5 yrs so far