Recently, I have had a really strong urge to get LASIK done. One of the reason for this strong urge is because my wife has been encouraging me to get it. Before whenever I get the urge to get LASIK I would do some research and look at the cost & especially risks and quietly give up. This time I went further and actually called some LASIK doctors and setup consultation appointments.

Cost

LASIK cost about $3000 for both eyes in DFW. $3000 is not bad at all for the freedom to live without glasses and contacts. Although I can calculate break even point  to be around 5-7 years for me, but the real benefit of LASIK is waking up in the morning and seeing everything immediately.

However, is LASIK worth the risk?

In my opinion, it is NOT worth the risk.

It is very easy to search for complications of LASIK on the web:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK#Potential_complications
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK#Patient_dissatisfaction
• http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/outcomes.htm
• http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/LASIK/ucm061354.htm

Now other hand, I personally know many people who had LASIK done and are very happy with it. I also have a friend who works for one of the LASIK doctors here. She has told me in her 6 years of working there, she has never heard of anyone having any issues at her clinic. According to her if anyone ever has any issues, it is probably due to them not following directions for postoperative care. She also had LASIK done a few years ago and is very happy with it.

And I personally don’t know anyone who had any issues with LASIK.

So why do I still think LASIK is not worth risk?

Until LASIK is 100% without complications, I don’t think I want to take unnecessary risk no matter how small it is. Who wants to be the only person among his friends who had issues with a common medical procedure.

One interesting fact I learned was that insurance companies consider LASIK to be cosmetic procedure like breast implants. That is why they don’t cover LASIK cost.

When first I got glasses as a teenager, I felt like a nerd. While this was long time ago, I still think wearing glasses sometimes effect my self image. I would put on contacts when going to fancy parties. I think looks are not a good reason to take a risk with your vision.

Other reasons like ability to see without glasses, is valid reason. But since I can still see enough to function without glasses, therefore, this is more of convenience than a need. If I was completely blind and unable to even walk without glasses then I might think that LASIK is worth the risk.

So after almost a month of research and listening to many strong sales pitches for LASIK, I am once again arriving at the conclusion that LASIK is not worth the risks.

No related posts.

But I was still the same person. No one even realized I had a Rolex– or cared– except for one creepy guy at a party who also had one.

That was one of many reminders in my life that you can’t buy your way into being someone interesting. Even if we ooh and aah over someone’s new car or gadget, our subconscious isn’t fooled. Deep down we know that purchases don’t define us, despite advertisers’ promises.

via No One Cares if You Buy a Rolex – TYNAN.

I used to think that buying cool things will make me cool. When I was in college, cell phones were just becoming affordable for regular consumers. I wanted to get one ASAP because I thought it would set me apart.

I got the latest phone but so did everyone. I figured I needed a car to standout on campus. I got a car. But then I felt that I was getting attention from abusers who wanted free rides all the time.

I bought fancy clothes, electronics gadgets, and many other things just to standout.

It wasn’t until I stopped caring about being cool that I felt cool. I started doing things which I wanted to do. I started buying only those things that I really wanted not what I thought would make me cool. In end I feel like I saved a lot of money and I feel better about things I buy.

Related posts:

1. My new favorite website for buying useless stuff
2. The Fear of Missing Out

88 Brilliant Examples of Forced Perspective Photography | Inspiration | instantShift.

Related posts:

1. Ah-ha Designs: Our new project

Related posts:

1. Amer and Hina
2. Mine
3. Flooded

My name is Blue. You can meet me in the sky. Or you can find me in the oceans. Or if you are lucky, I might be in your eyes.

I am beautiful. Oceans are painted with me. I am what makes the sky perfect. You dare not come out of your homes when sky is devoid of me.

Because of me, you seek the vastness of oceans. You spend your life in small boxes, only because you want to escape into me. Every once in awhile when you get lucky, you fly to a sandy beach. You look for a perfect spot. You set up your chair. Then you sit down and stare into me for as long as you can. When you get enough courage to touch me, you get up and you run into me. I surround you. You and I become one and everything gets perfect.

I give hopes from distance to lost souls in deserts; and then sometimes I disappear leaving the thirsty travelers feeling betrayed by their own sights; and other times I stay and save lives of countless hunters of fortune.

When they look at me, they feel calm. At least, that’s what I have heard. Perhaps I remind them that they can escape into me whenever they want to. Freedom is painted with me.

I don’t want to cover skins of brides on their wedding days. Nor do I want to be trapped in a darkness with a decaying body. While you indicate your sons with me; but I am bigger than that. I don’t want to be your uniform.

I shine in the biggest stars. I paint the biggest ceiling that surrounds you. I symbolize life.

I am Blue.

(Inspired by My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk. Photo by Dude Pascalou.)

No related posts.

My new stand up desk

Related posts:

1. Amer and Hina
2. Mine
3. Flooded

Bros: This probably doesn’t come as news to anyone – EPIC FAIL Funny Videos and Epic Fail Funny Pictures.

So according to the study, it is not just Jersey Shore but anything stupid. So what about watching or reading other people’s fails. Does that make you stupid too? I guess, I should limit my daily Fail blog dosage.

Related posts:

1. Belt that makes you feel bad

Started designing tshirts with my wife. More designs are coming soon.

Ah-ha Designs: Home: Zazzle.com Store.

No related posts.

No related posts.

We are meeting people that we would have never met. In our building when we take Simba out for walks in the morning and the evenings, we meet other dog owners. We may not even know their names but we know their dog’s name.

Stories of dogs misbehaving or doing stupid stuff are finally funny. We start to judge dog owners based on how clean their dog looks. We talk about vets and what toys are awesome. We feel proud when people pet Simba. We schedule our life around Simba’s walks now. I think if I watch “Old Yeller” now, I might become clinically depressed.

It is hard to explain but I can recognize dog owners even when they are not with their pets. It is like a secret club, you know who is in it. But you don’t talk about it.

Related posts:

1. secret