Best money i've ever spent! I know i could have had it done cheaper, but like you I reasoned that these are my eyes we're talking about, so I went with the highest rated doctor here in San Francisco for peace of mind. For about 3 weeks prior to the procedure, they provided me wiht fish oil pills to take.. apparently it helps with keeping your eyes moist for the operation.
It was a very smooth and easy process. Similar to others I was given a sedative and sat in a dim room to 'relax' for maybe about 15-20 minutes. Afterwards they brought me into the room where the procedure would take place. They put something on me to hold my lids open. Like others say, its a little uncomfortable, but not painful at all. And honestly it's not even on you THAT long because the whole procedure took only about 5 minutes.
The laser part starts after. I was instructed to keep my eyes on a red blinking light, while the docs did their thing (laser cutting a flap, etc...) You don't feel any of it even though it sounds scary. They walked me through it as it was happening and told me i'd feel pressure, but I actually didnt feel any. For some reason i felt like the red light was moving however, so my eyes would move too (to follow it) but I think that must have somethign to do with my eyes being worked on (maybe making it LOOK like the light was moving when it wasnt??), because the doctor had to keep telling me to stop moving my eyes!
Anyway, I dont think that affected the results because soon after it was all over. For the few seconds between being done with the operation and covering my eyes, i could tell that I could see things much clearer already. Results are INSTANT. After covering my eyes, I was guided out the door to sit for a while. They told me to keep my eyes closed and covered, and to go home and take a nap (i think they gave me a sleeping pill, but i forget!) My husband took me home, and I slept for about 4 hours. They also provided me with eye drops to keep my eyes moist (and good for healing).
When I woke up, I felt like it was a miracle. I was 20/20 and kicked myself for not doing it a few years earlier when I initially looked into it, but was too scared to move forward. No more hassle with glasses or contacts. It was and IS so liberating. I can't even imagine how much of a pain it would have been if i DIDNT do it and was still dependent on glasses or contacts AND having to deal with waking up at all hours for the baby/kids!
I'd do it again in a heartbeat if i Had to. This was done about 3 years ago, and my eyes are still in great shape. I havent experienced any of the 'halo' effects some ppl mentioneed when looking at lights in the dark.