hey chet,
i haven't chimed in yet, but since you ask. i had prk, wich is bladeless lasiks, i think. what they do is put some deaden drops in your eye. then the doctor put the little device in to hold you eyelids open. then he takes a swab and rubs your eye with it. it looks as if someone is washing a window. this is where he take the epithelial layer off of your eye. then the laser kicks in for 20-30 seconds. you may sell some tissue burning smell, not unlike the drilling a dentist does, but not much. then he puts a bandaid contact on for about 3 days.
the procedure in really not that bad. the pain comes later that day. the pain last about 2 1/2 days. you can't work. you can't see the computer etc. you are useless. the only thing i really could do was sit in the recliner and listen to tv with a wet towel over my eyes. of course healing comes quick over the 2-3 days. but after that, katie bar the door. i really could see without glasses or contacts
as everyone says, "i should have had it done years ago"
i'm 50 years old and need the readers, but the distant vision is great. i had to wear glasses since i was seven years old.
good luck,
lynn