My adventure started when I went for my yearly eye check up in March. I had begged my optometrist the year previously to let me do LASIK but she wanted me to wait another year. This year we discussed it again and I also shared with her my trials I had with the TSA when I traveled for work. After a short exam, she gave me the green light. I inquired about who she recommended and she gave me a business card of a doctor nearby.
I called the office and made an appointment for April 10th. I could hardly wait until I could go see him. Previous to the appointment, I had to go without my contacts (something I hated) for 3-4 days so that my corneas would go back to their normal shape.
April 10th came and I went in for my consultation. After a few tests, I was told that I was a good candidate. We discussed a few things that would occur before and after the surgery and when I could have it done. I decided to have it done on April 23rd. My mom was willing to come in to help and then the waiting started.
April 23rd finally came and I was a ball of nerves. My mom and I drove to the surgery center near the medical center and I had to fill out more paperwork and pay my amount that I owed. The doctor did some last measurements and I asked what my vision was. He said that it was 20/250! I took my Valium and started to relax. I took out my contacts and my mom and I started taking pictures for documentation purposes.
An eternity of waiting later I walked in for surgery.
The surgery itself was very different. I was not "knocked out" but was relaxed. The laser was like looking at the bottom of a space ship. I had to focus on a blinking green light the entire time. When the laser was turned on, it sounded like a dentist drill and made me jump. I was slid over under the laser and then my eye was propped open with a metal holder. Later, a ring acted like a suction cup to keep my eye still (which hurt a little). I had some numbing drops put in right before so I couldn't feel anything. The one thing that I was not ready for was the smell of my eyeball being "burned". I decided not to ask because I really didn't want to know. The same was done on my right eye and I felt the suction more which was normal according the doctor. I did all I could to not jump off the bed in pain.
The surgery was over and I was allowed to sit up. The doctor held up two fingers about 50 feet away and I could see just fine. He stood at the doorway holding up two fingers about 75 feet away and I could see fine. There was a clock on the wall about 80 feet away and he asked me what time it said. It took me a second to focus and I was able to read it 4:45pm. I was so shocked...
Afterwards, I was seated in a chair for some eye drops and last minute instructions.
My mom and I started the ride home and I was fitted with some goggles for protection. I was amazed how well I could see.
Upon getting home, the numbing drops wore off and the intense stinging and burning started. It was so bad that I could no longer keep my eyes open. After taking two Vicodin and another Valium and three hours, I was able to open my eyes.
Here is all the stuff I no longer have to use:
For the next week or so, I have to wear goggles at night and do drops during the day.
The next day, I had my follow up with my regular eye doctor who told me that my left eye was still healing but the right eye was healing very nicely.
I still have an one week appointment and an one month appointment. For the next 30 days I will have to be careful and do continuous drops then I can go about life like I never had any issues or surgery.
Overall, I am glad I had this done.
It is weird in the morning to wake up and be able to see and not have dry eyes like I did with my contacts (I slept in them). I put on my glasses after surgery just to see what would happen and I could not see at all..it was weird!
Thanks for reading!
