The LASIK Post (OR...everything you did and DIDN'T want to know in detail about having your eyes laser-ed)

I had my eyes laser-ed and all I got was this stupid mug! Ha ha. No really though...they gave me this gift mug full of candy after surgery. Kind of funny. Ok, where to begin....

I had a regular eye appointment back in early July. I hated the doctor. He was cocky and obnoxious and treated me like I was a kid for wearing my contacts too long. Which yes...was true, but he scolded and reprimanded me and took away my ADULT choice to how I should care for my eyes. He would only prescribe me these uber-expensive lenses that were going to cost me $50/box. I was not happy. In the mean time, we had discussed the option of Lasik. Now, you have to understand that I am BLIND. I mean not really, but practically. Your 'average' correction is around a 3.00-4.00 I would say. Mine is an 8.50. Pretty high! As in I usually can't see an inch in front of my face. Anyway, He said I was right on the cusp of being too high that they might not be able to do Lasik because my prescription is so high and because I might not have "enough corneal tissue" for them to do the surgery. That coupled with the fact that I'm 31 and he said that once you hit 40 you pretty much need reading glasses no matter what and that if I was going to do it, now is the time to get it and have enough time to enjoy it.

I thought, What the heck...the consultation is free, why not just see if I'm a candidate? You also have to understand in the middle of all this, I was also in the works of trying to get pregnant. Which you can't be if you get lasik done. I thought, well, it might be a moot point if I wasn't even a candidate. Anyway, I make the appointment and they tell me I have to be out of my contacts for 10 days prior to the appt. 10 DAYS. I thought I would die. I never wear my glasses...except at night or in the morning before I get ready. It was a little hard for me. But, I did it.

I anxiously went to the appt. Which they tell you to plan on a 3 hour block of time. It was extensive for sure. They map your eye, corneal tissue, check for cataracts, glaucoma, they dilate your eyes, put drops in your eyes, check your prescription a bunch of times. You see about 3 different people during all of this as well. Then comes the verdict: Would I be a candidate. YES? They walk you into the "counselor" room where she tells me I'm a candidate for the Lasik which will cost me a grand total of $4700. What the....? I almost died. But, great news, I'm a teacher...which means $1000 off. Ok, sounding a little better but still a lot of money. But wait...they have a payment plan. 2 years no interest. And they can get me in for surgery NEXT WEEK and I will be amazed once I come out surgery how well I can see. ETC, ETC, ETC.

So, I bite. The only problem is...I thought I might be pregnant. I wait. And wait. And wait. For 5 days, I wait, thinking I might be pregnant and can't have the surgery. Finally, I start. Ok. Phew. They tell me if things look good at my 1 month post op, I can get pregnant. Perfect. I could still get pregnant in August and have a May baby just like I planned....right?? Wrong.

After 2 weeks wearing glasses, I couldn't wait to have surgery done. I push aside the feelings that creep in...what if they mess up? What if I go blind? What if I can't get pregnant when I want?

They take me to a room...give me a valium, check my prescription again, give me a bunch of eye drops and take me back to where the procedure will take place. They take my glasses away....FOREVER (at least until I'm 40, apparently.) :)

Two Lasers. First: they numb your eyes with drops. You lay down and they force this cone shaped thing on your eye. This is the laser that perforates the layer covering your eye. Apparently it make a bunch of air bubbles underneath. I felt quite a bit of "pressure" but no pain. -- reminds me of Brian Regan for those of you who know his routine about "pressure". Anyway, afterwards, they take you back to the "massage" chairs where you keep your eyes closed for 10 minutes. I guess for the air pocket to be created. A nurse comes around and explains to you all the drops you have to do afterwards, all the "restrictions" for the next few weeks, etc.

2nd laser: They take you to another waiting area, they numb your eyes again. You lay down on the next table. At this point I can't see a thing. They tell you to stare at a red light as you're looking up. Which was fuzzy to begin with. Then they pull back the cover over your eye made by the first laser. Then you REALLY can't see anything. And so I'm laying there, trying to focus on this red light that I can't even see. I don't feel a thing. But I DO smell this awful, burning from the laser. Yuck. That's my eyeball being burned. Essentially.

So, 30 seconds later. I'm done. I sit up. I can see but it's cloudy. Soo bizarre. I can read the clock, see people's faces. Everything is foggy...like I'm looking under water. And then I go home.

I should probably say on a side note that Jeff would not watch any of it because he doesn't do any sort of bodily procedures of any kind. Anyway, Jeff took the kids out so I could sleep. And this is what I had to sleep in. Sexy, huh?

I was supposed to wear these every time I slept for the next week. Yeah, right. I about ripped my skin off taking the surgical tape off. OUCH. They have a whole regime to follow which included antibiotic drops every 4 hours, steroid drops every two and lubricating drops every hour. It was a full time job remembering when and which drops to do. My eyes stayed pretty foggy for a few days which they said was normal since my prescription was so high. But...I'm happy to report that I now look like this...

It's how I looked before, but now I can see. All the time. Recovery took longer than I thought. Your eyes feel scratchy for a while and at first I had a hard time getting used to the fogginess. Unfortunately, my right eye is 20/20 and my left is 20/25. Which isn't bad...NOW. I'm totally used to it and it doesn't really bother me. But, for the first few weeks, it drove me crazy since I was used to 20/20 all the time with my contacts. I felt like I got headaches for a while, but now, It's all good. They may or may not have to "tweak" it in a few months. And this is the bummer part because obviously, my pregnancy timetable is thrown off now because of it. Now, the earliest I can get pregnant is October...possibly November if they have to re-d0 my left eye. Which kind of scares me anyway because it's so close, that I don't want it messed up the other direction. But all in all, I have to say that Lasik has been amazing!! I can see the clock when I wake up w/o pulling it right up to my face. I can see when I shave my legs in the shower. I don't have to worry about saline solution, glasses, etc. It made girls camp, swimming etc so much easier. I am happy I did it. Even with this wrench in my pregnancy plans, I'm still glad I did it. If I had thought it out more, I would have waited until NEXT summer to do it, but it's done...and I can see.

any questions??