I decided to Just DO IT a week after I had the initial 3 hour check over. Today I underwent laser eye surgery to finally rid me of glasses. I had the older version of Lasik—PRK—where they use chemicals to remove the top epithelial layer of cornea cells (versus the true Lasik where a flap is cut and the laser is applied under that layer). I didn’t have a choice of procedures after they discovered that I have a thin cornea. I felt calm, but a little nervous, as this is my only set of eyes after all. I elected to do both eyes on the same day because then they can adjust together. The prep. was well organized, multiple numbing eye drops and my eyes would jerk in response to the drops falling. They checked that and gave me increasing dosages until it stopped. Yes, we do want to be sure my eye is fully fully numb! I admit I was more worried about pain due to improperly numbed eyes than I was worried about going blind (that seemed too slim of a chance).
They cleaned my face with anti-bacterial wash and spread over a “saran-wrap” shield with eye holes poked out. Ready to remove cell layers. This could have been better explained to me before hand. More eye drops were applied and the result was slowly blurring vision and suddenly a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Literally. It was as if my brain was watching the cells die and then finally the neurons couldn’t register any longer. Cell death. It was a feeling of both simultaneous awe and horror. On the second eye, my left, I was concentrating so hard on the red light of the laser (like they instruct you to do so you don’t move), that all I could think, repeating in increasingly warning of danger message scrolling in my mind: “I’m being vaporized, my eye is being vaporized, the cells are being vaporized!” I could feel moisture evaporating from my face and a slight smell of burning flesh. I involuntarily jerked my head. The laser shut off and the procedure had to start again. Ok, so now I was freaking that they zapped the wrong section of my eye – that it got off-centered or something. Yet, my surgeon assured me the procedure went great. I went home with double eye patches and crashed from the stress of it all.
Update (2 September 2007): The protective contacts that are inserted after the surgery were removed after 4 days. I could not adequately read my computer to do office work until 2 weeks after surgery and it was quite unnerving waiting for both eyes to come into focus and stabilize. But, a month after the surgery, I am seeing with what feels to be 98% clarity and my eyes “feel” normal as I look around and focus at varying distances. I have another doctor’s appointment at the end of September and of course I’ll feel better when I am confirmed 20/20 on the eye chart…
Update (December 2008): I'm not quite seeing 20/20, but it is darn near close. I have no problems with my eyes, other than slight dry-eye (and not consistent enough to be an issue). It is quite easy to take for granted the ability to see clearly with no glasses.
They cleaned my face with anti-bacterial wash and spread over a “saran-wrap” shield with eye holes poked out. Ready to remove cell layers. This could have been better explained to me before hand. More eye drops were applied and the result was slowly blurring vision and suddenly a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Literally. It was as if my brain was watching the cells die and then finally the neurons couldn’t register any longer. Cell death. It was a feeling of both simultaneous awe and horror. On the second eye, my left, I was concentrating so hard on the red light of the laser (like they instruct you to do so you don’t move), that all I could think, repeating in increasingly warning of danger message scrolling in my mind: “I’m being vaporized, my eye is being vaporized, the cells are being vaporized!” I could feel moisture evaporating from my face and a slight smell of burning flesh. I involuntarily jerked my head. The laser shut off and the procedure had to start again. Ok, so now I was freaking that they zapped the wrong section of my eye – that it got off-centered or something. Yet, my surgeon assured me the procedure went great. I went home with double eye patches and crashed from the stress of it all.
Update (2 September 2007): The protective contacts that are inserted after the surgery were removed after 4 days. I could not adequately read my computer to do office work until 2 weeks after surgery and it was quite unnerving waiting for both eyes to come into focus and stabilize. But, a month after the surgery, I am seeing with what feels to be 98% clarity and my eyes “feel” normal as I look around and focus at varying distances. I have another doctor’s appointment at the end of September and of course I’ll feel better when I am confirmed 20/20 on the eye chart…
Update (December 2008): I'm not quite seeing 20/20, but it is darn near close. I have no problems with my eyes, other than slight dry-eye (and not consistent enough to be an issue). It is quite easy to take for granted the ability to see clearly with no glasses.