Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine and a little procedure known as LASIK, my vision was last pronounced 20/15--better than 20/20, much to my Michael's dismay (he wants to go get LASIK just so he can still have better vision than me)! Lynette, aren't you proud of me?
I've been thinking about going under the laser for a while and went for a consultation for LASIK last June, but didn't do it then because Michael was worried that if something bad happened it might ruin our big cross-country trip. So, I held out for a little while. My contacts were just getting more and more uncomfortable (I guess over 20 years of wearing them was getting to my eyes) and I decided that the new year would be a great time to have wonderful new vision.
Here's the low-down on the surgery: piece of cake. Seriously, I was going to be nervous for the whole flap-cutting part but it was over before I even knew it! I thought the doctor was still prepping me when he starting telling me what a beautiful flap had just been cut. I couldn't believe it!
The majority of the recovery happens in that first day of surgery, and for that they give you a Tylenol PM and tell you to go home and take a three hour nap! I must confess that I think I might have been just as excited about taking a three hour nap as I was to get rid of my glasses. I slept for three hours, got up for an hour and a half and went back to bed for another two! It was heavenly. Napping seemed natural anyway, since keeping my eyes open made my eyes water like I was chopping the most potent onion on earth. But thankfully, it wasn't painful. In fact, I would say that there aren't really any painful parts to the whole process.
I can think of three unpleasant aspects to my LASIK journey. First, the smell of my burning eyeball is something I can live without experiencing again. Maybe you didn't know about that part. I know I didn't until sweet Dr. Goel mentioned right before surgery that I might smell "something like burning hair" and that it was "just the laser doing its job." So, yes, while I was laying on the table watching the flashing red light I was thinking, "This wretched smell is actually my eyeball being burned by a laser. Okay." Thankfully, it was over in under a minute and totally worth it. The second unpleasant aspect would be the itchy, crusted remains of the prescribed eye drops on my not-allowed-to-be-washed-or-touched eyelids. Seriously, I just wanted to wash the crust off my eyes, but I couldn't. It passed and it was totally worth it. Last on my list of unpleasantries is the different rates of healing of my two eyes. My left eye is a superstar with near-crystal-clear vision from dawn 'till dusk, but my right eye is mostly a little fuzzy and gets more so as the day goes on. I am sure this is normal and when I go to my next check-up they will tell me to give it more time. I can do that...because even with my right eye being a little fuzzy I still see with 20/15 vision! How incredible is that?
So, here are some snapshots of the last Wednesday:
Here I am putting my glasses away for the last time. I still wake up in the morning reaching for my glasses. And then I remember and smile :)
Michael snapped this of me in the Operating Room.
Here's me (after--love the shades) and the LasikPlus doctor who performed my LASIK, Dr. Goel. He was really nice and had a very soothing voice while I was on the table. "Take a deep breath for me now," "You're doing great, Mendy." He even seemed quite pleased to learn that my 15 minutes with him was going to be the subject of a post on my blog. Like I told him, it's free advertising for him!
So, if you're thinking about getting it done, go to the free consultation and then grab a referral coupon from me ($100 off)!
19 comments:
CONGRATS!! Isn't it the most wonderful thing in the world!!!?? I've been "contact free" for almost a month now and it's sooo nice! Your comment about your right eye vs left eye...mine has been exactly the same! It improves over time but I've had some days where it feels like my right eye has a dirty sticky contact in. I find that if I am diligent in using the wetting drops it doesn't bother me as much. The dr told me it will improve as time goes by! So glad it was a success for you!
Ohhh, so nice.... It sounds like it is such an easy thing. Isn't technology great (peek at my blog for the latest in budding technology ;-) )
WOW! Congratulations. I wish I could empathize, but I've never had to have glasses. I can imagine, though, being able to wake up and see without having to do anything must be a huge relief!
I am so totally blind without contacts or glasses. I would love to be able to wake up and just be able to see! You've got me thinking... maybe when I return home:) I think you're brave to have done it. Congratulations.
I'm so happy it went so well! Oh the smell of burning eyeball tho - there's probably a reason they don't tell you about that beforehand.:) Congrats!!
I'm so jealous. Remember when we were on our missions and you were such a rule follower that you didn't even bring contacts and wore your glasses for 18 months while the rest of us rebels found no problems buying everything we needed for our contacts imported from good old Germany? Thats a bit how I feel now...so many people are free with LASIK and I'm still doing the annoying contact thing...someday, Mendy, someday.
ok, i didn't need to hear about the SMELL, but i'm so happy for you mendy! that's so exciting! you'll have to tell me more about the whole process and give me a referral. i might be brave enough to do this... soon.
Oh, my little seeing friend. I so want my eyes perfected like yours. I'm so glad it went well for you. Now give me all of your old contact solution, please.
YEAH MENDY!!!! Isn't Dr. Goel sooo nice...I was really impressed with him! I'm so glad you got the better than perfect eyes that you deserve...isn't it great!!!
What a miracle modern medicine is! Congratulations on your "new and improved" eyes!
That is so awsome!! I don't know how people live with glasses and contacts where there is this kind of technology!! I am so happy for you!
Congratulations to Mendy. Do you feel like you look different without your glasses? Like they were a part of your identity?
I am counting down the days. Not really, you and Christina really have me aching for LASIK! Congrats on the 20/15....amazing!
Brent had the same Dr over a year ago now and has never looked back, pardon the pun, He had to have one eye redone after 3 months but now all is healed and sorted and i no longer have to hear the words"have you seen my glasses"
I totally want to do that someday too. And I'm glad you gave the run down so now I will know what to expect. Oh and I guess now you know one of the reasons doctors wear those lovely masks. There have been times John has called me from the OR and I've heard all sorts of lovely bone saws etc in the background.
wow...we have one less in the eyeglasses club. I'm so sad to see you go and totally want to do it now. Too bad I'm considered blind. I'm gonna have to go check it out. I'm afraid I'll look ugly w/out my glasses...not that I look pretty w/them, but at least it'll be nice to not have to push them off the table while trying to reach for them in the middle of the night. OR having your kid run off w/them while you're trying to find them! GOOD FOR YOU....now you're SEXY eye 24/7!
Okay, I must be a really good friend because I did read the whole thing.
I am excited for your new eyes!!!
I am glad you had such a nice Christmas.
I love that you love "your michael" so much. It warms my heart!
Miss you :(
How great for you. That must be amazing to be free of contacts after so long with them.
Congratulations on your surgery, Mendy! It's been forever since I've seen you between you being gone and me being gone. I hope your eyes are all healed and perfect now!
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