I started wearing glasses in third grade, contacts in fifth grade and rigid GP contacts when I was a sophomore in high school. My glasses are so thick that even when I pay the extra $$ for the lab to make the lens thin, they still look like coke bottle glasses!! In the last 2 years I have been having a lot of issues with my contacts staying comfortable and keeping my prescription. Since March of this year I have went through 3 different pairs of contacts, each a different brand & prescription, trying to find one that stay comfortable and "seeable" in my eyes after 15 minutes.
I had no intentions of ever doing lasik because when I had spoke to my doctor about it several years ago, he said they could not correct my eyes completely and I will still have to wear contacts/glasses. My husband has actually been wanting lasik for a couple of years and I kept telling him that I didn't know how safe it actually was. So I was very surprised when my doctor suggested it and I excitedly asked for more information.
Because I had been wearing rigid GP contacts for 15 years, I had to be out of my contacts for 6 weeks so that my eyes could go back to their original shape. I normally HATE wearing my glasses, but I didn't really even complain about wearing them because I knew the goal in the end was to be rid of both glasses and contacts.
I started with an appointment at my regular optometrist for a pre-op visit to measure all aspects of my eye and to get a current prescription. Then, on Thursday, we went to Dishler Lasik in Denver to have surgery!! I was a little nervous, but I was also very excited!! The appointment started with the regular eye screenings just like at my normal eye appointments. Next, they place plugs in the bottom tear duct of each eye. This is pain-free! At first it felt like I had an eyelash in the corner of my eye, so they pushed the plug in a little farther and I the discomfort was gone. Then, I was taken to the nurse who gave me 2 nice pills to help me relax! She went over the eye drops, sunglasses, and sleeping goggles that I would need for the next couple of weeks.
Finally, I was escorted to the surgical suite! Now, as most of you know, I've had my fair share of surgeries in the last 8 years (6 to be exact), and I've never had them call it a suite!! But after going to the suite - this was a suite!! You walk in to a small room where an Elton John concert is playing on the flat-screen and 3 over-sized, leather recliners are waiting. Immediately the nurse put my foot rest up and reclined my head a little before placing about 3 different kinds of drops into each eye. I was also asked to don beautiful :) surgical bonnet and booties! The nurses and Dr. Dishler were all very kind and and comforting and answered any questions. From my recliner I could see another young woman who had just finished her lasik sitting in a recliner in the recovery area. I can tell you that normally I would be ready to vomit right about now waiting for my turn, but I was very, very relaxed and calm. The gal to the left of me was taken back and about 10 minutes later, I seen her in the recovery recliner. It was so neat to see her - without glasses - and I smiled at her and she shot back a huge smile because she could see me - several feet away! I got so excited right then!! I couldn't hardly wait for my turn to be able to see a stranger's smile several feet away!
Well, it was finally my turn!! The nurse brought me back to the laser room and had me lay down on a surgical table - and a very comfy one I might add! The table was rotated under the first laser. This laser was going to cut corneal flap. Dr. Dishler gently inserted this "tong-like" contraption to hold my eye open. I was then asked to stare at a group of white lights and a green light. After about 15 seconds, Dr. Dishler moved on to the left eye and did the same thing. During this process, the nurses only job in the room was to hold my hand and talk me through the process. I was fully awake, but could feel nothing! Not even pressure on my eyes. My bed was now rotated to another laser. This second laser was the one that would actually do the reshaping of my cornea. Again, I was asked to stare at a group of red, fuzzy lights. There was a faint, burning smell as the laser went to work on my cornea. As soon as the laser was finished, Dr. Dishler put the cornea flap back in place. I was concerned with being jumpy when instruments were coming at my eye, but like I explained to Kayla, it was like looking through binoculars and someone was doing something to the lens at the far end. The only thing I felt was when Dr. Dishler took the cool, wet paint sponge to smooth down the flap. And is all I felt was a very wet and cool sensation on my eye. Once everything was back in place, he removed the contraption to hold my eyelids apart and placed them on the left eye to begin the left eye.
After both eyes were done, I was taken into the post-op room where Dr. Dishler looked at my eyes through a microscope to make sure they looked good. After the clean bill of health, I was put in another recliner with my sunglasses and given some blue gatorade to sip on. Not even thinking about it, I looked at the clock on the opposite wall when the nurse was putting the eye drops in my eyes. I was amazed! I COULD SEE THE CLOCK!! I'm sure I was sitting in the recliner, resting my eyes and just smiling! I couldn't wait to get back to the waiting room to tell Mom and Dad! After about 10 minutes, I was escorted back to the waiting room so that Mom and Dad could take me back to the hotel for my prescribed 2-hour nap! All smiles - they asked, "Well, how was it?" Awesome! I said. It didn't even hurt - a flu shot hurts worse than this did!!
My vision was foggy the rest of the day and I had to wear my sunglasses or goggles continuously, but I had absolutely no pain or discomfort. I set the timer on my alarm for all of my eyedrops. I felt like Dad with my timer going off every hour. The next morning I had a recheck at Dishler with one of the optometrist. My eyes were already both at 20/20!! I was so excited!
As the day went on, my eyes got tired very easy and looked tired, but I just rested them when I could. Today, I woke up and most of the fogginess is gone. My eyes don't feel quite as tired as they did yesterday, but after writing this long post, they are ready for a break from the computer. So, to anyone who is afraid or nervous about Lasik, or wants a good recommendation for a lasik surgeon, let me know! I would be happy to tell you all about it and I would definitely recommend Dishler!!
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