coyotemike

For anyone who is wondering about Lasik, I thought I would describe the procedure.

First, there is the initial exam, pretty much like a regular eye checkup. They verify your prescription, and make sure it hasn't changed significantly. Mine had remained the same for several years.

I elected to go for the custom version of Lasik, so they took several computer images of my eyes to program into the computer to guide the laser. Traditional lasik would have been fine, but custom is just that must better.

The day of the procedure, my cousin drove me because they gave me a Valium to relax me. Actually, they gave me 2, one to take right away and another to take if I had trouble sleeping later. I didn't take the second. Will probably toss it.

I sat in a dark room while i waited for the Valium to kick in. Which just made me more nervous.

They led me down to the surgery suite and had me wear a very lovely shower cap thingie. The chair is sort of a cross between a dental chair and a table, with an air bag under the head to custom fit to the head. Because I'm a bigger guy, they had to make sure I fit under the machine. I fit with several inches to spare. They put some numbing drops in my eyes and had me lay back and "relax."

Now for the creepy part. They taped my left eye closed, then taped my right eye open and fit a ring around it. A second ring was added that immobilizes the eye with some vacuum pressure. Another drop is put into the eye which blacks out all vision. This is a good thing, because the next thing they do is cut a flap into the outside part and flip it open. As my vision returned, they told me to focus on a blinking orange light. When they had me lined up, I heard about 5 seconds of clicking sounds. That was the laser. As soon as that was done, more drops were added (including one that makes you think you're looking through milk), and the flap is put back and smoothed. Everything is removed (including some of my eyebrow, I suspect), and the same thing is done with my left eye (except the tape wouldn't hold and they had to hold my eye open with someone's thumb).

The whole thing, from the time they took me into the surgery room until I was back in the dark room where I started was about 10 minutes, and most of that was waiting for my eyes to go numb. From the time I arrived until I left was about an hour.

When I got home, I was supposed to nap for 4 hours. That didn't work. I don't nap during the day. But I did lay around with my eyes shut for about 3 1/2 hours until I got too hungry. It was almost 4 and I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I had some cold pizza in the fridge, so I ate that with my eyes closed.

I needed to read some last night, but I just couldn't. My eyes were tired, weak, and very light sensitive. I made it about halfway through what I needed to read and faked the rest for class this morning. Yes, teachers do that

I have to put in medicated drops 4 times a day for the next week, and I have a supply of preservative free artificial tears to use generously, as it takes some time before enough healing occurs to connect the eye and the tear ducts. I am not good at eye drops. But I'm getting better. And it's only for a week.

So, there it is. Yes, there is some discomfort after the numbing wears off, and I'm supposed to sleep while wearing goggles so I don't rub my eyes. Which is why I didn't sleep much last night. I hope I'll do better tonight.

I had my one-day check up today. The flaps have sealed very well, and apart from some blood-spots on my eyeballs (very creepy looking) all is well. My right eye is now 20/20 and my left is 20/15, which may have to do with some post-opperative swelling. If not, it's good enough for me

Oh, and in other news, I topped 50,000 words in my manuscript today. And got some snazzy sunglasses

WOO
&
HOO