ms_bloom
Well-known member
Well, after years of "thinking about it," and then reading and contributing to this thread (http://specktra.net/f221/lasik-eye-surgery-84645/), and doing more research ... I decided to finally do it! Although I knew about laser flap creation (IntraLase), I wasn't really aware of improvements like wavefront-optimised and wavefront-guided treatments, iris recognition, eye movement tracking, and even that they make it impossible for you to blink! The statistics on success and complications have also improved enough since I did my original research (maybe 7-8 years ago) to put my nervous little self at ease.
I had my customised LASIK procedure (IntraLase + wavefront-guided ablation with the Zyoptix laser) yesterday morning with Dr Darryl Gregor at the Laservision Centre (incidentally, he did a laser procedure for an Australian TV segment on LASIK: Laser eye surgery — will it do more harm than good?). I had literally dozens of questions to ask based on my research which the two clinical optometrists I saw answered so well and put me further at ease. I don't remember the exact final measurements of my eyes (I had two pre-op consults), it was somewhere in the range of -6.3 to -6.6. I also had good corneal thickness (591-599 microns). I asked the doctor for copies of my scans, because they look cool and I just kind of like the idea of knowing what my eyes used to be like!
Before the procedure, I was so calm that I wondered if something was wrong me for not being more nervous! I did have to go to the bathroom three times while waiting but that was also partially due to taking the advice to keep well-hydrated to heart. Like others described in the other thread, I got all my instructions about the drops I had to use, then had my eye area cleaned. Once in the operating theatre, they put this thing over my left eyeball to get suction so they could do the flap. This is where we had the first of two minor problems (all the nurse's fault, I think she was a bit new) - it took her four goes to get suction. All the pressing on my eyeball was quite painful, although the suction itself wasn't. My vision faded, and just as I'm wondering why nothing was happening, the doc says, "that's the first flap, and it's perfect." Second flap went off without a hitch. Then I think he used a spatula/pick instrument to move the flap over (my friend that was watching - in the viewing room, with a close-up of my eye up on a screen - said it was so thin it looked like Gladwrap), and then there was swabbing and irrigating and drying - just like what the dentist does! Oh, and throughout this whole process are lots of applications of anaesthetic drops.
Then they pivoted me over to the other laser and put a clamp-type thing in to hold my eyelids apart. Then the laser technician read off a bunch of numbers, then announces each phase of the treatment. My treatment was in four parts and each eye took less than 40 seconds of actual laser time. My right eye hurt more, I think because the nurse had problems getting the drops in the right place. The laser itself doesn't hurt at all though. There is some noise and a smell like hair burning, but I was just focusing on the red laser show. Then they taped shields over my eyes and sent me home. Honestly, during the actual laser ablation I just felt like giggling and told the doctor so
I had a morning procedure and while they gave me a sleeping tablet, they recommended I leave it until later in the evening. I did ask for another valium but didn't take it. It was lunch time right afterwards (the whole thing only took maybe 15 minutes, we spent most of the time waiting) and I was a bit peckish, so we were driving around trying to find somewhere quick to duck in and grab some snacks. Bad idea. For some reason we could not find a 7-Eleven to save ourselves, and my eyes were watering like crazy and PAINFUL. My friend finally found one right next to the surgery. LOL. Anyway, I only slept for a couple of hours, and later that afternoon was pretty awake and my eyes were quite irritated. I should have taken the sleeping pill or at least the valium and slept for longer. It's a good thing the shields were on because my eyes were itchy! But I could already see pretty well, even through the shields. It was just like how others have described - like wearing dirty contact lenses that are smeared with a bit of Vaseline.
Next morning my right eye was quite sore and the left a little itchy. At the checkup they said my eyes could not look more perfect. I was reading 20/20 and 20/30 although I bet that at next week's checkup this will get better as my right eye was hurting when I reading the chart. I've been doing the lubricating drops all day and my right eye is so much better already. My vision isn't completely crisp yet but this is better after drops. Oh, and my left eye has some blood bruising thanks to the problems with suction. The clinical optometrist said it would get worse before it got better, and would take about three weeks to go away, but it to me it looks better already.
There are all the usual restrictions, like, I'm strongly advised not to go to the gym because anything that gets you sweating and your heart rate up aren't good for the healing process. I'm good to start wearing makeup and moisturiser etc., around my eyes after five days, and to get a haircut after a week. I also got advised to wear a hairband as well as the shields to sleep as my fringe is quite long, until my one-week checkup (next Thursday). I'v also been on omega-3 since a week before the procedure, which helps with dry eyes. The hardest thing is fighting the urge to rub my eyes!
Overall I am ecstatic. It just felt like no big deal at all. Going to the dentist is probably more traumatic, and I don't have a problem with dentists! I'm off to Thailand at the end of the month and can't wait to go swimming, snorkelling, etc., without worrying about my contacts. I feel like telling everyone to get it!
I had my customised LASIK procedure (IntraLase + wavefront-guided ablation with the Zyoptix laser) yesterday morning with Dr Darryl Gregor at the Laservision Centre (incidentally, he did a laser procedure for an Australian TV segment on LASIK: Laser eye surgery — will it do more harm than good?). I had literally dozens of questions to ask based on my research which the two clinical optometrists I saw answered so well and put me further at ease. I don't remember the exact final measurements of my eyes (I had two pre-op consults), it was somewhere in the range of -6.3 to -6.6. I also had good corneal thickness (591-599 microns). I asked the doctor for copies of my scans, because they look cool and I just kind of like the idea of knowing what my eyes used to be like!
Before the procedure, I was so calm that I wondered if something was wrong me for not being more nervous! I did have to go to the bathroom three times while waiting but that was also partially due to taking the advice to keep well-hydrated to heart. Like others described in the other thread, I got all my instructions about the drops I had to use, then had my eye area cleaned. Once in the operating theatre, they put this thing over my left eyeball to get suction so they could do the flap. This is where we had the first of two minor problems (all the nurse's fault, I think she was a bit new) - it took her four goes to get suction. All the pressing on my eyeball was quite painful, although the suction itself wasn't. My vision faded, and just as I'm wondering why nothing was happening, the doc says, "that's the first flap, and it's perfect." Second flap went off without a hitch. Then I think he used a spatula/pick instrument to move the flap over (my friend that was watching - in the viewing room, with a close-up of my eye up on a screen - said it was so thin it looked like Gladwrap), and then there was swabbing and irrigating and drying - just like what the dentist does! Oh, and throughout this whole process are lots of applications of anaesthetic drops.
Then they pivoted me over to the other laser and put a clamp-type thing in to hold my eyelids apart. Then the laser technician read off a bunch of numbers, then announces each phase of the treatment. My treatment was in four parts and each eye took less than 40 seconds of actual laser time. My right eye hurt more, I think because the nurse had problems getting the drops in the right place. The laser itself doesn't hurt at all though. There is some noise and a smell like hair burning, but I was just focusing on the red laser show. Then they taped shields over my eyes and sent me home. Honestly, during the actual laser ablation I just felt like giggling and told the doctor so
I had a morning procedure and while they gave me a sleeping tablet, they recommended I leave it until later in the evening. I did ask for another valium but didn't take it. It was lunch time right afterwards (the whole thing only took maybe 15 minutes, we spent most of the time waiting) and I was a bit peckish, so we were driving around trying to find somewhere quick to duck in and grab some snacks. Bad idea. For some reason we could not find a 7-Eleven to save ourselves, and my eyes were watering like crazy and PAINFUL. My friend finally found one right next to the surgery. LOL. Anyway, I only slept for a couple of hours, and later that afternoon was pretty awake and my eyes were quite irritated. I should have taken the sleeping pill or at least the valium and slept for longer. It's a good thing the shields were on because my eyes were itchy! But I could already see pretty well, even through the shields. It was just like how others have described - like wearing dirty contact lenses that are smeared with a bit of Vaseline.
Next morning my right eye was quite sore and the left a little itchy. At the checkup they said my eyes could not look more perfect. I was reading 20/20 and 20/30 although I bet that at next week's checkup this will get better as my right eye was hurting when I reading the chart. I've been doing the lubricating drops all day and my right eye is so much better already. My vision isn't completely crisp yet but this is better after drops. Oh, and my left eye has some blood bruising thanks to the problems with suction. The clinical optometrist said it would get worse before it got better, and would take about three weeks to go away, but it to me it looks better already.
There are all the usual restrictions, like, I'm strongly advised not to go to the gym because anything that gets you sweating and your heart rate up aren't good for the healing process. I'm good to start wearing makeup and moisturiser etc., around my eyes after five days, and to get a haircut after a week. I also got advised to wear a hairband as well as the shields to sleep as my fringe is quite long, until my one-week checkup (next Thursday). I'v also been on omega-3 since a week before the procedure, which helps with dry eyes. The hardest thing is fighting the urge to rub my eyes!
Overall I am ecstatic. It just felt like no big deal at all. Going to the dentist is probably more traumatic, and I don't have a problem with dentists! I'm off to Thailand at the end of the month and can't wait to go swimming, snorkelling, etc., without worrying about my contacts. I feel like telling everyone to get it!
