Yesterday I had my hyperopia and astigmatism surgically corrected in a 20 minute procedure. Amazing. All of my fears listed in my previous post, were completely unnecessary it turns out (even going out without makeup and my hair did turned out okay). It was one of the easiest things I've ever done.
Todd & I arrived at 8:15 and I paid for the procedure. Slight moment of panic right off the bat, since I completely forgot that our debit card has a $500 per day limit. DECLINE. Thankfully I was able to write a check! They took me back for a quick re-check/verification of my prescription and one final uncorrected eye test. Legally blind in my right eye and just slightly better in my left.
They took my into a waiting room where I had to re-read through all the risks and potential complications and sign away my visual future. Then came the Valium. Ahhh... sweet relief. I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be, but the Valium certainly helped take the edge off. I got 3 doses of antibiotic eye drops and a pleasant conversation with the doctor's assistant. After about 15 minutes there, I was escorted into the surgical suite. It was freezing in there, but they covered me up with a blanket and adjusted my head into the headrest, which wasn't nearly as deep as I previously feared. I got a stuffed bunny to hold onto which was weird at first but nice to have my hands occupied. Todd settled in right outside the surgical suite watching through a window with a monitor showing him everything they were doing. I wish I would have had him video it so I could see it - dang it.
They cleaned my eyelids with betadine and turned the lights down. My fabulous doc came in (shout out Dr. Yannis Kolettis - you rock!!) and he taped my eyelashes out of the way. Retractor and numbing drops went in and from there it was just a series of mini laser light shows for me to stare at. I knew when he had removed the flap of my cornea because things went from really blurry to completely foggy and hazy. Most of the time it was all black with just a ton of tiny red dots in my peripheral vision (from the pressure against my eyeball) and blinking blue, red & green lights directly in front of me. At one point my vision went completely black, but Dr. YK was talking me through it and I was talking with him too. I could see his hands coming toward my eyes once in a while but I was numb so I had no idea when he was actually touching my eyeball. I mean, there was really nothing to it. Oh, it did smell bad when my eyeball was being burned away, but that didn't last long. :)
When they sat me up and turned up the lights, I became a big ball of blubber as I realized I could see posters and the clock on the wall. The assistants said "Don't cry! You'll wash out all the medicine!" I just couldn't help it. I bawled with the realization that even this hazy, foggy vision was light years beyond what I'd ever been able to see before. It was emotionally overwhelming and I'm still feeling that way today.
Quick check by the doc and I was sent home with orders to keep my eyes closed all the way. I got home, took a sleeping pill, put on my sexy sleeping goggles and laid down. They wanted me to sleep a lot at first as the eyes heal faster when they're closed. Remember when I said EVERYTHING pharmaceutical makes me tired? Well apparently that's everything except sleeping pills! I dozed for about 3 hours and woke up. Took my next dose of eye drops (1 antibiotic and 1 anti-inflammatory 4 times daily for a week) and did some laundry. I watched some t.v., ate some dinner, and just generally hung out. I'm also using wetting drops every 30 minutes for 2 more weeks and they're more of an annoyance than anything else. My eyes weren't sore but I did have a slight headache, which I still have today. However, I'd say no pain whatsoever, from the start. I took another sleeping pill and went back to bed about 10:00 and low and behold I was wide awake at 1:30a.m. I watched t.v. for about 2 hours and fell back to sleep. I woke up this morning & tried to put my glasses on - hard habit to break.
I drove myself to my follow up appointment this morning because I felt fine. Dr. YK said I was doing much better than he would have ever anticipated considering the amount of correction I had done. AND, in less than 24 hours after surgery, my right eye was at 20/20 and my left eye was at 20/15. Dr. YK said "You've got what we expect to see after 2-4 weeks coming right out of the gate. You are doing freaking awesome!" I said "I feel pretty freaking awesome." I think he's pretty freaking awesome too, but I just said "thank you SO much."
Follow up in 2 weeks, with just a few restrictions, like sleeping in goggles for 2 more days, no eye makeup for another week, no eye rubbing for 2 months, and no saunas, jet skiing, or swimming for 2 more weeks - which might really put a damper on my social life - hah! Worth it I tell you - I can't even describe how worth it.
Last photo with glasses.
Surgery done - on the way home.
Rocking the sleep goggles before nap - G'Night.
The drugs.
Slight after effects.
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