I Got the "EK"

Eyeballs.

That's my topic of conversation of late.

I had been flirting around with the idea of having corrective surgery done on my eyes for a few years now, and out of the blue said: now is the time.

So I had it done.

On Thursday, September 17th. I had to be in glasses since the first day of school, August 26 for the consultation on the 9th. That appointment lasted 2.5 hours...measuring on different machines, checking my vision not once, not twice, but three times, watching videos on both LASIK and LASEK procedures, and dilating my eyes so well I had to wear shades. Yikes! The doctor, Rebecca Bartow, is a little pistol. Cute. Petite. Brunette. Mom of I think 4. Is in the same zumba with me. She comes bursting in the door, sits down, and says its a go. LASIK. I immediately cringe, saying no, no, no....I want LASEK.

The difference?

LASIK cuts a flap, then does the laser to correct the vision, then 'hinges' the flap back into place and voila. Crystal clear vision. No pain. No recovery. But....it does have more risks......infection, yadda yadda....and the flap can, in a rare case, come loose again. Then it's time for a trip back to the doctor to get the eye washed up, numbed, and the flap stitched back into place. Yuck.

LASEK has no flap. An alcohol solution is poured onto the eye, and the epithelials are 'scraped' and the laser corrects the vision, and a nonprescription contact lens is worn for a few days while the epithelials grow back. 100%. An optometrist not knowing the procedure was done would not be able to tell during an exam. But...the healing process is longer, more painful....with less complications.

She was a little hesitant to do the "EK" since my colon has been funky in the past, but she told me flat out "I'm not saying I won't do it. I'd just watch you more up to the point you're all healed, and then you'd be at the point of other patients where I won't have to worry about you so much."

Thank you. Call my gastro and confirm this, please.

And she did. Surgery is scheduled for the 17th.

Michael takes me in...and waits. I go back, take my vallium, chill out for 20 minutes, then they take me to get my eyes numbed (drops) and I'm taken to the laser room. I lay down, hug a stuffed teddy bear, and stare at a red flashing light. In all, it took maybe 1-2 minutes per eye. It was reeeeally fast. Then I walked out and Michael joined me in another room where she explained after care, drops, etc. We went home, I collapsed on the couch and took a 3.5 hour nap. He went back to school.

Friday morning I got ready with my left eye closed. I saw the Dr. the next day at 8am and she tells me "You look how I expected you to look" which was comforting, but at the same time....yeah. She put numbing drops in and said everything looked good. i went home, took another 3 hour nap.....

Saturday was a repeat of Friday. Since the clinic was closed, she met me in the lobby and we went up to her exam room and had a replay of Friday.

Sunday was the same, but not so bad with the left eye.

I continued to see her every day for about a week....

My vision is improving, staring out crystal clear in the morning and slowly getting a tiny bit fuzzy by the end of the day. Soon that will change and the clear part of the day will outweigh the fuzzy part of the day until I am clear all day.

I just am dying to rub my eyes.......and wear mascara and eyeliner again! :)

♥