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Re: Re: Re: Hello (Reply to this comment)
by metsfan1961
I'm glad it helped. I'm trying to figure out how to add this info to my original review, but I can't find the Update button. I'll keep looking.
Meantime, let me know if there is anything else I can tell you. I had an astigmatism in my right eye and had one of those "toric" lenses. It was ok, but rolled around a lot, and I definitely had the sense pre-Lasik that I was mainly looking out of my left eye because the lens in the right eye never stayed totally in place. Now my right eye is just perfect. The only thing I am still getting used to is the monovision -- the thing where one eye is a little blurry but clear for reading and the other is clear for distance but blurry for reading. It definitely WORKS, but I'm still aware of the difference between the two. From everything I've read it takes a couple of months for you to get used to it to the extent that you don't notice it at all, and it's only been 6 days for me...I'm trying to be patient! But all in all it is still great, and I haven't had any significant side effects. My eyes are a little dry in the morning and at the end of the day, and there are slight halos/blurs around some (not all) car lights, but that's it, and my dr says those two will resolve over a couple of months. At any rate, ask me any questions you want to, and I will keep trying to figure out how I get to that update button!
Cheers...
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May 10 '06
5:21 am PDT
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Re: Re: Hello (Reply to this comment)
by PattyTherre,  in Wellness & Beauty
This information was SO helpful to me. If you add this into your essay, it will definitely help others. You really gave me all I wanted to know in this comment. You can add all that by clicking "Update" on the top right of your essay.
If you DO add it, please let me know. I will come back and rerate this piece because with the added info, it is a Very Helpful essay and should be rated as such.
I have an astigmatism and kind of want the surgery but am so afraid of it. I think within a year or two, I will have it if people say they have good results over the long haul.
I am sick of trying to wear contacts that slide around and I can't get used to glasses with astigmatism correction. I feel dizzy and tall and weird.
Your experience makes me feel like calling and making an appointment to do it. But...eeek.
The cost is also a factor.
Good luck and drop me a line if you add this info into the essay.
Patty
pattytherr@gmail.com
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May 08 '06
10:41 am PDT
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Re: Hello (Reply to this comment)
by metsfan1961
Sure, here are the specifics. My eye doctor had been telling me for a while that I was a good Lasik candidate, and when I finally decided to find out more, he referred me to a surgeon that specializes in this. I went for a consultation where the surgeon measured my eyes on about 5 different machines, including the new "wavefront" analyzer that basically makes a 3-d map of your eye from the back to the front. We spoke about what was important to me with my vision (I am 44 and do a lot of reading at work, and didn't want to get reading glasses) and he explained that he could perform the procedure so that one eye would be completely corrected to work for distance and the other would be undercorrected to work for reading (meaning this eye is a little blurry when I look at far objects, but clear when I read), and the brain figures out which one to make dominant when you are doing specific things. Sounds wild, but it does work -- my eye doctor had already been doing a version of this with my contacts. So after meeting with the surgeon I made an appointment for 2 weeks later. I had to stop wearing my contacts 2 weeks in advance (they can subtly change the shape of your eyeball) and I had to put drops in my eyes for two weeks in advance.
The day of the surgery went like this. I arrived, and they put antibiotic drops in my eyes. They explained the post-op care, and then they put numbing drops in my eyes. They checked my eyes once more on the machines so that the laser had the most up to date information. Then I went into the laser room. I will admit, I was incredibly nervous. You lay down on a table and they put these kind of "sandbag" things on either side of your head to keep it steady. They put a net on your hair, and wipe your eyelids with iodine. Then they covered over my left eye with a patch, and started work on my right eye. They taped my eyelids down (doesn't hurt) and put this round metal device on my eye to keep my eyelids open -- it surrounds your eye and basically immoblizes it (also doesn't hurt). Then they put a "pressure ring) on your eye -- it basically feels like something is pushing on your eye, and your vision greys out. Scary but I knew it was coming and the doctor was telling me what to expect the whole time. Then he said he was "making some marks" on my eye, but he was really cutting the very thin flap on my cornea to get to where the laser needed to go (sounds AWFUL but I didn't feel a thing). Then the pressure ring came off and I was looking at a little blurry orange light. They told me the laser was coming on, and the light started to flash and I heard a clicking noise. Still no pain, lasted about 30 seconds. Then the doctor flushed my eye with water, and brushed back down the flap. Then the whole process was repeated on the other eye. Start to finish it took about 10 minutes. Then I sat up. Things were definitely clearer, but VERY hazy and still blurry, which they promised me was normal. He examined my eyes, said they looked perfect. I could read the second line down on the eye chart (the second biggest letters) which he said was good and normal. They taped plastic shields over my eyes, told me not to touch them and not to take a shower, and to go home, have a nap, and come back in the morning. By that evening I could see very clearly (I peeked under the shields!) and the next morning when I went back I was 20/25 in the right eye, 20/80 in the left (the one for reading) and 20/25 with both eyes together (showing that my brain has already figured out how to make the right eye dominant for vision).
Over the next four days (I am on day 4 post-op) I have been putting in drops literally every hour I am awake -- as per the directions, which I am following carefully. There has been no pain at all. My eyes feel a little sticky or dry from time to time, but I think that is to be expected in these early days. I can see slight halos/fuzziness around some car lights (not all, I guess it depends on the brand of headlights!), and I think in time that goes away somewhat to totally. Tomorrow I go off the antibiotic drops and just am doing the moisture drops every 2 hours.
So all in all, I think it has gone very well. For someone who has worn glasses and contacts since I was 7 years old, this is really extraordinary, and once I get past this initial post-op phase I think I will be asking myself why I waited so long. My husband did this 7 years ago and has been thrilled with the results. Good luck to you and let me know if I can tell you anything else!
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May 08 '06
5:05 am PDT
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Hello (Reply to this comment)
by PattyTherre, in Wellness & Beauty
Having not ever had Lasik, but interested, I wish you would have been a bit more detailed. I got a bit confused but reread and understood most of what you said. I know others wrote reviews on this procedure but a few more details would make your review a great stand alone one for people like me who are interested but not very well informed as to what happens during the procedure.
I am glad it worked for you!
Patty
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May 06 '06
11:37 pm PDT
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Day 2 (Reply to this comment)
by metsfan1961
Thanks! I am now in Day 2, and except for a tiny stye on one eyelid (which means an antibiotic gel in addition to the 5 other eyedrops I am using!!) everything is great. I can see and read wonderfully. So far, so good!
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May 06 '06
1:23 pm PDT
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So glad...... (Reply to this comment)
by melissasrn, in Wellness & Beauty
....your Lasik surgery was a success!!
I had mine over a year ago and what a difference. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Thanks for sharing your results so far and welcome to the site,
Melissa
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May 05 '06
9:44 pm PDT
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