Getting closer to 20/20
March 29, 2008
Disclaimer: This post is about my last round of lasik, and may not really be of interest to anyone except those considering eye treatments.
I had a second Lasik procedure Thursday (that had been scheduled since January–I made them let me wait until Spring break) and when I went back to the doctor Friday, they did not like what they saw, even though I was reading on the eye chart 20/20. I had swelling of the corneal flap (the incision they made-a flap they cut and lay open to do the Lasik) and there were white blood cells forming to fight the inflammation. Apparently this is BAD for the healing of the corneal flap. SOOOO….
Just to recap the history of my eye-surgery, I had total lens replacement in August, followed by a lasik procedure on my left eye in October, and then the Lasik for my right eye this week. I’ve been able to read w/o glasses for most material since Sept, but EVEN from a phone book since the October Lasik treatment on my left eye. But I still had an imbalance in the eyes. Not wanting to miss any more work due to the doctor visits, I scheduled the right eye Lasik for spring break.
Thursday my 17 yo took me (had to have a driver since they give you a lot of relaxers–not to put you under but to calm and soothe you for the procedure), had it done, and then came home to “sleep it off” which is literally what they ask you to do–giving you 2 sleeping pills and 2 painkillers. They forgot to give me mine, but I didn’t stress, but instead did a Bendryl and slept most of the afternoon. I did experience some mild discomfort, but didn’t stress it b/c I was told I may have some, and I knew they had forgotten to give me the painkillers. So I just took Advil, and went back for the post op visit Friday–alone. No driver needed.
When they looked at my eye, they said I had a lot of corneal swelling and they could see white blood cells trying to heal the cornea, but they needed the flap to seal and the swelling to go down w/o those white blood cells–which is what the drops (3 kinds) are supposed to do. Dr. Christenbury said the white blood cells would make it take longer to heal and could damage the shape of the cornea?????? (I really don’t know the medical jargon here or even if I have described what the risk here is correctly.)
So he said he needed to go back into my eye and “wash” it out. I had two choices-call and get myself a driver up there to drive me home OR let him do it without having the Atavan to make it a smooth comfy process, and drive myself home. Of course I said I’m a big girl and I did the procedure with NO medication, nothing to take the edge off. It really did not hurt, but I was ultra aware of everything going on–like even the squeegee they used to put my corneal flap back in place–doesn’t that sound weird? They lay me down, flipped open the flap, and flushed my eye with what seemed like 2 gallons of water–my hair was soaking wet on the right side, and flipped that flap back over, smoothed it out, and finally placed a contact like bandage over my pupil. I had to wear a plastic shield over my eye the rest of the day and night, only to remove for a 3 drop regimen every four hours.
So I went back this morning, and they removed the “contact-bandage” and the flap is sealing nicely, but there is still some swelling and haze–SO guess what? I have to go back Monday. One more day of spring break will be nice.
I feel fine, and I can read better. And I can tell already that my vision is more balanced than before, which is why I needed the right eye lasik treatment.
It may sound like this was very painful, but it wasn’t at all. The most uncomfortable part was having my eye physically touched, but they gave me MANY numbing drops, so really all I could feel was the pressure of their touching it.
Even with my complication, I would still recommend this to ANYONE thinking about it.I can now read the phone book and text message on my cell phone–which was not possible 6 months ago w/o glasses.
Now after creating this post, when my friends and family ask, I’ll just direct them here to “read all about it.”
Image Attribution:
Eye Chart. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/2/3496961_9e581fd0fe_m.jpg
