The Eyes Have It

So last Friday I finally had the LASIK surgery I've been thinking about for a while. I had intended to get it back when I finished the PhD finally but put it off. Not for any particular reason, just mostly lazy.

It was really cool. Jokes about getting Jedi Laser surgery, my friend Michael joking about getting "eye boobs" from the eye steroid drops. The surgery itself took about ten minutes per eye, and was not any more traumatic than getting a quick dental surgery. I could probably have used one more Valium because I didn't really feel too anxious beforehand but during the actual procedure I was a bit nervous/freaked. I used some meditation strategies & recited "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" (the part I can remember which is just the first stanza) in my head whilst being lasered. I ignored the slightly burning smell (kind of like when your dentist is drilling your teeth and you can smell that, too). Thought hard about the light I was supposed to be looking at. By the time I thought they were just getting started, they were done. It was just that fast. And I got a t-shirt, so there you go.

And almost instantly my eyes were 20/20. I had some minor irritation the first day-- like an eyelash in my eye. And it was kind of hazy/cloudy. The best comparison I can give is like if you have opened your eyes in really salty Gulf of Mexico water for a few minutes and then afterwards gotten some sand in there. Not too bad!

It's been three days and I've had to keep up with eye drops & wear these super fashionable eye shields taped to my face when going to bed. Oh boy do I look ever cool with those. My eyes are still kind of droopy and I have a creepy red blood blotch in one of them (Hello 28 days later!) Heh heh. I'm still having "halo" effect around bright lights but to tell you the truth, even if that never goes away (and that is one possible danger of the surgery) I would be good with it. Considering how my vision was, and that my night vision wasn't awesome to begin with, I can totally live with it.

All in all, I am super duper happy. If anyone is considering doing this, I recommend it. But make sure you research your doctor and like them and take TWO Valiums.

I will still likely have to wear reading glasses in the next ten or so years as I get older but I'm good with that. I wore glasses for close to 30 years! I am all fine and dandy with not having to wear them now.

I am not super duper vain but I like the fact that I don't have to worry about scratched eyeglass lenses, or searching around like Velma on Scooby Doo when I can't find the glasses that have fallen to the ground. It will really help with my crime-solving activities with those darn kids and their meddling dog.