It’s the end of an era!
– Monica from Friends
Yesterday, was my last day to wear these bad boys…
As I mentioned, I went see Dr. Colby Stewart of Tennessee Lasik Associates to get my vision corrected yesterday.
The Options
Traditional Lasik Surgury
(simple, not specific to your eyes, flap is made with a blade)
Custom Lasik Surgery
(improvements tailored to your specific eye, flap is made with a blade)
Custom Lasik Surgery with IntraLase
(improvements tailored to your eye, flap is made with a laser)
I chose door #3 – Custom Lasik with Intralase, and so far I have had a good experience. I chose Tennessee Lasik Associates because of Dr. Stewart’s experience. He has performed almost 20,000 lasik surgeries and that gave me a lot of confidence.
My Lasik Experience
I arrived for my appointment promptly at 3:45.
I noticed there were a bunch of patients in green shower caps in the waiting room. One girl in her green cap was slumped over in a chair asleep. I SO wanted to take her picture, but that would not have been kind. After checking in, I was given stickers with my name and type of surgery to wear on my shirt. I was also given a little cup of Lasik Kool-aid® (or rather, that’s what I called the red liquid Valium they gave me to calm my nerves).
It tastes narsty, so they have a little beverage station in the lobby. I accidentally spilled water all over their table, and when I went to the bathroom to get paper towels I inadvertently dragged them right across the candle (Holy Cannoli I coulda burned the place down!). Ashley, the receptionist, jokingly said, “I don’t know if you even need any Valium, Heather!” I laughed and finished cleaning up my mess…
This is what the lobby looks like.
Meeting with the Coordinator and then the Doctor
I had a quick meeting with the coordinator, Sarah, to make sure my paperwork was in order. Then I met with Dr. Stewart, and was allowed to ask all my questions. And, by the way, they WILL play music for you and even took my Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog song request. That’s actually Joy to the World, which I knew but just forgot.
Step 1 – The Flap
I was lying on a table. The doctor covered my right eye and then put a suction cup on my left eye. The table is on wheels and is rolled under the IntraLase machine that covers just your head. (I’m totally claustrophobic and it didn’t bother me in the least). Then the machine created a flap while I enjoyed my Valium and Joy to the World. It was quick and not a big deal.
Step 2 – Custom Lasik
This part requires the machine across the hall. So, I got up and walked over to the Lasik room. They put a speculum on your eye to hold it open. I thought it would be awful, but it didn’t bother me at all (I guess that Valium was doing it’s job!). He did one eye at a time. He opened the flap and it was really blurry. Then I could see a faint red flashing light which I watched as directed. Then the machine started to make these black and red flashes. It kind of reminded me of what Frodo in Lord of the Rings sees when he puts the ring on. The machine made a popping sound and I smelled something, but it wasn’t very strong. Then he closed the flap and did the other eye.
After the surgery, I was given some goggles to put on.
Me and Dr. Stewart just following my Lasik
My husband was given a bunch of instructions about eye drops and I was provided with some Tylenol PM® and a half of a Valium tablet to take. The orders were to go home and go to sleep. I have to say this is pretty much every busy mom’s dream – being given mild sedatives and told to go home and sleep while someone else takes care of the kids.
Sleep Tight & Foggy Morning
Despite the chemical assistance, I didn’t sleep that well. I woke up several times to put drops in my eyes. At one point my eyes were really burning and watering uncontrollably. I got up this morning at about 5:45 and could see, but there was a strong haze over my eyes. I was a little freaked out at first, but it lessened with every hour that I was awake. The whites of my eyes also have some red spots on them (which I was told is normal), but those have improved in the hours I have been awake, too. At my post-op appointment, my eyes were 20/25 and the doctor said that may improve over time as my eyes heal. My next appointment is in about a week.
I Am So Happy
I’m so glad I got over my concerns and made myself do this. I can see, I can really see! And it’s amazing!
Many thanks to Dr. Stewart and his fantastic team at Tennessee Lasik Associates for taking such good care of me and my eyes!
Disclosure: I received a discount on my Lasik to write about it. However, that discount came about subsequent to my selecting this doctor and electing my procedure. It was not a factor in selecting this practice and my opinions are my own.
I am so happy to hear you survived and you can see.
Thanks, Melissa!
Im so glad you had a great experience! I watched my ex have LASIK about 13 years ago and didn’t know if I would ever get it done. Considering I am still under his insurance until the D is finalized, I may look into this finally… thanks to your review!
You totally should It’s wild. Yesterday I couldn’t see and today I can. What a difference a day (with Lasik) makes. You know what else is cool? It only took a few minutes. My life was totally improved in a matter of minutes.
Can’t wait til they are totally healed. My eyes are still a little red on the white parts. I put a picture on FB if you wanna see. http://www.facebook.com/themommyhoodblog.
Let me know if you decide to do it!
Heather
Thanks for your great and funny write up on the procedure! I’ve always been so freaked out about the idea of some one lazering a flap in my eye??!!! But the idea of no more glasses/contacts is very intriguing! You made it sound super easy…of course the fun kool aid helped, I’m sure! I’m definitely considering it and it seems less scary to me! Kudos!!
Missy,
I hope you look into it. I’m really glad I did it and would definitely recommend the surgery and this particular practice.
Have a good one!
Heather
I’m so happy for you. Glad you had a great experience. I was just talking about this procedure at a meeting on Tuesday. May have a friend call you that’s interested in having this done. You can encourage her.
Yes! Send her my way, please. I am still in disbelief that my eyes can work this well unaided.
I just read your review, and I was wondering what you could tell me about how the post-procedure experience has gone now that it has been over a year or so since you had it done. Have you had any problems? Dry eyes? Do you ever still need glasses/contacts? How good is the vision.. perfect?
It was AWESOME this summer at the pool to swim and wear sun glasses and when we went on a boat with friends, I wasn’t worried about losing a contact lens.
Wish I had done it sooner, actually. I have really good vision and I read a lot. The last week or two I have started using a pair of readers to cut the power of my eyes. It’s not to make them stronger which is what I thought readers were for before I owned a pair – or at least in my case!
I also (as a writer) spend a lot of time on the computer and I don’t wear readers for that.
Once in a while my eyes are dry in the morning and there are these eye drops you can buy – it’s called a gel, but its really just thick eye drops. They are GREAT. I think it’s called Liquigel. Totally recommend.
All in all – I’m really happy. Thanks for checking in!
Heather
Congratulations! I had my vision corrected in 1997 at the Beacon Eye Institute in Toronto. Love it! Am now investigating it for my son. A couple of questions:
Your old glasses look thick; what was your vision to begin with?
What is your vision now? 20/20? Or?
I think my original vision was something like 20/120 and 20/140. I do not have 20/20 vision, but its close 20/25 and 20/30 perhaps. I think that’s what I remember them telling me, but I could be wrong. Bottom line: I can see and I love it. Would totally do it again.