Eight Years Later: My LASIK Surgery Experience
A friend recently asked about LASIK surgery, and her request sent me looking for an old note that I had written the morning after my experience with the surgery in 2009. I still have friends ask about the surgery all the time, so I thought I would share those words here for anyone wanting to learn more.
What's below was written 19 hours after my surgery. Here's what I can add now that it's 8 years later: My vision is still 20/20 today, and I have no negative side effects from the surgery. A few days after the procedure, I got lazy about putting in eye drops (I was supposed to put drops in for 5 days post-op) and my eyes got a little uncomfortably dry. That was quickly remedied with the drops. That's the extent of the negative side effects. I wrote back then that LASIK was easier than getting a tooth filled, and that's a good summation. It's a weird few minutes, but not nearly as hard as I had imagined in my head. It is great to not have to worry about glasses or contacts anymore.
Getting LASIK remains one of the best decisions I have made. My husband is also a LASIK alum - also with no side effects and 20/20 vision to this day.
July 16th, 2009 - 11am
I always wanted to get LASIK, but I had been waiting because I was a bit scared and also because I had more pressing financial priorities. A few things fell into place that made it a really great idea to move forward with it now (by the way, if you have access to a Flexible Savings Account at work, you should definitely use it for things like LASIK – we saved almost $1300 by using it). When my friend Jason told me that he was planning to have LASIK, I immediately started thinking that I should consider it. Jason is one of the most cautious people that I know (which is something that I myself often lack in), and the fact that he was getting it for himself to me meant that the surgery had a big stamp of approval in terms of safety.
I went to my own eye doctor to see if I was a candidate for LASIK. She did a few tests and told me that I likely was a candidate. She recommended a few places around here to get the surgery done. I called around and did some online research (customer reviews, etc.) and settled on the UC Berkeley Refractive Surgery Center. The procedure would cost $4,000 (which, because of the FSA, would be slightly over $2,700 out-of-pocket for me).
I went for an appointment there about a week later. They did more tests, confirmed that I was a candidate, and we scheduled the date of the surgery. They gave me a packet of information about how to prepare. I needed to buy some prescription antibiotic drops that I’d start using the day before the surgery. I also had to stop wearing eye makeup a week before the surgery (which, for me, was surprisingly challenging – I love my mascara!). They also suggested that I pick up some eyelid-cleaning pads and a certain type of eye drops for post-surgery. Finally, they suggested that I double the amount of Fish Oil that I was already taking every day (I take fish oil to help my heart – who knew that it also improves eye health?).
I was a little nervous as I got closer to the date of the surgery. I was sure everything would go fine, but I was not looking forward to the actual procedure. I was dreading that it would be very uncomfortable and terrible.
The day of the surgery, I couldn’t wear any makeup or lotion on my face. I also couldn’t drink any caffeine beforehand (I missed my Diet Mt. Dew, that’s for sure). I had to have someone to drive me home, so Jon came home from work early to take me to Berkeley.
When we got there, I was given a bag of post-op materials including some steroid drops (which reduce inflammation) and some goggles to wear after the surgery and every night for a week. I got really specific instructions on when to use each type of drop (steroid and antibiotic drops 4 times per day for 5 days and the artificial tears every hour for 5 days). The area around my eyes was also cleaned with betadine.
They did some final checking of my eyes, and then spoke with the doctor and was given some Valium to help me calm down in case I was stressed. To be honest, I didn’t really feel any effects of the Valium (though maybe I would have been more stressed without it).
Shortly after that, they took me into the laser suite. A super nice lady helped me lay down on this bed and gave me a teddy bear (seriously, a teddy bear) to hold onto. She even put a really nice blanket on top of me after asking me if I was a little chilly.
There were three people in the room during the surgery – the lady and two other doctors. I was in the laser suite for a little under 10 minutes total. First, they covered up one eye with a little patch. Then, for the eye that would be treated first, they put some stuff that was like plastic wrap on my eyelashes to keep them out of the way. Next, they put in a little speculum to keep my eye open (this was slightly uncomfortable, but not painful). They numbed my eye with some drops, and then they used a little suction thing on my eye. This was a little weird, I have to say, because I couldn’t see anything while the suction was happening (about 15 seconds). I think that was when they cut the little flap. Next, the machine took a reading of my eye (this took a while on me because I was having trouble keeping my eye still – which is related to the fact that I have the most light-sensitive eyes of anyone you’ve ever met in your life). After they got the reading, it was time for the laser. The laser took probably 5-8 seconds (again, I couldn’t feel anything, but I could hear the laser). I could smell a little burning smell for a few seconds after this. I knew that would happen, but I thought it would bother me more than it actually did. It wasn’t a big deal. After that, the doctor smoothed out my eye a little bit (I could see this, but couldn’t feel it). Then, my first eye was done. The second eye was exactly the same. Afterwards, things were a little blurry, but I could definitely see well enough to get around.
Overall, the procedure was less than fun. I wasn’t having a good time throughout it, just because it was all a little weird and unusual. But it wasn’t nearly as stressful as I had thought it would be. It was so quick and so worth it. Much easier than getting a tooth filled or something like that.
They put me into a dark room for a while and instructed me to keep my eyes closed. Jon was with me, and we just chatted for a little while as we waited for the doctor. The doctor then checked out my eyes and said everything was good to go. They showed me how to put in the drops, how to touch around my eyes, and reminded me what I should do for the rest of the day (which was keep my eyes closed as much as possible).
We left and went home. I went to the bedroom, ate a little early dinner, and went to sleep. I tried to listen to an audiobook, but I feel asleep before even the first chapter was done. I woke up a few times during the next 6 hours to use the restroom. At one point, I remember my eyes being really watery. But then I just went back to sleep.
I woke up around 10 PM and decided to get up for a little while. I was surprised that I could already see extremely well. I didn’t have any pain or dryness. I talked to Jon for a little while, drank a few glasses of water, brushed my teeth, put in my various drops, and went back to bed.
This morning I woke up and felt great. I just got finished with my first post-op appointment, and I’m already seeing better than 20/20 (20/15, to be exact). I’ll be back in a week and then again in a month to check on things again. The doctor even mentioned that she was having trouble seeing the little flap because it has already healed so well. It’s hard to believe that I have these kinds of results only 19 hours after my procedure. I know that not everyone has these kinds of quick results, so I feel lucky.
So far, my eyes do not feel dry or scratchy. That could definitely change over the next few days. Working on the computer makes them a little tired, and close-up things are a tad bit blurry still. That should all improve in the next week or less.
I hope this has been helpful for some of you – I know that reading these types of accounts was helpful for me before my surgery. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
