Hi everyone! I am new to the group and wanted to share my story. I
am 28 yrs old and received my myopia diagnosis when I was 8 yrs old…
so 20 yrs ago! At my yearly pediatric visit I couldn't see the
chart, a sudden onset. After getting fitted for glasses, my mom says
that I was excited that "The trees have leaves." I'm not sure what I
thought was up there, but apparently not individual leaves. Maybe
that's why I always drew cloud-like blobs for trees. I got my first
pair of contacts when I was 13 and was in love with them. My light
sensitive eyes were in heaven now that I could wear sunglasses and
commemorated the occasion with new ray-bans.

I have had the same optometrist since I received that first pair of
contacts except for a few years where insurance became a problem.
Now I don't have insurance (vison) so I went back to him. He has
always told me that I am/was a perfect candidate for Lasik. My
contact prescription is -7.25 in both eyes. My glasses I don't quite
remember, but it seems to be -8.25 and -8.5. I have a slight
astigmatism, but not enough to be worried about. There have been
several milestones in my life where I thought I would get it
(Lasik). When I turned 21, when I graduated college and then last
year I decided 2007 was the year. The main reason was because my
boyfriend and his best friend had both had it done with no side
effects. My main concern was halos at night because I love to
drive. Anyway, I put some money in my flex spending and was on my
way.

In April I called and made appointments. My doctor uses a surgeon an
hour and a half a way, but I trust him and that mean so much! My
Lasik date was set for June 18th. My contact out date was June 4th.
I went to my eye doc for several tests including the 24 hour dilation…
who was that fun! Everything seemed to be fine. I showed up at the
surgeon on the 18th. I had some more tests that my small doctor
office can't afford, my post-op instruction and my valium for
surgery…..then heartbreak. My corneas were too thin! I had asked
the nurse at home and she had said 5 people out of 10 yrs had been
sent back (they do a lot!). So, I thought my chances were pretty
good. The surgeon then explains that there are other, better
options. At this point I really can't hear! Sure glad I had that
valium!

Two days later I make the decision to have ICL's (visian). I had
never heard of it before and now I was having them put in. I talked
to my doctor and like I said I trusted him. My new dates were July
16th and 17th.

I had my YAG PI's done on June 22nd. I couldn't even see my pupils
they were so small. I had a little dizziness that weekend, but no
big deal. Have I mentioned how tired I am of wearing my glasses. I
live in the South….it's hot and the sun is SO bright! UGH!

I go back to the surgeon on the 11th of July to get some measurements
to order my contacts. Some of these were the same tests for Lasik…
guess they thought I had come back so they would do them
again...others were new! Like putting a cup on my eye with a laser
in it with saline to measure the distance to the back of my eye (the
real measurement of my vision…they said), measured my eye width, how
far away my eye was from the thing we look through to see at the
doctor….I was getting very good at being prodded the doctor said. Oh
and the dredded….which one is better one or two, two or three….agh
they look the same to me!!

Since the surgery was an hour and a half away I had planned on
staying in a hotel for two nights (night before and in between). I
noticed on here most people had to wait weeks between surgeries…
SORRY! I am not sure why my doctor/surgery center is different.

The night before my surgery at 9 pm I receive a call from my
surgeon….not a nurse…my surgeon. Have I mentioned that I love this
man! He is absolutely wonderful even after all I have been through!
He has been sick and my lenses didn't get ordered. I don't see that
as his problem. He is the surgeon, someone else at the office should
have ordered them…but he is calling me! So….we need to do something
else.

The surgeon calls again the next day to tell me that I am to have
both eyes done on Tuesday (I know ya'll are hating me right now!) My
first appt is at 1pm (arrive at 11:45) and the second is the last
appt of the day (don't know the time yet). I ask if he has the
lenses and he says the only thing that can happen now is if the FedEx
plane goes down. Now I have to wake up at 7am to eat a light
breakfast because I can't eat for the rest of the day.

Off to surgery….several "old" people in the waiting room. The staff
is wonderful! The surgeon comes out to check on me while I am
filling out paper work and I ask him if the lenses are here….they are
and on the counter waiting! Yippee!

Now, I'm getting nervous. Pregnancy test…negative. Sharpie marker
over the right eye. Dilation drops. Gooey pain medicine in the
eye. Start the IV….10 minutes later I have a new eye! I had a
little pain in that eye because he said he did touch my iris but no
biggie. I was awake the entire time and remember everything. There
were awesome colors while the surgery was being performed. He did
tell me to follow the light and he meant to tell me to look straight
ahead….maybe why he hit my iris….but no biggie. We'll have another
go in 5 hrs! My eye pressure was high (22) so I took a pill with
a "sip" of water.

An hour later (I stayed in the private waiting room the whole time)
he came to do a check (walk 12 feet away with a paper eye chart) and
I was seeing 20/25. A fuzzy 20/25, but nonetheless I'm seeing pretty
well. Reading a magazine, watching TV and starving! He bargains
with the anesthesiologist to give me 6 oz of water. =)
12 cataract patients later…sharpie x on left eye, etc….. Surgeon
check pressure on right eye…a bit high, but lower than before (15).
Ready to go again. Anesthesiologist says he is going to give me less
this time because it is probably in my system from before.

This time I actually see him putting the thing in to keep my eye open
and some of the workings….then colors again. I looked ahead this
time instead of following the light and it was over so fast! When I
was done I did feel more doped up, but still awake. I mentioned this
to the anesthesiologist and he said that I needed more….not sure why,
but?!? I wanted more details from the surgeon, but he didn't think
I would remember (but I do). He gave me his pager number to call him
anytime and he would go over it again. When I do, I will let ya'll
know.

From here we went to his office for a check. I was seeing 20/30
there. Pressures were elevated. He gave me 2 pills and one to take
that night and the next morning for pressure. I went to the hotel,
ate (finally!) and slept. I could see, but everything was kinda
fuzzy. He kept telling me….you just had eye surgery. It's ok!

The next morning I went back for another checkup. Pressures were
good and I honestly don't remember what my vision was. My left pupil
was still dilated, but that went away later. I also had pain in my
left eye when exposed to the sun, the weirdest feeling ever. It was
explained to me….like worked out muscles get sore. When you're in
the sun your pupil constricts…because of the soreness…it hurts.
Makes sense to me. The next day it was gone.

The next day, I had a check-up with my home doctor. I was 20/20 in
left eye and 20/25 in right eye. Pressures were 6. My left eye felt
irritated (like a contact in backward). Assuming this is the healing
process, but the right eye is all better!

6 days after surgery (yesterday) another post-op with home doctor.
20/20 in both eyes!! I should have asked for the next line on the
chart just to see if I was any better, but I didn't. Pressures were
good (didn't get the measurement). Everything is clear now, not
fuzzy like before. My left eye is still irritated, but better than a
couple of days ago. I have another post-op in 2 weeks…Aug 3rd.

I am letting my eyes heal before I believe that any of my symptoms
are permanent. One night I thought I was seeing ghosts and I just
needed to clean all the drops out of my eyelashes. I wasn't use to
not being able to wash my face and didn't know how to wash my eyes
without touching them! Therefore, those ghosts went away! =) I am
not currently experiencing any night vision problems. Really no
problems at all….but I'm waiting until I am normal…no Rx drops and no
shields. That happens next week.

Oh. From a previous message.
I have hazel (green/blue) eyes.
PI holes not visible.
No change in vision when eyelids are pulled up.

Sorry for the book. Thanks for starting this group!
My ICL Rx was -8.5 (left) and -9 (right). I agree that we myops
compensate for the difference in our prescriptions. And I have lost
that really close vision. I noticed one day when I was trying to
look at my fingernails really close! Hate that! Another thing that
has changed is that my eyes seem to protrude more (not bug-eyed, but
that type of effect). Kinda nice because my eyes always seemed to
disappear. Hope that's everything…plus some!

Jen