LASIK: The pre-surgery post.
Tomorrow I have my Lasik eye surgery at 9:30 am at the Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute in Bellevue. This place was recommended by my optometrist, who also had his eyes done there about 10 years ago. I guess that's a good sign!
When I get there, they'll do another eye exam to confirm the measurements that my optometrist gave them. These numbers are what they'll use to program into the laser machine. After that, I think I'll have to fill out paperwork -- some of which I've already received and filled out, including a quiz on the reading they gave me -- and get numbing drops in my eyes. They'll also give me a form of Valium to help me relax.
The procedure itself will take less than 10 minutes from the time I enter the surgery room and the doctor greets me, to the time I sit up in the chair and look around the room after the surgery. I've been told that when I'm in the chair, they'll give me additional numbing drops and use a spring tool to help hold my eye open. I won't get into the actual details of the surgery, because I'm not particularly sure of the steps and I'm scared thinking of the actual steps, but the laser is on my eye for less than 30 seconds per eye. It's very fast.
Supposedly when I sit up, I should be able to see right away. But my vision might be a bit hazy for the first day to possibly even the first few weeks. There may be other side effects that I'll experience temporarily as well, such as extreme sensitivity to light and halos at night. But I think it'll be okay.
The post-surgery care is pretty simple. I'll have 3 different eye drops to use -- antibiotics, steroids, and artificial tears. The antibiotics and steroids I have to use every 30 minutes for the first 24 hours, and then I think every hour after that. I'll be given specific instructions tomorrow. The artificial tears are to be used as needed. They said that people who have particularly dry eyes or wear contacts might need to use the artificial tears more than people who don't typically use eye drops often. Hopefully I won't have to use them often; I'm not a fan of eye drops!
I'll write more tomorrow after my surgery to let you know how it went and the whole experience. Maybe I'll even have pictures to share! :)
When I get there, they'll do another eye exam to confirm the measurements that my optometrist gave them. These numbers are what they'll use to program into the laser machine. After that, I think I'll have to fill out paperwork -- some of which I've already received and filled out, including a quiz on the reading they gave me -- and get numbing drops in my eyes. They'll also give me a form of Valium to help me relax.
The procedure itself will take less than 10 minutes from the time I enter the surgery room and the doctor greets me, to the time I sit up in the chair and look around the room after the surgery. I've been told that when I'm in the chair, they'll give me additional numbing drops and use a spring tool to help hold my eye open. I won't get into the actual details of the surgery, because I'm not particularly sure of the steps and I'm scared thinking of the actual steps, but the laser is on my eye for less than 30 seconds per eye. It's very fast.
Supposedly when I sit up, I should be able to see right away. But my vision might be a bit hazy for the first day to possibly even the first few weeks. There may be other side effects that I'll experience temporarily as well, such as extreme sensitivity to light and halos at night. But I think it'll be okay.
The post-surgery care is pretty simple. I'll have 3 different eye drops to use -- antibiotics, steroids, and artificial tears. The antibiotics and steroids I have to use every 30 minutes for the first 24 hours, and then I think every hour after that. I'll be given specific instructions tomorrow. The artificial tears are to be used as needed. They said that people who have particularly dry eyes or wear contacts might need to use the artificial tears more than people who don't typically use eye drops often. Hopefully I won't have to use them often; I'm not a fan of eye drops!
I'll write more tomorrow after my surgery to let you know how it went and the whole experience. Maybe I'll even have pictures to share! :)