gaspains (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} gaspains) wrote,@ 2006-07-12 17:24:00 |
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Lasik Surgery
I got Lasik today, and it really wasnt that bad. So I'm going to tell you exactly how it went if any of you guys ever thought about getting it. First you go get a free consultation. The eye doctor checks your corneal covering and looks to see if it's thick enough. THen they take a map of your eye, and then they make you watch a video that tells you about what is going to happen. You take a questionaire. And then you ask the Dr. questions if you have any. My question was what is the worst case scenerio during a Lasik procedure. He said an eye infection would be the worst thing to happen. Then he said there has never been an eye infection after Lasik in America. Then I aske what would be the most likely complication to happen. He then said a retinal scratch. That may happen when they are removing the coreal flap. The only bad thing about that is that it would be uncomfortable for a while, but no permanent damage. He said the last time it happend was about a year and a half ago and it happend back to back. So he was totally honest with me.
Next you go get a preopp about a week before the surgery. They just pretty much see if your visioned changed any. THey just get an exact presciption for your eye.
Then today was surgery day. Appointment was at 10:15. Got there around 10. Filled out these consent forms, and then they said all of the possible complications on them. All this stuff about losing your vision, and a long list of complications. And I was like whoa... Dr. didnt say any of this stuff. But they have to cover their asses, and it is a voluntary procedure. So whatever... The surgeon was running late because he was still doing a caracts surgery at some other hospital. He was going to be another 45 min or so... So i told my ride he could go and do something if he wanted to. He went go get his car inspected. Then about 20 min after they said he would be 45 min late he showed up. They call me in... I was the first person... There were about five people in the waiting room. Bring me into a room and the nurse gives me post op instructions after Lasik. Dont rub your eyes ever and use the eye drops were the main focus. Then she gives me a valium (which the eye dr said they would give me 30 minutes b4 the procedure)... Anyway surgeon (not eye dr) comes in and gives me a quick run through of whats going to happen. Then leads me to the OR.
They put a hair net on you... Give you a stuffed animal to hold so you wont reach up to your face, and lay you down on the chair... put drops in your eyes and tell you to close them... when you open them you are looking up at the machine and your vision is kind of blurry... they put a patch over my right eye... and then they stick the little think to keep your eye open... its slightly uncomfortable but you dont notice it like 3 seconds after its in. Then they stick a vacuum on your eye... this is probably the most uncomfortable part because you know this is where they are going to cut the flap off your eye. It feels like someone putting a thumb on your eye closed and then pressing it until you really feel some pressure. Your vision goes blank at this point... Then pressure is gone... and everything is really blurrry... They tell you to look down... They lift the flap up... You cant feel any of this... only part you feel is them putting the thing to keep your eye open and the pressure when they cut the flap... Now they mark your eyeball with a pen... i guess to show where to point the laser at... then they zap you with the laser... and you can hear like a popping noise and you can smell like a burning smell (your freaking eyeball)... then they irrigate your eye... then you see them brushing your eye with a white brush... this is them putting the flap back over your eye... put a drop in your eye.... wait awhile... then put two more drops in your eye... and wait... that is the longest part of the procedure is waiting two minutes to let the flap adhere... then they go to the other eye... After that they bring you to get your eye looked at by the surgeon and they give you your drops, sunglass, and face mask... you wear that right after and when you sleep for a week. This is so you dont accidently rub your eye when you sleep. You go home and you are suppose to keep your eyes closed for 3 hours... you pretty much take a 3 hour nap... you can see at this point in time but things are blurry.. I am typing this four hours after... I can see... everything is not totally clear but i think already my vision is improved... my eyes dont hurt but you know that something did happen I guess more like a dry feeling... and i dont have my eyes completly open either... I'm looking at everything with my eyes half closed... there is redness around my eye, but that seems like it would be understanable... But other than that everything seems to be fine.
the only think i wish could have been different would be to have a few minutes to let the valium take affect. They gave me the pill then a minute later they brought me to the OR. I am pretty lucky because I am a really laid back person. I dont get anxious or panic at all. Howeverr, I can really see how people could freak out during the thing. So if you ever get it done... and you are claustrophobic or get anxiety... make sure you let them give you some time for the drugs to kick in... or ask for three... I'm going to post later to tell you how my vision is tomorrow
I got Lasik today, and it really wasnt that bad. So I'm going to tell you exactly how it went if any of you guys ever thought about getting it. First you go get a free consultation. The eye doctor checks your corneal covering and looks to see if it's thick enough. THen they take a map of your eye, and then they make you watch a video that tells you about what is going to happen. You take a questionaire. And then you ask the Dr. questions if you have any. My question was what is the worst case scenerio during a Lasik procedure. He said an eye infection would be the worst thing to happen. Then he said there has never been an eye infection after Lasik in America. Then I aske what would be the most likely complication to happen. He then said a retinal scratch. That may happen when they are removing the coreal flap. The only bad thing about that is that it would be uncomfortable for a while, but no permanent damage. He said the last time it happend was about a year and a half ago and it happend back to back. So he was totally honest with me.
Next you go get a preopp about a week before the surgery. They just pretty much see if your visioned changed any. THey just get an exact presciption for your eye.
Then today was surgery day. Appointment was at 10:15. Got there around 10. Filled out these consent forms, and then they said all of the possible complications on them. All this stuff about losing your vision, and a long list of complications. And I was like whoa... Dr. didnt say any of this stuff. But they have to cover their asses, and it is a voluntary procedure. So whatever... The surgeon was running late because he was still doing a caracts surgery at some other hospital. He was going to be another 45 min or so... So i told my ride he could go and do something if he wanted to. He went go get his car inspected. Then about 20 min after they said he would be 45 min late he showed up. They call me in... I was the first person... There were about five people in the waiting room. Bring me into a room and the nurse gives me post op instructions after Lasik. Dont rub your eyes ever and use the eye drops were the main focus. Then she gives me a valium (which the eye dr said they would give me 30 minutes b4 the procedure)... Anyway surgeon (not eye dr) comes in and gives me a quick run through of whats going to happen. Then leads me to the OR.
They put a hair net on you... Give you a stuffed animal to hold so you wont reach up to your face, and lay you down on the chair... put drops in your eyes and tell you to close them... when you open them you are looking up at the machine and your vision is kind of blurry... they put a patch over my right eye... and then they stick the little think to keep your eye open... its slightly uncomfortable but you dont notice it like 3 seconds after its in. Then they stick a vacuum on your eye... this is probably the most uncomfortable part because you know this is where they are going to cut the flap off your eye. It feels like someone putting a thumb on your eye closed and then pressing it until you really feel some pressure. Your vision goes blank at this point... Then pressure is gone... and everything is really blurrry... They tell you to look down... They lift the flap up... You cant feel any of this... only part you feel is them putting the thing to keep your eye open and the pressure when they cut the flap... Now they mark your eyeball with a pen... i guess to show where to point the laser at... then they zap you with the laser... and you can hear like a popping noise and you can smell like a burning smell (your freaking eyeball)... then they irrigate your eye... then you see them brushing your eye with a white brush... this is them putting the flap back over your eye... put a drop in your eye.... wait awhile... then put two more drops in your eye... and wait... that is the longest part of the procedure is waiting two minutes to let the flap adhere... then they go to the other eye... After that they bring you to get your eye looked at by the surgeon and they give you your drops, sunglass, and face mask... you wear that right after and when you sleep for a week. This is so you dont accidently rub your eye when you sleep. You go home and you are suppose to keep your eyes closed for 3 hours... you pretty much take a 3 hour nap... you can see at this point in time but things are blurry.. I am typing this four hours after... I can see... everything is not totally clear but i think already my vision is improved... my eyes dont hurt but you know that something did happen I guess more like a dry feeling... and i dont have my eyes completly open either... I'm looking at everything with my eyes half closed... there is redness around my eye, but that seems like it would be understanable... But other than that everything seems to be fine.
the only think i wish could have been different would be to have a few minutes to let the valium take affect. They gave me the pill then a minute later they brought me to the OR. I am pretty lucky because I am a really laid back person. I dont get anxious or panic at all. Howeverr, I can really see how people could freak out during the thing. So if you ever get it done... and you are claustrophobic or get anxiety... make sure you let them give you some time for the drugs to kick in... or ask for three... I'm going to post later to tell you how my vision is tomorrow
