The Surgery: a full account

[mmcnealy]

Here's the full details on the surgery

On Wednesday afternoon we went to the doctor's office and filled out the rest of the paperwork. I took the seditive that they offered so I could sleep afterwards, that's what you're supposed to do. Then we went into the surgery prep room to wait for the drug to take affect and to put on shoe and hair covers. The doctor came in and we chatted for a little bit, then it was time to go into the surgery room. Matt was able to sit on a couch outside the room and watch through the big glass window.

I was glad that I took the seditive, I was definitly nerveous once I got on the table but I got to hug a teddy bear so that gave my hands something to do. The nurses put numbing drops in both my eyes. The doctor taped my eyelids open on my right eye and put in a rubber ring around my pupil so it would remain centered during the procedure. It went dark and then light again, I think that's when they cut the flap in the cornea, then I focused on the pulseing red light and a one minute countdown started. That's when the laser was doing its work and burning off little pieces of my eye. It sort of made a buzzing sound and I could smell something, but it really wasn't bad and it didn't hurt at all.  They put some drops in my eye and then laid the cornea flap over the top and used a little spatula tool to smooth it over. They repeated the same process on my left eye and then it was over. Each eye took about 3 minutes apeice. The doctor checked to make sure that everything was smooth in the eye and then we went home. 

It was pretty cool, as we were walking out of the building, I could already see better, things were really blurry, but large letters were see-able. I slept pretty much the rest of the day, but every time I woke up my vision was just a little bit better. Yesterday morning I woke up and my far vision was fabuleous, but the near vision was a little blurry. Today its a lot better but my eyes are really light sensitive so being on the computer hurts after a while, I guess I'll have to find something else to do besides read or be on the internet.  I go in for another check up next week, I can't wait to see what my vision is then.

 

 

Comments

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is so cool! I was just thinking about having laser surgery done at some point, but then I got all freaked out that the doctors would botch something and I'd end up going blind. It's pretty courageous of you to let someone mess with your eyesight!

So, was this covered by your insurance or did you have to pay for it?

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

It took me 5 years to get over similar fears and then I went out and found the most experience doctor I could find. He's done over 35,000 surgeries and does about 10-12 a day, and has never had a malpractice suit filed against him.

We paid for it out of pocket, insurance doesn't cover it, I sure wish the companies would wise up about that soon, but not yet.

It is so worth the money we paid for it, around $2k, expensive but worth it. So nice to be able to see clearly when I wake up.

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine what it's like to have perfect vision again! I've been wearing glasses since I was 13... I wish I could just do without them forever. Two thousand isn't that bad, though. I mean, it's money I don't have, but in the grand scheme of things, it's comparable to braces or laser hair removal. Hmmmm. I should start saving mah pennies!

[jenlemus.livejournal.com]

My insurance doesn't even cover contact lenses.

I can't wait. But my husband mentioned he'd like to be home for me when I get it done, so I'm just going to wait until then.

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

Your being boastful! No boasting!!!!!!>>>>>>>>sulking<<<<<<<<<

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

The place I went to charged different rates depending on how bad your prescription was. Mine was -6 diopter, so legally blind and pretty badly nearsighted. If you have a lessor prescription it might be cheaper.

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

You have to have someone to drive you home from the surgery and its so nice to have somebody around to keep you company and bring you food/juice/movies/etc.

[jenlemus.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but he wants to do it all that and be there for me. It's an emotional thing for him, I want to make him happy.

Yet he's fine for met getting my wisdom teeth pulled if he's not home. Emotional reactions are silly sometimes.