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Look, Mom, no contacts!
When my surgery was just three days away, my excitement at finally being able to see-without help-overshadowed the slight nervousness I felt. I just couldn't wait!
The day of the procedure, I went to work in the morning, then headed to the laser center, where my eyes were measured and checked again. I signed a long release-consent form, which listed all that could go wrong, including infection and sight loss. But I was encouraged by two women waiting for their follow-up appointments; they were beaming about the surgery they'd had the day before.
At last it was my turn. As I lay flat on my back, I was given anesthetic drops to numb my eyes. The eyelashes on my right eye were taped down, and a speculum was placed under the lid to keep the eye from blinking. Antibiotic, steroid and additional numbing drops, which felt no different from regular drops, were put in my eye. I never had any pain, though I was sightless for a few unsettling moments as Dr. Speaker created a flap in the front of my eye to gain access to the cornea. While he worked, Dr. Speaker explained in a soothing voice exactly what he was doing, so I never panicked. He repeated the procedure on my left eye, and it was over-15 minutes after I arrived.
I sat up and looked around. Things were a little fuzzy, but I could read the clock on the wall. I rested in a chair with my eyes closed for 15 minutes before Dr. Speaker checked them. Clear plastic shields were taped over my eyes-I'd have to wear them until the next morning to keep dirt out and to prevent me from touching my eyes in my sleep. A friend got me in a cab, and I went home.
My eyes felt just the way Dr. Speaker had said they would-a little scratchy, as if I had fallen asleep with my contacts in. I didn't think I'd be able to relax with the shields on, but I slept for a couple of hours. When I woke up, my vision was pretty clear. I ate dinner, watched television and read before going to bed.
When I woke up the next day, everything was sharp and in focus. It was amazing! I walked to the laser center for my post-op visit. My vision was now 20/25. Before the surgery, it had been 20/4000. Dr. Speaker said everything was fine. At my one-week follow-up appointment, my eyesight was 20/20. I told Dr. Speaker I was so happy with the results, I would stand outside his office and do advertising for free!
I celebrated the night after my surgery by attending a play with my friends. I could clearly see the faces of the actors and their expressions from the back of the theater. It was thrilling! Then we went out to a favorite Italian restaurant where we happily toasted my "new eyes."
Getting up in the morning and being able to see everything clearly for the first time since fifth grade still astounds me. I'm back to running, bike riding and even swimming without the worry of scratching my corneas or losing my contacts-total freedom. I'm seeing the world completely differently-and boy, is it beautiful.
A Closer Look at Laser Surgery
LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) , the procedure that improved Babs Chernetz's sight, is the latest surgical technique to correct some common vision conditions: nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness. What makes LASIK so exciting is the promise of immediate results, with little or no postoperative pain.
But there are some caveats to keep in mind : It doesn't guarantee perfect eye-sight, and it may produce side effects-such as foggy vision-that sometimes persist for months, even years. And LASIK is technically more challenging than previous laser procedures; patients should choose an experienced surgeon with an excellent record, says Tulane University ophthalmologist Marguerite McDonald, M.D., a leader in the field. Her suggestion: Pick a doctor who's performed more than 100 LASIK procedures, at the rate of at least ten a month. The best surgeons have reoperation rates of less than 15 percent. If a doctor won't provide you with statistics, steer clear. Also beware of physicians who do not recommend the same kind of waiting period that Chernetz had.
Before agreeing to surgery, your ophthalmologist should examine your eyes to see if the procedure is right for you. The ideal candidate must be free of eye disease and have relatively stable vision. Some people have other conditions that eliminate the possibility of LASIK-for example, corneas that are too thin or extreme nearsightedness.
Immediately before the procedure, the doctor numbs the patient's eyes with anesthetic drops and positions a curved instrument under each lid to hold it open. (This creates a feeling of pressure, not pain.) After he cuts a hinged flap from the front of the eye, a laser, preprogrammed to follow the exact measurements taken of the patient's eyes before the procedure, cuts a precise amount of tissue from the exposed cornea. The surgeon then closes the flap, which adheres without stiches. After surgery, clear shields are placed over the eyes until a postoperative checkup the next day.
For more information and the names of qualified surgeons in your area visit the Web sites of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (www. Eyenet.org) or the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (www. ascrs.org).
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