| Article (Changes Frequently): |
| A Day in the Life of a LASIK Procedure |
By: Jay B Stockman
|
|
|
It is 9:00am, I must get up, I have been waiting for this day my entire life. As far as I can remember I have needed glasses, not the kind that would flatter a person, the kind that would bring pity to the faces of strangers who looked at me. I mean, my glasses where thick! . This is the day I am going to have LASIK. LASIK is an acronym for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, which refers to creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and using a laser to reshape the underlying cornea. I have done the
|
research, I have met with the surgeon, there is no turning back, its almost show time.
On my way to the doctor’s office, my mind is racing, am I making the right decision? Will I experience the debilitating side effects that others have warned me about? My journey originally began at my eye doctor’s office, who does not perform LASIK. I asked him for a referral, and he suggested a local Ophthalmologist. An Ophthalmologist is a Medical Doctor who is licensed to perform LASIK procedures, after additional LASIK-specific training. After an extensive checking of his credentials, and experience, this was going to be my LASIK doctor.
I finally arrive, and a very friendly, and helpful staff greets me, and assures me that this procedure will be painless, and quick. Easy for them to say, they all probably have perfect vision. My name is called; I proceed to a cold, large room, which looks like a scene from the movie Independence Day. My hour of reckoning is here, I think about going blind, what I would miss most. I have to start thinking positive thoughts. I briefly meet with the Surgical Counselor who explains to me the different steps I am about to go through. He asks me if I require a sedative, I tell him a Bombay Sapphire Martini would do just fine. He reminds me it is 10:00 am in the morning. I opt out of taking any sedative; I want to be awake for the entire procedure. With this, in walks his royal highness, THE LASIK SURGEON.
I lay down on what is referred to as the treatment bed, a bit hard, but totally acceptable. The surgeon places drops in both of my eyes, within seconds my eyes feel very heavy, and numb. He assures me this is normal, and will not affect my brain. He starts on the right eye first, he places clamps under my eyelids to keep them wide open. My heart is racing; I want to cry out for my mommy. Next he places a contraption on my eye, that he calls a keratome, the instrument that will be used to create the cornea “flap”. At this point, I only feel some pressure on my eye, absolutely no pain. His assistant is constantly pouring artificial tears in my eyes to keep them wet since I cannot blink. I am now directed to focus on a red fixation light, which I do obediently. The surgeon activates the keratome, I hear a noise my cornea is being sliced like a bologna, and I still feel no pain. Next the laser is activated, I smell something like burning hair, again no pain, just pressure. Within minutes the surgeon is finished with the right eye, on to the left. The entire procedure lasted about 20 minutes. That is it!
My procedure is over, and I am in recovery. I am almost in tears, I open my eyes, and for the first time in my life I have VISION, a bit cloudy, but vision nonetheless. I am overwhelmed at this point. The LASIK surgeon walks in, checks me briefly, and informs me everything went well. I wanted to hug and kiss him, however there is a time and place for everything. I am given some drops, and instructions, and within 24 hours of surgery I am back at work. Absolutely amazing, how quick the recovery period was. My vision at this point is cloudy, and I am told this is normal, since the cornea is still swollen.
Six weeks have passed, and I am doing great. The vision in my right eye is 20/20, my left is 20/25 all with no glasses, or correction. The cloudiness is completely eliminated, I still have a noticeable glare at night, but far from debilitating. There is no dryness in my eyes at all, and I rarely use lubricating drops. I am completely satisfied with my entire experience, and highly recommend it to any potential candidate.
About the Author
Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for The Contact Lens Resource Visit http://1contactlenses.com/ for more information.
Dr. Jay B Stockman is an individual contributor to Google Health Co-op
Dr. Jay B Stockman's public Google Health Co-op profile
|
|
Technorati Tags:
LASIK, LASIK surgery, lasik eye surgery, lasik eye center
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |
|
| How To Wear Contact Lenses In The Allergy Season |
| By: Peter Smithson |
The allergy seasons are a real challenge, especially if you
wear contact lenses. A chronic allergy to mold, pet dander
or other environmental allergens can create a year-round
dilemma. No matter what the cause, seasonal allergies make
your eyes hypersensitive and irritated. Ordinary soft
contact lenses often make them feel even worse.
There's a lot you can do to reduce the misery of allergy
season. Keep your contacts as clean as you can whether you
have to use lubricating drops to rinse your eyes out
regularly. Remove your contacts and clean them in a
solution throughout the day, if they are not 'one-per-day'
type lenses.
Allergy induced conjunctivitis, a condition that causes
painful swelling and redness of the eyes, can make wearing
your contacts a real pain. If this becomes a real issue,
it's best to consult your optometrist. Disposable lenses
allow you a more comfortable lens that you can trash at the
end of the day. You'll have no more worries about making
sure all the dust and pollen has been removed or cleansed.
Other ways to get relief are simple. During allergy season,
contact lens wearers should close the windows in their cars
and houses and use the air conditioner. Air conditioner
filters often remove most of the annoying pollens and dust
from the air. Avoid doing a lot of lawn work or outdoor
activities in the mornings and early afternoon, because
pollens are usually at their highest levels at that time.
Don't mow or rake the lawn without protective eyewear and a
dust mask when your allergies are at their worst. If
you've been outside or doing similar work, wash your hands
frequently to avoid transferring pollens, dusts or molds
close to your eyes.
Washing your hair everyday and your face two or three times
a day also helps reduce the amount of transferable pollen
and dust.
Allergies are an unfortunate condition for some people and
there are a number of allergy medicines that can help
reduce and in some cases even eliminate the symptoms. When
contact lenses are involved, a little prevention can help
reduce the amount of irritation or discomfort you might be
feeling. If it doesn't, remember to always speak to your
doctor for a diagnosis or prescription that could help.
===========================================================
Discover important advice and information about contact
lenses. Are soft or hard best ? What's the best cleaning
solutions ? For a comprehensive guide, Click
http://www.contact-lenses-special.com/disposable-contact-lenses.html
About the Author
Peter has worn contact lenses all his life. He's tested
different types, and explored all alternatives. In this
series of articles he shares his advice and experiences. |
|
| Keywords: soft contact lenses, contact lenses often, air conditioner, contact lens, allergy season, contact lenses, wear contact lenses, http//wwwcontact-lenses-specialcom/disposable-contact-lenseshtml, lenses, contact |
