Okay, okay. My hubby was once again annoyingly right. I survived lasik, and I can actually see.

I think there are a lot of you that are big fat scaredy cats like me, so here is my experience for you to take into consideration before you take the plunge.

I think the most important thing to consider is WHERE to get it done. In my opinion, the physical doctor matters much less than the TECHNOLOGY available at their office. I had it done at Christenbury Eye Center in Charlotte, which is supposed to be a premier place or whatever. Supposedly, Tiger Woods went there to do his, if that tells you anything.

I have to say I’m not a big Christenbury Fan.  I definitely did not pick them for their bubbly personality and their warm bedside manner. I knew that going in though. You get the feeling they are all about how many cattle they can herd in and out in one day. That is just my experience and opinion, of course, so don’t sue me.

Regardless, I decided I would put up with all of that in order to get the best possible technology. To me, that mattered more than who was a nicer, more genuine person.

One of my biggest fears was from Chris’s experience ten years ago of Dr. Christenbury fussing at him to keep his eyeball still already. I knew there was no way I was going to pay someone to point a powerful laser at my eye and then yell at me for not being still. This kept me from doing Lasik for the past 10 years! That and the fact that they projected his eye up on a TV screen so I got to watch it being cut in zoom.

When my friend, Heather, had hers done in January,  she informed me that the new and improved technology meant that the laser follows your eye movement and will actually stop if you move.

That was the biggest factor in finally convincing me to just do it already.

So, bottom line, travel on over to the big city nearest you and make sure you’re getting in on the latest and greatest technology.

Now, I also feel I must inform you that they are all telling the truth when they say that it doesn’t hurt. It really doesn’t.

Your eye is COMPLETELY numb.  While in the waiting room before the procedure, a nurse came out and gave me my happy pills, some eye drops, a print out of instructions and a lovely surgical cap. About 20 minutes later, I was called back to a large glassed room and told to lie on a space age looking machine. The 20 minutes was supposed to be ample time for the happy pill to take effect, although I was definitely still quite anxious, unfortunately.

This is where Chris tells me they cut the flap on my eye, though I did not even know it.  Yes, that is actually ME up there. The doctor just kept saying look at the light, and I remember a nurse telling me five seconds to go. It was only 17 seconds on that machine. The machine actually talked and said things in a robot voice, like “All clear.”

The doctor put a large piece of sticky tape on my upper and lower eye lid to hold my eye open so I didn’t have to worry about that. It stinks that since they are working on your EYE, you can’t just close your eyes and not watch. It really wan’t too awful though. It just looked like the doctor was sort of gently rubbing my eye was something soft and jelly like.

After that 17 seconds, a nurse ushered me over to machine number 2 to lie on. I think this was the machine that actually did the vision correction. During this one, I was told to look at the light over and over and the doctor kept crooning, “Perrrfect, perrrrfect.”

This was another 17 seconds or so, and I was done.

I was then ushered out of the main surgery room into a small exam room where a different doctor came in to check me over.

My right flap had to be “refloated” whatever that means, and they taped on my eye shields with the longest pieces of tape humanly possible, but before long we were ready to go home.

At this point, my vision was hazy and blurry but still seemed to be improved from my previous “normal.” I was surprised about that.

They gave me 2 sleeping pills to take at home, and I was told no TV, computer, or cell phone all day and night.

I did end up getting nauseous  I think from the sleeping pills.  I don’t handle heavy meds very well. Right after I took the 2nd sleeping pill later that night, I made my way to my bed and ended up getting sick. Thankfully I missed the bed.

The next day we headed back for my follow up and my vision had drastically improved… from 20/400 to 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other!

I really couldn’t believe that it had actually worked on me.

My biggest complaint has been eye dryness and that initial nausea. I’m hoping that the dryness will get better with time and obsessive eye drop usage.

Since I know some of you are wondering how much did all this cost… we paid $3,400 for both eyes which included a $1,000 discount promotion going on until June. We also used our Health Savings Account to pay for it which made it easier to swing.

I can’t remember how much Chris’s was 10 years ago, but I think it was about the same cost, believe it or not.

I am so glad that I finally mustered up the courage to go through with this and can’t wait for a glasses free summer!

Woohoo!

P.S. Next up on my crazy schedule is mooooooving! The painters are pretty much FINISHED, and it looks amazing! I can hardly believe how much better it looks, people! Can’t wait to show off some before and afters! The blue cabs are finally gone!

Anyone out there considering Lasik? What’s holding YOU back? I completely understand your fears! :)