I can SEE! (Intralase Recap)

Well, I did it!! I survived my Intralase surgery and am happy to report that my surgery went perfectly! I am healing more and more each day and most importantly, I can SEE amazingly well without the help of any contacts or glasses. Modern Medicine/Technology truly is amazing.

On Saturday morning, I woke up excited and ready to get to my appointment. We got to the city earlier than expected so we grabbed coffees (decaf for me, didn't need more jitters than I had) and breakfast before my scheduled time of 10:15. When I actually walked into the office, I started to get really nervous. And as I was being prepped for the procedure, I started shaking and my stomach was doing flip-flops. I took an Ativan to calm down, but I'm not entirely sure how much it helped.

The actual procedure is really hard to describe. It was super quick and in retrospect, really easy...but I will say that the first part where they cut the cornea, was really uncomfortable. It lasts about 15 seconds per eye but the whole time I was thinking "What the HELL am I doing?!" But...at that point, where the machine is, you know, cutting your eye, I couldn't exactly back out.
 If you're interested in seeing a video of my doctor doing the same exact procedure he did on me, click here and start at 4:00. This is exactly what I experienced, down to the doctor, the blanket, and the teddy bear they give you to hold onto during the surgery. If you are thinking of getting Lasik or Intralase, I don't advise watching this video until after you've had it done. The numbing drops were amazing, and I really couldn't feel anything (other than a slight discomfort during the cutting of the cornea)
I'm glad I didn't freak out because the rest of the surgery was easy-peasy. I just had to stare at a blinking red dot and before I knew it, the doctor told me to sit up, and look at the clock. I could see perfectly clearly!! I stood up (still shaking from adrenaline and nerves), walked out to meet Chris and ten minutes later was told I could go home. Our entire walk to the car I kept saying "I can't believe I just did that" "I can't believe I just had Lasik done" "I can't believe this" etc, etc. But just like that, I went home with practically a brand new set of eyes!

I came home and spent the rest of the day on the couch with my eyes closed. I only slept for maybe an hour or so throughout the day (I've never been a napper). So I just listened to movies while Chris tried his best to explain what was going on...it was pretty funny.
Quite the looker...Eh?!
I really wasn't in that much pain, I would describe it more as discomfort. Oddly enough, I only felt discomfort in my right eye. It was tearing like crazy and I couldn't keep it open without having to squint. If I didn't know I also had the procedure done in my left eye, I never would have guessed by how normal it felt. My left eye felt perfect all day, and I really haven't had any pain or dryness in that eye. Each eye had the exact opposite reaction to the procedure as the other. Very strange.

It also helped that I had this little cuddle-monster lie in my lap all day to help nurse me back to health. Zoey crawled into my lap as soon as I got home, and really didn't leave my side for the rest of the day.

By the time I woke up on Sunday, I was feeling 100 times better. Getting a really good nights sleep had helped tremendously. I had my check-up with the doctor that morning, which was just to make sure there was no sign of infection, which there wasn't. We grabbed brunch after my appointment and by the time I came back home, I was feeling even better, keeping my eyes open more and more, with very little discomfort. My eyes literally continue to feel better and better each hour. They don't even look that bad, except for the little red dot in each eye.

It really is amazing to me that I can just wake up and see. No glasses, no contacts. When I went to get in the shower on Sunday out of habit I reached to take off my glasses, only to remember...they weren't there. These were my eyes. I was seeing this clearly without anything!

I am so happy I decided to go through with this, and would definitely recommend this procedure to anyone thinking about getting it done. Thank you to all the well wishers and people who checked up on me this weekend. Talking on the phone was really one of the only productive things I felt I could do on Saturday!
Beautiful flowers from my dear friend Molly!
If you're thinking of getting this done and have any questions about it, please don't hesitate to ask! 
Did you or someone you know have Lasik/Intralase? Was your/their experience as good as mine?

Comments

  1. I'm so happy it went well! That's weird how each eye reacts differently. Interesting!
    Glad Zoey and Chris helped to keep you company and that you're enjoying the after-effects now! :o)

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  2. Wow! What an amazing experience! I know a couple other people who have had this done and say it's one of the best choices they've ever made. I'm definitely still considering it for myself someday.

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    1. def. let me know if you have any questions about it Heather, so far, I"m a strong advocate of it!

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  3. This may be the longest comment you'll ever receive on a blog...

    1. I just realized that you moved (blogs)... I am OBVIOUSLY way behind on reading blogs since you posted 2 months ago that "Saying I Do" was closing up shop.

    2. I am so glad to hear that you had a great experience with LASIK!!! I had my eyes done in 2008 and I still tell people that it was the best thing I've ever done for my eyes. Toward the end of my relationship with contacts, I was miserable in them and glasses in the Texas summer heat was just not an option.

    From someone who is almost 5 years in, I can tell you that eye drops will be your best friends, probably for the rest of your life, but for sure in the winter. Your eyes will get tired faster when you're reading (if you were someone who could read a whole book in a day, that probably won't be feasible anymore), they will get tired even faster when you're looking at a computer screen and don't be freaked out if you are doing something close up and then you look at something far away and it takes some time for your eyes to adjust... mine still do that.

    BUT you will love waking up at any point in the night and being able to see the clock, and I can tell you the thing that still gets me after 5 years are the leaves on a tree. When I had glasses and contacts (they were obviously not the right prescription) I had no idea that you were supposed to be able to see each individual leaf!!!! Every once in a while you'll look at something and remember what it used to look like and then you'll be sold once again on how great LASIK really is!!!!

    This is all... glad I found you again!!!

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    1. so happy to see you here Lexi!!!Eye drops have def. become my best friend this week, thanks for sharing your experience...it's very interesting to talk to others who have had lasik done. Though my surgery was technically called "intralase" (I still get confused by what the actual difference is) but it is interesting to hear others opinions and experiences going through this. Welcome back!

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  4. Why does lasik make your eyes more dry? Are they cutting tear ducts? I can't look at that video even though I'll nrver get lasik. It will just gross me out like the pictures of your red eyes do. Still, I'm so glad you have had such an amazingly positive experience with this. Wish it had been an option for me.

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    1. I thought you told me you would watch it!!! Chicken ;) I'm not sure why it makes your eyes dry...the phrase "cutting tear ducts" makes me shiver though...

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  5. I was just thinking about you today wondering how this went! So glad you posted here so now I know! My husband always thinks of doing this and then always chickens out. Maybe next time he brings it up, I'll have him read this!

    Glad it all went well and you are enjoying your new eyes!

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    1. Thanks so much Sarah! I spent a good deal of time on your blog yesterday reading back posts you've written awhile ago...I just love them, how you write, how you express things, and of course, your adorable children. I'll keep you updated on my progress so you can report to your husband!

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  6. It sounds like everything went really well, yay!! Reading about your experience has made me start to think seriously about Lasik...I am so sick of my glasses and contacts!! Though I'm nervous about the dry eye thing, as my contacts seem to already make my eyes kind of dry later in the day. Keep us updated on how things are going - the idea of waking up and having everything be in focus and clear sounds amazing!!

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    1. I'll def. keep up with the updates and let you know how it goes. Had my vision checked today and it was 20/15! dry eye isn't that big of an issue..but it's too early to tell how "permanent" it is.

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  7. I am so glad it went well! I've considered this but I don't know if I'm brave enough!

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  8. I would love to have LASIK but part of me is really nervous to do it! It must be a great feeling tobe able to see without glasses or contacts. So strange your eyes reacted differently to the same operation. Here's to a speedy recovery!

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  9. Glad everything went smoothly and you can see! I can't imagine what that is like - i've had glasses/contacts since 2nd grade. When I get the courage to get my eyes lasered I'll def come back with questions!

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  10. I'm due to have mine done tomo and getting pretty nervous - mostly about the first part!! I'll keep checking back on here!!

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  11. I'm due to have mine done tomo and getting pretty nervous - mostly about the first part!

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