Tuesday 5/19/2004

 

I got my eyes zapped yesterday.  I can see 20/20! 

So, I went to a Lasik eye surgeon and had the new procedure done, the one where they don't use a razor – and I also used a procedure called CustomVue, which helps the Lasik procedure do a better job by using data collected earlier -- taking pictures of the inside of your eye and using that data to give you better vision.  I was able to see almost 20/15 the next day.  Others who’ve had the procedure, are able to see 20/10 after one year.

 

I went in yesterday morning for my consultation.  They do an eye exam, similar to ones you get when you get glasses, and they tell you whether you're a candidate.  On the day of the surgery, which happened to be the same day (they had a spot open.)  First thing they do is measure the inside of your eye for CustomView..  It's like they make a digital map of the inside of your eye.  That data is then used by the Lasik system to get better results.  You sit down and look into this telescope thing and focus on a red light for like a minute.

 

For the surgery, there are really two separate procedures.  The first procedure is to cut the lens off your eye.  You lay down, and this big telescope thing comes down on your eye, and a suction thing attaches to your eyeball, and it pushes down on your eyeball.  It doesn't hurt but it feels a bit weird `cause it's a sensation that you're not used to..  Like someone pushing down on your eye for a whole minute.  They put this special goggle on your eye to guide the machine and it takes the blinking sensation from your eye.  The lens is cut via a laser.  They uses to do this using a knife! But no more.

 

By the way, for those of you who have heard of side-effects such as seeing glares at night, that’s all gone.  The new procedures don’t have that side-effect.

 

Then they move you to another machine, and that’s the Lasik system.  They tell you to look at the a red light..  When they flip the lens off, and the laser starts doing its tweaking thing.  The laser is extremely accurate, as you can imagine.  For instance, your eyeball actually moves up and down because of your heartbeat.  It actually adjusts for that as well.  Obviously no matter how hard you try, you can’t keep your eye still the whole time.  The Laser knows how to follow along with your eye.  If anything goes wrong, there’s an earthquake, or you sneeze, it just turns off.  Anyway, when the laser does it’s work, you really don’t feel anything, and the whole thing lasts just a few minutes

 

The hard part is after the surgery.  You don't just walk out and you can see everything and with nothing else to do

 

Here’s what happens for a year after:

1. The first day after.They give you these special goggles that you wear.  They want you to keep your eyes closed as much as possible.  So after the surgery, you have to go home and sleep for at least six hours.  When you wake up, you shouldn't do anything but rest.  Listen to music.. but keep your eyes closed.  You can't take your goggles off until you go back in the next morning and they take it off for you.  You're not allowed to touch your eyes..  you can't squeeze your eyes tight, or anything.
2. The first week.  The next morning, which was this morning for me, they give you back your old glasses, replaced with regular no prescription lenses.  For the next five days, you wear your glasses indoors, sunglasses outdoors, and goggles at night.  There are three different drops you put in your eyes – so there's something you put in your eyes at least once an hour.  But, I can see just fine right now.
3. The first two weeks.  No swimming, no working out, and no getting water into your eyes.  Makes it kind of hard to wake up – not being able to wash your eyes.
4. I visit them in 6 months and again in 1 year. For the next year, I have to use eye drops as they help with the heeling process.

 

As far as expense, it's just like anything else, I guess. you get what you pay for.  Locally, I've seen ads for Lasik for $499 per eye.   But I'm not sure what else you have to pay above that.  That price certainly don't include the follow up visits that you need.  I decided to go to the best in the area, which from my research is Saddleback Eye Care in Laguna Hills (www.saddlebackeye.com).  There are people from all over the world that go there.  All procedures are done by Dr. Manger himself.  He's done more than 34,000, with no complications.  At the end of the day, this isn't the kind of thing you want to shop around for.  I wouldn't want to be blind, someday, but think, hey, at least I saved $2K on my Lasik surgery.  All in all, including CustomVue (which cost $500 per eye), out of pocket was about $4,600.

 

Kenny