I’m free!!!

My friends and family were happy for me when I told my friends and family that I was getting LASIK done, but I also got a few squeamish questions. “They’re going to put a laser in your eye??” 

I’d guess I’m not alone in taking my time to do something only to exclaim later, “I wish I had done this a long time ago!” Those words came out of my mouth two days after I had LASIK eye surgery. 

I’m a pretty active person. I love to swim, bike, and hike. I also love to travel and hop on an airplane any chance I get. Remembering to pack contact solution, an extra pair (or two!) of contacts, and my glasses was part of my routine. Just one more thing to put on my list…

The new freedom that comes with finally being able to see clearly without contact lenses or glasses is a feeling like no other.

What it was like before:

Anybody who’s worn contact lenses knows that they’re convenient and inconvenient at the same time. Waking up blurry-eyed in the morning before putting them in and having to remember to take them out before falling asleep at night. Making sure not to rub dry eyes so you don’t dislodge them. Getting an updated prescription at least yearly and ordering replacements before you run out. Plus, the hassle of making sure to pack extras, solution and glasses for emergencies while traveling…

My tipping point: 

I was tired of the hassle of wearing contact lenses. Plus, with my experience gained from working in the ophthalmology field, I knew that LASIK is a relatively easy surgery for the right candidates. I could feel comfortable taking advantage of both the excellent doctors and technology that I had access to. Dr. Tom Tooma, widely known as a pioneer in LASIK surgery, and the staff at NVISION Eye Centers took care of me. I knew I was in good hands because Dr. Tooma has performed hundreds of thousands of LASIK surgeries. 

What it’s like now:

I’m no longer a slave to lenses — contacts or glasses! I wake up each morning and can see clearly from the moment I roll out of bed. My morning routine is shorter and I have more time to drink coffee. I don’t have to worry about making sure I always have a backup pair of contacts and my glasses, and I don’t have to remember to pick up solution before I run out. An unexpected bonus? Swimming with my eyes open underwater!

I wish I hadn’t waited so long to go for it. For quite a few years, I had been content to deal with contact lenses — they were pretty easy to deal with and I could see well. But one day I was just done. I guess I didn’t know how much greener the grass would be on the other side.

The surgery was very easy. I was in and out within a couple hours and the actual procedure only took a few minutes. Immediately after surgery, I could open my eyes although it was a bit uncomfortable even with the goofy glasses necessary for post-procedure eye protection. I went home, rested for the remainder of the day, and was back to work the following morning. The only real downside I’ve experienced is dryness and needing to use eye drops regularly (especially in that first year post-LASIK) but it’s a small price to pay for finally being contact lens free!