*WARNING: This post contains some graphic photos of my surgery and also some super sexy photos of me, so read at your own risk.*
So you’re considering laser eye surgery. We’ve all been there. Searching for your glasses in the morning because you can’t see more than 8 inches in front of you. Messing with your eyes all day because your contacts are bothering you and you *maybe* put it in inside out. Dealing with sores from your glasses and headaches from straining your eyes. BUT WAIT! There is this incredibly simple solution. It’s just a little scary and a lot expensive (honestly, nothing compared to what you’ll spend over your lifetime on contacts and glasses), so what the heck is holding you back?
I always knew that I wanted to get Lasik and just had to wait for my prescription to stabilize enough that I would be a candidate. After a couple of years of consistent prescriptions, I decided that summer 2019 was the time and started saving. It’s been a full 34 hours since my surgery and it’s already the best decision I’ve ever made.
I’m here to tell you the honest truth – the good, the bad, the ugly (as in my ugly – see photos below) about the process from start to finish.
Before
You’ll kick things off with a consultation where they’ll take certain measurements and check your eyes to ensure that you’re a good candidate for the surgery. Assuming that you meet the criteria (something about cornea thickness + a stable prescription for at least a year, among other things), you’ll set the date, agree to payment terms (my surgery was $4,400, but comes with a lifetime warranty), and go over what to expect. I left the office with a surgery date set plus the next day follow-up, some guidelines and paperwork to fill out, and two prescriptions for eye drops. I had instructions to:
- set my post-op appointments with my usual eye doctor (1 week and 1 month, then eventually 3 months and 6 months),
- read through all of the paperwork and sign to bring with me,
- pick up my eye drops,
- buy a swim mask to use in the shower after (lol), and
- arrange to have someone to be there with me who could drive me back after my appointment.
Also, my surgeon offered 12 or 24-month financing, but since I had planned ahead, I had saved and was going to pay for it in full. My payment was due only a week before the surgery.
I’ll add the plug here that if your company offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage and max that baby out! I put a little more than half on my surgery on my FSA card and it was really money I never even saw since it came out of my paycheck!
Leading up to surgery day, I had to stop wearing my contacts full time two weeks in advance, stop wearing make-up three days in advance and start taking the eye drops two days in advance. My surgery was scheduled on a Wednesday and on Monday, I started getting really nervous/anxious/nauseous every time I thought about it. I’m one of those that freaks out about medical things and passes out when I see blood, so it was to be expected, but still not fun. I was actually getting the surgery done in Richmond, two hours from home, so my awesome friend made the trip up with me the evening before. It was nice having a friend with me to take my mind off things, but I resorted to making awkward jokes about it on social media. Typical.
Day Of
Pre-Surgery
I was instructed to wear comfortable, loose-fitting, warm clothing. We showed up for the appointment and I was immediately given valium to help keep me calm during the surgery, but it literally never. kicked. in. I was soon taken to an exam room for one last look at my eyes. I was given some drops for redness and a sexy hairnet to wear. The procedure was explained to me again and I was told that I would just need to watch the blinking green light during the procedure and listen to the doctor. I was then taken to another waiting room and counting down the minutes to surgery time!
Surgery
I was taken into the surgery room and was set up on the bed. My eyes were flushed repeatedly with numbing drops. The doctor came in and added a few more drops before starting the procedure. As promised, there was a green flashing light for me to look at. I felt the most pressure/discomfort when the device was being placed into my eye to hold it open and at one point, everything went black (which I was forewarned about). The grossest part to me was that I could smell the burning of the flesh when the laser was being used to cut open the flap (ewww). Then there was something that was brushed back and forth over my eye that tickled just a little. A contact was placed over my eye and it was over! One eye was done at a time and the full procedure was done in under 5 minutes. Mindy was outside watching the whole surgery on screen and got these nifty pictures below (vom).
Post-Surgery
We spent the last 10 minutes after surgery going over post-op care and what to expect. I was instructed to stay off my phone and not to shower or drive for 24 hours. I was providing some super sexy sunglasses and was given a few Tylenol PM pills with instructions to go home and sleep for a minimum of 5 hours to let my eyes get the most out of a rested recovery.
[I was also given these super sexy eye shields that I am required to wear whenever I sleep for 7 days following surgery, which are pretty uncomfortable.]
Once I woke up from my nap, there was a little discomfort in my eyes but nothing excruciating. I could see much better, but things were still foggy or hazy and not entirely clear. We went out for dinner and ice cream and just had a relaxing evening.
Post-Post-Surgery
For a full seven days, I have strict instructions not to touch my eyes in any way, even if my eye drops are dripping down my face. I will wear the eye shields whenever I sleep and the swim mask whenever I shower. I cannot wear make-up or go into a pool, hot tub, ocean, etc. i should refrain from any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for seven days, and I can’t play contact sports for a month (LOLOLOL because we know that won’t be happening). I have eye drops to apply four times a day for each of the next seven days plus artificial tears if my eyes start to get dry (to be definitely brought onto the airplane with the circulated air on those darn things).
Also, one other super random but weird and gross and completely normal (according to google) thing is that if you keep tasting medicine in your mouth in the days following surgery, there is no need to fear – it’s just your eye drops! Apparently less than 20% stays in your eye while the rest go through your eyes’ normal drainage system, which means eventually down your throat. They don’t taste good, but don’t be alarmed. I literally thought I had some pill stuck in the back of my throat 😂
By the next morning, I could already see 20/20 according to the wonderful chart with the promise that my vision would continue to change over the next several days and up to the next six months. We wrapped up the first post-op appointment in 5 minutes and were on our way. Going to send another shout out to Mindy for being an awesome friend and helping take care of me during this whole thing ♡
All in all, it’s been less than 48 hours and I am already so happy with this decision because it is literally LIFE-CHANGING! If you’re thinking about it, I say take the leap if you can! Literally everyone who has had it will tell you – you won’t regret it.
