tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096728957242158587.post6916313272023020062..comments2015-08-05T15:11:27.114-05:00Comments on Tales From Shangri-La: Step by Step Lasik: details for those considering itannechambhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881513989090820206noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096728957242158587.post-776878760817526542009-02-25T20:18:00.000-06:002009-02-25T20:18:00.000-06:00Rebecca, What an experience! THANK you so much for...Rebecca, What an experience! THANK you so much for sharing this. I think this will be a very useful post to those considering the procedure.annechambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13881513989090820206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096728957242158587.post-40010840309991966942009-02-25T20:13:00.000-06:002009-02-25T20:13:00.000-06:00I am so glad that you posted this, and that you ha...I am so glad that you posted this, and that you had good results. As you know, my experience was totally different and I think the key is going to a top-rate physician in a clinical setting like you did.<BR/><BR/>My vision was not that bad, and my thinking was "meh, it's Lasik, not rocket science... people have been doing it for years." I went to a reputable clinic where medical doctors perform the procedures, but it could not have been more profit-driven place. The doctor's son does the used car salesman bit after the evaluation. Blech! That should have been my first warning, but I really just wanted it done and didn't even imagine side-effects at that point.<BR/><BR/>I had the Zyoptix custom bladeless procedure, with Valium. The Valium wasn't presented as an option, and I didn't ask about declining it. (Which I should have, because I always have issues "coming down" from meds like that.) I remember some of the same things that you do, especially the smell of burning eye, but I don't remember if my procedure had one part or two. The Valium really messes with the memory, but the one plus is that I didn't experience the pink elephant phenomenon, which I TOTALLY would have otherwise. (It's just the personality!)<BR/><BR/>The place I went wanted me to take an Ambien right after the procedure, but no way was I going to do that at 10am. The problem was that the brillo pad burning eyes and the coming down off of Valium was a bad combo. I was so agitated that Dave called the place and was told by the doctor's son to put more numbing drops in my eyes and give me more Valium. Apparently, I said an extremely unkind thing about the doctor's son at that point, but I have no recollection of that. Good thing Alex was at school and Caroline was down for her nap. The drops helped enough to get me through the additional hour or so of burning eyes.<BR/><BR/>My vision was pretty good that night, and 20-20 the next day, but for several weeks it felt like I was looking through a glare or haze. It was really disconcerting at first, then started to get a little better. My follow up care was so frustrating because of how cautious the docs were about over-promising results. I got a lot of "I expect it to get better over time, but we'll have to wait and see."<BR/><BR/>Also, I did a rigorous vision test about 10 days post-op (the machine one, not read the chart) and my vision was 20-25, which was discouraging after being 20-20 the day after.<BR/><BR/>The one thing that kept me hoping was that my outdoor vision in sunlight was amazing right away. Looking out the window of my office, I felt like I could see for miles and miles of crystal clear landscape.<BR/><BR/>It took a full month for my "eyeball streaks" to go away. I learned that they were not from the procedure itself, rather they were from the device used to hold my eye open. I think that device must have been used rather aggressively in my case, because the streaks were quite prominent.<BR/><BR/>It has been almost two months since my procedure, and I have been happy with my vision for about 2 weeks now. Not at all happy about how I got here, though. If I had it to do again, I would go to a reputable surgeon at a hospital like you did. It's not rocket science, but it is eyes! I think it would have been a world of difference having someone who was willing to take the time to explain the process and really discuss any post-op concerns.rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04643229323684163397noreply@blogger.com