Summary

I had Lasik surgery 👁️ on May 12th, 2023. As I write this on July 3rd, 2023, it has been about six weeks since my procedure and my outcome is 20/15 vision, which is better than 20/20. In this post, I want to share my experience and provide some insights for anyone considering or going through the Lasik procedure.

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The Procedure 🏥

On the day of my procedure, my wife brought me to the clinic. My doctor was phenomenal, with a great demeanor that made the process simple and straightforward.

However, the procedure was not without its challenges. The part where they pressed my eyes to prep for the Lasik was horrifying. It only lasted for less than 30 seconds, but that brief period gave me an inner sense of fear that I have never felt before. It was a terror like nothing else I’ve experienced.

The actual Lasik was not so bad, but as the laser fired, I could smell burning flesh, which was weird but also kind of cool. What was really cool was that as the laser fired, my vision became clearer, and the smudges I saw became actual lights I could focus on.

Once the procedure was completed, the doctor had me sit up and sit in an eye inspection device, just like the device used by your eye doctor to check your eye health. I could see quite well at the moment, and then I was told to go home and take a nap and not open my eyes for 6-8 hours.

Recovery ❤️‍🩹

The first day is the toughest. You have to use special drops with some form of antiseptic/steroid at an hourly interval. The first set of drops lit my eyes on fire. I felt an intense irritation that can only be described as emaciating to my core. I wanted to rub my eyes so badly to stop the pain (which would ruin my Lasik!), but I grabbed my clothing hard to restrain my hands from moving to my eyes as the fire crept through my eyes and went down the back of my throat.

My wife saw this and was very concerned. I told her the pain would abate and to not worry about me, this was my pain to endure and my choice. I felt bad about making her worry about me at the moment, but I also felt good knowing her eye was on me. I was genuinely worried, and at that point, my vision had blurred greatly, and I could not see well at all.

I slept for 3-4 hours, and in between drops, the pain lessened with each set of drops. Later that night, I was able to use my computer and converse with some friends. I felt like I was on the upswing, and my blurriness had abated.

I had special sleeping lenses, which were awful for the first night. I woke up and had good vision the next day. The drops still burned, but burned less, more like a hair in the eye for a few moments, which I could bear without issue.

A couple of days went by, and my eyes were tragically dry, and I had to use drops constantly. After a few days, my left eye became very blurry, and I could not see well at all. Then, after a day, it became clear as a bell. This also happened to my right eye. It was unnerving to lose vision, but this happened on and off for about two weeks.

Waking up each morning, my eyes hurt. They were tragically dry, and I had to use drops ASAP each morning and hourly to keep them wet. It was an annoyance that I was hoping would pass quickly. I’ve heard that some people never recover from the dry eyes.

One night, around week 3, I somehow slept on the edge of a pillow and lost vision again in my right eye. It became very blurry, and it took about two days for my vision to return. I write this for others, as my fear then was great. I was so worried about going blind, but it all worked out.

Gradually over the last weeks 4-5, I’ve needed far fewer drops. I woke up today and didn’t need morning drops and decided to write this summary from memory.

Conclusion 📓

I hope my experience helps others who are considering or going through the Lasik procedure. It is not without its challenges, but the outcome can be life-changing. Remember, I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. This is simply a recollection of my experience.