**I originally wrote this post quite some time ago but never finished it, so here ya go**
Oh dear lord - I've had LASIK surgery since the last time I blogged. That's right I am currently typing this blog sans eye apparatus! And it was FREE! Let me start off by saying: Focal Point Vision is the BOMB!
For those of you who don't know me, don't know that I am not the bearer of false praise. I have a disease in which words do not come out of my mouth all edited and nice. I speak bluntly and honestly. I have a hard time hiding facial expressions when I have to say things edited and nice. I would be a bad poker player. So understand my praise of them is founded and not ONLY based on the fact that they just gave me LASIK for free.
With that some background: Focal Point Vision has ophthalmologists that are corneal specialists (this is the part of the eye effected when LASIK is performed people), so when another doctor screws up your cornea you are referred to Focal Point. They are top notch.
This means they are selective as well, if you are not a candidate for the procedure you think you are or are borderline they will discuss options tailored to you - if I had not been a good candidate, especially as a contest winner, they would not have performed LASIK on me. But luckily, I have 'wonderfully thick corneas' (per Dr. Maverick) so I was able to actually have the procedure.
I have the unique perspective to see Focal Point's operations as an outsider prior to the contest too so I am not totally biased.They performed my friend's much more serious/difficult procedure lens implants - when she did her research they were at the top for lens implant procedure. She LOVES the results. Do your own research and see what you find if you're in the market.
Focal Point Vision performs the following:
LASIK, Laser PRK, INTACS, No Stitch Cataract Surgery - Crystalens, nanoFLEX, reSTOR, Toric, Corneal Implants, Glaucoma, Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK), and Anterior Eye Surgery.
This means they know an array of options and do not cookie-cutter you into a procedure not appropriate for you.
Alright, now lets move onto the good stuff:
The details.
If you're like me you understand the concept of LASIK but don't really know what it is or all the stuff surrounding LASIK. I received IntraLase method for creating the corneal flap and then the second step of LASIK was reshaping the cornea with an excimer laser.
Chew on the definition of 'excimer' for a bit - it's kinda Star Trek-y.
So, this process started by not wearing contacts for at least two weeks. We were in full blown allergy season and I couldn't wear my contacts all day starting about three weeks before the surgery day (over-achiever).
Then two days before the surgery we did a pre-op. They checked my prescription again, looked at my eyes to verify I hadn't been wearing contacts - just like a normal annual eye exam minus the air blow-y machine (thank god).
The day of: my appointment was scheduled super early (which was fine with me - get it knocked out). My dear sister agreed to wake up at the ass crack with me. She also made me breakfast because I was instructed to eat before I came since they provide drugs. It's kind of 'Captain Obvious' but you must have a driver since they are giving you medication and performing surgery on your peepers.
We arrived at the facility - Alamo Laser Center - which was super clean, had friendly staff, and were happy to see me even at that very early hour. I signed some paperwork, they handed me a valium and a cup of water, the staff checked my eyes again, Dr. Maverick came into an exam room to give me the run down of what was going to happen, and then we went into the operating room. From arrival to operating room was like 10-15 minutes. No phones from the time we walked into the facility - I even got my sister in trouble for taking a photo for me to share with Focal Point on my phone!
We arrived at the facility - Alamo Laser Center - which was super clean, had friendly staff, and were happy to see me even at that very early hour. I signed some paperwork, they handed me a valium and a cup of water, the staff checked my eyes again, Dr. Maverick came into an exam room to give me the run down of what was going to happen, and then we went into the operating room. From arrival to operating room was like 10-15 minutes. No phones from the time we walked into the facility - I even got my sister in trouble for taking a photo for me to share with Focal Point on my phone!
Now they go through all this multiple times before hand and you understand what they're saying, but you can't help but be shocked as it's all going on.
So in this operating room, there are two large machines - I come from a water lab background so they look like a really big GC - with a chair, like a dentist chair that reclines all the way, in the middle of the two machines. One of the machines does the cutting and the other does the fixing. You sit/lay down and your doctor is directly above your head. There were two assistants in the room (I believe). I was handed an 'operation friend' - who happened to be a teddy bear. Drops were put in my eyes as soon as I laid down and left to work while they finished setting up for a few minutes.
A suction cup was placed on my eye. Now this is a part I was kind of nervous about, I mean, who goes around attaching suction cups to their eyeballs, but it really was exactly how it sounds... they put a suction cup on your eyeball. There's a bit of pressure but it isn't as uncomfortable as you imagine. You get used to it.
Then you're immediately lined up with the 'cutting' machine (the IntraLase). You look into a light as the flap is cut. This is another portion of the procedure where the theory sounds really, really scary because in reality they are cutting your eye. But once again, it wasn't that bad. You hear the machine making noise but it doesn't register in your brain as being hurt.
I felt more on the first eye during the cutting stage than the second eye for whatever reason and the sensation wasn't so bad that I had to pull away - it was more of a burning sensation than any pain. At some point during the cutting, you lose what little 'vision' is there. Keep in mind this is happening in seconds. Once it's finished you're instructed to keep that eye closed, the suction cup is place on the other eye. Same song and dance.
Then you're immediately lined up with the 'cutting' machine (the IntraLase). You look into a light as the flap is cut. This is another portion of the procedure where the theory sounds really, really scary because in reality they are cutting your eye. But once again, it wasn't that bad. You hear the machine making noise but it doesn't register in your brain as being hurt.
I felt more on the first eye during the cutting stage than the second eye for whatever reason and the sensation wasn't so bad that I had to pull away - it was more of a burning sensation than any pain. At some point during the cutting, you lose what little 'vision' is there. Keep in mind this is happening in seconds. Once it's finished you're instructed to keep that eye closed, the suction cup is place on the other eye. Same song and dance.
You're looking at 2 -3 minutes at this point.
Next it's time to prep for the excimer laser - a lid speculum is used to keep your eye lids open and two little 'shields' are placed over your eyelashes. The 'shields' are kind of like band-aids because they are sticky on the backs and keep your eyelashes out of the way. They are placed over upper and lower. The flap that was just cut is pulled back with some tweezer like apparatus.
NOTE: I am slightly allergic to adhesives (as in I get red itchy bumps where band aids/athletic tape/medical tape are placed on my skin) so I had slight swelling the following day but it was almost completely un-swelled by my follow-up at 11am. I was the first person they had ever seen have that reaction so more than likely you are completely safe. I am simply a super weirdo. Also - I am sensitive/allergic to hypo allergenic makeups, sun screen, certain shampoos, and some laundry detergents - so seriously - believe me when I say I was unique here and that it was a very uncommon thing. BUT if you are allergic to band-aids and considering this procedure, speak up.
Then the excimer laser goes to work. This laser just made my eye tired - like after a long day of looking at a computer screen. The machine was tapping away while you once again focus on a light. This light sort of moves a bit and it's hard to know if you're supposed to follow it or maintain your focus where the light started out - your doctor coaches you through this part. I was assured during the pre-op that if I had an issue keeping my eyeball where it needed to be the machine was designed to cut off. I had a hard time following the first time - probably just because you don't really know what to expect and it is different than the first machine. Dr. Maverick talked me through it. After the first eye was complete he put the flap back down and there was a waiting time for the flap to 'lock in'. They remove the lid speculum and shields, put some drops in, and you close that eye. Repeat.
Once you've experienced the first eye, the second eye is easier because you understand what's about to happen. My anxiety was significantly lower on the second eye than the first. Plus I was able to ask Dr. Maverick about how I was doing between eyes. I am a firm believer in asking if you want to know - talk to your doctor.
The most amazing part was after the second eye was done, I stood up, was led into an exam room, opened my eyes in front of an eye chart, and I COULD SEE!!!!
The most amazing thing ever. My vision was instantly better.
Once you've experienced the first eye, the second eye is easier because you understand what's about to happen. My anxiety was significantly lower on the second eye than the first. Plus I was able to ask Dr. Maverick about how I was doing between eyes. I am a firm believer in asking if you want to know - talk to your doctor.
The most amazing part was after the second eye was done, I stood up, was led into an exam room, opened my eyes in front of an eye chart, and I COULD SEE!!!!
The most amazing thing ever. My vision was instantly better.
