I Can See Clearly Now...

I had Lasik Eye Surgery just under 3 years ago. Oddly enough, the song that I heard as I was driving home from work the day after my surgery was "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash. And, that has been the case ever since.

Lasik was one of the best things that I have ever done for myself. I had 20/40 and 20/60 vision with the worst part of my vision issues being a fairly high level of astigmatism before my surgery. I am 20/20 now with the most mild left-over bit of astigmatism.

After a trip to Europe, where I met a woman who had the surgery, I finally decided to go through with it. Part of the reason that I decided to do it was, on that trip to Europe, my glasses got filthy after only 2 minutes out walking around London. I literally had to clean my glasses each and every time I returned to my hotel. The streets are very dusty over there. And, because of all the dust on my glasses, I spent the entire vacation with my eyes constantly dripping, watering and draining. So, to say I was miserable through the entire trip is a gross understatement.

Let me tell you why it was such a hard decision for me to actually go ahead with the surgery. I am a wimp. I am the only person who can touch my eyes because, even I can give myself the willies. The very thought of anyone touching my eyes is enough to throw me into a willie-tastic tail spin. Even now! I still get the willies when I go see my regular eye doctor each year when he has to touch my eyes. I just can't deal with it. So, the thought of the two devices that they use to keep your eyes open while performing the surgery was...words fail me. I can not even come up with a word to tell you how terrifying and cringe invoking that thought was for me. Again, it still is and I had it done! Given how freaked out I was, the doctor gave me a stuffed bear to hold onto while he performed the surgery and, I nearly popped the poor things noggin off from grasping it so tightly! Yes, I am that bad! But, the surgery itself was a lot scarier in my mind than in reality!

Anyway, my new friend from my tour group said what most Lasik patients say. "It was the best thing that I ever did for myself!"

So, I was given the great news that I was a great candidate for the surgery and went ahead with it.

I still suffer from mild residual first thing in the morning dry eye. But, I simply put a few drops of lubricant into my eyes before I get out of bed and then again in the evening while I am getting ready for bed and all is fine. It is a minor issue that I can deal with. A minuscule price to pay for perfect vision.

I actually remember tearing up just a little bit from how beautiful colors are in the outside world. I never really got such a crisp view of them...even with contacts and glasses. I remember driving along one day and actually being able to make out details in trees in the mountains in the distance. The sky was the brightest blue I had ever seen. Everything just sparkled. It actually took me a few weeks to get used to how very bright and colorful things really are outside. At times, they actually hurt my eyes at first. But, in the best way possible. It was a pain that I gladly welcomed and, as my eyes healed, the pain stopped.

I am as grateful today as I was nearly three years ago, for my doctor. And, I am glad that I put my fears and mind numbing willies aside and went ahead with the surgery.