3 weeks and half an hour post op
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
How time flies, 3 weeks already...
Oh I miss my glasses!... yeah, the hell I do. I can now fall asleep watching the TV and don't have to worry about taking them off or damaging them.
My near vision is still improving. My left eye needs to catch up with the right eye, but it is better than it was a week ago. I'm not using the artificial tear drops as I don't feel the need. Sometimes just before bedtime my right eye feels a little dry, but rather than use the drops I go to bed.
Even after three weeks I still find it hard to believe how much clearer my vision has become. I'm noticing a lot more than I ever did before. I've even started drawing, only simple things like our fireplace and copying pictures of birds from a book. I suppose it's just my way of capturing the things I see now over how I saw them before...if that makes any sense!
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 12:08 pm,
,
24 hours after stopping the anti-biotic drops
Thursday, October 13, 2005
It's now been just over 24 hours since I was told to stop using the anti-biotic drops. My eyes feel less puffy, particularly around the lower lids. The pain I was experiencing every now and again in my right eye has subsided significantly and is all but gone and my near vision has improved a little.
Last night I drove over 60 miles in the dark and had no problems with halo's, starbursts or glare from the headlights from oncoming traffic. Infact my night vision seems to have improved since I wore glasses.
I am already extremely pleased with the results of the treatment, but if my vision continues to improve I will be over the moon.
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 11:39 am,
,
1 Week post op and 2nd aftercare appointment
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
I arrived just over half an hour early for my appointment as i wasn't sure about the early morning traffic. I sat down was offered a coffee and then within 5 minutes was seen by Nick Dash.
Nick checked the topology of both my eyes to see how my eyes had changed after surgery. He then showed me the difference in both eyes before and after surgery and said the surgery had the desired effect of flattening out the cornea. He then checked my eyes using the slit lamp to see how the cornea was healing. Everything seems fine, but I have a little bruising on the top left hand corner of my right eye, which accounts for the very occassional pain I have when I blink. I only experience this pain a couple of times a day. Nick said I should now stop taking the anti-biotic drops now as a matter of course and because they also contain steroids they might be contributing to the pain. He said my eyes should feel less puffy in 4 to 5 days and the pain should disappear.
Now for the standard eye test:
Nick asked me to read the letters I could see on the illuminted screen opposite. I said I could read everything, he said "showoff" and we both had a little laugh to ourselves. He then changed the screen to display the smaller letters. When I read the top line, he asked me if I could read the numbers to the right of the chart. "20 and 6" I said. Nick said that's 20/20 vision and what else could I read. I read out the next line, after which Nick pronounced I had 20/15 vision or supervision.
Finally, I am to keep taking the artificial tear drops towards the end of the day or when I feel I need them if my eyes are dry. I've hardly had to use them yet, but now I'm to stop using the anti-biotic drops this may change. I'll continue to post at least once a week to keep everyone abreast of my continued improved vision.
My next appointment will be in 1 month on Tuesday 15th November 2005.
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 11:28 am,
,
6 Days post op
Monday, October 10, 2005
It's been 6 days since my op. I can't believe how quickly time has flown.
My eyesight has not yet settled down yet and I'm finding it hard to read, although my distance vision is perfect.
I know you're not supposed to compare the sight between each eye, but I can't help it. My right eye seems to be fine and I can focus quite close up, almost as good as I could without glasses. However my left eye is not quite as good and I'm getting a little double vision/ghosting when focusing close up / reading. This is probably what's causing my headaches. I've been told to expect this and it'll settle down in time. I'll mention it at my 1 week post op appointment and see what they say.
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 12:47 pm,
,
1st Post-Operative Appointment
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
This morning my contact lens bandages were taken out. They weren't that uncomfortable but I'm glad they're out. The opthamologist said the corneal flap has bonded extremely well to the rest of the cornea and that I should reduce the anti-biotic eye drops from every hour to 4 times a day. I was also given artificial tear drops to use when my eyes felt dry. So far I've not had to use them.
Just before I left, my eyesight was checked. 20/20 in both eyes and there is room for improvement as my eyes heal.
Chuffed to bits... you bet I am :-)))
Would I recommend Accuvision? Absolutely.
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 5:14 pm,
,
6 hours post-op
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Well I went through with it…
In a word the procedure was ‘Simple’, as least from my point of view. It was rather like going through a car wash and watching the water splash around on the windscreen, or like watching the TV and seeing someone wash the camera lens. It was all over so quickly I couldn’t and still can’t believe it.
When I arrived I was asked to fill in but not sign the consent form as this would be done when I saw the surgeon. I was then taken through by the optometrist to check and confirm some of the readings that were taken at my consultation. All the tests confirmed what had been recorded at my first visit and was told to take as seat in the waiting room in reception. Whilst I was waiting two other patients went in for the procedure and got zapped. This was actually very comforting as I could see their faces when they were lead back to reception. Were they pleased… well a smile says it all. I was then handed a pack containing eye drops and instructions and was told how to use them, but would be told again after surgery.
My turn, well almost. The surgeon saw me next. He took a look at my readings and said there was an extremely good chance of a very positive outcome. He then told me about the risks, which I already knew having done extensive reading beforehand. We both then signed the consent form and I was lead back to reception to await surgery. A young lad, I say young he must have been aged 18-20 at most, was seen next and then went straight through for his surgery. I remembered I saw him during my consultation. I kept thinking I must be next. His procedure was over and he too returned with a smile on his face. My turn next.
I was lead into the room where the surgery takes place, by a nurse and was asked to put covers on my shoes and head and lie down on the bed, placing my head in the hole under what looked like the laser equipment. Tape was then placed on both sides of my face to stop any liquid running into my ears. I remember thinking, that’s funny; I’m sure they should anaesthetise my eyes first and wash my eyelids and surrounding area in iodine first. I was told to keep my eyes closed and relax and if during any part of the procedure I wanted to talk or ask questions then I could. They said they would tell me exactly what was going to happen next all through the procedure, and they did they were great. I remember asking when exactly they were going to anaesthetise my eye, as at this point I was getting worried. ‘Now’ someone said, ‘open your eyes’ and someone put drops in my eyes. My left eye was covered up and we were off. The speculum was used on my right eye to stop me blinking. The microkeratome was then placed on my right eye by the surgeon. I don’t know where he came from, but he wasn’t in the room when I entered it. He must have come in while I had my eyes closed. I was told I would feel a little pressure and everything would go black. I felt some pressure and the sight in my right eye faded to blackness. This is where the blade slices the flap in the cornea. I heard a whirring noise and then remember seeing the flap being pulled to one side and everything went extremely blurred. Next I was told stare at the green light. I heard a fan start up, saw some lights in my periphery vision and then smelt something like hair being singed. After about 10 seconds I was told that saline solution would be used to wash and cool down the lasered area. The flap was then moved back into position and I what I can only describe as being squeegeed to remove any excess water. A surgical contact lens bandage was placed on my right eye and it was done, in what seemed like just 2 or 3 minutes. My left eye was uncovered, my right eye covered up and the procedure repeated on my left eye.
The only thing that was different about the left eye op was that when the microkeratome was applied to cut the flap, everything didn’t go black and I actually saw the blade cut the flap. Remembering this now seems terrifying, but it was great, just like being in a movie watching it happen to someone else. Thank goodness for those little anaesthetic drops. My left eye was done, so quickly that I hardly remember it and had to ask if they placed a contact lens bandage on it as I didn’t remember it being placed on my eye.
I was then asked to sit up and swing my legs over the end of the bed. All I remember saying is nothing more profound than: ‘I Can See!!’ The surgeon led me over to a chair and another device to check his work and pronounced the op was uneventful for them, meaning it went as expected and without any problems.
I was led back to reception to wait for 10 minutes before being seen one last time by the surgeon who rechecked the position of the flap and to pronounce the surgery was successful. 5 more minutes waiting in reception before a nurse came over to administer some eye drops and remind me to take then every hour before bedtime. I was then free to leave.
I have follow up aftercare appointments tomorrow morning, at 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months and 1 year to check on my progress.
So how’s my vision. Well I have a Snellen chart in the dining room. Standing 20 feet away I can already read the line that says 20ft. I have 20/20 vision. I know it’s early days and I still have contact lens bandages in my eyes, but it’s looking good so far.
Thank you Accuvision.
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 5:41 pm,
,
Last post pre-op
I thought I'd post this morning before my op to record my state of mind as I might not feel like doing so after the procedure. Although I might dictate and get Max to do the typing.
Well it's only 2 hours before they slice my eyeballs open and I'm feeling decidedly calm. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but all I can focus (no pun intended) on at the moment is the result of being able to see without glasses.
Well here goes...
posted by Alan and Maxine @ 7:55 am,
,
