I was a self confessed contact lens abuser, wearing my lens from the moment I woke up 'til the moment I went to bed (often falling asleep in them) for 14 years. This resulted obviously in numerous eye infections the most recent of which excruciatingly painful and resulting in my optician banning me from buying any more lens’ and a couple of visits to the Eye Clinic at St Thomas’ Hospital. I had been warned in the past about wearing my lens for so long but figured that I wasn’t as bad as I used to be, now that I actually own a pair of glasses at least.
My prescription was -5 & -5.5 which of course meant I had to wear glasses or lens’ going without was not an option. However my wearing my lenses was damaging my eyes so badly that even with the lens or the glasses I was still having difficulty seeing more than a few meters away. After 2 weeks of no lenses my optician was still not happy to supply lenses until I had a check up at the hospital, they gave me the all clear but it seemed time to make a change before it was too late.
I didn’t feel confident in going to a surgeon that operates out of a shopping centre, not much different from a show shop with the emphasis on get them in get them out, these are the only eyes I’ll ever have and I’ve ill treated them enough. I made an appointment with Accuvision to see if I was suitable for laser treatment, I didn’t hold out much hope as the optician’s moans were ringing in my head about the permanent damage I had done to my eyes. I had to keep my lenses out for the days leading up to my appointment so they could properly assess my eyes. They confirmed that my eye sight seemed worse than my prescription but said this was due to the surface damage to my eyes due to my contact lens habits and would be difficult to rectify with lenses or glasses. They then took scans of my eyes. Your eye should be a smooth surface; mine however looked like the Himalayas, inflamed and covered in scar tissue. A second opinion was called for and it was decided that I could have surgery but Epi Lasik not Lasik, due to the state of my eyes. I know they never guarantee 20/20 vision for anyone but they were very honest and said that they doubt I’ll achieve this due to the condition of my eyes, all due to my years of contact lens abuse. I was told that even if I did not have the surgery they recommended I never wear lenses again. I was mortified at the thought and figured that even if I am left wearing glasses for driving or close work it has to be better than being dependant on my glasses like I was then. I agreed to the surgery and to the pre surgery instructions, no lens at all between now and the surgery. That’s a whole month, in my case, of wearing my glasses!!!! Also for the 5 days prior to the surgery I had to put anti inflammatory drops in my eyes 3-4 times a day. The day of surgery came around and much to my and the surgeons surprise my eyes were so much better that they said I would be better suited to Lasik. This was due to the simple course of anti inflammatory drops and no lens, so disappointing that the doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital never prescribed them before. It was decided that Lasik it was, much to my relief. I am not a big fan of pain or surgery of any kind and a bit of a girl about anything like that but was so pleased that everything was over so quickly and completely pain free. You just keep looking at the light, there’s a brief smell, not unlike burning hair a few drops in your eyes and away you go. As simple as that, or at least that’s how they make the experience feel for you. As soon as I sat up from the bed I looked at the surgeon and was stunned I could actually see him!!!!!
The care throughout has been brilliant, I returned the next day for my check up all ok vision just a little like a foggy day. At my week check up I was reading 20/20 something neither myself nor the surgeons ever expected, to say I am over the moon is an understatement. I still go to take my lenses out at night and still wake up thinking “damn I slept in my lenses again” but I can live with that confusion, I’m sure it will pass.
The wearing glasses for a month combined with no make up for a few days before the surgery was a nightmare for someone as vain as myself but I can’t explain the joy of now being able to see better than I’ve been able to see since the age of 12
Accuvison may not be the cheapest option for surgery but what price do you put on your eye sight! Personally I don’t think I could’ve made a better choice of surgery and thoroughly recommend Accuvision to anyone considering the procedure. I can not fault their expertise and levels of care throughout. They exceeded both mine and their own expectations and I am forever grateful.