After years of wanting to be free of glasses, and hours of scrutinizing endless pieces of information on eye surgery, I finally took the plunge, and booked a consultation at the Solihull clinic of Accuvision...
The consultation on Friday 21 September went well, the tests were extensive, and I felt at ease throughout. In the end I was told I was a perfect candidate for Wavefront Lasik eye surgery, and decided it was now or never....
The next available surgery day at Solihull was the following Tuesday, so I paid my deposit to secure a surgery time on that day.
On the day, my husband and I travelled the two hours from our home in West Yorkshire. I sat in the waiting room watching others come out of surgery, and trying to tell what they were thinking... no-one seemed uncomfortable, which put my mind at rest a little.
Then I was called in, and panicked.. 'am I doing the right thing?', I've had glasses and contacts for over 20 years, so 'why now??', 'what if it hurts?', 'what if it goes wrong?'..I tried to remain cool, calm and collected, but in truth, I was terrified....
The procedure was explained throughout its happening (except it is not just the green light you have to look at that disappears, everything actually goes black for a short time).. I personally, did not like the moment when I was told I would feel a slight pressure, because I knew this would be when they cut the flap in the cornea. When the eye was being lasered there was a 'burning' smell which lasted a few seconds (though I was told the laser actually freezes rather than burns). When I sat back in the waiting room (after about 5-8 mins), I said to my husband 'I can't believe I have just done that', to which he replied 'neither can I!'..He knows how squeamish I am. In truth, I have to say, I felt absolutely no pain or discomfort whatsoever..Although I did expect to be able to see clearly straight away, I could not, everything was blur, but this is common for most. I was told come the morning, I would see clearer.
Unfortunately for me, my eyes were very dry (even though I was putting the drops in up to going to bed), when I awoke the next day my right eye did not feel right, when I removed the eye guard, my vision in that eye was actually worse than the day before, my pupil was tiny and not reacting to light. When we returned to the clinic, I was informed the flap had moved slightly, and I had water retention under it.. It appeared the protective lens had suffocated my eye. Though I was assured there was no need to worry, the eye was starting to repair itself, and the water should be absorbed. I was asked to come back on the next surgery day, just in case.....
When I attended my next appointment, I was checked by four people, and the conclusion was I would not need another operation.. Over that week, the blurriness had started to subside, and the cornea was back to full thickness, my sight getting better day by day. I was told my eye sight was better than 20/20 IN BOTH EYES, WOW.
Over three weeks on, I am still improving, though still a little hazy in my right eye (I have to blink a few times for clearer vision), I am hopeful things will be normal soon.
I don't want to put any one off at all, I just wanted to share my experience, as it was not the same for me as it was for the majority of people on this site.... I would not deter anyone who has been thinking about laser eye surgery. If you are, I would encourage you to go for it!! I am a wimp, and considering what I have been through, I am not sorry in the least that I had this surgery as it means freedom from glasses and contacts. I felt safe in the hands of Accuvision, and would recommend them as being amongst the best, Thanks for caring guys..