Just the other day we were watching an interview on TV and instead of blurring out just the person's face to protect their identity, they blurred out the entire frame. I looked at my husband and said "That's how everything used to look for me without my glasses!". He couldn't believe it. He knew I had been nearsighted (-9L/-8.50R) but until then I'd never really been able to explain to him how the world had looked through my eyes. I used to joke that without my glasses I could only distinguish light, colour, shape and movement. Even reading a book without my glasses was a challenge if it was held more than about 6 or 7 inches from my face.

I was 7 years old when it was first discovered that I needed glasses and over the last 35 years I've worn both glasses and contact lenses. Wearing contact lenses wasn't particularly comfortable for prolonged periods of time so I tended to only wear them for special occasions when I really wanted to feel dressed up. Ninety-nine percent of the time I wore my glasses. When it came to selecting new glasses, I was getting increasingly frustrated. I had to get the ultrathin lenses which cost a fortune but even then, ultrathin with my prescription still wasn't exactly thin and my options were limited when it came to selecting frames. I had to select frames that could disguise the thickness of the lenses, etc. and often this meant selecting something a bit on the frumpy side. But even with all of this, like so many others, I'd been raised to believe that if your vision was acceptable with glasses, you didn't mess around with it.

In the last couple of years I'd heard about laser surgery and even knew a few people who'd had it done. Halfheartedly I would research the available procedures from time to time. There were things I'd felt I'd always been held back from doing - like learning to swim properly - because I couldn't see without my glasses and looked like a geek in the pool with my glasses. The idea of life without glasses certainly held appeal but the idea of the surgery made me squeamish. Furthermore I guess I really didn't think that I would be a suitable candidate for laser surgery.

Finally this spring I decided to face the possibility and made an appointment for a consultation with Accuvision. I'd read enough reviews and done enough research by this point to believe that they were likely to offer me the best possibility of good vision. I went to the appointment without expectations. I didn't have my heart set on having it done because I didn't want to be disappointed. The staff is very professional and friendly. Vikash thoroughly examined my eyes - the general health of my eyes, the thickness of my corneas, the width of my pupils, etc. - explained the risks and answered all of my questions. Amazingly I was a good candidate on all counts. He said that he felt with the surgery there was a 95% chance that I would have 20/20 vision or better and that in my case he felt that vision correction was definitely for functional reasons not cosmetic ones. Then I started to get excited!

I had the surgery on May 20th. During one part of the consultation Vik had used anesthetic drops explaining they were the same drops used during the surgery. I didn't feel anything during that part of the consultation and that gave me a lot of confidence about the surgery being painless also. I was really calm about the whole thing and decided to make it a positive experience. I have to say when they first laid me out on the bed I kind of wished I was someplace else but the surgery is quick and only slightly uncomfortable. In no time at all it was over. It was important for me to keep my eyes closed as much as possible for the first of the first day which I did but occasionally I couldn't help sneaking a peek at the world that was now much much clearer to me. It was amazing!

At my checkup 24 hours later my vision was tested and I told it was good enough to drive. At my one week checkup my vision was 20/20 although at that stage the contrast of objects in the distance wasn't very sharp. Vik said this would improve and it has. Initially I had some problems with halos on lights when driving at night but that continues to improve. I've also got some dryness discomfort that I'm using artifical tears for. I've been told I won't have long term problems with either of these issues.

I just had my one month checkup. My vision is 20/20. It is really amazing! Now I need to find a good swimming teacher in the area!

Considering the advances in this technology, I believe that in future generations laser eye surgery will be the norm and glasses will be the exception.

My advice to anyone even considering laser eye surgery - go to Accuvison for a consultation. Let them evaluate your circumstances and talk to you about it. I think you'll be glad you did.