Monday, 31 March 2008

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  my last pair of glasses, 2006-2008.
  

  
  Back in January, I decided to splurge a little, and enjoy my hard-earned money.  Whereas for most people, that would probably mean buying some new gadgets or clothes, I elected to have my corneas sliced, and my eyeballs reshaped with a laser.  That's right, I got Lasik!
  
  The actual surgery itself was very quick; I was awake for the duration, which was about 15 minutes.  It didn't hurt at all, with the numbing drops the surgeon used, though I have to admit it was unnerving feeling the microkeratome (a tiny blade) cut a flap in my cornea.  However, it was pretty neat seeing my vision dramatically improve in real-time as the laser did its precise, calculated work.  I would say the hardest part was trying to focus constantly on a red light during the surgery, since I could see things happening in my peripheral vision that I was curious to see.  After surgery, I noticed an immediate difference; though not yet at 20/20, I could at least see the clock on the wall.  The surgery was at 4pm, and after a night of rest, I was able to see well enough to return to work the next day.
  
  Although it was pricey, Lasik was absolutely worth it.  I haven't been able to see like this since before 6th grade.  Back then, my vison deteriorated so gradually that I didn't even realize it, until one day in Algebra I was moved to the front of the classroom because of my inability to read the problems on the chalkboard.  I distinctly remember the ride back home from the optometrist with my first pair of glasses, amazed that I could see the blades of grass on the side of the road.  I remember thinking, "I didn't even know that I was supposed to be able to see that!"  That feeling of awe is similar to what I felt the day after Lasik, when I woke up the next morning and saw not a blurry red blob on the dresser, but the crystal clear digital clock readout: "8:30" (Yeah, I was late to work.  But who cares, I could see!)
  
  Anyway, after a couple more months of healing (I want to play it safe) involving lots of eyedrops, I'm looking forward to playing basketball and football, swimming, hiking, etc. without having to worry about my glasses slipping off my nose, or contacts drying out/falling out.  And when I start traveling the world, it'll be one less thing for me to worry about in the jungles of Africa, or the deserts of the Middle East.
  
  If you can afford the steep price (anywhere from $2,000 - $4,000), I highly recommend it.  Do your research, understand the risks, and decide for yourself.  Sure, there is always the possibility of complications, but if you aren't taking risks in life, then you just aren't doing it right.
  

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