I woke up this morning and started to laugh and told my husband, "I can see you!" I'm still amazed at how well my eyes can see, especially my left eye. We got dressed and headed back to the Dr. Manche's office. Since I am in the clinical study I have to visit him everyday this week for a follow up, then a 1 week, 1 month, and 6 month follow up.
When I got to the Dr.'s office I went right in and they checked my eyes. Dr. Manche checked it with the light and then they had me read the eye chart. My left eye can see at 20/16, super clear. I couldn't believe I could read that tiny line of letters on the eye chart. My right eye is at 20/40. Not as clear as my left but still a remarkable difference from not being able to see barely anything before. I then filled out another survey for the study and we were done. They told me to keep up with the drops (vigamox and predaforte) 4x a day.
It is now 4 in the afternoon and I haven't felt any pain. They told me that the pain could kick in as early as late tonight or as late as Thursday morning so they told me to start taking the motrin 800mg so that I have some type of pain killer in my body. They told me I can play doctor tomorrow with the valium and/or vicodin if it gets really bad. I'm hoping it won't be that bad.
Back to resting and some more podcasts!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Day 0 Day of Surgery
***Warning: Do not look below if you are stomach sensitive. A pic of my one eye dilated and one eye normal is below.
So, I stayed up pretty late last night so I would be a little out of it and not be as worried for the surgery. I took the two drops (vigamox and predaforte) again when I work up. We left the house around 11:40 to be at Stanford at 12:30 for my 12:40 appointment.
When we got there they brought me into a back room with my husband and gave me the post-op procedures. The biggest thing is to not to get any sweat into the eyes. They said that if I could see I could read, go online, read blogs, workout lightly, and basically do all of my normal everyday activities. They even said if I got soap or shampoo in the eye it wouldn't be a big deal. Obviously try not to but no biggie.
They then asked me if I wanted a valium which graciously accepted. And then I was off to the operating laser room on the other side of the office!
My husband got a front row seat with a tv to watch everything. I kissed my glasses goodbye, said, "I'll miss you" and went over to the comfy chair. The nurse had me sit down while she went around to the back of the chair. I lied down and placed me head on the pillow. Dr. Manche was right there and put the pillow up next to my head so that I couldn't really move my head.
He began dousing my eyes in numbing drops, lots and lots of numbing drops. Then, he taped up my left eye so it would be blocked from the laser. He asked me to look up and taped the bottom of my right eye down, then the top and next came the metal ring to keep it open. I had no problem whatsoever with trying to blink. My eyes were so numb I couldn't feel a thing.
Next step was some more drops (the chemical solution) to remove the top layer of the cornea. He then used a tool that looked like a round electric toothbrush to remove the top layer of my cornea. Again, no urge to blink and couldn't feel a thing. He then used a little white triangle tool (reminded me of a broom that barbie might use) to help remove the rest of the top layer of the cornea.
Next up: laser time. He reminded me to keep looking up straight up at the red dot and try not to move or search for the red dot. I just kept my eye as steady as possible looking straight up at the little red dot. I then began to hear some clicks with a loud fan in the background. They use the fan so you can't smell anything. I didn't feel anything and didn't even see a laser coming into my eye. My husband said that there was actually smoke coming from eye but I couldn't see that either.
Once the laser was done Dr. Manche put the clear/transparent contact bandage into my eye. Then, he put some more drops in and we were already done with the right eye. He took off the tape covering my left eye, added some more numbing drops, covered the right eye, then taped up the left by opening it up with the tape, again top and bottom and then the metal ring. Again, no feeling at all. I had the tiniest want to blink at first when he was putting the metal ring on but after that no urge at all. He went through the same procedures as above, removing the cornea, the laser, and then adding the new contact bandage.
And with that, we were done! I couldn't believe how fast it was! He had me sit up and I could already see everything in the room, so clearly. Before I was a -4.5 myopia (nearsighted). So to be able to see things clearly and facial features of someone standing on the other side of the room without my glasses was AMAZING!!!
They took me out to the waiting room to have me sit down. They wanted to check me already and see how I was doing. This is not normal procedure but since I was in the Stanford Clinical study I get special treatment!
They checked me with the normal reading the letters eye chart and I was already at 20/20 in my left eye. Again, amazing. I couldn't stop saying that this was crazy. The nurse just kept laughing and joking with me. Remember, I was still under the influence of the valium! I then filled out a survey, for the study and we were done.
They gave us a prescription for vicodin as well as valium for Wednesday when the pain is supposed to kick in as the cornea is growing back.
After we picked up the Rx, we headed home and I rested for the rest of the day. My one freak moment was at 5 PM. One of my eyes was super dilated while the other one wasn't dilated at all! I called Dr. Manche and he was still available, thank goodness and told me that was perfectly normally due to all of the drops he put in today. Wheww, not going to lose my eye!
I woke up around 9 and I am still amazed with the clarity. I know that there will be fluctuations but so far so good. I have been able to read signs all over the place, license plates, people's features, etc. I even picked up a book and could read it but am going to avoid that for now. It's pretty late and I have my follow-up tomorrow morning at 8 AM so off to bed for me. I'll keep you all posted! So far, I am loving it!
Pic of my one dilated eye:
So, I stayed up pretty late last night so I would be a little out of it and not be as worried for the surgery. I took the two drops (vigamox and predaforte) again when I work up. We left the house around 11:40 to be at Stanford at 12:30 for my 12:40 appointment.
When we got there they brought me into a back room with my husband and gave me the post-op procedures. The biggest thing is to not to get any sweat into the eyes. They said that if I could see I could read, go online, read blogs, workout lightly, and basically do all of my normal everyday activities. They even said if I got soap or shampoo in the eye it wouldn't be a big deal. Obviously try not to but no biggie.
They then asked me if I wanted a valium which graciously accepted. And then I was off to the operating laser room on the other side of the office!
My husband got a front row seat with a tv to watch everything. I kissed my glasses goodbye, said, "I'll miss you" and went over to the comfy chair. The nurse had me sit down while she went around to the back of the chair. I lied down and placed me head on the pillow. Dr. Manche was right there and put the pillow up next to my head so that I couldn't really move my head.
He began dousing my eyes in numbing drops, lots and lots of numbing drops. Then, he taped up my left eye so it would be blocked from the laser. He asked me to look up and taped the bottom of my right eye down, then the top and next came the metal ring to keep it open. I had no problem whatsoever with trying to blink. My eyes were so numb I couldn't feel a thing.
Next step was some more drops (the chemical solution) to remove the top layer of the cornea. He then used a tool that looked like a round electric toothbrush to remove the top layer of my cornea. Again, no urge to blink and couldn't feel a thing. He then used a little white triangle tool (reminded me of a broom that barbie might use) to help remove the rest of the top layer of the cornea.
Next up: laser time. He reminded me to keep looking up straight up at the red dot and try not to move or search for the red dot. I just kept my eye as steady as possible looking straight up at the little red dot. I then began to hear some clicks with a loud fan in the background. They use the fan so you can't smell anything. I didn't feel anything and didn't even see a laser coming into my eye. My husband said that there was actually smoke coming from eye but I couldn't see that either.
Once the laser was done Dr. Manche put the clear/transparent contact bandage into my eye. Then, he put some more drops in and we were already done with the right eye. He took off the tape covering my left eye, added some more numbing drops, covered the right eye, then taped up the left by opening it up with the tape, again top and bottom and then the metal ring. Again, no feeling at all. I had the tiniest want to blink at first when he was putting the metal ring on but after that no urge at all. He went through the same procedures as above, removing the cornea, the laser, and then adding the new contact bandage.
And with that, we were done! I couldn't believe how fast it was! He had me sit up and I could already see everything in the room, so clearly. Before I was a -4.5 myopia (nearsighted). So to be able to see things clearly and facial features of someone standing on the other side of the room without my glasses was AMAZING!!!
They took me out to the waiting room to have me sit down. They wanted to check me already and see how I was doing. This is not normal procedure but since I was in the Stanford Clinical study I get special treatment!
They checked me with the normal reading the letters eye chart and I was already at 20/20 in my left eye. Again, amazing. I couldn't stop saying that this was crazy. The nurse just kept laughing and joking with me. Remember, I was still under the influence of the valium! I then filled out a survey, for the study and we were done.
They gave us a prescription for vicodin as well as valium for Wednesday when the pain is supposed to kick in as the cornea is growing back.
After we picked up the Rx, we headed home and I rested for the rest of the day. My one freak moment was at 5 PM. One of my eyes was super dilated while the other one wasn't dilated at all! I called Dr. Manche and he was still available, thank goodness and told me that was perfectly normally due to all of the drops he put in today. Wheww, not going to lose my eye!
I woke up around 9 and I am still amazed with the clarity. I know that there will be fluctuations but so far so good. I have been able to read signs all over the place, license plates, people's features, etc. I even picked up a book and could read it but am going to avoid that for now. It's pretty late and I have my follow-up tomorrow morning at 8 AM so off to bed for me. I'll keep you all posted! So far, I am loving it!
Pic of my one dilated eye:
Day -1 (starting the eye drops)
Yesterday, Sunday July 29th was day -1. I had the prescriptions (Vigamox eye drops, Predaforte eye drops, and Motrin 800mg) filled Friday (Warning: vigamox costs $120.)
I started yesterday. I was told to take the eye drops 4x a day at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bed. The drops were easy to use especially after wearing contacts for so long (about 13 years.)
The only downsize was that the vigamox made my eyes a little red but then the the Predaforte (a creamy white eye dop) cleared it right up and made them white again.
So far so good on my way to seeing better!
I started yesterday. I was told to take the eye drops 4x a day at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bed. The drops were easy to use especially after wearing contacts for so long (about 13 years.)
The only downsize was that the vigamox made my eyes a little red but then the the Predaforte (a creamy white eye dop) cleared it right up and made them white again.
So far so good on my way to seeing better!
Before the surgery
Before the surgery, my friend told me about this clinical study going on at the Stanford Laser Eye Center. I set up an appointment to see the doctor, Dr. Manche, a well-known laser eye surgeon. After meeting with him, I was extremely pleased but I wanted to do some research on my own since I only have two eyeballs.
I went online and began to freak myself out by finding websites such as lasikcomplications.com, laserproblems.com, and lasereyesurgeryproblems.com. If you want to go through with the procedure do not check out these websites. They will only scare you!
So, since I had freaked myself out, I set up another appointment at the Laser Eye Center (they must love me) to talk to Dr. Manche about my list. I went in last Wednesday, July 25th. Dr. Manche clearly explained the procedure again and what it would be like and went through all of my questions:
1. How many people out of how many and what percentage had the following problems:
- dry eye(s)
- permanent dry eye
- glares
- halos
- double vision
- problems with night vision
- blindness
- not corrected best vision.
He was not able to give me exact numbers but he made it clear it is about 1 in 500 that get dry eye and 1 in 1000 that have night problems. And if I was that 1 person that would be 100% for me.
After that I went into the waiting room to think about it. Dr. Manche came out and told me that another patient was coming out in 2 minutes who had the PRK procedure done 4 weeks ago. I jumped at the opportunity to speak with her!
As soon as she came out I jumped up and said, "tell me everything." She began to tell me about the procedure and everything. My biggest concern was more about the pain that comes on day 2 after the surgery not so much the procedure itself. I also was very interested in when she could read, go online, drive, see at night, etc. since I will be moving into my new classroom quite soon and will need to be able to see the bulletin boards.
She told me that it felt like she had been punched in the eye as far as pain and as far as clarity it looked like she could see clearly with a layer of windex on top of that. She was able to go out with friends three days later and just kept her sunglasses on due to the brightness.
I knew then, even with all of the horror stories and blogs online I had to do this even though I do my love my glasses, it would be nice to not have to worry about contacts in the future.
I set up the appointment for today, Monday July 30th, 6 days letter. He prescribed a few eye drop prescriptions (vigamox: antibiotic, predaforte: sterioids, and bromday) along with some motrin 800mg.)
I got those filled right away since I had to start a day before on Sunday, July 29th.
I went online and began to freak myself out by finding websites such as lasikcomplications.com, laserproblems.com, and lasereyesurgeryproblems.com. If you want to go through with the procedure do not check out these websites. They will only scare you!
So, since I had freaked myself out, I set up another appointment at the Laser Eye Center (they must love me) to talk to Dr. Manche about my list. I went in last Wednesday, July 25th. Dr. Manche clearly explained the procedure again and what it would be like and went through all of my questions:
1. How many people out of how many and what percentage had the following problems:
- dry eye(s)
- permanent dry eye
- glares
- halos
- double vision
- problems with night vision
- blindness
- not corrected best vision.
He was not able to give me exact numbers but he made it clear it is about 1 in 500 that get dry eye and 1 in 1000 that have night problems. And if I was that 1 person that would be 100% for me.
After that I went into the waiting room to think about it. Dr. Manche came out and told me that another patient was coming out in 2 minutes who had the PRK procedure done 4 weeks ago. I jumped at the opportunity to speak with her!
As soon as she came out I jumped up and said, "tell me everything." She began to tell me about the procedure and everything. My biggest concern was more about the pain that comes on day 2 after the surgery not so much the procedure itself. I also was very interested in when she could read, go online, drive, see at night, etc. since I will be moving into my new classroom quite soon and will need to be able to see the bulletin boards.
She told me that it felt like she had been punched in the eye as far as pain and as far as clarity it looked like she could see clearly with a layer of windex on top of that. She was able to go out with friends three days later and just kept her sunglasses on due to the brightness.
I knew then, even with all of the horror stories and blogs online I had to do this even though I do my love my glasses, it would be nice to not have to worry about contacts in the future.
I set up the appointment for today, Monday July 30th, 6 days letter. He prescribed a few eye drop prescriptions (vigamox: antibiotic, predaforte: sterioids, and bromday) along with some motrin 800mg.)
I got those filled right away since I had to start a day before on Sunday, July 29th.
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