Days away from better vision

Note: This is the first in a series about LASIK surgery. I wrote this blog pre-LASIK surgery because I wanted to make sure I wrote with NO surgery experience :-). Stay tuned over the next month for my post-surgery update!

I’ve worn glasses since high school. Actually, I’ve hardly worn glasses. I’ve worn contacts since high school. Glasses were for bedtime. My vision isn’t terrible, but I definitely need glasses or contacts to drive and to be comfortable throughout the day. I’ve thought about getting LASIK eye surgery for years. YEARS! I’ve always put it off – there’s always something else that needed to be taken care of before that.

Well, around Thanksgiving of last year, I started having major eye problems. I didn’t have an infection, but my eyes were constantly red. I tried Visine; I tried changing out my disposable contacts; I tried not wearing contacts for a while. Nothing worked. After a couple of trips to the eye doctor, some steroid drops, and new contact solution, I still didn’t have a clear answer.

I started to really research LASIK eye surgery. The thought of not dealing with contacts, glasses, contact solution, etc. made me giddy. Most of my research was word of mouth because that’s the method of research I trust the most. Two things surprised me:

1. SO many people have either had LASIK done or want to get LASIK;

2. Providence Eye and Laser Specialists and Dr. Mozayeni’s name kept coming up again and again (in a good way).

I booked my consultation with Providence Eye but cancelled a couple of times. Something always came up that seemed more important.  I FINALLY bit the bullet and headed to Providence Eye.

Thank goodness I did.

After going through a dilated vision test and watching a patient education video (featuring our very own Smarty Jen Plym – she had her eyes done by Providence Eye about 10 years ago and is still Eagle Eye!), I met with one of Dr. Mozayeni’s eye doctors for some more vision tests to check the health of my eyes. He stopped dead in his tracks and asked me if I wore my contacts to bed (No.). He said I had major damage to my corneas and the beginning of scar tissue forming.

Say what?!?

Dr. Mozayeni came in. First impression: loved him. He’s cool, calm, and collected.

He had a look at my corneas (who thinks about their corneas?? I never have!), and said the same thing. It turns out that I had two strikes against me:

1. I was using generic contact solution (DON’T DO THAT. Just spend the extra money and get name brand, preservative-free, please!)

2. Although I wasn’t sleeping in my disposable contacts, I was guilty of wearing them too long (I never will divulge how long I kept my disposable contacts, but let’s just say it was way more than the suggested two weeks. Does anyone else out there have a problem throwing away contacts that aren’t torn??)

I was the perfect storm.

And I was terrified that I had really screwed everything up for my LASIK eye surgery dream.

Thank goodness for Dr. Mozayeni’s cool bedside manor. He explained everything and answered every single question I had. Plus, he assured me I was fixable and would eventually be a good candidate for LASIK. But I had to do a couple of things: steroid drops and no more contacts for over a month to get my corneas happy again. A MONTH!  I’ve had a couple of follow up appointments, and since the beginning of January, I have been wearing my glasses everywhere – including a couple’s getaway to the Bahamas, running (getting a little foggy with the occasional humidity we’ve had), AND teaching and taking Pure Barre, which is a bigger pain in the seat than the actual act of doing seat exercises. I even had to get prescription sunglasses that make me sea sick because of the way the lenses are shaped.

Needless to say, I am ecstatic about my upcoming surgery. I am SO OVER glasses and contacts – especially the hassle and expense of disposable contacts. I truly cannot thank Dr. Mozayeni and his staff enough for catching my Perfect Storm and coolly and calmly fixing me. Every time I walked into the office, his friendly staff politely greeted me. It’s like a little happy place of eye people. Crazy. Oh, and they have these really good peppermint candies up for grabs at check out. Love that :-).

Dr. Mozayeni is one of those people who, when you talk to him, you actually feel like he’s listening to you. Do you know anyone like that? They’re hard to come by, and even harder to find in a doctor. He’s honest, concise, and doesn’t talk down to you.

Because of that, I am walking into surgery super excited and not nervous at all. I’ve been walked through the whole procedure a few times by Dr. Mozayeni and his staff. I am very confident in Dr. Mozayeni’s latest blade-free all laser Allegretto Wave Eye-Q equipment (code for state-of-the-art, precise and accurate technology). I also just got a pre-surgery call to go over last minute details:

– Two prescription eye drops for one day prior to surgery;

– No make up, no caffeine, wear loose clothes, and have a driver (thanks, Dad!);

– Plan to be at the office an hour, but the surgery takes no more than 15 minutes;

– Also I plan to go to my Happy Place because I have the option to get two Xanaxes: one during surgery for relaxation and one post-surgery to help me sleep the suggested four hours. (I’m getting this done on a Friday and you know what all of this means? I get out of carpool and the post 3 pm craziness!!!);

– I will probably experience some level of burning and light sensitivity for a couple of hours after the surgery (hopefully I won’t notice this because of the aforementioned nap).

Based on my personal situation, Dr. Mozayeni expects I should be able to see just about 20/20 after my long siesta.  And, if I can’t see 20/20 right after my nap, then I should be very close the next day.

I can’t wait.

Oh, one more stipulation for surgery: you can’t wear eye makeup for one week after the surgery. So if you see me looking a little rough for a week, just turn a blind eye (no pun intended) and know mascara will be back in full force soon enough. I’ll keep you posted on my post-surgery experience!

Want more information about LASIK eye surgery, Providence Eye and Dr. Mozayeni? Contact them here:

Providence Eye and Laser Specialists

3025 Springbank Lane, Charlotte, NC 28226
866-379-6146
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Twitter: @ProvidenceEye