When I was in 5th grade, my teacher, Mr. Winters, told my mom I was squinting at the blackboard and probably needed glasses. To the eye doctor we went and out I came with some rad pink “glitter” plastic frame glasses. Seriously. Rad. After thoroughly embarrassing myself (and probably my parents) for the next few years, we decided I could get contacts in 7th grade. My competitive career in volleyball was beginning to present itself and I could not play with glasses, and refused to wear those goggle things. I was considered young for contacts, but I was “mature for my age” so it was all good. I remember holding the lens on my fingertip probably 8 inches away from my eye asking the doctor, “Am I there yet?” Despite a rough first go, I got over the weirdness of touching your own eye and began a 15 year journey with contacts. A journey that included countless eye infections, bazillions of dollars spent on contact lenses and weird mystery ailments that only happened in foreign countries (I’ve had to buy contact supplies in Germany and Hungary- not easy.)
But the journey came to an end on August 10th when I had PRK. Don’t ask me what it stands for, I have no idea. Google it. But it’s essentially a different version of LASIK. In LASIK, they create a flap on your cornea, peel it back and shoot the laser at your eye, flattening (or elongating if you’re nearsighted) the shape. Still with me? For PRK, it’s more or less the same, except there is no flap. They just laser that sh*t right on your eye. PRK is in the long term- more effective and more stable than LASIK, there are also fewer long-term complications (the LASIK flap can be knocked loose if hit in the eye, even years later). However, in the short term, PRK is a bio-tch.
The day of my appointment, my Dad came down from New York and we drove to Old Town. During my prep I kept asking when I could take my Xanex and they kept telling me to wait. I finally snuck to the bathroom and took it. I was not about to have lasers shot in my eye without being under some influence. Once they take all the final measurements and whatnot, they bring you into the fishbowl. That’s what I called it because the waiting room can see into the operating room; you’re basically in a big fishbowl. They lie you down and move the big machine over your face. Numbing drops were administered a few minutes prior so you feel nothing with they put the little eye-lid-holder-upper in your eyes so you don’t blink. I was told to stare at the little red light and after 27 seconds of some beeping and a weird smell (yep), my right eye was done. They moved over to the left, lather rinse and repeat! All done! They do shoot cold water in your eye after which was probably the worst part. It’s like a brain freeze without the benefit of eating ice cream.
They threw some sunglasses on me and we were out the door. The appointment took about an hour and half, the actual procedure, all of 2 minutes. Dad and I stopped at the grocery store to pick up my pain meds and all sorts of snacks and crap I thought I needed for my recovery. Turns out, I’d spend that recovery time in a mild coma or rambling dumb things to anyone who would listen and texting my buddy/co-worker Brett for an hour about how much I love watermelon.
My Dad was a real trooper. He watched 21 Jump Street with me (just so I could watch Channing Tatum again). It was really great to have him there while I was recovering, I can only imagine the crap I’d have gotten myself into if I was unsupervised.
Now I’m back at work, blind (not nearly, but I’m pouting) and cranky. PRK heals so slowly, so I feel like I’m wearing old prescription glasses. I put in eye drops every 17 seconds (or so it feels) and one eye is stronger than the other. I pep talk the weak eye everyday but he’s still struggling. Little guy should catch up soon. But this is all totally normal. PRK just takes longer to stabilize and I have to deal with it. In about 6 more weeks, I expect to have about 20/15 vision. Just in time for my trip to Africa!
But the journey came to an end on August 10th when I had PRK. Don’t ask me what it stands for, I have no idea. Google it. But it’s essentially a different version of LASIK. In LASIK, they create a flap on your cornea, peel it back and shoot the laser at your eye, flattening (or elongating if you’re nearsighted) the shape. Still with me? For PRK, it’s more or less the same, except there is no flap. They just laser that sh*t right on your eye. PRK is in the long term- more effective and more stable than LASIK, there are also fewer long-term complications (the LASIK flap can be knocked loose if hit in the eye, even years later). However, in the short term, PRK is a bio-tch.
The day of my appointment, my Dad came down from New York and we drove to Old Town. During my prep I kept asking when I could take my Xanex and they kept telling me to wait. I finally snuck to the bathroom and took it. I was not about to have lasers shot in my eye without being under some influence. Once they take all the final measurements and whatnot, they bring you into the fishbowl. That’s what I called it because the waiting room can see into the operating room; you’re basically in a big fishbowl. They lie you down and move the big machine over your face. Numbing drops were administered a few minutes prior so you feel nothing with they put the little eye-lid-holder-upper in your eyes so you don’t blink. I was told to stare at the little red light and after 27 seconds of some beeping and a weird smell (yep), my right eye was done. They moved over to the left, lather rinse and repeat! All done! They do shoot cold water in your eye after which was probably the worst part. It’s like a brain freeze without the benefit of eating ice cream.
They threw some sunglasses on me and we were out the door. The appointment took about an hour and half, the actual procedure, all of 2 minutes. Dad and I stopped at the grocery store to pick up my pain meds and all sorts of snacks and crap I thought I needed for my recovery. Turns out, I’d spend that recovery time in a mild coma or rambling dumb things to anyone who would listen and texting my buddy/co-worker Brett for an hour about how much I love watermelon.
My Dad was a real trooper. He watched 21 Jump Street with me (just so I could watch Channing Tatum again). It was really great to have him there while I was recovering, I can only imagine the crap I’d have gotten myself into if I was unsupervised.
Now I’m back at work, blind (not nearly, but I’m pouting) and cranky. PRK heals so slowly, so I feel like I’m wearing old prescription glasses. I put in eye drops every 17 seconds (or so it feels) and one eye is stronger than the other. I pep talk the weak eye everyday but he’s still struggling. Little guy should catch up soon. But this is all totally normal. PRK just takes longer to stabilize and I have to deal with it. In about 6 more weeks, I expect to have about 20/15 vision. Just in time for my trip to Africa!