Here we go....
Friday was a day off for me. I went to the doc who examined my eyes inside and out, taking a variety of pictures (inside and out) and generating 3-D scans of the eyes using something called a WAVEscan. I was supposed to be there for about an hour, but when I asked to have the procedure done soon...
"So can I get this done yesterday?"
They initially figured to have another appointment for a more thorough exam, with the subsequent operation done maybe in February, but that all changed. :)
We went through the more thorough exam, this time with the eyes dilated and I didn't get out until an additional hour went by. I then walked over in the glaring light to the movie theater to pick up tickets to see
Avatar 3D.
Then went home to wait out the dilation. Unfortunately, that wouldn't happen until after I woke up the following morning. (The doc had put in extra drops, but I didn't know that it would make the experience last that much longer.)
So
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perfectstormpsu did the driving to the theater when she got in from work.
This movie... Jaw-dropping. The 3D effects are subtle and it isn't until you find yourself waving at the flies that you realize you've been sucked into the wonder that is Pandora.
There are a couple of scenes that would be bad-ass if the overall effects weren't already so visceral.
The story itself draws you in, and as much as I say I'm a humanist, I got turned into being pro-Na'vi quickly enough.
This is a movie I think I want to check out in IMAX, if that's possible in the next couple of weeks. I certainly want to see it again.
Saturday started out messy. The snow was already thick when we stepped out for breakfast. We stayed local...
That pretty much says it all. Almost anyway. The server said it was pretty quiet as you would expect when the snow was this bad. She said we were only the second table she's waited on since she's come in.
I was hungry and ate... I guess it's almost my usual disgusting amount of food. Yeesh.
We exited to a very snowy town center. :) I grabbed another
pic of us to give a last image of my glasses-wearing self. (Like the hat?)
She then meandered off to work, which was crazy given the storm, but it was the weekend before Christmas so...
I walked over to the local store for a few things, then made cookies!
Sunday was fairly uneventful - it was more about digging out from the 2 feet of snow than anything else. Monday was all about getting my ass ready for the noon-time LASIK procedure. She dropped me off and they took another quick exam. I went over all the paperwork as well as payment, then was escorted to the pre-op room. Given a pair of paper booties to go over my sneakers; a paper gown as well as coverage for my hair. Then I waited. There were four people in front of me. I was given a small amount of Xanax which did absolutely nothing and sat there, wishing for a book to read.
I judged that it was taking about a half-hour per person and the first guy came back... He seemed okay as well as the second person. The third one was shaky and they needed a wheelchair for her. (They let it sound like it was a matter of her sugar dropping. Whatever.)
It didn't matter. I'm aware that some folks might not handle such blatant insult to their person kindly, so expected it. They called me in. I hopped up on the reclining chair thing with all the machines around it... "Let's do this!"
They talked their way throughout the entire procedure.
"We're going to put some drops in your eyes...."
Anaesthetic. Gotcha. It actually stung a bit. Then they taped my eyelids open, then attached a plastic thingie over that, pretty much locking the eye open.
"You should see a blinking red light. Look directly at it! Do NOT let your eye move from the light! Good! You're perfect!" (The laser tracks your eye - it won't do jack if your eye deviates.)
"Okay, we're going to create the flap now. You're going to feel a lot of pressure on the eye."
I saw glowing spots, then stars from all the pressure.
"Here we go... Good! I'm going to fold the flap over now..."
I saw this bent pin-like instrument move in front of my eye, and suddenly my vision went from it's usual blur, to extremely blurry.
"The blinking red light should now be larger and more blurry..." "Mhmm"
"Okay. Now keep looking at it... You're going to hear a loud click from the laser... Keep looking... A few more seconds..."
Which actually was more like 30 seconds, but that went well, then they switched eyes.
The re-shaping of the eye didn't feel like anything. It was only that plastic thing when they applied pressure prior to creating the flap that hurt any. Nothing major though.
They announced that everything had gone perfectly (I would hear this word often) and the whole thing took mere moments. Maybe two minutes from eye-numbing to being escorted out - it was that quick.
As I walked in, I made like I was blind - "Just kidding guys!"
"You're such a character!"
"Yep - Looney tunes!"
Everything was watery-looking. Like looking through an aquarium. My eyes stung, I supposed it was from the procedure as much as from all the liquids they dropped into them. (I gather they're the same as what I've had to use the last couple of days. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. I think. In addition to the faux tears.)
They slip these goggle things over your eyes to prevent anything from happening.
perfectstormpsu was there to take me home. On the way back, we grabbed some grub. I kept my eyes closed most of the time (which they recommend) and really, you can't see much anyway.
What I could see was that it was very bright. Light-sensitivity is typical the first day so it was expected. I ate, then with some help, taped the goggles to my eyes after applying more drops. Then off to bed. They recommend 4-5 hours of sleep immediately after the operation so it was good that it occurred late in the day.
My eyes had been stinging when I went to sleep, but when I woke up 6 hours later, there was no more pain. I pried up the goggles a tad... Oh! I can see the clock! :)
I went back to sleep, and the following morning, things were looking (no pun intended) much better. I was able to SEE. My right eye seems to lag a little (it's the one that's got a little astigmatism) so when the doc said I was 20/20 in the left, 20/25 in the right, I was very pleased. Not yet 18 hours post-op and I'm already almost perfect!
I was seeing haloes around lights though, but that's expected to pass and by last night, it had softened to a hazy glow.
Post-op restrictions were common-sensical:
Use the eye drops given at the designated times.
Don't touch your eyes. Don't even think about it.
Use the goggles for a week, to sleep in. The sunglasses you use whenever outdoors.
No swimming for 2 weeks. Avoid getting any water in the eyes when showering/bathing.
Avoid any pressure on the eyes whatsoever. No RUBBING.
Most of the those restrictions last for a week, but even so, you should be careful for at least a month. None of which is all that much of an issue. No weight-lifting or gym activity for 2 days, not a problem. (This was mostly to avoid getting sweat in the eyes than anything else. Though I expect when I do get sweaty, it will be most memorable.)
Christmas is here, though I suspect the gift-giving will go beyond tomorrow. I've a couple of items I want to pick up and I won't have time/money for it until next week.
Current Mood: 
jubilant 
heeeeeeeeeeee
anxious
hopeful
impressed
bouncy
calm