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My
LASIK
Procedure
The actual procedure is described below. To read the journal that I kept on my healing progress, CLICK HERE
I went in with an estimated 20/1600 vision in both eyes and two months after the procedure my right eye was tested at 20/20(-1)and my left eye was 20/20(+3). Here are the actual prescription numbers:
First, an exam was performed to determine if I were a candidate for refractive surgery. My eyes were dilated with drops and then scanned and mapped by computers. The degree and direction of astigmatism were accessed and the amount and types of correction I needed were determined. They told me I was a good candidate and the risks were thoroughly explained to me.
A few days before the procedure, I met with Dr. Koffler's surgical assistant who explained exactly what would happen during the procedure. She gave me a pack that contained eye drop/tears samples, sunglasses, and special goggles that I would wear post-procedure and nightly for a week. I was given prescriptions for antibiotic eye drops and 6 sleeping pills which I was supposed to have filled before the procedure. I was told to wash my face with anti-bacterial soap the morning of the procedure, eat before arriving at the surgery center, and to wear comfortable clothes. I spent the next few days being a little nervous about the procedure.
The Procedure I was put in the pre-op area which is a large hallway-type room with stalls that are separated by curtains. Some stalls had beds and medical equipment. Mine just had a couple of chairs and a heart monitor. I waited there with my arms and legs crossed for about 10 minutes. A nurse came by and put the first round of numbing eye drops in my eyes. It stung pretty bad at first and smelled like vinegar. These drops were repeated every 5 minutes for about 1 hour. On one of the "eye drop" visits, she put two large stickers on my forehead. An "L" over my left eye and a "R" over my right eye. This was to signify that I was going to have the LASIK procedure done to both eyes at the same procedure (bilateral simultaneous treatment). Every once in a while, I got a peek at other LASIK patients who were waiting like me. From what I was able to ascertain by eavesdropping (I waited there for an hour and was bored), there were 3 others who were having the procedure done Dr. Koffler that day. It's time. I was taken to the room that has the Excimer laser. This is the piece of equipment that Dr. Koffler used to reshape my cornea in both eyes.
The room was very dimly lit - I remember a soft orange glow coming from somewhere. Everyone in the room had scrubs and masks on. I recognized Dr. Koffler and his assistant whom I had met with just a few days prior. They greeted me and led me to the chair which was already reclined. His assistant put more numbing drops in my eyes. I was assured somewhat by knowing that Dr. Koffler was going to explain things as he went along... he was going to talk me through the procedure. I did my research so I knew what was going to happen but it was still very concerning. He did very well and I was not startled at any time - I knew exactly what to expect right before each part. As I heard his assistant read my "numbers" that Dr. Koffler was inputting into the computer, I remember wondering how many people chicken-out at this point. I was pretty tense - I was so anxious that I could barely breathe. I remember one assistant saying "...right eye - 75 microns, left eye - 50 microns...". The other assistant swabbed my outer eye lid areas with Betadine. My right eye was first. My left eye was covered and Dr. Koffler put small strips of tape to hold my right eye's eyelashes back and then placed the eyelid speculum in my eye socket to keep me from blinking my eye. My eye area was numb si I didn't feel any of this but I was keenly aware of everything that happening. The laser device was directly over my eye and I could see a green blinking light surrounded by several small yellowish lights. It was time to start. Dr. Koffler placed the microkeratome on my right eye. This is the instrument that fits over half of the eyeball and shaves the corneal flap off exposing the cornea. A vacuum was created inside the cup which immobilized my eye. As full suction was obtained, the pressure caused my vision to go dark. I could feel the slight tugging on my eye from the cutter but no pain. This was the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. It was about 45 seconds from when the microkeratome was place on my eye until the cut was made and it was removed.
So the cut was done and the vacuum relieved. The microkeratome was removed and Dr. Koffler took his tweezers and peeled back the corneal flap. Everything was real blurry and I heard him say, "Now your job is to look at the green flashing light and don't move your eye." Believe me when I say this - I was "one" with that light. He started the machine. I could hear the laser - it sounded like an electrical static clicking/popping noise. There was a "burnt hair" smell.
I remember him telling me the progress, "Half way there... you're doing great." The laser stopped and Dr. Koffler replaced the corneal flap and smoothed it with a very small brush type instrument. I could tell that my vision was different but everything was glaringly blurry. He then covered my right eye and repeated the procedure on my left eye. 5 minutes later I was finished. They swung my chair away from under the laser and told me I could get up. It took a minute or so for my muscles to unclench and to pull my fingers from the holes I squeezed into the chair. I was led to a post-op room where my wife was waiting. As I uncomfortably looked around, I could tell a difference. There was a stark, glare or glow around everything but my vision was clear after I blinked. A nurse came in an gave us post-op instructions and applied my first round of antibiotic drops. She then fit me with these clear, padded goggles that I would wear for the next 24 hours to keep me from accidentally touching or rubbing my eyes. I was told the next 6 to 8 hours were the most critical and I was supposed to spend the entire time with my eyes closed. No problem because my eyes did hurt a bit. Even with my eyes shut, I was sensitive to light - the sun on the way home killed me and I even had to turn off the lights in my house. I got a post-op phone call at home from Dr. Koffler's assistant a few hours later. By then the burning had gone away, but I was sitting around still with my eyes shut as instructed. She asked me to open my eyes. I did and I could tell that the procedure was most likely going to be a success. There were extreme glare and halos but everything was clear - almost stark. I shut my eyes for another two hours. The following morning I was able to drive myself to Dr. Koffler's office. My eyes were pretty light-sensitive but I could see clearly for the most part. The morning sun was still low in the sky and when I faced it even when wearing sunglasses, it just about blinded me. In the office, my vision was tested using the reflected eye chart and with each eye, I could read at 20/25 levels. Using both eyes, I read the line below it, which was what a person with 20/20 vision can read. Dr. Koffler examined my corneal flaps with a microscope and he said they looked good. My eyes were still irritated, I had inconsistent irregular vision that would change when I blinked. And everything still had a shiny "glare". But I was pleased - I was told these early problems would gradually go away.
January 2008 - my vision is perfectly stable. No night halos, no glare. Close vision and reading are fine without reading glasses.
My Thanks My thanks go to Dr. Koffler and his team. I always felt that my best interest was looked after foremost and that I was not just another set of eyes to be zapped.
(Still) no longer needed....
CLICK
HERE
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