As Printed in the Quarter 2/05 (April/May/June) issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine
This time out I have a rather different sort of "adventure" for the reading audience. Since December, things have been pretty quiet on the dance front, however, my adventures, while not off in a foreign land or city, have been no less exciting. Zaina’s adventure took place right here in “Vancouver USA”.
After several years of research and asking my friends and co-workers tons of questions, I went forward with Lasik Eye Surgery. One would think I could find something better to do for my big birthday year - - but this was my choice and I am thrilled at having the foresight (pun intended) to proceed with this one. So following are some excerpts from the little journal I kept as well as the results of my surgery.
Two Months Pre Op: Just had my visit to the Lasik clinic I had heard so much about. Turns out I am a good candidate after all - good health, good thick corneas, (heh - I could have told them that, thick head too). So, I guess this means that charming 25 year old at the other clinic who sneered at me and said, "your age may be prohibitive" and who is now missing her left knee cap WAS WRONG after all. I just need to determine if I am willing to loose some of my near vision, which as I understand, I may loose anyway as I get older, in order to gain the distance vision I have never had without glasses. Concerns? I am afraid I won't see my granddaughter Sophia's pretty little face as clearly. And I frivolously wonder if I will be able to see to put on my false eyelashes for performance. Hmmmmmmm - re-considering, but NOT canceling yet.
Two Weeks Pre Op: I am hesitating - - do I really want to exchange my near vision to get clear distance vision? "Uh - - yeahhhhh". Since I have never had clear distance vision - - do I know what I am exchanging for? How much near vision WILL I or WON’T I have? And what do they mean "Dry Eyes". I don't want dry eyes. What are collagen plugs? Can they go in my lips too? “New Idea” coming to mind.
Two Days Pre Op: The girls think I am funny with all the worry. Brandey says, “Heh, you only live once and you have gone XX years with bad eyesight - if they can fix it GO FOR IT MOM”. I am ready to cancel appointment and get some collagen injections somewhere (the New Idea from a few weeks earlier) - ANYWHERE - instead. This is my eyesight - we're dealing with. Okay - deep breath - - no more glasses, I can wear makeup every day, glitter, false eyelashes, and fancy sunglasses, (but will I be able to see to put it all on?)
One Day Pre Op: I have just been gifted with a Magnifying Mirror. No more makeup concerns. Okay, feeling better. But, well, how am I gonna see to work on the magazine? Graphics? Layout? Pallettes. I HAAAAVE A HEADACHE.
Two hours Pre Op: What the heck am I doing? I am insane. I don't need to do this, I can wear stage makeup, false eyelashes, glitter, AND MY CONTACTS and still see. No problem. (As my inner self says, “noo you can’t silly - that is why we have come this far”.) What's the big deal anyway? Who needs 20/20 vision? Will I ever be able to thread a needle again? Wait - - Oh heck, I can't thread one now. Inner self is now making “chicken noises at outer self”. Too many selves talking! Everyone - shut up!
Fifteen Minutes Pre Op: In the office now. Handing over big check, talking to nurse. Valium? You mean I get valium for this? What do you mean do I want one or two - - can I have three?
Ten Minutes Pre Op: Hairnet? It really doesn't look good on me, and it’s pastel - does it come in red? What are the shoe booties for? For my feet? What feet? Wow, this valium is really cool stuff. Can I have another?
Five Minutes Pre Op: Oh heck - - that was the wall - that is gonna leave a mark! Why am I in a dentist's chair? Stuffed bear for what? Why am I holding a stuffed bear? - Oh, heeehhhhh Mama, what are you doing here? (Mother and Brandey are looking through the big window). Hi B, what? What's so funny? Whoooa, Heh there, I think you tilted me back a little too fast. <giggling now> Slow down there fella. Does that eye patch come in red?
Lights-Camera-Action!
OP: Wow, pretty swirly lights. Kewl. Reminds me of the 70’s man. Oh, okay, next eye? Heh, where did you guys get the strobe lights and disco ball? Smell, what is that smell? Burning what? Oh, okay - - we're done? What do you mean sit up? Oh nooooo, those are really ugly sun glasses - - I can't wear those - someone might see me. These are just not going to match anything I have. Hrmph. But okay, buy, buy everyone, I love you all, buy, ba buy - - okay, see you some time - - buy. Oh heck, that was the car door - - that is going to leave a mark for sure.
20 Minutes Post Op: Home - daughter with the Camera? Why do I have to go to bed and sleep? Why, nooooooooo, the goggles are not pretty, and taking that picture was just rude. But if I - can - have - another - one - of - those - p-i-l night.
4 Hours Post Op: Wow, that stuff really knocks you out. Was that the door - - heck that is gonna leave a mark. I'm just gonna sit in my chair and watch TV for awhile.
ONE MINUTE LATER: OMG OMG, - - CAN YOU SEE THAT? Can you see how clear that screen is? Out the front door - - look, look at the trees, I can see those birds over there. Holy beans!
So readers, that is pretty much the trauma of the event which seems to equate to little or "No Trauma" unless you count the bumps and bruises from the wall and the doors.
On the More Serious Side: As I am sure you have determined, it did take awhile for me to decide whether I wanted to go forward with Lasik (2 years of research). There is new and wonderful technology out there and lots of information on the internet. And now several types of equipment/systems to choose from. Of the hundreds of people I talked to, (yeah, I really did bug that many people) not one person told me they were disappointed in anyway that they had done the surgery. Some even had the old style RK - they are still happy with it. To me that just spoke volumes.
I went to several clinics before picking the doc I wanted (this is critical - you really need to be comfortable with your Doc and mine is GREAT).
Even though without glasses, determining where the end of a stage (or where the floor was “off” the end of a stage) was difficult, the correction was minimal - they said “basic”. But I did need to be aware of the fact that as I/we age, we loose close/near vision, this could be a difficult adjustment - hence I needed to be absolutely sure I was willing to give up some of my near vision a little sooner than I might naturally. I had gotten so tired of trying to wear contacts, makeup, false eyelashes, all at once and still have difficulty with vision. I had bad vision with contacts because of the astigmatism in my right eye. Mono vision was not working (one contact) (neither eye could figure out which was dominant) and I was in my glasses daily rather than contacts (vanity). Glasses off to work on the computer, on to see across the room or drive. So, I went for the surgery. There were times I “stepped back”, but then I would just go and ask another question.
The surgery is quick, albeit, somewhat un-nerving, but at about two minutes per eye (which includes the suction cup, cutting the flap, and doing the laser work), it really is not a big deal and not a bit of pain during and I am happy to say no pain after either. I knew ahead of time, based on all of the information they had given me to read, and what was on the internet, what was happening moment to moment - with valium (and I really only had one). And that is about as much time as it took. Moment to moment.
The results were, for me, immediate. When I realized I was watching TV, and it was clear, without my glasses, I was overwhelmed. The next morning, I went to my appointment with the Doc, and discovered I had (and still do have) 20/15 vision (actually everyone in that office new I had 20/15 because I was screaming it up and down the halls). And a few of the folks that had surgery before and after me the previous day, were giggling and we were all slapping each other on the backs as we dropped our old glasses in the donation tub.
Now, I use a magnifying mirror to put on fake eyelashes, but don't really need it for the quick daily "make-up do". I use reading glasses for fine print and for extensive - lengthy work at the computer. It was an adjustment for sure, but in my humble opinion well worth it. I am still a frame freak, looking for readers and sunglasses with rhinestones (Artemis?), leopard print, red, etc. My new - old frames (the purple Bebe’s, the Red Hillfiger, and tiger Bebes - well my daughters inherited). And I donated another 3 pair to a women's shelter as well as the four brand new boxes of contacts I had recently purchased.
Do I regret the surgery? Not for a minute. Make the same decision again? Absolutely! I would only suggest that if you are considering this surgery, do what I did, ask questions, research-read everything you can on this process, and get more than one opinion just to be sure. Sadly, not everyone is a candidate. The health of your eyes is the biggest factor - NOT your age. And follow the before and after care to a "T". I have better night vision than I did before with either glasses or contacts, and do not have dry eyes (both are potential side effects). I used the drops as indicated and had collagen plugs (which dissolve after a few months) in my tear ducts. No problems, just occasional "tired eyes".
So, this was my winter adventure - - one well worth taking, and one in which I am more than happy with. If you are interested or have been considering Lasik - here are a few informational sites to check out as well as my own doc's site and feel free to give me a call or drop me an e-mail - I’m no expert, just a happy with Lasik kinda gal now.
http://www.lasik1.com/ * http://www.lasik-surgery.org/ http://www.lasikeyesurgery.com/
and my Doc, Dr. Peters:
http://www.peterslasik.com/correction/meet.html
