My Lasik Experience

My doodle of the human eyeball that I drew the night before surgery

First off, I am so beyond proud of myself for being brave and getting lasik. I'm what some might call "a worrier" but on Friday, I became "a warrior" and took the plunge.

Before it came time for me to get the actual procedure, I made the call to Berkeley and got in for the exam.

It was a lengthy process (3 hours) because I was doing everything all at once so that I could get the surgery the same week.

I got about three eye tests and then met with the Lasik counselor. She explained everything about the procedure, the before care, the aftercare, the financing and answered any remaining questions I had.

Then I went back for another eye exam with a doc. He dilated my eyes, did another test and gave me the okay to get the procedure. I got "the kit" with the wipes, shields, tape and drops that I would need and my procedure was scheduled for that Friday.

It's pretty remarkable that I called them on Monday, got the tests/consultation done on Tuesday and had the surgery that same Friday.

Friday was of course nerve-wracking. I had trouble sleeping the night before, but the day-of, I was ready to go.

They take you back, do another exam, you meet with the doctor and then you are taken to the pre-op area. They put booties on your feet, give you a Valium and tell you to relax. Relaxing isn't the easiest thing for me to do…

They had to give me another half a Valium, haha.

They were doing someone before me and had to calibrate the machine after that, so I waited in that room for a bit. It felt like forever, but they finally called me back. It was my turn. My designated driver sat behind a window and waved to me.

The first part of the procedure, where they cut the "C" shaped flaps was the hardest. A lot of people told me Lasik was easy, that you just see a light and then it's over. But the reality is that you do definitely feel them messing with your eyeball. You feel pressure and see things coming at your eye.

My first eye was the hardest because I didn't know what to expect and I struggled to keep my jumpiness to a minimum. Because I was more scared with the first eye, I have some bruising on my poor eyeball that will take about a week to go away.

But my doctor was SO NICE and so talented. The staff was incredible and did a great job talking me through it. They count down the time so that you know how long the steps will last.

The part where they cut the flap - is when you temporarily lose vision. That's the part that really freaked me out, but it's just a matter of a minute or two.

Once the laser gets to work, you see lights.

The laser makes a noise and you can smell a weird smell, but the laser part is MUCH easier than the flap part.

I found it very reassuring that they use the fifth generation of laser. It has a "fingerprint" of your eyeball and it literally won't start the procedure before scanning your eye and making sure it's you. And if you happen to move your eye, the laser follows it. It tracks your eye movement 125 times per second. So you don't have to be freaked out about keeping your eye perfectly still.

There's also no chance of you blinking because they hold your eye open. But you also don't feel the need to blink at all.

My body is SO REACTIVE. So if I can get through this procedure, there's a good chance that you can too. Even with a Valium and a half, I had to keenly focus on sitting still. And when I forced my head to remain still, the rest of my body trembled. Still, they said I'm not the "shakiest leaf" they've seen.

All that matters now is that I got it done.

After the procedure they sat me up and walked me out. They did another eye exam on me, put clear plastic shields over my eyes and gave me further instructions.

That day, yesterday, I went home and slept. Sleeping is key to healing, and luckily, I have no trouble sleeping during the daytime. I didn't go anywhere yesterday and I still can't do a ton this weekend, but an easy weekend is well worth perfect vision for the next several years.

As I age, there is a chance I'll need reading glasses in my 40s or 50s, but it's worth it. Right after the procedure was over, I could see. And ironically, when I got home…the Valium really kicked in.

I still reflexively push on the bridge of my nose, forgetting that I no longer need glasses.

IT IS SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO SEE. This morning (the day after surgery) I was seeing at 20/15 (better than 20/20).

Even if you go through the procedure totally terrified…you're only freaked out for 20 minutes, and then it's over. I dug deep down and pulled out a new level of bravery. If you had told me a year ago that I would do this, I would've laughed at you. But I've found that the more scary things you do in life, the less scary life seems.

I went back at 7am today and they did a check on how my eyes are healing. My next appointment is Monday and then they will get fewer and farther between.

My eyes feel a little dry and scratchy, and the one that's bruised hurts a little…but every day that goes by (and every nap I wake up from) they feel a bit better.

The technology they use nowadays is incredible, so if you qualify for the procedure, you should consider it. Luckily for me, they had a discount for teachers (hallelujah!).

By the time I get back to the classroom on Monday, I should be a lot farther in the healing process. And maybe now that I don't have glasses and I got a 3 hour hair-straightening keratin treatment, people at school will stop thinking I'm a student! Here's to hoping…

My overall rating for the Berkeley Eye Center is a solid 10 out of 10. I thank God that I found such a great place with such skilled staff to do this operation.