They lied and I had to spend ~$200 on 'roids/antibiotics.
When I had the final consult immediately before the laser, I was a bit worried when Herr Doktor Ernst was examining my preop data and mulling something over, finally saying "Hmm well I don't know if our assistant talked to you about this but I would not be willing to perform LASIK on you..."
I was like, sweet, I'm about to be one of those wrong foot cut off type patients. I need PRK!
Well the surgery was fun. It looked like the Death Star looming over me. Removing the epithial layers hurt just a little bit. Getting shot by the laser is painless but you do notice the smell of burnt hair or flesh. That didn't bother me at all. Knowing they were scraping part of my eyeball away was a lot worse. They asked if I wanted to hold a stuffed animal while getting zapped... I was like, uh, are you serious?
The procedure was pretty quick. I would have been fine to drive afterwards and was in high spirits (wonder if it was the valium talking?) I've never done drugs, but a few more of these surgeries is gonna get me hooked! The first night was by far the worst. I barely slept at all and started getting nauseated from the pain. Apparently I was supposed to pick up a drug called Neurontin. Trouble was, a perscription was never written. With all the drugs I was buying, I didn't realize I was missing one, and didn't until the 3 day check up.
Day 1 I was somewhat uncomfortable. The checkup revealed I was seeing approximately 20/40, with high sensitivity to light.
Day 2 was approximately the same, when some additional discomfort caused by the contacts became noticable.
Day 3 was not too bad - especially after I had the contacts removed at 0930. To me (a long-time contact wearer) they were not especially burdensome, but I didn't realize how dry they had become until they were out. My right eye has been fine, feeling almost like pre-op at most times. The left gives me some pain now and then. Strangely enough, the checkups suggested it was behind the right eye in healing of the epithelium, but a bit better in visual acuity.
In contrast with a lot of others' experience, my eyes were not all that dry through the course of the 3 first days. I only took a few of the lubricating drops, although I am taking more now out of caution. Maybe it was just me being used to wearing dry contacts.
Tonight I'm feeling pretty good, having switched to the FML (Flarex, the switching of terminology had me a bit confused and thinking I needed to buy another drug) steroid and ceased the Acular anti-inflammatory drops. I watched a movie with no discomfort and have been fine with all the lights on inside, although I type this wearing my Neo sunglasses. Hey, if I don't get anything out of this, I got a sweet pair of shades for $4,100!
