Seeing Clearly
I'm sitting in the waiting room, watching a steady stream of folks come in and plop down more than three grand each (one fellow counted out his payment $100 bills) for the same procedure MLB is undergoing as I write this. The CEO of a local bank just came out of the operating area, walking arm-in-arm with one of the attending nurses. He seemed to be happy with the outcome, so far.
I've just finished updating a series of webpages (offline; the waiting area has no wireless connection…how utterly 90s, surprising for a practice that's otherwise on the cutting edge of technology), listening to the breathy electronica of Imogene Heap and Goldfrapp via iTunes (that RAKR commercial was irresistible…not for the phone, but for the music), and I’m now contemplating what it might feel like to not have to wear eyeglasses or contacts for the first time in decades.
My wife's been juggling two pairs of glasses and two sets of contact lenses for years, trying to find the right combination to compensate for the seemingly inevitable deterioration of sight that comes with aging. Unlike me, she's effectively blind without corrective lenses, but custom LASIK may just succeed in rolling back the clock, at least in this one very important area. We'll know very soon.
Update: Thirty minutes have passed, and MLB just walked out, accompanied by a nurse, headed for the recovery area. She was smiling.
One hour, and forty years of deteriorating vision are banished. I've always subscribed to the philosophy that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. We live in magical times.
Toni, we just got home and she's now asleep. I think it's going to be a big success...we'll get you in there, yet. Heck, I may even do it! ;-)
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2006 01:26 PMGood luck to YLB! Tim loves his Lasik. I'm a big chicken, myself, though every year I get a little closer as I get more and more tired of glasses.
Posted by: beth at October 20, 2006 02:04 PMThanks, Beth. She had the monovision variety done, and she was able to try it out via contacts ahead of time to make sure she could adapt. She did, easily, and it gave her the confidence to go forward with the surgery.
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2006 02:26 PMVery cool. Hope YLB's recovery is quick and complete.
Posted by: Jim at October 20, 2006 02:26 PMThanks, Jim. I'll let her know, once she's awake.
This is about the only way I've found to get her to slow down enough to take a nap.
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2006 02:36 PMHey Eric, So thankful that all went well. I keep hoping that the technology that comes out in January will be enough to correct my "blindness".
So happy for D.
I am so glad it went well for her! Give her my love and like Jim I hope she recovers quickly and of course completely.
Posted by: Rachel at October 20, 2006 03:56 PMThis is about the only way I've found to get her to slow down enough to take a nap.
Yeah, and now that she can actually see where she's going...
Posted by: Jim at October 20, 2006 04:54 PMThanks, Jen and Rach...I've passed along your best wishes.
Jim, that's a scary thought. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2006 04:56 PMAwesome...glad it went well! I'm a chicken.
Posted by: gwynne at October 20, 2006 05:24 PMI had the surgery done on a Friday almost 3 years ago and I am so very pleased with the results! I had the epi-lasik, so mine was a little different than most of my friends who had the lasik surgery done. But in the end, I was so glad I went that route! I'll be praying for Debbie as she recovers during the weekend.
Sleep is the best thing - our eyes heal well while sleeping! Steve would just administer the good drugs to me and wake me up for the drops. I was obedient not to watch TV or play on the computer.
One immediate improvement - my shotgun shooting improved by no less than 10 "birds". I guess the West Texas sand had been messing with my eyesight more than I imagined!
Posted by: Janie at October 20, 2006 05:44 PMI had to play phone tag with YLB. But I wanted her to know that we were very pleased for her!
Posted by: Phyllis at October 20, 2006 06:29 PMGwynne, it just gets real serious when they start cutting on your eyeball. I think you have to be pretty, um, motivated to undergo it.
Janie, she doesn't shoot a shotgun, but perhaps her pistol accuracy will improve!
Phyllis, I think she's been on the other line when you've called, and you've been on your other line when she called you. But I'll pass along the message.
Thanks again, everyone! Things are looking good (pun intended)...
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2006 07:04 PMCool. Hope it all goes as well as it is supposed to. I would probably like that surgery as well since I wear contacts AND reading glasses when I am at the office working on the computer...Cindy says she gets it before I do. I suppose she will say I just had my surgery, but I don't think this last one counts as elective!!
Posted by: lyle at October 20, 2006 09:36 PMLyle, I think you deserve some surgery that doesn't result in excruciating pain. Well, strike that. It's not covered by insurance, which is a whole different kind of pain. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at October 22, 2006 11:28 AMAbout the publisher
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Well, I fugured that I could get an "update" here, since I couldn't get you on the phone. Hope she's still smiling! I'll check in with you both later.
Posted by: Toni at October 20, 2006 01:19 PMGlad all went well.....wish I weren't such a "chicken", or I'd do the same!