A year ago this month I had Lasik eye surgery (those were my eyes then). On paper I was the perfect candidate. The procedure was supposed to go swimmingly (it didn’t) and I expected to a perfect recovery (um, right).
During the surgery, the surgeon lost suction on my eyes 3 times. A record for him, and agony for me because my eyes were not completely numb, even though he says they were. I’ve discovered that anesthesia doesn’t work on moi like it does on others. Anyway, the “procedure” that was supposed to take about 5-10 minutes per eye took an hour and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. Not the worst, but up there. I was supposed to focus on this red light, but I couldn’t see it. I also felt much more than discomfort and it was the freakiest feeling to be in pain but not be able to shut my eyes.
After the surgery I gave a big sigh of relief. At least it was over. But the next day I found out it was not over. I had developed “stretch marks” on the corneal flap of one of my eyes and it had to be relifted and smoothed. Not terrible like the surgery, but I was a wreck.
And then my other eye developed a problem too. The edges of the flap scrunched up and the surgeon was really concerned that I would develop epithelial ingrowth. Since then my eyes have been under close scrutiny.
Today I go back for what I hope will be the last appointment with the surgeon, ever. Cross your fingers that I’ll be “set free” and I won’t have to go back anymore. It’s not that I don’t like them……but enough is enough. It’s been a year. That’s not asking too much, right?
P.S. My experience with Lasik is totally unique. I’m just one of those people who “what could happen but never does happen” happens to. Even the way my eyes looked afterwards (popped blood vessels) is not exactly normal. BUT, I have perfect vision now………..and that was the point.
About Angie
Good luck I hope everything works out this time for you.
I can’t even imagine, I struggle with just a regular eye exam.
I hate having my eyes messed with so I’m sorry for you.
oh wow, i had no idea. i cannot believe how crazy things went with your lasik. (this makes me even more freaked out about lasik than before) i hope that everything goes well today and you are finally “set free”
oh wow.
ill pray.
and also cross my fingers.
i hope your not in any pain.
and i hope tomr. goes wells
Eek! Is that really a picture of your eyes? I can’t imagine! I wince just thinking about it; it looks so painful. And you’re right, I am sure that to be in pain and not be able to shut your eyes would be very strange..
At least I can chomp down on the dentists glove if he hurts me.
Good Luck sweetie; I’ll be wishin for you.
Good luck at the appointment. I think I’ve just decided I’ll stick with my contacts.
Good luck. I hope this will be the last for you.
Good luck! Perhaps I should cancel my Lasik consultation next month..
Akkkkkkkk!! My eyes, my eyes!
That’s a terrible story. I’m crossing my fingers for your appt today!!!
Oh my….Lasik was not a fun experience and mine went swimmingly. I had it 10 years ago and it was the best money ever spent!!!!
I convinced so many people to have it done. I will think twice about doing that after hearing your experience.
Good luck and hope you don’t have to go back.
10 years later and I still have perfect vision!!!!
Ow! I won’t even get contacts because I am neurotic about things touching my eyes. To me, Lasik sounds like one of Dante’s levels of hell.
OH poor you! I hope it all works out for you.
Good Luck. Hopefully everything comes out a-ok for you. I’ve been thinking about Lasik for a while now, but just am too afraid I’d be the 1 millionth person that would look her vision.
Can I just say that I am freakishly squeamish about eyes and the thought of surgery kills me. Opening your post to that horrendous picture of horrid looking eyes has made me want to call in sick to work today. Okay, I always want to call in sick so that is a lie, but it still made me feel ghastly!
Oh that looks painful! Hope everything is going fine now!
Oh wow! I’m glad I didn’t hear your story before having my Lasik done! I would have stuck with contacts! My procedure went smoothly and quickly (not to rub it in) but I couldn’t even open my eyes for about 8 hours because they burned SO bad. Sorry to hear your experience was not too pleasant.
I had Lasik about 8 years ago. I didn’t have any problems though…
WOW. And OUCH! After reading this post, I definitely will stick with glasses.
So I guess they won’t be using you in their commercials anytime soon?
Good Luck! So sorry to hear about your Lasik traumas.
For those considering, Mine went great, and the next day I threw away glasses and contacts forever and I couldn’t be happier. Angie’s complications are really rare.
Woof! Now I know why I will never have lasik! Ouch! Crossing my fingers for you!!
Ahh you poor thing.
My hubby had it about 7 years ago with minor problems after. He still said it was worth it.
I was not able to have the surgery. My corneas were too thing. “You can have the surgery, but will most likely need corneal replacement in the future if so. Wanna do it?” Um, hell no.
Oh yikes! Good Luck!
love your blog I want to know how to make a button and signature
Your poor eyes is that right now???
Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Consider my fingers crossed.
Oh, and I tried the whole hose down with the potty training. Helped the next day, but I guess I need to do it again! If it doesn’t work, I may just have to send him to your house for some relief…what’s one more, right?? ha!
♡ That just makes me cringe! OUCH! I hope everything goes great with your appointment!
Hope everything went well and that you got a great prognosis at your appointment. I’ve got pretty bad eyesight (aka, “blind as a bat”), but have always been afraid of doing Lasik, although my eye doctor continues to encourage me.
Hope it goes well at your appointment. I can’t believe all that went wrong with your surgery- scary!
Oh wow. Good luck. That sounds miserable and looks miserable. I hope you can be done with that. I have always wanted to get Lasik, but now I am a little scared.
Whew!! That looked painful and your description just confirmed that it was. I do hope that this is your last time – for your sake!
Oh my!! I had the PRK (which is when they scrape that top epithelial layer, whereas the Lasik they actually cut the flap and peel it back). My procedure went very well, except of course the freezing wears off before you are lying unconscious in your bed. That part was agony. As was the next four days. The recovery is longer with PRK (except in your case!) but Lasik has more potential problems. Now, seeing your eyes, I’m glad I didn’t qualify for the Lasik procedure! Oi!
I still notice blurry vision when I get tired, and my eyes dry out a lot.
BUT still I am soooo glad I had it done! There are so many things you take for granted when you’ve always had perfect vision (like my husband). For example seeing the alarm clock, swimming, not running over dead fish when you are waterskiing!
Good luck to you today!
Ummm… that is my worst nightmare. That and natural child birth.
Good luck, Angie – I’ll be thinking happy thoughts for you!
Wow, Angie, that sucks! I, like Rhonda, had PRK and would do it again in a second! And I know at least 10 family members/close friends who had lasiks done and none of them had any complications.
Don’t you just love when the really rare stuff is saved just for you?! Good luck!:)
Good luck with the appointment. The picture of your eyes made my eyes water.
I have a very strange thing with my eyes. I won’t let anyone near them. Looking at sharp objects makes me and my eyes uncomfortable. I am an organ donor and everyone in my family knows that they can have anything they want EXCEPT my eyes or any parts of them!
Holy Moly! Your poor eye’s and poor you! The more I read the more I thought to myself how could there be more to this story? YIKES! I hope you get a clean bill of eyeball health good luck.
Ummm. YIKES! You poor thing! Good luck today. I will think good thoughts for you!
geez, thank the good lord for my eye sight. Also, thank him for making sure after all that pain you went through that you are all better…. good luck
I have been wanting to get that done for ages, but I am too chicken. lol. I hate pain. Now, I’m really scared. But I’ll probably do it before too long. My contacts really mess with me. I have very sensitive eyes. Have a great day!
Praying that your precious, yes precious eyes are much better now!!! Glad you NOW have perfect vision!
Hope the appointment went well!
~Elyse~
I ad to scroll down and read because looking at your eyes just hurt me. I hope that this will end. Here’s to always be that one sister! I wish I could say I did not know what you were talking about but you know different.
Oh my!!! I hope your appointment goes well and you can enjoy your perfect vision without any further thoughts of eye surgeons.
Those eyes scared the bejeezus out of me AGAIN!! Cossing my fingers for you:)
I sure hope you get a clean bill of health on your eyes..eeks..I have had way too many eye surgeries (detached retina), and I know all about the discomforts of eye surgery. Glad your vision is perfect:) after all that!!!
Praying for all to go well… so sorry you have had problems with it… I’ve been thinking about it, but may wait a while now…
J/
Sorry, but that’s the worst picture ever? I’m glad you see well? Any problems with the dry eyes issue? Good luck today! Hubby sooooo needs eyes done…but now I’m officially freaked.
And guess what? I get to have the pin taken out of my foot…NOT supposed to happen…back to the hospital even…
Yikes! Good luck today!
AHHHH! I am glad you have good vision now though. I have been wanting my dad to get this done. I’m glad I read your story, although it was unique.
Okay, I am a tad nervous to have lasik done now. That looks so very unpleasant. Did everything come out okay?
Good luck – my fingers are crossed that it’s all over for you!
OMG that is horrifying – I’m sorry it’s been such an ordeal for you!
On the plus side, I’m glad your vision is great now. 🙂
I may never recover from that post though. ewwwwww. too squeamish for my own good.
Glad you can see so well! Hope you are ‘free.’ Thanks for visiting – we have twins too. 😉
Ouch! The picture looks so painfull! And what a bummer to get stretch marks in your eyes…as if strech marks on you butt was not bad enough! The things we go through hugh!
Good luck!
OMG, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds absolutely excruciating!! Hope your appt today went well and that you’ve been “set free”!
Oh, I hope everything went as it should.
That picture looks so painful!!
Holy Commenters! I guess you struck a nerve with this post!
The way I see it.. everything is 50/50. It either happens to you or it doesn’t.
What a horrible experience!
Here is to your new “freedom”!
That wasn’t very nice putting that photo up there on top. Ouch! My eyes are tearing and they hurt now (I’m big with sympathy pain). I hope your appointment goes well and I’m envious of your perfect vision!! Every time I need to buy more contacts I think about Lasik. I’m terrified of it, though!
3 years ago I went in for an appointment to get this surgery. But since I was breast feeding they told me to come back 3 months after I quit. I’m glad I decided three months after I quit that it wouldn’t be worth it if I lost sight or something else. Cause I totally believe I would be the 1 case out of hundreds that would go wrong. Prayers that your eye’s don’t require more work.
Oh man. I remember that. I hope you are cleared!
A year…already? It really doesn’t seem like your surgery was that long ago.
Hoping you are set free!
I was thinking, I really shouldn’t be reading this because one day I want to have Lasik surgery.
Hope everything goes ok with your appointment.
I hope you get the clean bill of health. I know there are quite a few things I would like to have done but I always think that I will be that 1% who gets all the “possible issues”.
Holy cow girl! IT always happens to you! I could NOT even look at your poor eyes {I had to scroll down and cover em up} I’m glad that it all worked out in the end!
Holy smokes!!! I cringed…. Your poor eyes!
66 comments, sheesh Angie you are a popular woman!! And I am freaked out by your experience, but I am glad you have perfect vision now. My hair looks longer because I had clip on extensions in that day. 😉 Thanks for always being so interested and in touch, I guess what goes around comes around and that’s why you are the most popular blogger I know!
Oh my gosh! How horrid! I’m also one of those people who usually falls into the “happens to 2% or less” category
I’ve been wishing for the surgery for so long, but your story turns my stomach a little. I hope when I get there that my experience turns out more optimally! Hope you get the all clear soon!
Best of luck to you! Visiting from MBC! My DD who’s 25 wants to get Lasik and she has no clue. I saw eyes like yours when one of my co-workers had hers done, and I had no clue at the time…guess I’ll continue to wear my bifocals ~ but I wouldn’t discourage anyone else from having it done if needed!