Finally, a REAL
Solution to Short & Long Sight
A
keen techno buff, I always like to keep up with the latest
opportunities science offers. So, I have watched with interest
for about 15 years, while the techniques of eye surgery for
correcting both short and long sightedness has steadily improved
and finally become more readily available.
Pioneered
by a Russian who died recently in a tragic helicopter accident,
the procedure has changed dramatically since those early days.
With access to developments in laser and other optical resources,
it is now possible to have the very minor operation performed in a
matter of seconds, with a healing and recovery rate measured in
mere hours!
My
operation has been performed by Lazersight in Hamilton by Dr
Douglas Cox, an Ophthalmic Surgeon with considerable experience
with this type of procedure.
The
particular procedure I have received is called Lasik, or
colloquially, "flap and zap!" This particular development in
laser eye surgery involves two steps: the removal of a flap and
then the laser procedure which reshapes the surface of the eye to
change the way light focuses on the back of the cornea. The flap
is then replaced and allowed to heal.
As
I write this, my second eye, the left eye, is due to be lasered
next Tuesday at 2.45pm. The first was done on the 6th June with
the second originally planned for the 27th June. However, the
machine broke down on the patient immediately before me (with no
complications other than the frustration for her of having to
return one week later for the completion of her operation) and
mine was rescheduled for 11th July.
The
whole process takes a minimum of two to three weeks at the very
best, and this depends on being able to arrange for the necessary
examinations and checks by an independent eye care professional
before making the appointment for the first eye.
The
procedure on the day of operation at Hamilton consisted of a
morning appointment to check refractions and do various
measurements and have a final check by the surgeon of your
prescription. There is then time for a leisurely lunch before
returning for the actual operation in the afternoon.
Immediately
upon returning the nurse preps you with local anesthetic to the
eye to be treated. After a short wait for the drops to take
effect, you are led into the theatre where you are invited to lie
down comfortably on a couch. A special pillow is placed under
your head that holds the head in the optimum position and the
surgeon tapes back the eye lids out of the way.
The couch
is swung under the machine and a blade passes across the eye to
slice the flap under which the laser will reshape the eye. There
is absolutely no discomfort at all, in fact, it is really quite an
enjoyable experience as you have the opportunity to observe the
entire operation from below, although, not of course, with great
clarity!
The
only requirement upon you, is the necessity to remain absolutely
still and allow no movement of the eye whatsoever. However, as
the entire procedure takes only a few seconds, maybe a minute and
a half at the outside, this is hardly difficult. Bear in mind
that half of that time is taken up with the Excimer slicing the
flap in preparation for the laser. Sometimes it is possible to
smell a slight burning smell as the laser burns matter away.
Then,
it is over, and the nurse invites you to stand and you are led
away prior to a transparent cap being placed over the treated eye
to protect it over the next few hours.
It
is perfectly possible to see out of the eye immediately after
surgery, however, due to the local anesthetic wearing off quite
rapidly, the eye begins watering quite badly and there is some
pain that begins to assert itself rather remorseless as well.
However, the trick is to take a good dose of your preferred pain
killer, aspirin, disprin or paracetemol. Lazersight provide you
with some Paracetemol and two sleeping pills to help you through.
However, as Paracetemol does not work for me, I spent about 4 or 5
hours in considerable discomfort! I finally fell asleep about 8pm
and when I woke at 10pm all pain had gone.
On
Tuesday I will take 4 Extra Strength Disprin and ignore the
provided pain killers! I have every expectation of having
minimal discomfort.
The
next day you front up at the surgery for the removal of the cap
and the surgeon checks over the operation and you're away. The
results for me the first time, immediately upon removal of the
cap, was simply fantastic , and I could not stop smiling! I
expect a similar experience the second time.
As
a matter of fact, at this point, I can hardly wait, as I am
totally frustrated by having to endure the imperfect vision from
my left eye. You may think that a solution to this would be to
take the lens out of the glasses you wore previously, however, it
does not work like that. The registration is totally different,
and the discomfort of trying to see in that fashion renders the
exercise of no value. The only thing to do is tough it out until
the next operation.
I
am, at this point, totally satisfied with the procedure. To any
one contemplating the operation I can say, as several people to
whom I spoke who had already had the operation said to me, "Do
it. Don't hesitate. You will have only one regret, that it was
not possible years ago!"
I
will report back here after the second eye has been done to
complete the record. Click for
Update.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to
contact me.
Some links worth checking out to do with laser
surgery for the correction of short and long sight.
RUI LaserNet Photorefractive Surgery
[First
Update] [Final
Update] [Lazersight - Page One]
[John Carlisle's Web Portal
featuring links to Tall Ships,Burn Support and more.]
www.jbc.gen.nz
