It's been six days since my PRK surgery and today I had my first follow-up appointment at the laser eye center.
A fellow (I think? I didn't catch his name or title) came in and examined my eye, tested my vision, and removed the contact lens bandage. He used some scary looking tweezer instrument to grab the edge of the contact and then kind of slid it off my eye. Ouch! That hurt and it felt like there was something in my eye for the rest of the day.
My surgeon then came in and said everything looked great and I was seeing 20/30! It seems like my vision is way worse than that, but I'm having some pretty significant sensitivity and starbursts around lights which makes it hard to see especially when I'm outside.
I'm to stop the antibiotic in Friday and decrease the steroid drops to two times per day until I run out, at which point I need to continue a lower-level steroid for two more months. My next follow-up appointment is in about a month, at which point we'll hopefully schedule the Visian ICL surgery for my left eye!
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Monday, December 19, 2016
PRK Days 1-4: Surgery, Healing, Sleeping, and So Many Eye Drops
I have been trying to stay away from screens for the last few days to let my eye heal, so this post will include information about my surgery day and the 3 days following.
In the past few weeks, I filled my eye drop prescriptions (which were sent directly to the laser center) and talked to the nurse at the laser eye center who walked me through the entire procedure. On surgery day, I woke up around 5:30 AM, showered, and had my partner drive me 30 minutes to the surgery center. He dropped me off and I walked into the center for my 6:30 appointment. I paid for the surgery ($1700) with my credit card for the cash back, and will submit my receipt later to my FSA for reimbursement--yay for pre-tax health expenses!
I was the only one in the lobby at 6:30 AM, and was quickly taken back to a room where a nurse took my blood pressure. Then I was asked if I was ready, I said yes. I was given a hairnet and booties to cover my shoes and taken to an other room where I was given several rounds of numbing drops a few minutes apart each. After I was completely numbed, the nurse spread iodine on my right eye and patched my left eye. I only had surgery on my right eye today, since my left eye will get a Visian ICL implant in a few months.
My surgeon greeted me in scrubs and I was then led into the laser surgery room. I was laid down with a pillow under the laser machine. My head was positioned directly under it and my numbed eye was held open by some contraption. The surgeon then told me to look directly into the green light, which was centered between a circle of white lights. It's hard to remember exactly what happened next, since my eye was covered with liquid at times and my surgeon didn't explain what was going on, just kept telling me to keep looking at the green light. At one point I smelled burning hair and within a few minutes, it was over!
She applied the bandage contact lens and I was led to another room, left eye un-patched, removed my hairnet and booties, and the surgeon examined my eye. I could see! My vision wasn't perfect, and everything seemed very bright, but already I could tell my vision was going to be so, so much better than it had been for most of my life.
I was taken to another room to rest before my afternoon follow up appointment. I drank some water, ate some snacks, and the nurse explained my aftercare regime for the first week:
I woke up and tried really hard to avoid screens. I started listening to Serial podcast so I could close my eyes and avoid any strain. My vision was still pretty good, but as the day went on, my eye started to burn and feel like it had sand in it. My eye was watering a lot by the evening, and I was regretting not filling the prescription painkiller the doctor prescribed! I kept taking ibuprofen and and lubricant eye drops. I would get some relief, then nap, then wake up with painful watery eyes. I went to sleep early again.
Today I woke up and the puffy eyelid had completely cleared up--yay! You know when you lay down or fall asleep after you've been crying and your eyelids puff up? I think that's what happened to me two nights ago. My eyes were watering non-stop from the pain, and then I went to sleep and they kept watering. I haven't had puffy eyes since so I don't think it has to do with eye drop preservatives.
I have my next follow-up appointment in a couple of days, where the surgeon will remove my contact lens bandage.
Day 1: PRK Surgery Day
In the past few weeks, I filled my eye drop prescriptions (which were sent directly to the laser center) and talked to the nurse at the laser eye center who walked me through the entire procedure. On surgery day, I woke up around 5:30 AM, showered, and had my partner drive me 30 minutes to the surgery center. He dropped me off and I walked into the center for my 6:30 appointment. I paid for the surgery ($1700) with my credit card for the cash back, and will submit my receipt later to my FSA for reimbursement--yay for pre-tax health expenses!
I was the only one in the lobby at 6:30 AM, and was quickly taken back to a room where a nurse took my blood pressure. Then I was asked if I was ready, I said yes. I was given a hairnet and booties to cover my shoes and taken to an other room where I was given several rounds of numbing drops a few minutes apart each. After I was completely numbed, the nurse spread iodine on my right eye and patched my left eye. I only had surgery on my right eye today, since my left eye will get a Visian ICL implant in a few months.
My surgeon greeted me in scrubs and I was then led into the laser surgery room. I was laid down with a pillow under the laser machine. My head was positioned directly under it and my numbed eye was held open by some contraption. The surgeon then told me to look directly into the green light, which was centered between a circle of white lights. It's hard to remember exactly what happened next, since my eye was covered with liquid at times and my surgeon didn't explain what was going on, just kept telling me to keep looking at the green light. At one point I smelled burning hair and within a few minutes, it was over!
She applied the bandage contact lens and I was led to another room, left eye un-patched, removed my hairnet and booties, and the surgeon examined my eye. I could see! My vision wasn't perfect, and everything seemed very bright, but already I could tell my vision was going to be so, so much better than it had been for most of my life.
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| Eye Drops |
- antibiotic drops four times per day
- steroid drops four times per day
- NSAID two times per day (for just 3 days)
- preservative-free lubricant eye drops every hour when awake
- Ibuprofen four times per day
- vitamin C once a day
Day 2: Ouch!
I woke up and tried really hard to avoid screens. I started listening to Serial podcast so I could close my eyes and avoid any strain. My vision was still pretty good, but as the day went on, my eye started to burn and feel like it had sand in it. My eye was watering a lot by the evening, and I was regretting not filling the prescription painkiller the doctor prescribed! I kept taking ibuprofen and and lubricant eye drops. I would get some relief, then nap, then wake up with painful watery eyes. I went to sleep early again.
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| Swollen Eyelid |
Day 3: Feeling Great
Today I woke up feeling much better, I had no pain but my eyelids were super swollen! They weren't swollen shut, just really puffy. This was a Sunday and the laser center was closed so I decided to call the hospital to speak to the ophthalmologist on call. I got through right away and explained that my eyelids were puffy, but my eye had no pain, no redness, and my vision was the same as yesterday. She said it could be a reaction to the procedure or the a preservative in one of the prescription eye drops, and unless my vision was worse or I had pain it wasn't urgent. I stayed home for the rest of the day listening to podcasts, napped a lot, and went to bed early again. I think I've slept an average of 15-18 hours a day for these past three days!Day 4: Still Feeling Great
Today I woke up and the puffy eyelid had completely cleared up--yay! You know when you lay down or fall asleep after you've been crying and your eyelids puff up? I think that's what happened to me two nights ago. My eyes were watering non-stop from the pain, and then I went to sleep and they kept watering. I haven't had puffy eyes since so I don't think it has to do with eye drop preservatives.
I have my next follow-up appointment in a couple of days, where the surgeon will remove my contact lens bandage.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Consultation Follow-Up Success
After failing my last follow-up appointment by wearing my contact lenses (which can change the shape of your cornea and skew the measurements needed for PRK), today was my rescheduled follow-up to make sure all of the measurements taken at my September consultation appointment were accurate.
Today was truly a repeat of my September appointment. The assistant checked prescription using the phoropter, and then I was led to a couple of different rooms where other measurements were taken (sorry, still not sure what they all are for or called!).
The surgeon then came into the room and said my measurements were all the same as my September appointment and we are good to go for the PRK surgery in December! I was told not to wear my glasses for at least a week before the procedure and that I would need to fill some eye drop prescriptions before the surgery.
Success!
Today was truly a repeat of my September appointment. The assistant checked prescription using the phoropter, and then I was led to a couple of different rooms where other measurements were taken (sorry, still not sure what they all are for or called!).
The surgeon then came into the room and said my measurements were all the same as my September appointment and we are good to go for the PRK surgery in December! I was told not to wear my glasses for at least a week before the procedure and that I would need to fill some eye drop prescriptions before the surgery.
Success!
Monday, November 7, 2016
Consultation Follow-Up Failure
So to recap, my right eye is very myopic (-6.50 sphere, +1.50 cylinder) and my left is is very, very myopic (-11.00 sphere, +.25 cylinder). I can see about 3 inches in front of my face, which means I need contacts or glasses to do anything, including reading books and computer work. At my last appointment my surgeon told me I am a candidate for PRK in my right eye and probably Visian ICL in my left eye.
Today I had my follow-up appointment to double-check my prescription and eye measurements for my right eye PRK surgery in December, and to have the chamber between my cornea and natural lens measured to make sure I'm a candidate for left eye Visian ICL which will be scheduled after the PRK surgery.
I went to work this morning before my appointment and wore my contact lenses. I took them out right before my appointment. When the assistant came into the room to check my prescription, I asked if wearing my contacts right before this appointment was okay since they make my eyes red and uncomfortable. To my surprise he said yes, I would have to reschedule my appointment! The surgeon then came in and said that soft contacts can sometimes change the shape of the cornea, and that someone (not sure who) should have told me not to wear my contacts for one week before this appointment and my original consultation in September! I swear, nobody ever told me that and now I feel silly for not knowing or asking before my first appointment.
The surgeon did say that I could still have my chamber measured for the ICL. I was taken to another room that had a reclining chair kind of like a dentist's chair. Another doctor explained that he was going to do an ultrasound to get very specific measurements of the inside of my eyeball. Apparently getting the correct size of the Visian ICL is incredibly important for accurate correction, avoiding endothelial cell loss, and avoiding cataracts caused by the ICL touching the natural lens, and the ultrasound is the most accurate way to determine your ICL size. I laid back in the chair and he numbed my eye and placed a silicone tube thing under my eyelids, which held my eye open and created a cup that he then poured cold liquid into. He asked me to look straight ahead and rubbed the ultrasound probe thingy all over the front of my eyeball. It was truly one of the strangest experiences I have ever had.
I rescheduled my follow-up appointment for two weeks from today, and won't wear my contact lenses at all between now and then.
Today I had my follow-up appointment to double-check my prescription and eye measurements for my right eye PRK surgery in December, and to have the chamber between my cornea and natural lens measured to make sure I'm a candidate for left eye Visian ICL which will be scheduled after the PRK surgery.
I went to work this morning before my appointment and wore my contact lenses. I took them out right before my appointment. When the assistant came into the room to check my prescription, I asked if wearing my contacts right before this appointment was okay since they make my eyes red and uncomfortable. To my surprise he said yes, I would have to reschedule my appointment! The surgeon then came in and said that soft contacts can sometimes change the shape of the cornea, and that someone (not sure who) should have told me not to wear my contacts for one week before this appointment and my original consultation in September! I swear, nobody ever told me that and now I feel silly for not knowing or asking before my first appointment.
The surgeon did say that I could still have my chamber measured for the ICL. I was taken to another room that had a reclining chair kind of like a dentist's chair. Another doctor explained that he was going to do an ultrasound to get very specific measurements of the inside of my eyeball. Apparently getting the correct size of the Visian ICL is incredibly important for accurate correction, avoiding endothelial cell loss, and avoiding cataracts caused by the ICL touching the natural lens, and the ultrasound is the most accurate way to determine your ICL size. I laid back in the chair and he numbed my eye and placed a silicone tube thing under my eyelids, which held my eye open and created a cup that he then poured cold liquid into. He asked me to look straight ahead and rubbed the ultrasound probe thingy all over the front of my eyeball. It was truly one of the strangest experiences I have ever had.
I rescheduled my follow-up appointment for two weeks from today, and won't wear my contact lenses at all between now and then.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Consultation Appointment: Approved for PRK and (probably) ICL
Today I had my consultation appointment for refractive surgery at my local university hospital, where I learned what my options are for correcting my terrible vision.
First the assistant tested my vision and asked if I needed a new glasses prescription at the appointment today. Since's it's been a year since my last exam, I said yes. The assistant said my prescription hadn't changed in the last year (he compared it to my old prescription I brought in)--yay! My current prescription is:
Right: -6.50 (sphere), +1.5 (cylinder)
Left: -11.00 (sphere), +.25 (cylinder)
My eyes have always had very different prescriptions, with the left being way worse, even though the cataract is in my right eye. I think that it's uncommon to have such different vision in both eyes, but I'm not sure.
At this appointment they did a bunch of tests in different rooms, where different people took measurements of my cornea and other parts of my eyes, dilated my eyes, rechecked my prescription after dilation, and then I met with the ophthalmologist who will be doing my surgeries. Our visit was short and sweet. She said I am a candidate for PRK (photorefractive keratectomy - like LASIK with without the flap) in my right eye and probably Visian ICL (implantable collamer lens or sometimes called implantable contact lens) in my left eye. She said "probably" because they would need to do one more test to make sure the chamber between my cornea and natural lens was big enough for the Visian ICL to fit. I asked about clear lens exchange for my right eye, since that's what another ophthalmologist had recommended at my last consultation 7-8 years ago, but she said she would not perform that procedure on a 30 year old since I would lose my ability to "accommodate" and no longer be able to see close up. Everyone needs reading glasses by age 40-50, so I still have 10-20 years left to read without glasses and I would not want to lose that!
The ophthalmologist then told me that since the surgeries take place at different locations (Visian ICL at the hospital and PRK at the laser center), she would perform PRK first and then ICL a couple of months later. She then sent me to talk to the refractive counselor who could answer any other questions I had and discuss payment and scheduling.
The counselor was very knowledgeable and nice, and let me know that she had also had PRK at this center! Honestly, before this appointment I had researched lasik, CLE, and ICL but hadn't read much about PRK. I asked her a bunch of questions about possible complications, the healing process, etc. The counselor reassured me that the procedure was very conservative with a lower complication rate than lasik, and could be repeated if revisions were necessary. She also put my mind at ease when she said that this center (which is actually part of the local university hospital) and my surgeon are very conservative and only approve about half of the people who have consultations. I like that they seem driven by the latest research and helping people see, rather than making a lot of money by doing hundreds of procedures a day.
We scheduled a follow-up appointment for early November where they will double-check every measurement to make sure the laser is perfectly calibrated for PRK in my right eye, and measure the space in my left eye to make sure there is enough space for the ICL. We scheduled PRK for mid-December when I'll have a couple of weeks off work to heal, and will schedule the ICL surgery after I have PRK.
When I got home I spent some time reading about my ophthalmologist. She's an MD with over 10 years of experience, who specializes in corneal, cataract, and refractive surgeries. She completed a fellowship after her medical degree in these specializations, and has great reviews online. I have thought about having another consultation at another center to compare options and prices, but feel confident with this surgeon and center.
First the assistant tested my vision and asked if I needed a new glasses prescription at the appointment today. Since's it's been a year since my last exam, I said yes. The assistant said my prescription hadn't changed in the last year (he compared it to my old prescription I brought in)--yay! My current prescription is:
Right: -6.50 (sphere), +1.5 (cylinder)
Left: -11.00 (sphere), +.25 (cylinder)
My eyes have always had very different prescriptions, with the left being way worse, even though the cataract is in my right eye. I think that it's uncommon to have such different vision in both eyes, but I'm not sure.
At this appointment they did a bunch of tests in different rooms, where different people took measurements of my cornea and other parts of my eyes, dilated my eyes, rechecked my prescription after dilation, and then I met with the ophthalmologist who will be doing my surgeries. Our visit was short and sweet. She said I am a candidate for PRK (photorefractive keratectomy - like LASIK with without the flap) in my right eye and probably Visian ICL (implantable collamer lens or sometimes called implantable contact lens) in my left eye. She said "probably" because they would need to do one more test to make sure the chamber between my cornea and natural lens was big enough for the Visian ICL to fit. I asked about clear lens exchange for my right eye, since that's what another ophthalmologist had recommended at my last consultation 7-8 years ago, but she said she would not perform that procedure on a 30 year old since I would lose my ability to "accommodate" and no longer be able to see close up. Everyone needs reading glasses by age 40-50, so I still have 10-20 years left to read without glasses and I would not want to lose that!
The ophthalmologist then told me that since the surgeries take place at different locations (Visian ICL at the hospital and PRK at the laser center), she would perform PRK first and then ICL a couple of months later. She then sent me to talk to the refractive counselor who could answer any other questions I had and discuss payment and scheduling.
The counselor was very knowledgeable and nice, and let me know that she had also had PRK at this center! Honestly, before this appointment I had researched lasik, CLE, and ICL but hadn't read much about PRK. I asked her a bunch of questions about possible complications, the healing process, etc. The counselor reassured me that the procedure was very conservative with a lower complication rate than lasik, and could be repeated if revisions were necessary. She also put my mind at ease when she said that this center (which is actually part of the local university hospital) and my surgeon are very conservative and only approve about half of the people who have consultations. I like that they seem driven by the latest research and helping people see, rather than making a lot of money by doing hundreds of procedures a day.
We scheduled a follow-up appointment for early November where they will double-check every measurement to make sure the laser is perfectly calibrated for PRK in my right eye, and measure the space in my left eye to make sure there is enough space for the ICL. We scheduled PRK for mid-December when I'll have a couple of weeks off work to heal, and will schedule the ICL surgery after I have PRK.
When I got home I spent some time reading about my ophthalmologist. She's an MD with over 10 years of experience, who specializes in corneal, cataract, and refractive surgeries. She completed a fellowship after her medical degree in these specializations, and has great reviews online. I have thought about having another consultation at another center to compare options and prices, but feel confident with this surgeon and center.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Refractive Surgery Consultation Scheduled!
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| My Polar Cataract (see the white dot in the middle?) |
Here's some background about my eye situation. I was born with a polar anterior cataract in my right eye. It's very small (but still visible if you look hard enough), completely opaque, and right in the center of my eye. The cataract hasn't ever changed shape or size. I had an eyepatch over my left eye when I was 3 or 4 since the eye doctor was worried that I might develop a lazy eye since not as much light can get into the cataract eye, making it much weaker.
Then, in sixth grade around age 12, my eyesight started to deteriorate in both eyes and I became myopic. I started wearing soft contacts around 13, which I wore everyday. I got my first pair of glasses at 16 or 17, to wear when I was too lazy to put in my contacts.
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| My Glasses |
every year. I had a consultation for refractive surgery when I was 22 or 23, before I went to grad school. I knew my vision was not stable but I wanted to see what my options were, since I was already completely blind without contacts or glasses. The ophthalmologist then told me that I could have clear lens exchange (cataract surgery) in my right eye, and an implantable contact lens (Visian ICL) in my left eye since the vision in my left eye was too poor for LASIK.
My vision continued to get worse every year until I was about 28. Now I'm 30, done with grad school, live in a city with fantastic health care, have a real job with a good salary and an FSA, and so I've scheduled a consultation to see what my options are! I'll update as I go through this process.
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