Well, I had my next follow up appointment and am still seeing 20/15 out of my left (ICL) eye. The vision in my right (PRK) eye has regressed from 20/25 to 20/40. I go in for another appointment in four months and if the 20/40 vision has stabilized, I can have a touch up if I want. I'm not sure if I do, I think it would be at full cost. Something to think about.
My dry eye in my right (PRK) eye has improved slightly, maybe. My surgeon said it looks better than at my last appointment, but I can't really tell. I'm not looking forward to allergy season starting in a couple of months, but I will just keep using the rewetting drops and hope for the best!
Showing posts with label PRK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PRK. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Monday, April 17, 2017
ICL Month 1 / PRK Month 4: Another Follow-Up Appointment
Last week I had another follow-up appointment. Everything was good. ICL vault was still high but not causing any inflammation and not blocking the iridotomy so the vault probably won't cause increased eye pressure (glaucoma). The white haze or fog I was experiencing in my left (ICL) eye is much, much better and I feel like my ability to see contrast is nearly back to "normal."
I could (barely, after staring for a while) read all of the letters on the 20/20 line with my right (PRK) eye and easily read all of the 20/15 letters with my left (ICL) eye. In practice, my vision out of my right eye definitely does not seem like 20/20. When it's bright/sunny, which is almost every day here, the glare makes everything in the distance blurry and I can't read even large street signs, even with sunglasses on. I don't know if this has really gotten better in the last few months so we'll see if it improves any more. Vision out of my ICL eye is incredible during the day. It's good at night too, but I do see halos around lights still.
Interestingly, my aniseikonia has switched, so now the picture out of my right eye is smaller than the vision out of my left eye! Not only is the right eye image smaller, but it's slightly shorter, like everything is slightly squished vertically. It's been difficult to get used to, and I notice it most when I'm reading. It's like my eyes aren't working together completely, which maybe they never were and I just never paid as much attention to my vision as I have in the past four months.
Allergy season for me has also started so I've started taking antihistamines everyday. This has made my eyes drier but it's not too bad. I'm trying to use less of the preservative free lubricating eye drops but sometimes I still need them. I'm going to try Systane gel drops to see if that relieves the dryness, especially over night.
I'll have another follow up appointment in two months!
I could (barely, after staring for a while) read all of the letters on the 20/20 line with my right (PRK) eye and easily read all of the 20/15 letters with my left (ICL) eye. In practice, my vision out of my right eye definitely does not seem like 20/20. When it's bright/sunny, which is almost every day here, the glare makes everything in the distance blurry and I can't read even large street signs, even with sunglasses on. I don't know if this has really gotten better in the last few months so we'll see if it improves any more. Vision out of my ICL eye is incredible during the day. It's good at night too, but I do see halos around lights still.
Interestingly, my aniseikonia has switched, so now the picture out of my right eye is smaller than the vision out of my left eye! Not only is the right eye image smaller, but it's slightly shorter, like everything is slightly squished vertically. It's been difficult to get used to, and I notice it most when I'm reading. It's like my eyes aren't working together completely, which maybe they never were and I just never paid as much attention to my vision as I have in the past four months.
Allergy season for me has also started so I've started taking antihistamines everyday. This has made my eyes drier but it's not too bad. I'm trying to use less of the preservative free lubricating eye drops but sometimes I still need them. I'm going to try Systane gel drops to see if that relieves the dryness, especially over night.
I'll have another follow up appointment in two months!
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
ICL Day 7 / PRK Month 3: Follow-Up Appointment
Today I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon, which is one week since my ICL surgery (left eye) and about 3 months since my PRK surgery (right eye).
My appointment was quick, my surgeon and her fellow looked inside my eyes and tested my vision on the Snellen chart. I could see most of the 20/20 line with my right eye and all of the 20/20 line with my left eye! Together, I could read the 20/15 line. I didn't use many lubricating drops today and my appointment was in the afternoon so maybe my eyes were drier than they were right after my surgery, who knows. They also tested my eye pressure which is normal.
My appointment was quick, my surgeon and her fellow looked inside my eyes and tested my vision on the Snellen chart. I could see most of the 20/20 line with my right eye and all of the 20/20 line with my left eye! Together, I could read the 20/15 line. I didn't use many lubricating drops today and my appointment was in the afternoon so maybe my eyes were drier than they were right after my surgery, who knows. They also tested my eye pressure which is normal.
PRK Update (3 months post-surgery)
My PRK eye is doing well. I still see starbursts around lights regardless of whether it's bright or dark in the environment. If I squint, they go away, so I don't know if it is due to residual astigmatism, higher-order aberrations, or what. It's gotten really sunny here in the past month or two and I also have really bad glare with in the bright sunlight, even with sunglasses on. This makes it really hard to read street signs because I'll have double or triple vision in my right eye.
ICL Update (1 week post-surgery)
My ICL eye also seems to be doing well. The surgeon said that my vault was high and we would keep an eye on it. I don't know if this means I might have to get the lens exchanged, but I'm happy to wait and see how it looks next month. I see very large, prominent halos in dim and dark environments when looking just through my left eye. Interestingly, when I use both eyes, the halos diminish greatly and some completely disappear (and so do the starbursts from my PRK eye!). I'm also still seeing a white haze in my left eye, kind of like a glaze. I'm not sure if it's from the iridectomy or corneal swelling or something else, but it does not seem to be improving. It would be a bummer to permanently lose a lot of the contrast that I originally had in my left eye. In one of my first posts I noted that the contrast in my right eye has always been much worse due to the cataract I was born with; well, for the last week, my right eye has had much better contrast sensitivity than my left eye!
I am happy I no longer need glasses or contacts to read, write, watch TV, drive, and everything else!! I'm hoping that some of these side effects resolve -or- my brain gets used to them quickly. I have another appointment in a month so I'll update again then.
Monday, February 13, 2017
PRK Day 60 (Two Months): Some Observations about my Changing Vision
Well, it's been 60 days--or about two months--since my PRK surgery in my right eye. My vision is still up and down, and I have good days and bad days. If I squint I can see very well, but I sometimes still having blurry distance vision and double-vision and always have starbursts.
As the day goes on, especially if I do a lot of computer work or reading (which is all day, 6 days a week for me due to my job), my vision deteriorates pretty rapidly (within the first hour or so of waking up. Even though I use eyedrops every 30-60 minutes when I'm on the computer, I develop ghosting or double/triple vision pretty quickly. I try to take breaks every 10-20 minutes to look out the window, which I think helps a little bit.
If I take a nap, my vision is crystal clear again when I wake up.
Morning vs. Evening
This biggest difference in my vision is still morning versus evening. When I wake up, my vision is very crisp and clear. I still have starbursts around lights regardless of how dark or bright the environment is but I don't have any ghosting or double/vision. When I first wake up my vision is as good, if not better, than it was with glasses or contacts pre-surgery.As the day goes on, especially if I do a lot of computer work or reading (which is all day, 6 days a week for me due to my job), my vision deteriorates pretty rapidly (within the first hour or so of waking up. Even though I use eyedrops every 30-60 minutes when I'm on the computer, I develop ghosting or double/triple vision pretty quickly. I try to take breaks every 10-20 minutes to look out the window, which I think helps a little bit.
If I take a nap, my vision is crystal clear again when I wake up.
Light vs. Dark Environment
I also notice some differences between light and dark environments. When it's really bright outside, or there are a lot of lights on, my vision is much worse. Sunglasses help somewhat, but not completely. I notice that when I'm on the bus with my sunglasses on and looking out through the tinted (maybe polarized?) windows, everything looks super clear. But when I get off the bus and still have my sunglasses on, everything gets fuzzier. I'm going to purchase some sunglasses that are polarized and see if that helps.
In dark environments, like inside with the curtains closed and just one light on or outside on a really overcast day, my vision is much better. I think I actually see better at night than I did before with contacts or glasses, with the exception of starbursts coming from headlights and traffic lights. Halogen headlights are especially bothersome.
In dark environments, like inside with the curtains closed and just one light on or outside on a really overcast day, my vision is much better. I think I actually see better at night than I did before with contacts or glasses, with the exception of starbursts coming from headlights and traffic lights. Halogen headlights are especially bothersome.
Near Distance Vs. Far Distance
My near vision, within about 20-30 feet, is pretty good all the time. I don't notice it fluctuate very much depending on time of day or brightness. My reading vision out of just my right eye has never been great due to the cataract--I need more lights on to read printed things or more contrast on the computer. Pre-surgery, I could see about six inches in front of my face without contacts or glasses. Now I can see pretty clearly for 20-30 feet all the time.
However, when I've been awake and reading and/or it's really bright out, my vision past 20-30 feet will get blurred due to ghosting or double/triple vision and glare. I won't be able to read street signs or license plates from afar. I also notice that it takes a long time for me to refocus on objects that are far away after I've been looking at things close up for an extended amount of time. If I look at the window right now, for example, the tree in the distance looks somewhat blurry. But if I blink a bunch of times and stare at the tree, it comes into better focus in about five seconds. I'm not sure if this is due to dry eye or what. But then everything just starts over with a new day, with great vision in after I wake up!
A few days ago I started using the steroid drops just two times a day, which is down from 3 times a day. I'll take the drops for about one more month and then I'll be free! My next PRK follow-up appointment will be at three months after my PRK surgery, which will be the same appointment as my ICL one-day follow up.However, when I've been awake and reading and/or it's really bright out, my vision past 20-30 feet will get blurred due to ghosting or double/triple vision and glare. I won't be able to read street signs or license plates from afar. I also notice that it takes a long time for me to refocus on objects that are far away after I've been looking at things close up for an extended amount of time. If I look at the window right now, for example, the tree in the distance looks somewhat blurry. But if I blink a bunch of times and stare at the tree, it comes into better focus in about five seconds. I'm not sure if this is due to dry eye or what. But then everything just starts over with a new day, with great vision in after I wake up!
Sunday, January 29, 2017
PRK Day 45: More Vision Ups and Downs
It's been 45 days--or over six weeks--since my PRK surgery in my right eye, and my vision still fluctuates a lot. I was surprised to hear at my last appointment that my eye was really dry, which is something I have never dealt with. I've been trying to stay hydrated and use lubricating eye drops often, but I'm not sure it's helping. I recently read about a research study that showed that 5% of eyes developed chronic dry eye after PRK, even though none had dry eye before the surgery! I hope that doesn't happen to me, but I also live in a dry climate now and spend a lot of time in front of my computer, so dry eye is a possible side effect.
I also reported in my last post that my ghosting/double-vision had resolved. Well, that doesn't actually seem to be true anymore. Sometimes I see ghosting and sometimes there's none, which again, is probably related to dry eye. Starbursts are still present during the day and night. My vision is still significantly better than weeks 2-4, which I'm very happy about, but it goes up and day throughout the day and between days. Some days I wake up with great vision and it stays pretty good throughout the day, other days I can't see very well for the entire day. The instructions from my surgeon say to use lubricating eye drops at least four times a day as needed, and the past few days I've been using them once every hour or two (while awake).
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| What starbursts look like to me |
I'm also looking forward to stopping steroid eye drops. I have to take them for three months and I'm about half way through. The first month I used prednisolone (tapered from four times a day for one week, to two times a day for three weeks), the second month I'm using fluorometholone 3 times a day, and the third month I'll use fluorometholone 2 times a day. They sting when I put them in my eye and leave a bad taste in my mouth. I think I had to use the drops for so long (3 months) because my prescription was so high (-6.5 diopters, +1.5 astigmatism). I've read that steroid drops reduce the risk of corneal haze, but they also slow down healing.
PRK recovery is soooo slow, but I do think it's worth it to avoid additional complications that can come with LASIK. I wasn't a candidate for LASIK anyway, according to my surgeon, so it was PRK or nothing in my right eye. Still no regrets, and I'll keep updating with my progress.
Monday, January 23, 2017
PRK Day 39: PRK Follow-Up and Visian ICL Measurements
Today I had an appointment that served two purposes: my one-month check-up for the PRK procedure I had in my right eye in December and repeat measurements for the Visian ICL to be implanted into my left eye in March.
My PRK update is pretty uneventful. I had my vision tested using the phoropter and Snellen chart, and I scored 20/30. This means I could see about the same number of letters at my 6 day follow-up appointment as I saw today, but my vision now is definitely crisper and I'm seeing more details. I should note, however, the my best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, so best vision I could get with glasses or contact lenses before PRK) was 20/25, so I'm pretty close! I couldn't get to 20/20 in that eye likely to due the cataract I was born with. I have a small amount of astigmatism left (formerly +1.5 now +0.5) which could potentially improve over the next few months. My eye pressure is great (sometimes the steroid drops can elevate eye pressure which can cause glaucoma). The tech said my eye was somewhat dry and to keep using the preservative-free eyedrops. I was then taken to a machine that mapped the shape of my corneas, and that was it for the PRK follow-up part of my appointment.
I had a couple of measurements double-checked in my left eye for my upcoming Visian ICL surgery in March. The tech took me to another machine and said it takes "a bunch of measurements of your eye," like height and some other things I can't recall. Then the surgeon came in a took a white-to-white measurement to compare to the ultrasound measurement for sizing the ICL.
PRK Update
My PRK update is pretty uneventful. I had my vision tested using the phoropter and Snellen chart, and I scored 20/30. This means I could see about the same number of letters at my 6 day follow-up appointment as I saw today, but my vision now is definitely crisper and I'm seeing more details. I should note, however, the my best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, so best vision I could get with glasses or contact lenses before PRK) was 20/25, so I'm pretty close! I couldn't get to 20/20 in that eye likely to due the cataract I was born with. I have a small amount of astigmatism left (formerly +1.5 now +0.5) which could potentially improve over the next few months. My eye pressure is great (sometimes the steroid drops can elevate eye pressure which can cause glaucoma). The tech said my eye was somewhat dry and to keep using the preservative-free eyedrops. I was then taken to a machine that mapped the shape of my corneas, and that was it for the PRK follow-up part of my appointment.
In the last couple of days, the ghosting I was seeing has completely gone away. I'm still seeing some starbursts around bright lights both during the day and at night (like car headlights, TV light, etc.). My surgeon said this should improve over time as my cornea continues to heal.
I am very happy I went through with PRK in my right eye and hope I see a bit more improvement in the next 3-6 months!
Visian ICL Update
I had a couple of measurements double-checked in my left eye for my upcoming Visian ICL surgery in March. The tech took me to another machine and said it takes "a bunch of measurements of your eye," like height and some other things I can't recall. Then the surgeon came in a took a white-to-white measurement to compare to the ultrasound measurement for sizing the ICL.
I asked the surgeons some questions about potential complications, specifically from the iridotomy (small hole in the iris to prevent increased eye pressure and glaucoma) and from the ICL itself. She said that she hasn't encountered patients with the side effect of glare or white lines from the iridotomoy, but it's always a risk. I then asked about the risks of cataracts, which is the most common complication of posterior chamber ICL. At this point, it's a risk I'm willing to take.
I'm nervous but looking forward to being able to see out of both eyes! For the last week, I've been wearing my glasses (with -11.00 in my left lens and non-prescription in my right eye) so they could get accurate measurements today of my eye that will have an ICL. Wearing my glasses has given me some terrible eye strain due to aniseikonia, where my left eye sees the world much smaller than my right eye. Even if I need glasses for driving after I get the ICL, today is the last day I'll ever have to wear my coke-bottle lens! There's no guarantee that the ICL will get me to 20/15, which is my current best corrected visual acuity in my left eye, but I should see a substantial improvement.
My Visian ICL surgery is scheduled for the second week in March so I will post an update then. I'll probably also update about my PRK eye before then.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
PRK Day 35 (One Month): Vision Fluctuations
My follow-up appointment with my surgeon isn't for a few more days, but I wanted to post today to give an update on my vision. It's been 35 days, or exactly five weeks, since my PRK surgery.
My vision during days 1-4 after PRK surgery was very clear during the daytime. I wasn't seeing a lot of detail (which was never as good compared to my left eye due to the congenital cataract in my right eye), but my vision was still good--so much better than before! My vision got a lot worse after the contact lens bandage was removed and stayed pretty consistent for the next three weeks! I saw huge starbursts and glare at night around any light source. I wasn't comfortable driving at night for the first three weeks, which wasn't an issue since I take the bus to work. I also couldn't read very well with just my right eye. I'm so happy that I only had PRK in one eye, since my left eye made up for the poor vision completely when I was wearing a contact or my glasses. I do a lot of reading and computer work, and can't imagine I would be able to function at work if I had PRK in both eyes at once.
Speaking of glasses, I went to Costco and bought non-prescription lenses for my glasses, so I could wear them for the next couple of months without having one missing lens and looking completely ridiculous before my left eye Visian ICL surgery. I still look ridiculous with my glasses on since my right lens is prescription-less and my left lens is -11 diopters and makes my left eye look tiny in comparison! I usually wear my contacts but my eyes get red and itchy so it's nice to take them out after work.
Even though I read a lot of blogs and knew that healing time was really variable, I will admit I was worried during the first three to four weeks. I ended up doing a lot of research to ease my mind. I learned about residual astigmatism, corneal haze, central island healing, and high-order aberrations, which can all be caused or intensified by PRK.
In the last week or so (from about day 28, or week 4) my vision has really began to improve, both during the day and at night. I look out my living room window at trees to compare my vision day to day. I'm seeing a lot more detail close up and mid-range, though things very far away are still blurry. During the day, I am still seeing starbursts around small lights (like the Wii or TV light), but they seem to be getting smaller. When I go outside during the day, I have ghosting (double vision) where I see one or two copies of the number on a street speed sign or icon on a walk sign. When I go outside at night, I can now tolerate looking at traffic lights and headlights. There's still some starbursts and glare, but they are much less intense than a few weeks ago. I have never experienced halos.
My vision is also best right when I wake up, and gets worse throughout the day, especially if I have to read or use the computer for extended amounts of time. I'm still using preservative-free lubricating drops every hour or two, so I don't think it's a dryness issue, but who knows. My next follow-up is just a few days away and I'm so curious what I will score on the Snellen chart, consider I wasn't able to read the big 'E' 35 days ago!
My vision during days 1-4 after PRK surgery was very clear during the daytime. I wasn't seeing a lot of detail (which was never as good compared to my left eye due to the congenital cataract in my right eye), but my vision was still good--so much better than before! My vision got a lot worse after the contact lens bandage was removed and stayed pretty consistent for the next three weeks! I saw huge starbursts and glare at night around any light source. I wasn't comfortable driving at night for the first three weeks, which wasn't an issue since I take the bus to work. I also couldn't read very well with just my right eye. I'm so happy that I only had PRK in one eye, since my left eye made up for the poor vision completely when I was wearing a contact or my glasses. I do a lot of reading and computer work, and can't imagine I would be able to function at work if I had PRK in both eyes at once.
Speaking of glasses, I went to Costco and bought non-prescription lenses for my glasses, so I could wear them for the next couple of months without having one missing lens and looking completely ridiculous before my left eye Visian ICL surgery. I still look ridiculous with my glasses on since my right lens is prescription-less and my left lens is -11 diopters and makes my left eye look tiny in comparison! I usually wear my contacts but my eyes get red and itchy so it's nice to take them out after work.
Even though I read a lot of blogs and knew that healing time was really variable, I will admit I was worried during the first three to four weeks. I ended up doing a lot of research to ease my mind. I learned about residual astigmatism, corneal haze, central island healing, and high-order aberrations, which can all be caused or intensified by PRK.
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| View of Trees Outside my Window |
My vision is also best right when I wake up, and gets worse throughout the day, especially if I have to read or use the computer for extended amounts of time. I'm still using preservative-free lubricating drops every hour or two, so I don't think it's a dryness issue, but who knows. My next follow-up is just a few days away and I'm so curious what I will score on the Snellen chart, consider I wasn't able to read the big 'E' 35 days ago!
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
PRK Day 6: Bandage Contact Lens Removal
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!
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!
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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