One of the many perks of my job is majorly discounted vision correction with payroll deduction. Around August, I decided I was ready. I have a very strong prescription and am severely nearsighted. I couldn't see anything unless it was about a foot in front of my face. In fact, there had been many times I had taken my contacts out at night only to put them back in because I couldn't find my glasses. Sad but true!
Due to my high prescription, I had the option of two different surgeries....LASIK or ICL. Working closely with both surgeries and knowing my own vision I easily picked ICL (intercollamer lens often referred to as implantable contact lens) for better optics, quick recovery and longer lasting correction. I will have these babies until I get cataract surgery when I am older. The patient discounted price for the surgery is $5900. The full price is around $13,000. My price was about 10% of this. Nothing short of a miracle! I jumped on this opportunity quickly!
On September 29, 2010, the world as seen through my eyes changed. I had ICL done in both eyes. The following day I woke up looked at the time on the alarm clock and didn't even realize I actually saw it. I went to the bathroom where I reached for my glasses when I looked in the mirror I gasped. I ran back out and looked at the alarm clock in total disbelieve. Is this happening to me? I could see the time on the alarm clock clear as day. I have never seen the time on the alarm clock unless I feel asleep in my contacts. In fact, without glasses or contacts I couldn't even see the alarm clock existed let alone the time. All I would see is a red light blob across the room. Amazing! I continued to get ready for work.
On my way to work I just looked in awe at everything. Now sure I had seen everything with my contacts but now it was even clearer than with my contacts and I wasn't wearing any glasses or contacts for the very first time since I was 8 yrs old. Life changing I tell you! My sister called during that drive and said, "How is your vision?" I started crying like a big baby saying, "I just can't believe it is clear so fast. I can see everything Lisa. I can see everything!" I cried the rest of the way to work just out of pure joy and thankfulness. Everyone at work thought something was wrong when I got to work with my red weepy eyes then just hugged me and laughed. They checked me for my one day post-op appointment and I was seeing 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other. Now six months later I am seeing 20/15 in both eyes and still just as amazed.
It is funny to me that I see patients all day that come in telling me how "blind" they are. When I look at their prescription it will be like a -1 and I think wow I was 6 times worse than that....they have no clue and they are still legal to drive without correction!! I enjoy helping them see better but I also know it is not that big of a change for them. BUT I also see patients with eyes twice as bad as mine and I think wow they are blind. If I couldn't see anything more than a foot away from my face and trust me that is no exaggeration, then how do they see anything at all. Those are the patients I enjoy helping the most. I know how my life changed so I can't imagine how their life changes until they send me a thank you card or call me crying because they are just so thankful! Those are the ones that get me and tug at my heart strings! Those are the patients that I know understand why I cried after surgery. Those are the ones that make me think I love my job! Those are the ones who understand me when I say....
"I love my new eyes!!"
That is AWESOME!!! I have never had glasses so can not imagine how that feels!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous- but also so excited for you!!! Also- isn't that part of the medical field where you know you made a difference to someone the best??
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