And Then There Was Sight...Err...6/6 Sight
When you've lived more than half your life looking at the world through four eyes, it can be quite magical to once again use only two to experience the world like with the four. LASIK can do that to you. It can change your world, especially if you are able to relate to what i have to say below.
It all started when i was in 2nd standard. The math(s) teacher always used to give us mental sums in the beginning of the class as a small test of what we'd learnt until then. Funnily, i always got the audio questions correct, but when the questions went up on the black board, i muddled up the 8's with the 0's, the 3's with the 5's and ended screwing up my most important mental sums tests! I still manage a wry inner smile whenever i think of the agony that my younger self went through, not knowing the answer in spite of knowing the method. It took till 3rd standard before i could confide that there was something wrong with me, and i was terrified it was my fault. Let us just say, for lack of better words, that i felt elated when the problem was righted. Happiness coursed through my veins when i wore those shell framed spectacles and could see the miniscule numbers on the black board in all their clarity. All was well with the world.
Aah, but that happiness had to be reinstated repeatedly over the years, every time my eyes gained greater power (pun intended). There is a reason why short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism are not treated as "handicaps", in the traditional sense of the word. There is a way around them that prevents these conditions from becoming debilitating. And yet, for those who suffer them, life is never perfect. You learn to live with the small disappointments - 3D glasses on top of prescription glasses, inability to wear fake branded sunglasses, dry eyes due to contact lenses, the infections that come with their repeated use....And yet those were not the things that bothered me. What disturbed me most was something far more trivial. In the not so distant past, when cell phones were unheard of, and when the sole alarm clock was monopolized by the mother, i needed to find a way to tell the time on the wall clock when i woke up in the morning. Simple, i always wore my watch to sleep. Last month, after my lasik surgery, was the first time in years that i hadn't done so. It is this "not wearing" of the watch that best symbolizes my freedom. To be honest, the specs and contacts that i wore, while drastically improving the quality of my life, never quite became a part of me despite my long association with them. They couldn't help me at certain times - like the moment when i woke up, or the moment just before i went to sleep. On the list of my all time top nightmares (which also includes the usual falling down one), was the earthquake nightmare. There always used to be a terrible earthquake in which my specs, lens case and lens solution were all destroyed, leaving me with just my contacts which were increasingly becoming dry in my eyes. Now i'm not saying that this will happen in real life, but one discounts probabilities at one's own risk!
And now, after so many years of lagging behind in the eyesight department, i've finally defeated that blasted CTPALO. The CTPALO whose presence i was always aware of (because doctors never change their testing charts), but whose outline i could barely ever discern. Not any longer though! :) I am born again. And i'm loving it. Leave CTPALO, i am now able to conquer even CTPALO's child and grandchild!
For those interested in the actual lasik procedure, it goes like this. A thin flap is created on the surface layer of the cornea in order to expose the middle layer to the laser. The surgeon then directs the laser onto this exposed part for a certain duration to reshape the cornea as needed. The flap is then folded back in place. Natural adhesive forces ensure that the flap is resealed without the need for any sutures. My surgery lasted all of 20 minutes, for both eyes together!
If you are interested, and strongly feel that this is something that can really improve the quality of your life, go ahead and explore the option. There are certain eligibility tests you must undergo to see if you fit the bill. You must have sufficient corneal thickness etc. Also make sure that you read up all about the procedure and its side effects. Bombard your doctor with whatever silly doubts you have. Ask about the post procedure precautions that you need to take. Know what you are getting into. Dry eyes are quite common in the days following the surgery, but the degree to which they affect may vary from person to person. I only have a very mild case, nothing that the odd eye lubricant drop can't take care of.
I am glad i went for it. In case you decide to do it as well, my best wishes to you, for both the procedure and the improved life that will follow.
P.S. My sincere thanks to Dr.C and Dr.S for taking me through the procedure.
It all started when i was in 2nd standard. The math(s) teacher always used to give us mental sums in the beginning of the class as a small test of what we'd learnt until then. Funnily, i always got the audio questions correct, but when the questions went up on the black board, i muddled up the 8's with the 0's, the 3's with the 5's and ended screwing up my most important mental sums tests! I still manage a wry inner smile whenever i think of the agony that my younger self went through, not knowing the answer in spite of knowing the method. It took till 3rd standard before i could confide that there was something wrong with me, and i was terrified it was my fault. Let us just say, for lack of better words, that i felt elated when the problem was righted. Happiness coursed through my veins when i wore those shell framed spectacles and could see the miniscule numbers on the black board in all their clarity. All was well with the world.
Aah, but that happiness had to be reinstated repeatedly over the years, every time my eyes gained greater power (pun intended). There is a reason why short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism are not treated as "handicaps", in the traditional sense of the word. There is a way around them that prevents these conditions from becoming debilitating. And yet, for those who suffer them, life is never perfect. You learn to live with the small disappointments - 3D glasses on top of prescription glasses, inability to wear fake branded sunglasses, dry eyes due to contact lenses, the infections that come with their repeated use....And yet those were not the things that bothered me. What disturbed me most was something far more trivial. In the not so distant past, when cell phones were unheard of, and when the sole alarm clock was monopolized by the mother, i needed to find a way to tell the time on the wall clock when i woke up in the morning. Simple, i always wore my watch to sleep. Last month, after my lasik surgery, was the first time in years that i hadn't done so. It is this "not wearing" of the watch that best symbolizes my freedom. To be honest, the specs and contacts that i wore, while drastically improving the quality of my life, never quite became a part of me despite my long association with them. They couldn't help me at certain times - like the moment when i woke up, or the moment just before i went to sleep. On the list of my all time top nightmares (which also includes the usual falling down one), was the earthquake nightmare. There always used to be a terrible earthquake in which my specs, lens case and lens solution were all destroyed, leaving me with just my contacts which were increasingly becoming dry in my eyes. Now i'm not saying that this will happen in real life, but one discounts probabilities at one's own risk!
And now, after so many years of lagging behind in the eyesight department, i've finally defeated that blasted CTPALO. The CTPALO whose presence i was always aware of (because doctors never change their testing charts), but whose outline i could barely ever discern. Not any longer though! :) I am born again. And i'm loving it. Leave CTPALO, i am now able to conquer even CTPALO's child and grandchild!
For those interested in the actual lasik procedure, it goes like this. A thin flap is created on the surface layer of the cornea in order to expose the middle layer to the laser. The surgeon then directs the laser onto this exposed part for a certain duration to reshape the cornea as needed. The flap is then folded back in place. Natural adhesive forces ensure that the flap is resealed without the need for any sutures. My surgery lasted all of 20 minutes, for both eyes together!
If you are interested, and strongly feel that this is something that can really improve the quality of your life, go ahead and explore the option. There are certain eligibility tests you must undergo to see if you fit the bill. You must have sufficient corneal thickness etc. Also make sure that you read up all about the procedure and its side effects. Bombard your doctor with whatever silly doubts you have. Ask about the post procedure precautions that you need to take. Know what you are getting into. Dry eyes are quite common in the days following the surgery, but the degree to which they affect may vary from person to person. I only have a very mild case, nothing that the odd eye lubricant drop can't take care of.
I am glad i went for it. In case you decide to do it as well, my best wishes to you, for both the procedure and the improved life that will follow.
P.S. My sincere thanks to Dr.C and Dr.S for taking me through the procedure.
Good post..But there's no mention about the hideous protective glasses you had to wear after your surgery.:p
ReplyDeletelol, what is 3 weeks cosmetic discomfort compared with lifelong bliss! Paled in comparison, and hence no mention. And thank you :)
ReplyDeletehey its really interesting.Thank u for the nice Post, cos if in case i undergo this in future i may go for it with a better mindset and confidence.
ReplyDeleteAm glad you found it informative Sendhuri :)
ReplyDelete