LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

I've worn glasses since 1996. I wasn't that blind, but with a prescription of -2.75 I needed glasses to drive, etc. I had though about having to procedure done for quite a while, and then in January I finally decided to do it.

23rd January 2006: Consultation

2nd February 2006: Procedure

In the morning of the procedure I got the train up to Fulham, and I arrived at about 10.40 for and 11 O'Clock appointment.

Straight after arriving I was seen by one of the pre-op team where I was asked to fill in the elective surgery consent form and was given some instructions on post-op care. A few minutes later I went in to see the consultant, Mr Brett Haliday. He had a quick look in both my eyes, read through the consultation report and then said that I was a perfect candidate for the procedure, and that I should expect good results. He did, however reiterate the risks associated with the surgery.

A few minutes later I was called through to the surgery. I was asked to lie down on the 'operating table' which was then moved underneath the laser. The nurse cleaned both my eyes and applied a few drops of anaesthetic. A moment or two later the speculum was put in my right eye to hold my eyelids open. Due to the anaesthetic drops this was totally painless, the drops also remove the blink reflex, so I didn't even have the desire to blink.

After the speculum was in, next was the clamp for the microkeratome. After this went in it was pressurised (or a suction was applied, I don't know which) to deform the eyeball slightly. When this happened everything went dark, this I believe was due to the blood being temporarily cut off (or the optic nerve being constrained). This was the only part of the procedure that was mildly discomforting - it felt like pressure behind the eyeball, the sort of thing you may feel when wearing some swimming goggles that were either too small or too tight.

3rd February 2006: One Day Follow-up

First thing this morning my left eye felt as if something was rubbing the underside of my eye lid. In particular when I moved my eye from side to side. My vision wasn't as good as it was last night, never-the-less I could see far better (without glasses) than I could 24 hours ago!

Rather than walk down to the station, I decided to drive to work and get the train up to Fulham from there. Even being so aware of my eyes, I still got in the car and went to put on my glasses!

My first follow up appointment was booked for 11 O'Clock. I arrived about twenty five minutes early and was seen straight away by Vic, who even apologised for keeping me waiting. That's what I call service.

Vic asked me how the last 24 hours had been. I explained to him how my vision was better last night than it was this morning - he said that the reason was because I was wearing protective contact lenses to help the initial healing of the cornea. These were quickly removed with the aid of a couple of eye drops.

13th February 2006: One Week Follow-up

27th March 2006: Two Month Follow-up

**** UNDER CONSTRUCTION ****