January 2020 Part 1: PRK

On January 2, 2020, Brian drove me to Hoopes Vision so I could have PRK eye surgery. PRK is similar to Lasik in that it uses a laser to correct vision, but where Lasik makes two cuts/corrections with Lasers--one to make a flap that opens up the inner part of your eye, and one to actually correct your vision, PRK only uses the laser once.  Instead of making a flap with the laser, PRK basically uses a chemical solution to dissolve the top layer of your eye to get deep enough for the laser to correct your vision. Lasik has a much faster and smoother recovery than PRK. Unfortunately for me though, I didn't qualify because my corneas were too thin to create the flap, so PRK was my option. Here I am, just before the procedure. 

The actual surgery wasn't too bad. They did a bunch of eye tests just prior to the surgery and gave me some pain medications. For the actual surgery, I laid down on a special table thing and they tucked me in with a warm blanket, they even gave me a stuffed animal to squeeze. It was a strange sensation having the drops put in that dissolved cells in my eye, and a little nervous-making to know that a laser was working on my eye. The entire process went really quick, once I got into the chair. When I was all done, the checked my eyes again, gave me some cheap sunglasses,  called Brian in to get me, and sent me on my way with a warm cookie. 

They also sent me home with a canvas bag with my glasses, eye drops, eye protection plates, and tape. 

I had to sleep with these things over my eyes for a week. 

My eyes were really sensitive to light for those first few days, so I wore sunglasses constantly. 

And they eye drops made me look like I'd been crying a lot. 

After a few weeks, I finally got to put eye make-up on again... I was pretty nervous about taking it off at the end of the night since I wasn't supposed to rub my eyes in any way for another 6 months or something. 

 There was one day that was insanely uncomfortable for me. I wanted to scratch my eyes out! I felt like there was glass under my eyelids. I wondered what in the world I had been thinking! I couldn't drive at night for a month at least, and I was a little bit concerned when I didn't have 20/20 vision in both eyes by my 1 month check up. I barely had good enough vision to drive! However, by my 3 month appointment, my vision was great, and the doctors marveled at how quickly I had recovered (it can take up to a year for your eyes to get 20/20 vision after PRK!) 

I've worn contacts since I was 12, so I hadn't realized how much contacts protect your eyes from stray hairs or even accidentally getting the mascara brush too close! But, not having to worry about contacts has been AMAZING! I'm so glad that I was able to have this surgery! For years, I dreamed of opening my eyes in the morning and being able to see everything clearly, and now that dream is a reality! I'm so so grateful, especially now that I'm on the other side of PRK!