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"My Lasik Experience"
At 69 years of age, I have been farsighted for nearly 25 years. Like everyone else with my condition, at first, I wore glasses. Next, I tried contact lenses, but, my eyes suffered tremendously. Having dry eyes to start with, the problem was exacerbated by working in a somewhat polluted work environment. After four years of suffering the discomfort of red eyes, I reverted to wearing glasses. Problems continued to persist as the glasses would constantly slide down my nose. Since I wear bifocals, some of my vision was always impeded.
I naturally became more interested in vision correction since the Russians pioneered it several decades ago. My only hesitation: I wanted to wait until the procedure was tested here and approved by the FDA.
In the meantime, I read up on all the latest developments with vision correction and last spring, I made the decision to look into it for myself. I saw that an anchorman on one of New York's local stations had the procedure done and I witnessed this man see with 20/20 vision after his surgery and within half an hour, I called the news program and placed a call to the doctor for an examination. Unfortunately, the doctor told me that I was not a candidate yet because of my farsightedness. He said he could begin treating that problem after it was approved by the FDA . The other problem was that the price seemed a bit too high for me.
Then, I saw Dr. Barrie Soloway, Surgical Director at Vista Alliance Eyecare Associates and Co-Medical Director of the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary's Vision Correction Center, on television. Dr. Soloway has performed refractive surgery since 1984 and was the first doctor in New York to perform laser vision correction for people who were farsighted. He told the anchorman that FDA monitored clinical trials had begun at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary in the Spring of 1998, and he needed volunteers. When I made the appointment to see Dr. Soloway, he explained the LASIK laser vision procedure to me and told me what I could expect in the way of results.
I went home with all this information. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to have Dr. Soloway perform the surgery in November '98 -- after it was FDA approved. At that time, Dr. Soloway has performed more than one quarter of all the farsighted LASIK procedures in the U.S.—more than any other single ophthalmologist.
The surgery was set for November 20th.
I decided to take a homeopathic medicine called Arnica Montana the week preceding and following surgery. I also increased my Vitamin C intake to 3,000 mgs to boost my immune system.
As part of my preparation, Dr. Soloway told me to be certain to shower before the surgery because I would not be able to later that day or the next day to protect my eyes from any possible infections. I was examined yet again (he said he likes to double and triple check these things), four days before my surgery where the final numbers were checked by Dr. Soloway, my surgeon.
My vision was 20/400 without glasses. The day of my surgery, I went to the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary where a nurse examined my eyes once more. Numbing drops were placed in my eyes. After a green cap was placed on my head, I was brought into the laser room. I sat down, and then lay down on the operating table. I breathed deeply counting slowly with each breath. Throughout the procedure, numbing drops were placed in my eyes.
Dr. Soloway said he would begin with the left eye. He spoke softly and announced everything he was going to do just as he was about to do it. His talking me through the surgery really made a difference in keeping me calm. He placed a speculum over my eye and said I would feel some pressure but no pain. I was to concentrate on the red flashing light which was surrounded by a golden aura. That's all I ever saw. I had been concerned that I would see his hand coming to cut the cornea, or that the laser would hurt, but I saw nothing except the red flashing light and gold flecks surrounding it. Shortly after, Dr. Soloway said the laser would begin to work on my eye. He told me that it was crucial that I not move for one and a half minutes. A brief staccato sound ensued over which Dr. Soloway kept me appraised of how many seconds were left, and encouraged me to continue watching the flashing red light. After the noise stopped, it felt as though he was "dusting" my cornea with very gentle feather-like strokes. That was the only discomfort I experienced. More drops were placed in my eye, and then it was over. Dr. Soloway taped a clear plastic goggle around my eye, and went on to repeat the procedure on my right eye.
After the surgery, dark, wrap-around glasses completed my eye protection, making me look like a skier. Then, I was asked to walk to the waiting room. I could see everything, and what's more important, is I could see clearly. My vision was checked right after the surgery and it was 20/40, ten times better than it was just a half hour before!
I spent the day resting with my eyes closed as much as possible as he had suggested. About an hour later, the drops wore off, so I took a Tylenol which did the trick.
I went back to see him at his office the next morning and tested 20/25 -- a far cry from the 20/400 vision I had the day before. Dr. Soloway gave me antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops to place in each eye for the next week and I made an appointment to see him five days later.
Less than one week later, at Thanksgiving, a setback seemed to occur. I could see people moving across the table very clearly but they became fuzzier across the living room. I called Dr. Soloway as he told me to call him anytime I was concerned, and he explained that my vision would fluctuate for the first few months. It turned out to be due to a mild dryness, and artificial tears helped it a lot. He told me that after using the tear drops for a few more weeks the vision would stablize. The following day, I had a sudden breakthrough. I could see the small figure on my 13-inch television set. And I could see people's faces clearly across the street and the bus number from far away.
I visited Dr. Soloway again two weeks later, and now tested 20/20. The most incredible thing however was how well I could read without glasses as well as see in the distance.
It has been a wondrous experience for which I cannot sufficiently thank Dr. Soloway enough. I strongly recommend this laser vision correction to anyone who is a candidate. I thought it was expensive before I had it done, but now, afterward, I think it was worth it. But be certain that you choose a doctor like Dr. Soloway, who has a lot of experience, and is someone who you can feel comfortable talking to!
Ghislane Delafonchais
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