Maybe you noticed I posted my 33 in 33 list earlier this month. It’s cool if you haven’t, the list is for me but I like to post it because it gives me something to talk about plus it keeps me somewhat accountable. (I’ve only got 17 items on there right now – the year is still young). On that list is a big one – Get laser eye surgery (Maybe. If we can afford it.) Last year’s list got abandoned after the big one Have a baby was crossed off but this year I am hoping to do some more things that involve stretching myself and less things that involve OMG I had a baby (while still, you know, being a Mother to that now standing, less-babyish-everyday baby).
Now, let me give you some background on my eyes.
THEY SUCK. No, really. I’ve worn glasses since the 2nd grade. I got contacts in grade 8 but I haven’t been able to wear them much over the last five years because my eyes are so dry and irritated all the time. The Mister and I make jokes about how dry my eyes are. After Moira was born I spent three weeks crying all the time and my eyes NEVER FELT BETTER! (I hoped that meant my eyes were fixed but, alas, no.) When I was in high school my Mum got laser eye surgery and since then I have been telling myself someday… Someday when my eyes stop deteriorating. Someday when I have a job that pays well. Someday when I am old and no one is paying attention to me anymore… I will get my eyes fixed. Okay, it was mostly the deteriorating eyes (for a while there my prescription was changing every six months) and the money. I think my eyes continued to deteriorate because the eye doctor was changing my prescription every six months. Even now, with my glasses on, I feel like the world is a blur and I try hard not to drive at night (and for this everyone is grateful). That whole someday business, however, gets annoying when you want to be able to see your life right now.
For some reason I was under the impression that your eyes had to not change for three years before you could get laser eye surgery. For me three years seemed like a lifetime. But I decided to stop going to the eye doctor no matter how crap my vision was. I decided to only pull out my contacts for special occasions (and swimming) so that my eyes could rest. Then I started counting the months and the years – although it has probably been only two years since I have last had my prescription changed.
Do you ever get that feeling like you are waiting for your life to begin? I try not to live that way but I do: things will be better once I get a new job. Things will be better once we move and/or buy a house. Things will be better when I tone up/stop drinking coke/fit into my jeans from high school and become a completely different person – even though there is nothing wrong with things as they are. So I guess what I am saying is that I am sick of waiting for someday. I want to be able to see well NOW. I want to be able to roll over in bed and look at the clock radio and be able to SEE the time. I want to be able to wear make-up once in a while. I want to stop having to decide between eyes being burned by the sun because I am wearing my glasses OR putting my contacts in, having them fuse to my ridiculously dry eyes but being able to wear sunglasses. I want to be able to look in the mirror and see more than just my glasses (even if they are nice glasses). I want people to be able to see my eyes and see more than my glasses.
Today I had my assessment done for laser eye surgery. I’m a candidate. When I asked how long the waitlist for surgery was the guy said, “How is Thursday?” Well, Thursday is way too soon since I am going to need to make arrangements for someone to help me out and take care of Moira but… soon. I’m getting my eyes fixed soon – and soon is so much better than someday. I have waited SO long. I’m so excited my eyes are prickling with static – which for the rest of you would be called getting teary.
(Now if you excuse me I will stop talking about myself to go and find a video of Obama’s inauguration speech because it was going on at the exact time as my eye appointment.)
That’s very exciting and I hope you get to do it soon! The ex had his eyes done and his eyes were dry for a while afterward. He had to put drops in for a fairly long time. They gave him a lot of drugs for the actual procedure and he was completely out of it and slept for 18 hours afterward. I stayed with him, and put the drops in every few hours. He was back to his normal self the next day. It was a pretty intense process, but his vision was really good after and he was basically blind without his glasses prior to surgery.
Good luck Melanie!
How exciting! FWIW I think your eyes are beautiful with glasses, but I totally get why you want this done. I can’t wait to hear as my DH wants to get it done someday too (his contact rx is something like 8/-8, not sure as I don’t wear them).
Congratulations! You have gorgeous eyes! I hope you get to have the surgery soon. If I lived in your town and wasn’t like, a complete stranger, I would happily watch Moira for you. :~)
Lucky duck! Good news. Although you do have very hip glasses. What about geek chique?? I have to cling to that since I can’t get lazerz in my eyes… pew, pew, pew..
Believe it or not, when I got my eyes checked out they turned out to be TOO BAD for laser surgery; it had to be implantable contact lenses. Which is twice as expensive as laser surgery, of course. And why I still wear normal, non-implanted contacts. (From memory the laser cutoff point was 7, as there’s not enough cornea to shave away beyond that point.) Very jealous! Good luck!
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Congratulations! I would love to get my eyes done, too. But right now we’re looking ahead to college expenses, so once again I will push my hopes to some undetermined future. Now is a great time for you to do it — before Moira starts to be expensive
(I loved the baby years, because other than clothes, babies don’t really make a dent on food or utility or travel expenses.)
Oh my gosh – congratulations!! I’ve been contemplating at least getting contacts – working with my DSLR is so difficult, I have a lot of trouble seeing when things are in focus even with my glasses.
I’ve been considering getting a part time job to pay for a vacation….Mister has chronic dry eyes too though & a very heavy prescription – maybe this is something to look into & my job could be an eye fund! Thanks for the idea!
Alexis: I don’t know how long ago your ex had it done but things have changed a lot even in the last year. It is now a 20 minute procedure and while you do still have to put lots of eye drops in to facilitate the healing you aren’t out of commision for as long as you once were.
Jenny: Thanks. I don’t mind the glasses so much, it’s just the crap vision and lack of peripheral vision that drive me nuts.
Gardenymph: Aw thanks – and then Moira could chase Hope around trying to bite her (she chews on ANYTHING).
Claire: I forgot that you can’t get laser surgery. You will just have to pull the Geek Chic line for us defectors.
Jac: I’ve never even heard of implanted contacts. Doesn’t sound comfortable. Is the cut off really 7? I think I have known other people (here in Canada) who were past 7 and had it done.
Imperatrix: Even clothing costs are kept low around here because I buy everything second hand or it was given to us (as I suspect most people do). I have to say – she eats a surprisingly large amount for such a little thing but no, it doesn’t really cut into the budget yet.
Kyla: Is Winnipeg as dry as Calgary? It is pretty much a desert around here which is why so many people can’t wear contacts. We are hoping the Mister can get his eyes done next year because he would like some peripheral vision too.
oh! OH! Congratulations!! This is very exciting. Let me know if you need help with Moira, I’ll be happy to take a day off work and lend a hand.
Great news! Your eye problems sound very similar to mine (got glasses in 6th grade, tried contacts in college but couldn’t wear them because my eyes were too dry). I got laser eye surgery as a birthday gift to myself in Oct. 2002, and it was the best decision I ever made. I’m not quite 20/20, but close enough that I don’t have to wear glasses for anything.
Good luck, I hope you can get it done soon!
I bought myself LASIK surgery for Christmas 4 years ago and it was the best money I ever spent. It was great. I was a little out of commission for about 6 hours after the surgery, then I was fine. I wore goggles so that my son (then 8 months old) couldn’t hurt my eyes. They were definitely dry for about 4-6 months afterwards, but drops were all I needed.
I bought hubby the surgery this Christmas and he’s done great. His comment was the same as mine, “I never imagined that it could be this good.”
My prescription was a -7.50 in each eye and I now see 20/20 and it’s been 4 years.
Good luck!!!
Awesome news!! You have gorgeous eyes, I hope you are able to show them off in all their non-blurry glory soon!
Joce: I will let you know. Thanks for the offer.
Lisa: Every time someone tells me that they got their eyes lasered and they love it my stomach does a little dance of joy!
Melissa: Maybe I should get some goggles – Moira is a rather rambunctious little beast.
Phx: Thanks – that last photo was from my wedding so it was done by a professional.