For the first 24 hours after LASIK, I was advised to sleep as much of it away as possible as you’re supposed to keep your eyes closed. For the most part, that is what I did.
The worst short-lived aspect of the surgery was maybe the hour before I fell asleep. The ride home was probably a little over 30 minutes. During that time, the anesthetic eyedrops slowly wear off. The sensation wasn’t unbearable, but it was REALLY uncomfortable. My eyes are watering up right now thinking about it. It was similar to the feeling when you’re cutting potent onions, but much more intense. Once the feeling started, I probably couldn’t have opened my eyes if I wanted to.
As you can imagine, this made it somewhat difficult to get to sleep. But eventually I did and the worst was behind me.
The day after the surgery, Jeremy drove me back to the doctor for my follow up appointment. This is also the appointment when I am cleared to drive on my own. Things were still a bit foggy – much like having a bit of gunk in your eyes – but I could see more sharply than I had in ages. I tested 20/15 that first day.
The worst long-term aspect of the recovery was the night shield. I hate having to sleep with crap attached to my face. I once had to use a CPAP machine and it was not a good experience. I had to wear the glasses for a week to prevent my from subconsciously rubbing my eyes in my sleep or having them rubbed by my pillow. Obviously, eye-rubbing is bad in the first week as the flap needs to completely heal.
The glasses weren’t too elaborate. Basically a very smoothly molded sheet of plastic with foam edging to keep it from being too uncomfortable. In all honesty, it wasn’t that bad except that I just really hate sleeping with something attached to my face. I sleep on my side and it’s hard to position it so that my pillow puts just the right direction of pressure so as not to move it, but also not to completely embed the thing into my skin.
The post-op eye drop schedule lasted a little over a week and was very simple. I’m at a point where I can use moisturizing drops if my eyes feel dry, but I’m not on a schedule any longer. None of the drops stung or felt uncomfortable. One kind tasted a little bad if it dripped to the back of your throat but that is all.
At my week follow-up, I tested 20/20, but I wasn’t tested any farther. At the one month mark, I tested 20/15 again. I had halos around lights at night at first, but those are completely gone now.
It is truly incredible to think about. This surgery and its success is truly a modern marvel and I cannot begin to express how much respect I have for the people who made it possible. It is amazing to be in this process of unlearning the habits of wearing glasses and contacts. It’s something that is very difficult for me to put into words, but it’s just nice to have one less thing to think or worry about in my daily routine, as well as not having to worry about reordering contacts, updating glasses, what to bring when traveling, etc.
All in all, it was a risk that really paid off and I am so happy to have had LASIK surgery. Yay, good vision!
The Renaissance Woman 
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