As I fearfully waited at the Mann-Berkeley Eye Center to get my eyes lasered, all kinds of thoughts went through my head. Why would anyone with two perfectly good (nearly blind, but still good) eyes want to voluntarily get burning lasers beamed directly into their eyes? And I was that someone?! The lady asked, “Are you allergic to Valium?” I looked up at her with my still unburned, but nearly blind, eyes and after the question processed in my sluggish brain, said “I have no idea.” At this point I was willing to take the Valium – a small dose she said…and in a few minutes the headache I’d acquired due to the lack of my morning cup of hot tea was reduced.
Soon I was called into the laser room. I can honestly say I was only a little nervous…by this time the Valium was doing its job, so no one was just freaking out. I was responsive enough to follow directions and prepare for the excruciating pain that lay ahead. Every one at Mann-Berkeley was more than nice, extremely gentle, and spoke with sweet voices. Dr. Caplin explained the procedure to me again, asked if I had further questions (the Valium answered most of my questions), and then began the procedure. One of the ladies commented on my beautiful green eyes. I remember when Roger had his eyes fixed several years ago; I was astounded at the beautiful blue color of them on the monitor as I watched from another room. I wondered if mine would be similar…in a greenish kind of way! The nurse assured me that they were :0) I’d watched several procedures earlier in the day, all in shades of brown eyes.
Oh yes, back to the torture session…step 1 was to make the flap with a laser. A contraption was placed on my eye like a suction cup. The flap was made on each eye. The only slightly uncomfortable suction was removed, and after a few minutes for bubbles under the flap to disappear, I was placed under the laser. Now this is the scary part. “Look into the red blinking light” was my instruction – focus went in and out, and the light around the red blink was very bright; sometimes things went completely black. After about 19 seconds of lasering, it was time for the left eye. For some reason this one was more uncomfortable, but was only for about 16 or 17 seconds…I did however think I smelled flesh burning which was freaking me out just a tad – in spite of the Valium – even though I lay perfectly still, plastered to the work table.
It was over. It was explained to me what I should be seeing, and it was so. Everything was fuzzy and cloudy…I wondered if the procedure was successful. My Halloween mask was attached and I was told to leave it in place until the next morning – except to place drops in my eyes. I was taken home and put to bed to give my eyes a chance to heal. At about 5 p.m. I could rest no more – I was starving! I wanted a Whataburger, Jr. Things were still blurry and made even worse by the eye protectors still taped in place.
Later, Jen and I sat out on the front porch to hand out candy treats while I terrorized the little masked goblins. I was glad Jen had come down for the weekend.
So this morning I woke before 5 a.m., ripped of the eye masks and began the testing. I can see the computer; that is good. I could see the clock, the grandpup…yep, all seems to be progressing well. It is off to Mann-Berkeley for a 9:15 follow-up appointment (one of many). So for now, all is well…I am sleepy again though – think I’ll go put those plastic shields back on and catch a few more ZZZZZ’s!
