Okay - two days post-op and I’m very happy with the results of the LASIK procedure…except for wearing the protective shields at night. I understand the need for them – so I don’t rub my eyes in my sleep – but putting them on is awkward, using the tape, (and I fear I’ll accidentally poke the upper lid while I’m doing it and dislodge the flap), and taking them off in the a.m. is a real pain - literally. I feel like I’m ripping off half my face when I remove the tape. Okay, this sounds trivial I know – got my distance vision back and I’m complaining, but jeez, here they have this wonderful hi-tech laser vision correction but I’ve got to use tape to hold the plastic shields on. And I have to wear them for another week and a half. Last night, I used a white first aide cloth tape instead of what the laser place gave me – not much improvement. Today I’m going to see if there’s anything at the drug store or Sports Authority in the way of goggles. I suspect not – the plastic shields have large holes (for air circulation, I presume) and they are thin and flat except for curvature over the eye, so they’re comfortable in bed. Goggles would probably not allow for air circulation and will be bulky and uncomfortable. So (at last), my question is, is there some kind of protective eyewear out there that’s easy to put on, isn’t bulky, will stay on during sleep, and isn’t painful to remove?
I did not have to tape mine on. They just strapped on. Oh, well, call your Dr & ask.
Incidentally- remember to USE your eydrops- a lot. Also get a pair or clear or amber glasses and wear them inside- it helps- you don’t want air drying your eyes.
Yeah, I’ll call them tomorrow; maybe they can at least refer me to some place that has the strap-on type. Yes, I’m using two types of drops 4 times a day, plus the artificial tears every hour (I have dry eyes). Well, the post-op care is the worst part of the laser surgery, if you ask me. I can’t wait to be able to wash my face AND eyes; they told me not to touch my upper lids for a month, and get no soap or water in them. I’ve been using baby wipes to clean my face. Eyes feels gunky and itchy, but oh well, small price to pay for getting your vision back. It helps to know that the strap-on type shields exist. Now I just have to find them. I’ll do some searching on the web too. Thanks.
OOOMYGODD! With the price of LASIK coming down to the under $1500 range in my area, I was seriously considering correcting my vision. But not after reading this! Some years ago I spent $300 on contact lenses and stopped using them after ONE WEEK for all the care they needed!
The level of care needed for contact lense varies greatly. Every set of eyes is different. I have provided practically zero care for my contacts in the past 5 years and amazingly enough I have avoided eye infection.
Warning, if you try this, don’t expect the same results. I understand an eye infection is very painful, but I wouldn’t know myself.
11 years of wearing contacts, maybe I should look into surgery in the near future. The price is small compared to the joy of waking up and being able to see something 5 feet away.
Alantus
Hmmm…I think Balthisar may be joshing. I recognize my whining seems petty considering the benefits. I don’t want to discourage anyone from having this procedure - I’ve already encouraged a girlfriend who was considering it. The post-op stuff is temporary, after all. My eyes have been feeling better with each day; they don’t feel gritty now and sight has improved in the past few days. I’m tickled pink with the results. Just hated taking off that tape (and part of my face) in the a.m. BTW, I called the center where I had it done and the tech said they prefer the tape-ons; strap-on shields can shift during sleep. I experimented last night - since the shields had holes in them, I attached some elastic and even used one piece of tape on each, but before falling asleep I noticed they had shifted. I got up, took the elastic off, and put the things back on with a paper tape the tech recommended. It’s tolerable…and worth it. I’m finished with the drops (except for the artificial tears) AND tomorrow I can start using mascara!
Alantus - just do it!
Sadly, I wasn’t joking. If your whining (you said it, not me!!) is accurate, you really have discouraged me from going gung-ho into the nearest LASIK center and doing it.
Oh, I’m sorry Bal - I sure did not want to discourage anyone from having the procedure. As I said, this post-op inconvenience is TEMPORARY. I suspect they (the laser center) may be overdoing the post-op care - medical people tend to be overly cautious - but I’m not going to take a chance on my eyesight. I have to wear the shields for sleep for another week and a half; they also told me not to rub my eyes or get water/soap in them for a month - yeah, probably overly cautious, but they’re the experts and I have my distance vision back – no more contacts and glasses (well, I have to use reading glasses, but that comes with aging no matter what, and I had to use reading glasses with my contacts). So, start investigating - go for a consultation with your local laser centers and ask questions. So you’re inconvenienced for a few weeks – just think - no more contact lenses to deal with in the morning,
no more dropping contacts on the floor and getting down on your hands and knees to find them, going to the beach and swimming and being able to see, waking up in the morning and being able to see…a few weeks of inconvenient post-op care is worth it!