Exciting trip to the hairdresser's

Yesterday I had my first trip to the hairdresser's post LASIK.

How fantastic! I could see what she was doing for a change...she probably thought I was nuts, examining very carefully what she was doing. I was checking out how she was cutting my hair of course, just enjoying being able to see it all happening...oh and drastically trying not to look in the mirror at myself which would be too horrible for words!

Today was even better...I bought my first ever pair of fashionable sunglasses...quite ironic really on a day when the sky has been grey and cold. They're lovely huge jewelly things that my husband can't stand. Just as well he doesn't have to wear them then...

Month check up

Today saw me heading back up to Newcastle for my one month check up. As usual I drove to Heworth and then got the Metro into the city. Naturally I had to have the obligatory Subway, since it's on the corner of the street where the clinic is and then ended up having to rush to get there on time!!!

I went straight in...the optician was actually sat ub reception as they were having a slow day! Anyway, there were the questions about my eyes, particularly the left one as I'd had problems with that one and then I had a sight test. Basically the outcome was that my right eye is O.OO (perfect) and my left eye has a slight over-correction of +0.5 (I think). That is very small...one line on the Snellen Chart. He said that, given a bit more time that would probably even up and even if didn't the difference is so small that my brain would compensate and I wouldn't notice that difference. I don't have to go back until June so that is a real result.

So I can start to get on with things and not think about my eyes...swimming here I come. Oh and designer sunglasses of course!

I'll still continue to update (fairly) regularly though with news on how things are going :o)

The first week of work

Well, I made it through my first week of work minus glasses. Would have updated sooner but have discovered my MUM has started reading and now, apparently thinks I'm dying so hopefully she has lost the URL and will never read again.

Things have begun to settle down. My eyes were very tired on Monday and Tuesday. It comes to something when Yr 11s turn up for their mock GCSE speaking exams and ask the teacher if THEY'RE alright. However, paracetamol and eye drops saw me through and by yesterday things were starting to look up...haven't needed headache tablets and even wore eye makeup today (2 weeks...).

I think my left eye has begun to make some improvements...still not perfect but better than last week. Things still looking positive and I keep recommending LASIK to people.

I've had odd reactions from school pupils from "Miss, where are your glasses" (response "in the bin") to "euh, a laser, did it hurt?" and "where did you get that done, I want it too!"

All in all a good week of vision :o)

A week on

It's almost a week to the minute since I underwent my Lasik eye surgery.

Is my vision any better? Well, I can see without my glasses on if that's what you want to know. Is it perfect? Definitely not! I still can't see well in my left eye. However, I'm not giving up hope. Having been on several fora for peopel who've had Lasik Eye Treatment, as far as I'm aware this is quite normal. Things often don't start to settle down until about 2 weeks after the procedure.

So, what to do now? Well I shall continue to wear the attractive eye protectors for the next week...even though the tape brings the skin on my cheeks and forehead off every morning. (In fact, my forehead is constantly sticky from the tape!!!) and I shall continue to cherish that moment each day, just before I open my eyes when I hope that all will be clear once they are open. I am still sure that they will improve, I'm just very impatient...

What have I learnt this week? Mainly that you glasses-free people don't see as perfectly as we glasses-wearers believe you do! My binoculor vision is 20/20 and I know that it's not perfect. I think we forget that our glasses make things better than perfect!

I'm looking forward to seeing how things go as the next week goes on and am hopeful that things begin to improve. You can definitely see that my left eye is no where near as well healed as my right eye, in that it droops and also it is a lot redder.

Was it all worth it? I think so...I'm not wearing my glasses am I?

Only one more week than I can do sport again (ha, ha) and until I can wear make-upm(no tragedy there, don't really wear it anyway.

New Year's Day

Well, 've finally caught up with myself and here we are on New Year's Day and I'm actually writing on New Year's Day!

Today my vision hasn't been great in either eye, but they haven't been sore. I'm glad I didn't have to drive (not least because it meant I could have a few bevvies with my sister), as I've been very blurry all day in both eyes. Only to be expected, as far as I'm aware.

I'm starting to become a little concerned about going to work on Monday. I know that theoretically I can work but realisitically will I be able to work. Two very different things. I'm one very grumpy Miss when something isn't right with me, so I can imagine it won't be nice for many of my classes if my vision isn't better than it has been today!

Oh, also there's the small case of my Y11 mock exams that need marking...I knew I should have marked them a month ago when they did them!

New Year's Eve

Today was a good day, really.

After yesterday's sore eye and less than perfect vision, I antcipated waking up with sore eyes again. However, from the moment I opened my eyes today they were comfortable and I could see fairly well.

I had an appointment in Newcastle again and the optician did a sight test and looked at both of my eyes. My left eye still needs a slight correction but my right eye is fine. He reassured me that my left eye will settle down, it's just taking a longer time for the swelling to go down and tissure to repair itself. He also told me that both of the eyes look fine and the soreness is due to dry eyes. So I left happier than when I went in.

After the clinic we all went to the Centre for Life. I'd never been before and it was fab. We didn't get to see anywhere near all of it but the kids (big and small) thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I particularly liked the "senses" section and Alice loved building the arched bridge...she also really enjoyed being our guide, as she went there with her class in November and it her her pester-power that got us back there. On a vision front for most of the time I saw really well in BOTH eyes and they didn't feel too dry either.

Once we got home I decided it was time to brave driving, so I went to Teesside Park for some retail therapy and again was really happy with my vision. Even my driving in the dark wasn't too bad, no real problems with halos or starbursts either.

The evening ended with tired, dry eyes again and I didn't manage to make it through to midnight to see in the New Year...the only time ever, I think apart from 3 yrs ago when I was in hospital with meningitis.

All in all today was a positive one and I really feel that I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel...my left eye seems to be making some improvements and that's the thing I'm most concerned about at the moment.

Day 3

Well, to be honest, day 3 was awful. My left eye continued to feel very gritty and the vision was poor in it all day.

Of course me being me (ie paranoid, anxious etc...) I started to worry that there was a problem so gave the helpline a ring. they arranged for someone to call me back and eventually they said to come in for an appointment tomorrow. I know that everything is probably normal but it will be nice to get some reassurance.

So it's back off to Newcastle tomorrow...