The procedure was booked for 5pm on Saturday 27th December so I had to work hard all day trying not to think about what would happen. All I knew really ,was that I'd need to wear dark glasses afterwards and that my eyes would be uncomfortable for a few hours afterwards.
Once again, with children safely installed at "Grandma and Grandad's with the caravan", Graeme and I headed up to Heworth Metro station for our journey into Newcastle. Once at the clinic, I was taken for an eye test again and met my surgeon. After another short wait it was time.
I was taken into the "pre-treatment" room and given a host of eye drops for after the procedure. Anti-biotics and anti-inflammetories to be used every 2hrs after the surgery for the next 48hrs then 4 times a day for next week. I was also given artificial tear drops for dry-eyes once I'd reduced the other drops to 4 times a day. In addition I was also provided with attractive plastic eye guards that I'm to wear whilst asleep for the next fortnight to stop me rubbing my eyes in my sleep. I had feared that they would be like black pirate ones but thankfully not...they're clear and have little holes in them for the eyes to breath. The worst thing about them is the tape used to stick them on...they remove your skin everytime too so I'm now developing some lovely red marks on my cheeks and forehead!
Once all of the aftercare was talked through I had anticeptic painted around my eyes and I went into the "laser room". By this point I was rather nervous, but reasoned with myself that it couldn't possibly be worse than have 2 caesareans whilst awake, could it?
I had to lay down and had anaesthtic drops administered and dessings placed over my right eye then a suction thingie (and I hope I'm not confusing anyone with my use of the technical language here), while the flap was cut. That took seconds, then I was moved out from under the flap-cutter (see, all of the technical stuff!) and the lasering began. I had to focus on a red and green light (the laser, apparently) whilst the surgeon did the zapping. There was a slight smell of burning (nice) but I felt no pain at all.
Once the right eye was done it was time for the left one. This proved a little more difficult, as by that time my right eye was struggling to stay open and I found it hard to keep my left eye still. However, it was soon over and I was returned to Graeme who was waiting for me in a darkened room. I had a coffee and put on my sunglasses then was checked over by the surgeon and allowed to go on my way.
How I made it through Newcastle back to the station then onto the Metro back to the car with my eyes constantly watering and closed most of the time, I'll never know. Suffice to say, Graeme was a hero, as usual and I know have quite a good idea of how blind people must feel.
The procedure took about 15 mins and I couldn't believe how quickly it was all over.
Next was to come the recovery.
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