the future is here
It was fifth grade for me.
I was in fifth grade when I could no longer hide my secret.
I had spent the last year or more voluntarily sitting near the front of the classroom, cheating on my school-administered eye exams and squinting my eyes to attempt to produce better vision.
But in fifth grade, my charade was over.
I was busted.
I had to come clean.
I could barely see.
On the drive home from the eye doctor, fitted out in my hot pink plastic glasses (it was the 80’s, alright?), I experienced an awakening of sorts.
I saw letters on billboards I had never been able to read before.
The trees all featured distinct and separate leaves.
The clarity was unbelievable.
It truly was a brand new world, just like the little mermaid sang.
My mom said she wept all the way home as I announced all the sights I could see with my new glasses.
I’ve been grateful for those tacky, too-colorful glasses – and every pair of plastic frames my face has worn since that day in grade school.
But I’ve lost my share of glasses too – one pair is still sitting somewhere at the bottom of our creek at our swimming hole on my family’s dairy farm. (What? Your family didn’t have a swimming hole? And you call that a childhood?)
I leaped into another brave new world in seventh grade when my parents deemed me Responsible Enough to care for contact lenses.
No more glasses slip-slopping down my nose during P.E. class.
No more bottle cap lenses magnifying my eyes.
But my love of those lenses, and my desire to never be without them, has cost my eyes aplenty.
I pushed the limits of the wear-these-for-just-one-week-at-a-time rule.
And since seventh grade I have periodically and regularly endured eye infections, redness and a myriad of other issues.
But I am not in seventh grade any longer.
I used to dream of a day when a miracle surgery would be invented.
A surgery to cure near-sightedness.
And that day has finally arrived.
Yeah – I know.
That day actually arrived a really long time ago.
Maybe a billion people (or some number like that) have already jumped under the laser gun and allowed some eye doctor to wield his weapon of choice on their cornea. Or retina. Or whatever. (I should probably do my research more thoroughly – eh?)
At any rate.
I think I want to join them.
Those billion (or some number like that) of people who no longer need to wear contacts.
Or glasses.
Those billion (or some number like that) of people who can shower, run, swim, wake up, go to sleep, camp out, go whitewater rafting, read a sign, drive a car, live their life, without any form of visionary help whatsoever.
I’m a little nervous.
Or a lot nervous.
And I haven’t signed the papers yet.
I’m not lying under the laser gun today.
But my appointment’s scheduled.
I’m moving in that direction.
That direction of good vision, of clarity, of saying see ya’ later to these black framed glasses and these round pieces of plastic that are forever getting lodged just left of my eyelid.
I don’t know how this will go.
I really don’t.
But I’ll see.
Oh yes – I’ll see.
8 Comments
Gretchen
My brother just had this done he had a couple problems afterward with pain, he had to go to the ER……but he is doing fine now. I would love to have this done to, but thankfully contacts do me well. And cost………yikes!!! I also just wonder about how it does down the road. Have you read anything about 20-30 years or so after? Has it been around that long. I have never done the research. Just wondering for my sake in the future. Let me know if you do know. Anyhow………I really hope it works out well for ya!
LaceyKeigley
I have definitely been doing research – that's why I wanted to wait more than 10 years after I even heard about this surgery.
But the pre-op is this week so a lot of my questions will be asked and answered then.
It does make me nervous – I won't lie. – And your brother – ouch. That does not sound good.
Jenny Powell
Oh I can't wait to hear how things go with this! I have wanted to get lasik, but lack of funds and courage have so far kept me from it. I have only heard good things about it. I've been wearing some sort of corrective lens since 4th grade, so I know how you feel about wanting to be able to see all of the time!
LaceyKeigley
The funds and the courage.
Yes – that has always been my issue too.
Sooo – we'll see if both of those things can align this week!
Julie
You go girl!! Live the dream for those of us too chicken or too poor to do it ourselves. What dr are you seeing? I went to school with Dr. Dan Yoder (who I believe is in Hendersonville). Great guy!
LaceyKeigley
That's funny that you went to school with a doctor here.
I am actually seeing a doctor in Greenville though. I forget his name but it's with Jervey Eye Group.
Meghan
I had lasik a few years back and I love it! (I also got my busted for needed glasses in late elementary school) It took longer to fill out the paperwork than for the zapping to occur! Just be prepared to not really be able to see for a few days while your eyes recover, but its totally nothing to be worried about, and I'm a total worrier so you can trust me on that! : )
LaceyKeigley
Thanks!
I am a worrier too – thinking about all the what-ifs.
But I soo want to see glasses-free!