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The decision to have lasik surgery can be one of the most important in a person's life. There is a drastic change in lifestyle afterward, not to mention the risks and the expense. It falls below marriage and buying a house, but is in the same league as buying a car. Changing 20/40 vision to 20/20 might not warrant such a huge move. Making sure to choose a reputable surgeon is a must. This is not an area for bargain-hunting.

My vision was 20/450 in one eye and 20/600 in the other before surgery. Now it is 20/40 in both. It isn't perfect, but I was told before having it done that it wouldn't be perfect. The difference between then and now is amazing. Now I can see what time it is every time I wake up during the night. I don't have to fumble for glasses to see if it's time to get up, which sometimes made it difficult to fall asleep again if it wasn't. I don't have to count the stairs to know when I get to the bottom if I accidentally leave my glasses downstairs before taking out my contacts. That only happened a few times, but it was pretty annoying.
It kind of reminds me of the first time I got glasses. I was in eighth grade, and all of a sudden I could see the expressions on my friends' faces when they were talking to me. I almost felt like I was invading their privacy; I could practically see their thoughts. In addition to that, I could get a good view of the items from which to choose in the cafeteria. (Whoa, what IS that?)
I am beginning to see the savings in not having to replace glasses and contacts. It's been almost seven years since surgery. I needed to get reading glasses, which are $1.00 at the Dollar Store. I knew that would happen. There is also lasik surgery that can correct far-sightedness, eliminating the need for reading glasses. I'll wait until it becomes ridiculously difficult to read to have that done, though.
When I went to the eye surgery center, I was one of several people scheduled for lasik surgery. We were each stripped of our glasses and given a Valium. I don't know how many patients were in the room, but I heard one of them say, "Can I have another?" When it was my turn, I was taken by the arm and led to an operating room. I climbed onto the table, lying down and putting complete faith in the surgeon and his assistants. Shortly before they started, I felt like the table was tilted and my feet were pointing downward. I thought, "What if I slide off and land on the floor? Oh well, they'll take care of me." The power of Valium!
I remember feeling like strong bursts of air were coming at my eyes, but they had been anchored with little instruments that kept me from blinking. In a very short time, the surgery was finished. I was given a ride home by someone at the center, which I don't think is standard. She gave me eye patches to wear while sleeping. They keep eyes from getting rubbed and injured. After a few nights, they are no longer necessary. Neither is the pain medicine.
By the second day, I was watching television without glasses or contacts. By the third day, I was driving! Now I have a license that has no restrictions on it. I still need to ask passengers to read signs for me sometimes, but the worst that happens when I'm driving alone is that I miss a turn.
Lasik surgery is even more advanced now than it was seven years ago. It isn't as expensive, and the cost will be made up sooner by not having to replace glasses and contacts. The joy of being able to see far and wide without any assistance, not to mention glancing at a clock in the middle of the night and going right back to sleep, makes it a valuable investment in life.

Learn more about this author, Alicia Suenaga.
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