Left Eye Post-op

So how's it been since? Well, lots of good things, and one thing I'm concerned about. But first, to continue the narrative a bit.

By the time I got home, the local anesthesia had completely worn off. It didn't hurt at all (though they had given me some Tylenol after the procedure), but it felt like there was something in my eye. Since my wife had described "grittiness" after her Lasik surgery, I was sure this was just a result of the incision. No problem. I had been instructed to take a nap, so I did. For the first two weeks, however, I'm supposed to wear a clear plastic shield over my eye, so I don't rub it while asleep. Surprisingly, it's not hard to sleep with, though I can't comfortably sleep on my left side.

So I took a nap, and woke up around 3 pm to the incessant ringing of my cell phone. Our real estate agent needed something from us. So I looked in the mirror, and my eye was a little red and my eyelid was swollen, but nothing crazy. For the rest of the day I could feel something in my eye every time I blinked, but it wasn't awful. I also have a regimen of two different drops- one is an antibiotic that I use for about five days, and one is a steroid to control inflammation. Both I use four times a day. The steroid I have to use for a month, though, and both drops drip down through my tearducts into my throat. They don't taste very good, and quite sadly make it very unpleasant to drink coke, which is my only caffeine line. But maybe that'll break me of the habit.

Also, my surgeon called me in the evening, which was nice. He said that the "foreign body sensation" is common and should dissipate. By the next day, it was much better, and by Friday it was gone. My vision is as good as it was with my contact lens, which is great.

Now, the aforementioned concern. It is now the fifth day, and in low light I see a "ghost" around certain light objects. For example, when my blinds are closed, they let some light through, but I see a haze to the right of the window opening. I also see a halo around pinpoint lights, including headlights, streetlights, and my clock. I am not sure if this is related to the trauma to my eye from the surgery, or is something going on with the lens. I really hope that it's the former and will fade over time. It is quite distracting, and since I work in a low-light environment, it's a bit annoying. Looking at a computer is ok for some reason, though when I look at someone else's computer from a distance I see the "ghost." Objectively today everything looks the same, but maybe I'm getting used to it, because it seems to bother me less. My main concern is what happens with my "good" eye- will it also do this, and if it does will the combined ghosting and haloing be worse? That would be a problem.

I'm seeing the doctor again on Tuesday for a follow-up, and will ask these questions then. I also have my second surgery scheduled for April 11th. When I originally scheduled they said to plan for two weeks between surgeries, though it could be one, or it could be three or more. So I scheduled for the 21st, expecting to have the second surgery two weeks later on the 4th (he only operates on Wednesday, doing Lasik the rest of the week). Unfortunately, they didn't tell me that the surgeon would be on vacation then. On the day after the surgery, at my follow-up exam, he said he could do it this coming Wednesday, after only one week, but I am closing on my house that day and moving that weekend. So no go. Oh well. But I have my right contact lens, so as long as I put it in first thing in the morning and don't take it out until bedtime, it's no problem.

So overall, I'm happy, though with some reservations. Hopefully the issues will clear up and all will be good. So far the hassle of dealing with eyes is still there, but it's no worse than dealing with my contacts. And in month or so, I'll have new eyes, and hopefully my small reservations will be resolved.