After a computer and reading free morning, I arrived at the office at about 8:30am thanks to a ride from our friend Pete. Next was the customized mapping for the CustomVue procedure, a matter of staring at a red light as the computer tried to take three identical photos of each eye.
That was followed by a general medical consultation, administration of many antibiotic and numbing drops and the extremely helpful Valium. I was almost more nervous about the Valium than the lasik because of my not-too-pleasant history with pain killers and nitrous oxide. But 15 minutes later I was in a chair having the astigmatism in my eyes identified with green marker by Dr. Bryan and then shortly after, going under the gigantic arm of the HUGE computer in the procedure room.
They gave me a stuffed fish to hold onto and gently taped one set of eyelashes back. With the combination of Valium and many numbing eye drops, this was less bothersome than you would think. The other eye was covered by a black patch. Then a suction cup was put onto my eyeball, the only challenge of the day, as my eyes were smaller than the physician expected. So after some manipulation, it finally stuck and the suction started. Everything faded to gray as if in a horror movie. After a few clicks, the suction cup was released and my vision returned. Then a small plastic spatula type thing (from my point of view) was used to flip my cornea back. The ticking? That was the sound of the excimer laser. After that is was easy. The lights were turned off and I was told to stare at the blinking light above me. The laser started flashing and a slight burning smell filled my nostrils as my eye was being reshaped by the laser. Ten seconds of counting down from the tech and Dr. Bryan telling me to keep still and then it was over. The spatula appeared again and my cornea was flipped back over. Dr. Bryan tugged at it with the instrument until it stayed in place. Then we switched to the other eye.
This was a bit more of a challenge from my perspective as my brain knew what to expect. The pressure from the suction cup and the excimer laser was quick but tough to take. From Dr. Bryan's point of view, things were much easier with the second eye and the overall process was faster. But the results 
show today as I have a pretty bruise in the first eye from the initial manipulation with the suction cup. When I sat up after the procedure, I could actually see the clock. I thanked Dr. Bryan in my stupor, received my instructions for the second time and waited about three minutes for W to arrive. I could see! It just looked to me like I was wearing my glasses with Vaseline smeared on them. Already an improvement from my normal inability to really see my own feet clearly without glasses or contacts for going on 21 years.
We drove home and I was already reading street signs. At home I settled in with my iPod, water, funny protective goggles and two dogs in the club chair. About 20 minutes later I feel asleep. By the time I woke up four hours later, I could see the TV!
Almost a week later, my brain is almost caught up with my newly found existing peripheral vision. The nausea caused by the change in my vision connecting with my stomach has faded. And I just realized in the shower yesterday that I no longer need to squirrel my eyes shut for fear of water washing away my contacts. Now I need to get to somewhere that I can snorkel, water ski, camp or river raft!!!! As of my one day follow up, I have 20/20 vision. My left eye sees perfectly, while my right is still healing and adjusting. It is nearly perfect. This was probably one of the better investments that I have ever made in my health or quality of life.
