Something I set my sights on

Just wanted to complete the record on my laser eye surgery, which was a little off-topic aside I indulged in here and here and here and here (sorry) almost six months ago. It went well and improved my sight (myopia and astigmatism) considerably, but didn’t resolve itself into the crystal clear vision that I had hoped for. I know this worried a few people, so here’s the end of the story.

Today I went and had what they call ‘top-up’ surgery or Lasik refinement surgery – basically another procedure, slightly less complex than the first, to bring the prescription up to where it should have been. No idea why, in my case, but sometimes the initial surgery doesn’t quite improve the vision as much as it should.

If your prescription three months after the first surgery is one dioptre or more away from 20/20 vision, the ‘top-up’ is done free by Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, where I chose to go for the initial surgery. It’s not the cheapest place to go, but certainly the best. I should add that only about 3-4% of patients need re-treatment in any case, so this is very unlikely to happen, wherever you go.

So, after three months of waiting hoping for the slight double vision in one eye, and the blurriness in the other, to dissipate, I was told a few weeks ago, that I could have further surgery to tweak the vision.

Now, not quite 12 hours after my appointment, I’m feeling almost completely recovered and can see incredibly well – in the distance and close to. I feel tremendously excited. It makes me realise how disappointed I’ve been, and what a brave face I’ve been trying to put on it, since the first op in December.

The close vision is the biggest joy as I’m no spring chicken, despite living at Spring Cottage [insert canned laughter], and I was resigned to wearing reading glasses for the last six months. Now I find I don’t need them. I can see really well, even in quite low light.

Endlessly fascinating as one’s own body is to oneself, at the moment I have one eye that seems perfect in the distance and the other which is perfect for near vision. Together they are perfect wherever I’m looking. I must ask if this was deliberate as I know there is a procedure where this can be done on purpose, to give people in middle age, who have started to experience presbyopia, the best vision possible.

So, if anyone’s still reading this, don’t be put off by all my previous descriptions of laser surgery. My vision really is amazing now and it should continue to improve over the next weeks and months.

Postscript Overnight I’ve lost the close vision a little, which is disappointing, but to be expected, I suppose. I shouldn’t have jumped the gun by writing about it so soon. I’m still really pleased with the results. It’s everything I wanted and expected.

Post postscript Close vision now back as yesterday, so I’m going to stop commenting. It will take up to three months to settle completely.

Post post postscript I’m at three months almost and my vision is brilliant. I need +1.00 glasses for most reading although I’m fine in bright light outdoors without. I’m finally – after six months – looking much better as the rather long term bloodshotness has finally waned to the point where, even without make-up, the whites of my eyes look whiter than my skin. I am thoroughly pleased that I did this and would recommend it to anyone. I wish really reliable procedures had been available when I was younger, so that I could have enjoyed perfect vision earlier.

Image from Shutterstock.