I can SEE! Words can not truly describe my lasik experience at Mann Eye Institute but I’m going to do my best…
Let’s start with Friday AM (the day of my procedure)… I got to Mann Eye a little before 8 am. My mother was so kind to be my caregiver for the AM since someone has to be there to drive you home after the lasik procedure. Before you do anything they get you checked in and provide you with a “lasik kit” that has all the necessary eye drops, etc that you will need after the procedure. The eye drops are amazing too! You will love them! Once you are all checked in you meet with the doctor again, and in my case it was Dr. Brunson. He was wonderful and made sure that all my questions were answered and I was fully prepared for my lasik procedure. Dr Brunson also had the nurse re-check my eyes to make sure that my vision was the same and everything has remained stable since the last time they saw me. All was good here and we were ready to get me all ready for the actual lasik procedure. And at this time it’s only about 8:30 am and we are making great time.
Dr. Brunson escorted me to the waiting area prior to the procedure where I would then talk with Dr. Paul Mann also. He would be the one doing my lasik procedure. In the meantime, I was in the good company of a Mann Eye employee, Denise. She was wonderful as well! She was very calming and helped soothe any last minute anxiety that I may have. She also told me exactly what to expect when I go into the procedure room. This was good to know and made me feel very comfortable with what to expect. Denise was just great! As you can see I am just very pleased with my overall experience at Mann Eye. Everyone there helped me through this lasik procedure and they each played a very important role to make the customer (me!) feel good and relaxed.
After I talked with Denise some I met with Dr. Paul Mann and he was there to answer any last minute questions I may have and take one more look at my eyes before the procedure. We were all good and he was very personable and again told me what to expect as I was undergoing my lasik procedure and what to expect after. I was again very grateful for this. The next time I would see him would be during the procedure! After Dr. Paul Mann and I talked I was off to the next step….
I was back with Denise and she gave me a few pills that would help me relax before the procedure and she kept me company until it was my time….
Denise got me into the lasik procedure room to get me settled in. The room is pretty cold so I got comfortable with an over-sized stuffed animal (something to hold onto is always a nice touch!) and I got wrapped up in a blanket. I was in great hands!
At Mann Eye during the lasik procedure there are 2 chairs that you sit in. The first chair you are there for only about 5 minutes maximum and this is where you go through the first part of the lasik procedure. Mind you you have many drops in your eyes right as you start to basically numb your eye and you can not feel anything- I promise! It’s hard to describe the sensation or feeling, but it’s just different. They place a sort of “suction cup” over your eye and this feels like nothing you have experienced before. It’s not painful by all means just different! There are a few other nurses in the room and they are very helpful because they are counting down and let you know how you’re doing. The first chair is fast! Then onto the second part of the procedure in the second chair. They get you confortable and this part is just as fast. The whole time the doctors are talking to you and making sure you’re okay and doing well. In this chair the goal is to look at a hazy green light (and when I say hazy at this point in the procedure everything is a little bit hazy but that is completely normal). While you are looking at the light Dr. Paul Mann is completing your lasik procedure and it’s over before you know it! It’s about 9 am now and they complete my procedure and Denise and Dr. Paul Mann help me get up from the chair and of course their first questions are, “Can you see me?” Stumbling for words because I was not sure if this was my complete vision or not and if this was me seeing on my own, I said yes and told them that it was a hazy though. Again, this is completely normal. Dr. Mann takes a looks at my eyes after the procedure to make sure that everything is okay and then send me home with my mother for a day of bed rest. Mind you- I can see better than I had ever before with my own two eyes! No glasses or contacts needed! They reassured me that my vision would only get better and by tomorrow it would be a lot better. The main thing when you go home is to make sure that you follow the instructions with the eye drops and put them in every two hours when you’re awake. Lucky for me I’m a pretty heavy sleeper and I was off to get some sleep for the rest of the day!
We left Mann Eye about 9:20ish and I went home to take a nap. The car ride home was interesting because I could see pretty clearly when I opened my eyes. Since it was just after the procedure my eyes were very sensitive to sunlight so the best thing was to just close them. I woke up from my nap around 1:30 pm and have some lunch with my mother and father who wanted to know all about the experience (everything that I have just shared with you!) It was exciting to be able to see the TV and just see everything for the first time. It’s a very surreal feeling! After lunch it was back to bed…
When I woke up from my next nap it was to the pleasant surprise of my mother and husband. My caregivers for the day were trading shifts! It’s important that you have someone there to help you the day of your lasik procedure because they were they to help put the drops in my eyes and just take care of me. Now I got to share everything with my husband and he was the one most uneasy about this whole procedure in the beginning, but he was delighted at how successful it turned out! He wanted to hear all about it! The rest of the evening of was pretty low key for me and it was just nice to have family there to support me through the lasik procedure and through my recovery. I was in bed early and it feels really good to shut your eyes after the procedure to let them recover. You are given eye shield to tape over your eyes for the first 5 days when you sleep to make sure that you do not rub or scratch your eyes in your sleep. Although they definitely look funny they are worth the trouble!!! Make sure you put them on! They are easy to sleep in too. My eyes had had a long day and needed all the moisture they could get!
After your lasik procedure you always have a day after appointment with the doctors to make sure that everything is on track….
Saturday AM my husband drove me to Mann Eye to have my check up with Dr. Brunson and Dr. Paul Mann. It was amazing to see the next morning, again a very surreal feeling! I made us breakfast before we left and it was just amazing to be able to see. I know I keep on saying that but once you get lasik done yourself you’ll completely understand what I’m saying!!! From everyone taking care of my the day before breakfast in bed was much needed and a great way to start off the day! Dr. Brunson and Dr. Paul Mann checked out my eyes when I got there and they both said that everything looked great and the lasik procedure was a success. We discussed the dryness that I was feeling in my eyes and how it was important to keep on putting in the eye drops and to make sure that I follow the post-lasik instructions. The artificial tear drops are WONDERFUL!!! Your eyes will eat them up and it helps with nay dryness that you may have after the lasik procedure. We did some eye tests and my vision now after the procedure (mind you this is just the day after) was about 20/15. Things were still a tad bit hazy but this is normal for it just being the day after. I was cleared to drive and sent home to enjoy my new vision!
I told both doctors how grateful I was and I was so pleased with my experience at Mann Eye. Lasik is truly a gift that keeps on giving! You will have your vision for the rest of your life and it’s truly a priceless gift! I am so grateful and thankful to be able to see!
I’m off to enjoy my weekend and will keep you updated on how things are going….
If you have ANY questions at all please don’t hesitate to call Mann Eye! Call them at 1-800-MY-VISION! I know they’ll be able to help you just like they helped me!
