If seeing is believing, then I am thrilled to announce that I believe!
Because I can see!
I believe, because this past Mother’s Day I opened up a package from Erik and pulled out a detailed information booklet from the best facility in our area on LASIK surgery.
I believe I nearly peed my pants when he told me that it was paid for and all I had to do was make the appointment.
I believe I have wanted this procedure more than anything else I can think of (okay, so world peace would be nice too) for longer than I can remember.
I believe I have worn glasses and/or contacts for over 27 years. And disliked every minute of it.
I believe that I wore contacts for about ten years before my eyes decided it felt like shards of glass had been lodged in my corneas whenever I wore them for more than an hour or two.
I believe that with vision as bad as mine I always had to choose the thick, chunky eyeglass frames in an attempt to hide how thick my -5 lenses were.
I believe, because yesterday morning a very skilled physician used some highly sophisticated technology to correct my blindness extremely poor vision. I want to hug him.
I believe I said, “This is the last time I will (fill in the blank) with glasses on” no less than 463 times before the surgery.
I believe I was a nervous wreck the night before and the morning of the procedure, but after a lovely dose of sedative the nurse gave me, all was right with the world again. I want to hug her.
I believe that the prayer the doctor said before the procedure was more for his benefit than mine. But I certainly wasn’t going to say no.
I believe that I can be covered up to my elbows in blood and guts (which has happened on more than one occasion) and not be grossed out in the slightest. But when it comes to eyes, I get squeamish very easily. I thought I was going to vomit several times yesterday.
I believe that the doctor’s assistant telling me I would feel “a little pressure” while the suction ring was placed on my eyes is a big fat liar. Ow.
I believe that even though the machine that cut into my corneas is quite fancy and has a technical name of “microkeratome”, it sounded an awful lot like the circular saw in our garage. That mental image is hard to dismiss.
I believe that once you get past the smell of burning corneal tissue, the actual lasering of the eyeball is the easiest part to endure.
I believe that I did a little happy dance as I dropped my glasses and prescription sunglasses into the Lions Club donation box on my way out of the building. Dancing under the influence should be prohibited.
I believe I was in shock on the ride home, not quite believing that I was seeing the world so clearly with my own eyes. I was half convinced that the contact “bandages” were actually my prescription contacts.
I truly believe now that they have been removed, and I read the letter chart on the wall, I got tears in my eyes when the doctor told me I now have 20/20 vision for the first time in over 27 years. Before the procedure I couldn’t even see the big “E”.
I believe that being forbidden to wear any makeup for one week is actually quite liberating. But after that I will be buying stock in concealer.
I believe that LASIK surgery is the quickest, most life changing procedure one can undergo if they are so fortunate. And if you live in the Pacific Northwest, and are considering having it done, I have a recommendation of where you should go.
I believe my husband is the the most generous, amazing, selfless person on earth for giving me such a precious gift. He won some money and instead of buying something for himself with it, he bought me LASIK vision correction. He said nothing else we could spend the money on would improve my quality of life as much as this, and also, then he “would be able to see my beautiful eyes more easily”. I want to hug him. Again.
I can see!
And seeing is believing.
That’s wonderful. I have been wearing contacts just as long, too. Although, they are not too uncomfortable for me . but having the surgery would be great!
I highly recommend it!
Do you remember when we used to sing,
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
La-tee-da. I will always be your Brown Eyed Girl. xoxo
I am so happy for you! Oh oy! Now I especially want to do it! What a wonderful Brother in Law we have…don’t tell him please,…. big head, the rest of the boys trying to own up…we will become the Hatfields and McCoy’s if they try to keep up with Matt, I mean Erik! Love you! Glad it went well! Love your freckles…just saying…
Gah! Don’t look at my freckles! But yes, I have to agree with how wonderful Erik is. He’s like super-human.
You are so brave! I don’t know if I could do it. Especially after reading your descriptions about the circular saw and burning corneal tissue!! If I ever get up the guts to go through with it I will definitely ask you where you got it done.
Unrelated, but do you have any recommendations on where to live in the Seattle area? My husband just got a job there so it looks like we’re going to be moving up there soon! We thought with a baby on the way, why not throw in a few other major life changes like moving and a new job into the mix while we’re at it?
I am not brave at all, and honestly, it wasn’t all that bad. I just kept my “eyes” on the prize (sorry!) and that helped me through it. And the drugs didn’t hurt either.
Wow, nothing like a trifecta to turn your life as you know it completely upside down! I’m not too familiar with Seattle as far as living areas, (although we did live in the Lake City area for a couple of years–but that was during Erik’s law school. Things are much different when you are putting kids into the mix.) Most people I know tend to live in the outlying areas because it is much less expensive (Samamish, Kirkland, Renton, etc.) Sorry–I am no help at all! If you end up much further south (Federal Way/Tacoma area) then I would be much more helpful, but I wouldn’t wish that commute on anyone. Good luck to you!
Oh my gosh! How cool! and Brave! I want to do this so bad. I just haven’t rearranged things in the budget yet. I was in boot camp the other day and I forgot to put contacts in before I left. I was wearing my glasses. I was doing burpees and the glasses kept bouncing off. I took them off but then I couldn’t read what exercise to do next. It was so frustrating! You and boot camp have inspired me to make it a priority. Nice on Erik! Had to give him so kudos.
Nope, not brave at all! But cool, yes! Sorry about the glasses and Boot Camp–but I am so proud of you for sticking with it (burpees are my nemesis!). I feel your pain–I had to work out for a week with my glasses and it was NOT fun.
So awesome! I am so happy for you
My vision is so bad I might’ve been able to wear your glasses. Someday I hope to have the same kind of procedure. Way to go!
Thanks, Mary! I still have some contact lenses leftover if you want them! I hate to just throw them away.
Yay for your eyes!! I’m in the same boat – contacts/glasses for 25 years and mostly glasses now since contacts have been strangely uncomfortable since about 12 years ago. I went in for a Lasik consultation back when we were dual income, one kid, but, since I was still nursing, they said I wasn’t an ideal candidate (apparently nursing and pregnancy can temporarily impact your vision – who knew?). I should probably consider it again as nursing and pregnancy are long behind me, but we are one income, two kids.
I LOVE that Erik gifted you with vision – sounds like you two are a high quality pair.
Congratulations on your perfect vision. Enjoy every minute of no lenses!!
Thank you! I have been enjoying every minute. I laughed at myself when this morning I went to take off my glasses before getting in the shower.
I have to give Erik most of the credit in the high quality rating.
YES, my vision has gone down teh drain with this pregnancy. My left eye is so bad right now, I have to wear my glasses all the time, especially when driving. Eye dr said get used to it if I am planning on nursing too. Again, the joys of pregnancy hormones!
What a awesome husband you have! You are brave to go through with the procedure, Im sort of chicken when it comes to stuff like that.
Glad you are seeing more clearly now!
Thanks, Amy! Yes, he most certainly is awesome, among many other things! I am one lucky lady.
What an awesome gift that Erik gave you…the gift of sight!
So sweet!!! 
Thankfully, my vision is pretty good. Although in the past 10 years or so, it has increasingly worsened, but just to the point where I need glasses to read. I am happy that I can get these at the dollar store and no prescription is needed (yet anyway).
Wow, you are fortunate. My eye doctor so kindly reminded me of my age and warned me that even though I am getting rid of my glasses now, I might be needing the reading variety very soon. Oh well, at least those don’t need to be worn all the time.
That is an incredible gift!! Kudos to him- what a great guy. Just in time for Father’s day, too… hard to top that!
I’m glad you had such a good experience. I wear contacts, but my sight isn’t terrible, so it’s not something I’ve put too much thought into, largely because I’m nervous about that kind of surgery. But you make it sound very doable.
I knew I couldn’t, so I didn’t even try to top it on Father’s Day.
I think he had a pretty good day though.
And yes, the surgery is very doable. Amazingly so.
That is one thoughtful, generous, loving husband you have there
What an amazing, life transforming gift! It must feel so liberating for you to not have to reach for the glasses as soon as you wake up every morning.
Well done to you for having the guts to go through with the surgery. It was so worth it!
He definitely is all of those adjectives! And more. I am thankful for him every single day.
It is liberating to not have to reach for glasses, but you know what? I still do it! I reach to take them off before every shower too! I think it will take a while to break that habit.
I am still walking around in amazement every day that I can actually see on my own. This morning at my check up I could read the eye chart perfectly! It was SO worth it!
Congratulations!!! I want to get this done so badly, but I’m a total wuss…
Thanks! But um, excuse me? I’ve seen your workouts, your diet, and your rad arm muscles. You are anything but a wuss, my dear. You could *totally* do Lasik. I am positive you could hold a plank with someone sitting on your back for longer than the surgery lasts.