Pre-Op Time: Having Visian ICL Surgery

The night before surgery, I drank as much water as I could and ate all the way up until midnight.  I typically eat right when I wake up and drink so much water throughout the day, that I was worried I'd be starving and super thirsty the day off my eye surgery (since you can't have food or drinks or gum or mints or really anything from midnight-on prior to surgery).  My nerves helped keep my hunger away.

I woke up feeling good, but still anxious.  I realized I was looking at everything a lot more intently to exam what I could see and what I couldn't....and sometimes the thought would cross my mind - what if something goes wrong and I can't see this every again.  Oh, I could've driven myself crazy with those thoughts.

I walked into Midwest Eye Center and they we ready for me right away (which is great because I hate to wait...and even more-so in this nervous situation).  My husband was left in the waiting room with a buzzer (kinda like the ones you get at Panera!) to tell him when I was going into surgery (so that he could watch).

The took me to have me sign some papers, and putting a bunch of drops in my eyes, checking my blood pressure, etc.  After, they had me sit in a pre-op waiting room.  It seemed like I was in there forever.  Probably about 30 minutes.  My eyes were dilating or whatnot during that time.

A few others were in the room with me.  They put these dot stickers on each person's forehead above the eye/s that they were getting done (I think most people were there for cataract surgery because I don't think ICL is all that common).  I was a little bored waiting there...no phone or magazines or anything to keep my mind off of the fact that they were about to perform surgery on my eyes! 

I was excited and scared and worried all at the same time....so many emotions! 

Finally, they called me back to the Surgery Area.  It was my turn...

You're Telling Me I Have to Wear My Glasses for Two Weeks?

Finally in early 2012, it came time to order new contacts.  I also thought I should go ahead and get new glasses (mine are a few prescriptions old, have a crack down the left lens and are just beat up).  My husband asked me if I was still considering ICL.  I was contemplating it, but jeez, $7k could be a down-payment on a house (or part of one anyways).  He convinced me that it was worth it and that now is a good time to go through with the surgery (no kids, we own our own business for we make our own schedule, etc).  I did a ton of research, found some helpful reviews, etc.


So, I called up Midwest Eye Center and said "I'm ready to have the surgery - can I schedule a date" excited and wanting to just get it done.

I had no idea about the ENTIRE ICL surgery process.  They described to me that I couldn't wear my contacts for 2 weeks prior to the first pre-surgery appointment.  WHAT?!  I had a minor freak out.  (Remember, the condition of my glasses I described above.)  Oh, and there were many appointments that are associated with this surgery.  I called my husband with a minor panic attack.  He told me to just suck it up and wear my beat up glasses.  

I called back and scheduled the first appointment, took out my contacts, and put on my glasses.  Oh my, I was a sight for sure.  They were crooked on my face (no matter what I did to try to fix them) but I got use to the crack and just laughed at myself.  My husband even tried to fill in the parts where the paint (or whatever it is) had fallen off with a sharpie...then quickly concluded it didn't look any better.  Oh well.  I got use to it.   

Although, my nose was ready to lose the glasses – deep red marks where the glasses were cutting into my nose.  I just was not use to wearing them for more than a minute (to get from the bathroom to my bed).  

I did wear my contacts for about 1-2 hours on some days, during that 2 weeks.  I was told this would be fine.