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Original poster

Had LASIK yesterday... Already regretting?

55 replies

TooSoonToRegret · 31/08/2020 21:40

I think I just want a hand hold...

I had LASIK done yesterday after contemplating it for over a year and deciding now was the right time money wise. I've been back for my check up today and was told I already have 20/20 vision in both eyes (yay!) but my left eye isn't healing as it should be - the white cells are stopping the flap from healing and I need to up my anti inflammatory drops and could potentially need the surgery done again to flush the white cells away.

I had read up on the risks and was aware of the night glare (which I had with glasses regardless) and the other issues, but now I have an actual issue I'm scared to death.

I'm trying to be positive in that they've told me the flushing will correct the issue, I think I'm just worried as I struggle quite a bit with anxiety and I'm now thinking worst case scenario.

Can I have a hand hold please? Sad

Has anyone had this themselves?

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Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 03/09/2020 07:09

No, nothing like that.

I became really panicky last night so I have a feeling it could be related to an anxiety attack Sad

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LarryUnderwood · 03/09/2020 07:33

Yes, maybe. I really think you need to give your body time to heal. It does take a couple of weeks for your eyes to settle after this surgery.

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 03/09/2020 08:00

I'm trying to rest as much as possible but I just can't stop worrying, it's awful, I've never ever felt like this before. It's the only thing I can think about and I'm bloody miserable and scared I could feel like this forever Sad

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badg3r · 03/09/2020 08:07

Yes yes yes I had exactly this! DLK. I needed surgery to correct it, but basically that just meant sitting back in the seat, anaesthetic on the eye and a couple of squirts of saline or whatever it was. Immediately it felt better and I could see completely clearly after having been really f*cking itchy for a week on those eye drops and increasingly blurred vision.

badg3r · 03/09/2020 08:09

Things I had wished they had told me before the op:

I felt sick and dizzy reading for a week or so
I was unable to focus on things close to my face for a week or two
I had halos at night for a year, nothing that made driving or any other tasks difficult but it was annoying and after a few months I had started to wonder if it was permanent. It wasn't.

badg3r · 03/09/2020 08:11

Oh, and they say 20/20 after a day or so. This is true, but they don't tell you always that you might have disturbances in vision in spite of this for a while.
Oh and dry eyes, but this also improved dramatically and I don't notice it now.

I had it done in 2012 and am very very happy with the results now.

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 03/09/2020 08:34

Did anyone else feel a constant feeling of bloody doom? I honestly feel like I can't snap out of it and I'm so miserable and panicky, thus isn't me at all!

@badg3r did you regret it at all whilst waiting for the eye to be cleared? They told me DLK is when there's some sort of 'debris' left behind, they're saying mine is white cells. But what if they fix it by operating and then it happens again?

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badg3r · 03/09/2020 08:56

I think I did a bit yes, also when at the time I had the halos since they were annoying. But after a little while it alls styles down and has been totally worth it. As I remember DLK is as you say an accumulation of white blood cells under the flap if there are little bits left over in there from the op. Your body recognised them as foreign ao attacks them, but it's not an infection or anything like that. Washing out the debris and cells got rid of it immediately. It was like cleaning a window! Literally when they put the flip back down I could see clearlyz

badg3r · 03/09/2020 08:59

I hope you can make sense of that through the typos! I ever at the time I had some work they needed done too and I couldn't do it because I couldn't read without feeling sick. That was a real pain. But as I say, now I am 100% happy. It is so nice to be able to do sport without glasses or lenses, and not to have to think of opticians appointments and buying lenses etc

badg3r · 03/09/2020 09:02

I read about recurrent DLK in the literature and it was a vanishingly small percentage of people who needed a second operation after the first. And I think that starts for people who needed an operation at all was something like 2-5% of people with a DLK diagnosis and treatment with eye drops

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 03/09/2020 09:02

@badg3r that's very reassuring thank you. The optometrist warned me the pain is worse for longer after the flushing, but I don't really care as long as it bloody works!

I'm back tomorrow to see the surgeon who actually did the Lasik so fingers crossed for whatever he tells me being positive.

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LarryUnderwood · 03/09/2020 10:06

I'm sure it will be fine. It is a very scary thing to go through, but do remember that the surgeon has done it before thousands of times, will have treated this EPK many times too, and it is actually a really straightforward procedure. And when your sight settles down (which does take a little while) it is SO worth it, absolutely life changing.

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 03/09/2020 14:15

That's what I keep thinking.

One more day of feeling crap and I can get some answers. I'm starting to convince myself my moods could be a side effect of my drops, I'm not that worried about the surgery being done now and still feel dreadful, so I'm considering whether it could be related. In which case knowing I'll feel better when the drops end would make me feel much better.

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Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 06/09/2020 10:33

I'm back again Blush

My follow up appointment showed that the steroid drops are working and that the issue is fixing itself so surgery won't be necessary after all. I'm back next week to be checked again to see if it's all cleared so fingers crossed.

Another question, those who have had it... When did you feel back to normal? I'm still quite worried about watching TV for too long or accidentally rubbing my eyes. I'm back in work next week and worrying about wearing and removing make up, how do I do that without rubbing my eyes? I've had slightly anxieties over the normal stuff, like work issue and my children but this is all new and I'm second guessing everything!

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Binglebong · 06/09/2020 11:54

Delighted to hear the are improving. Personally I avoided make up for a few weeks- but that was easy as I wear it rarely anyway! To be honest you just get used to not touching them, coronavirus is quite handy for once as that has likely reduced how much you touch your face now. Best of luck.

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 06/09/2020 16:37

Thank you, me too!

I'm customer facing in work and my skin isn't great so I rely on make up to make me feel human. Planning to go light on it tomorrow and avoid wearing eye make up!

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Bwlch · 06/09/2020 17:09

I had it done years ago. I did get 20/20 vision, although my sight was better with glasses. My night vision is definitely affected for the worse.

I don't regret it having it done for a moment.

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 06/09/2020 17:40

@Bwlch how do uou mean affected for the worse? Do you suffer with halos?

How did you feel after? Did you worry at all about your recovery?

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badg3r · 06/09/2020 17:47

Glad the drops are working! I didn't wear eye makeup for a few weeks afterwards. I guess just make sure your eyebrows are great?!

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 06/09/2020 17:59

I had my eyebrows done a few days before luckily. I just need to wear some foundation as my skin is a mess, will try and not put any on my lids!

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Bwlch · 06/09/2020 18:57

No halos, I just don't think I can see as well in the darkmas Incould before. My eyes are also generally more sensitive to sunlight, I have to have sunglasses with me all the time.

I didn't worry about my recovery, although my eyes were streaming for about 12 hours afterwards. It also hurt to be looking the same direction for any period of time, like when watching TV. Moving my eyes around was fine.

I don't wear makeup so that wasn't a problem.

Bwlch · 06/09/2020 18:58

I just don't think I can see as well in the darkness as I could before.

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 07/09/2020 07:57

Ah ok, I've not really had much chance to see about my vision in the dark yet as I'm so bloody tired that I'm in bed early every night!

Will be prepared for that though.

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Binglebong · 21/09/2020 14:08

Just wondering how it's going now OP?

Original poster
TooSoonToRegret · 21/09/2020 18:10

@Binglebong thank you for asking! Eyes seem to be healing well, quite dry so I'm using hydration drops but that was expected.

Feeling so so much better since coming off steroids - my mood has improved so much and I'm not constantly exhausted. Still have a few anxious moments now and then but I think that's expected during the healing process.

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