CB
Thu, 11 Mar 1999

Okay. I had my first RK back in 1985. I thought it would be the most amazing thing to see without glasses. They overcorrected me from moderate nearsightedness to farsightedness. Flash forward to 1995. Several surgeries later, I found a doctor who wanted to perform an "ALK", another cutting procedure to bring me back from farsightedness to a more normal vision. If only I had known to say no. The procedure was the "straw that broke the camel's back" or in my case, broke my cornea.

For the past for years, I've been wearing dark sunglasses with the most bizarre prescription, and they still only block out a portion of the bizarre floaters, halos and starring effects. I don't drive at night. I've virtually given up reading, and working at the computer for more than a little while is beyond me.

The 29th of the month I'll go in for a cornea transplant. Up to 13 stitches that will stay in my eye for a year or more, steroids to help block possibility of tissue rejection, and will probably go back to wearing glasses. But even if I end up having to wear Coke-bottle lenses, I'm thrilled at the prospect of getting my vision improved, of getting the bizarre refractive light effects at least possibly eliminated. Thrilled at the possibility of going back to square one. And if this all works out, thrilled at the idea of never having to go through another eye operation. I'll let you know how the cornea transplant turns out. Keep the faith!

Best,

C.B.