Reporter has vision for the future

By Bridget Levitz

Truth Staff

ELKHART -- I don't know what your mornings are like, but for me they begin with a slap or two at the snooze button and an arm stretched across the night stand fumbling for my glasses.

Then, as I'm getting ready for the day in front of the bathroom mirror, I put my soft contacts in -- sometimes they go into place easily. Other times it can be a battle, especially when my eyes just don't seem to be awake enough to allow the contacts to stay put.

On those days, I give in and wear my glasses.

I've always thought about having LASIK (Laser Assisted Insitu Keratomileusis) eye surgery. I've heard the success stories and wondered what it would be like to have clear vision without glasses or contacts.

So when I first learned of the opportunity to have LASIK in exchange for sharing my experience with Truth readers, I volunteered immediately. But before my news editor disappeared from sight around the cubicle wall, I was having second thoughts.

How badly do I really need LASIK? Right now I can see fine -- what does it matter if I rely on contact lenses to see clearly?

I imagined horrible outcomes resulting in my writing Truth articles on my keyboard by memory. Let's see ... I know where all the letters are on each row, but maybe I should brush up on the command keys?

My parents told me to go for it, and my husband reminded me how much I've talked about wanting LASIK done. I've worn glasses since middle school and love the thought of waking up in the morning and seeing the alarm clock clearly or being able to watch TV at night without needing my glasses.

Before I made my decision, I wanted to know what I was getting into.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration describes LASIK as a laser-assisted eye surgery that creates a flap in the cornea with an oscillating metal blade. A laser is then used to reshape the underlying cornea to where it needs to be for better vision.

Complications can vary from dry eyes to difficulty seeing at night to loss of vision. I'll admit the possibility of complications and the idea of a blade cutting my eye had me scared.

I spoke with Kathy Boling of Boling Vision Center, 2746 Old U.S. 20 W., where my LASIK would be done. She explained Boling's procedure.

The words that brought the most comfort: "no cutting." Boling uses a new technology in LASIK called Intralase -- an all-laser-performed surgery. It definitely eased my fear.

According to Boling, 99 percent of the center's patients have 20/20 vision or better the day after LASIK. Convinced, I scheduled a consultation to find out if I would be a good candidate and learn more details.