Eyes are smilin'

Editor's note: This is the final part in a series of articles following Truth Reporter Bridget Levitz through the LASIK procedure at Boling Vision Center.

ELKHART -- Just a little more than two weeks since my LASIK procedure, and I still can't believe how clear my vision is.

My recovery time was amazing. The surgery was on a Friday, and on Saturday I was going about my day as if nothing had happened. I was back at work on Monday and covering Elkhart's City Council meeting that night. My activities didn't even skip a beat.

Co-workers, friends, and family continue to ask how my eyes are, and I've heard a lot of the "How many fingers am I holding up?" and "Can you see me now?" remarks.

When I'm asked how the surgery went, my response is always the same. If I had known going into it how simple LASIK is, I wouldn't have been nearly as nervous.

And the benefits have far outweighed any fears I originally had.

I feel like a kid with a new toy. Everywhere I go I'm testing my sight, and celebrating when I can see something I wouldn't have before.

I can read street signs far in advance, read which movies are playing at the theater on my drive home and even see clearly if it's raining out. And I used to hate driving in the rain.

Colors seem brighter, and it's surprising what details I was missing before with just my contacts and glasses. I haven't gotten used to looking out my car window and seeing individual blades of grass rather than just a sea of green.

I have several months worth of contact lenses in my medicine cabinet, and eyeglasses I no longer need. I haven't gotten rid of them yet, but I did move my glasses from my nightstand to the bathroom drawer.

I had my second follow-up exam at Boling Vision Center's Elkhart location this week to make sure my eyes were healing as they should.

So far, I've experienced few of the possible LASIK side effects I was warned about. My eyes don't feel tired or dry, and the halos -- or soft glow around the edges of lights -- already have subsided.

Dr. Richard Boling II examined my eyes and tested my vision. I could still read the 20/15 line with ease. He then showed me the 20/10 line. That wasn't so easy. If I strained and squinted I could guess what some of the letters were.

It's OK though -- I'm definitely not complaining. 20/15 is still better than perfect. It's like scoring extra credit on an exam you already aced. Perfect vision is considered 20/20 -- and an eagle sees 20/8.