Refractive Eye Surgery - Real Patients: Why Refractive Surgery?

I considered refractive surgery pretty much as soon as I found out it was out there.

Before I actually decided to have this surgery I mainly relied on the experience of a lot of my friends and co-workers, who had had the surgery, and a couple of family members, who had also had it done.

It was safe enough. I had watched different patients have surgeries, successful surgery. And my feeling was I was ready to have PRK surgery.

I did a lot of research online, obviously used those tools, and decided that this might be for me.

I was nearsighted. I could not see distance. I could see up close, but when it came to distance there was … I was like Mr. Magoo.

I had been playing basketball before and had lost a contact right there. You know, money down the drain. Well, you know, you don’t have to deal with those issues anymore.

When I researched PRK surgery, I did not hear anything bad. There was nothing but good. But with any surgery you have there are risks. And I made sure to look into the risks of PRK, but they were very slim.

But as far as really doing any research on it, just talking to people I knew that had it done. Just asking them about, you know, how it was before and after. And, you know, my main question to them was, “Well, okay, so it’s been the six-months-to-a-year recovery time. Would you do it again?” Every one of them said, “Yes, without a doubt.”

If I’m deployed, yes, I think the surgery will help me — because the gas mask inserts that I currently have are very difficult to put in the gas mask.

I had deployed previously with glasses and the gas mask inserts, which made things a little difficult. I’m not always comfortable in the glasses. And it was always a thought in my mind. Okay, I need to go out and perform this certain function. And, you know, do I have my glasses, do I have my gas mask inserts, do I have … if I can wear contacts, do I have everything that I’m going to need?

Even when I’m firing a M16, it’s kind of hard with inserts.

With all the tests that I had in the laser eye clinic — they measured, they checked my vision and they decided that I was a perfect candidate for PRK.

After a lot of soul searching, it was an experience that I was willing to do — a life changing experience — something that I was willing to do. And it’s been a good thing for me.

Just seemed like a really, really good opportunity to make my life easier.

Why wouldn’t I want to do this, you know, to me is a better question.