I am beyond grateful that I found this place. I first heard an ad on ALT AZ 93.3 FM saying that LasikPlus surgery was $250 per eye. Being a high school teacher with constant astigmatism, I thought, "Why not?" So I scheduled a day during my fall break just to get a quote. I thought that I could save up for it knowing what I was headed in to.
When I went into LasikPlus on Monday, they have you fill out your basic information on a computer and then run you through tests that you typically take during an optometry exam to see if you're eligible for Lasik or PKG. Depending on the severity of the prescription, they'll base that on the Lasik you receive. Although my quote was not $250 per eye, it was completely affordable thanks to a discount for having health insurance AND being a teacher.
Sincerely, I was entirely grateful. Although there is not a payment program through their office, they do offer Care Credit with a 12-month no interest program. My monthly payment is therefore completely covered by my HSA. I seriously thought that I'd have to say "no" or get berated by my husband not to break the bank since we have a 19-month-old, a mortgage, two cars, and paying off student loans.
Not the case.
So, after that initial meeting on Monday, I was scheduled for surgery at 3 p.m on Wednesday. I had done some research and read that it is really uncomfortable (maybe even painful) after Lasik, so I opted to get it done as late as possible so I could sleep through the uncomfortable feelings.
When I went in at 3 p.m., the staff redid a few basic tests just to double check the prescription. (Which I entirely appreciated.) I waited about 30 minutes after that and then went into surgery.
To be honest, the surgery is sort of a surreal process. Dr. Perry greets you before you enter the surgery area, introduces himself, etc. And then we walk into the room full of surgical staff. They ask if they can Facebook live you (which I'll tell you about in a minute). And then, Dr. Perry does the procedure. It takes about 8 minutes all in all. They numb your eyes, enter this plastic thing in your eye to keep you from blinking, place you under the machine, you see blurriness, you're told to focus on a light, you here these beep-beep-beep sounds, and you're done. They cover the other eye and move onto the next one. It's all very anti-climactic and safe.
Even though it was blurry and uncomfortable after surgery, I went straight home and took a sleeping pill at 5:30 p.m. and slept until 3 a.m. When I woke up, the pain (more like stinging uncomfortably), was totally gone and I could see!!!
I seriously felt like I had a super power. I put in my drops per instructed, went back to bed and woke early the next morning for my follow up appointment at 8 a.m.
If I didn't say it before, I'm going to say it again: Perry's staff is incredibly helpful and kind and funny and warm. Seriously, he has a great management team.
Well, it turned out that I now have 20/15 vision (what?!?!) and now I just need to do my follow up in a month. I even got a "Guess What I'm Not Wearing?" t-shirt. Love it.
I took my 19-month-old daughter to the zoo right after that follow-up appointment, kept my eyes hydrated, took my other eye drops as instructeed, and have been wearing sunglasses outside.
I am pumped for this normalcy that I should have done AGES ago. Seriously, I didn't wear glasses at my wedding and couldn't see. (Hate contacts.)
Oh, side story: After my Lasik, on the way home, I shared my Facebook Live video of getting Lasik on my FB page. When I awoke at 3 in the morning, I checked my phone and had so many people say how much they want Lasik and how they didn't expect the procedure to be how it is.
Sincerely, in a time with Red for Ed and educators getting the short end of the stick, I am recommending Dr. Perry and his team to EVERYONE, especially teachers since he takes care of them.
So happy to not have to wear glasses throughout the rest of my 30s. My husband (a fellow astigmatism dude) is next! read more