Had LASIK. Can't See Shit.

So Tuesday I had LASIK eye surgery, and as of today, I still have tons of cloudiness impeding my vision. I can see things without my glasses, but there is an overlay of fog everywhere. In fact, this condition mimics exactly how it feels to wear a pair of dried out contact lenses. No matter how many eye drops I put in, my eyes still feel dry and everything is still cloudy. The doctors tell me this is because my eyes are still swollen and puffy from surgery, but the cloudiness might last up to 12 weeks. Egads! I knew there would be temporary side effects, but 12 weeks of vision impairment? Serves me right for being vain and opting to do this elective procedure.

But can you blame me for being vain? I started wearing glasses in 6th grade, and have worn them ever since. When the glasses first appeared on my face, suddenly I started being labeled as a "nerd" by the other kids, and the abuse continued for many years thereafter. Keep in mind my first pair of glasses were acquired in 1986, so there weren't exactly any cool kid spectacles available. The frames were blue plastic and squarish and hideous. In 1986, they didn't make attractive wire rims for kids...or at least not for poor kids like me who had to pick out frames from the $59.99 discount section of the store. 

I guess I should be grateful that my glasses led to my social ostracism, because as a result I met my best friend Tamm, became a punk, and thus led an interesting life.

But, over time I grew to feel more and more hateful towards my glasses. I hated taking them off for roller coaster rides. I hated cleaning them all the time. I hated how my vision kept degenerating more and more every year so that every trip to the optician's office was filled with dread. ("Wow! Your prescription really is bad! There's no way we will have those lenses in stock, you'll have to wait a week.") I hated how blind and helpless I was without the glasses. I tried contact lenses for a few years, but it was futile--my eyes eventually rejected them. (Yes, even the wear-a -day -and throw-them-away kind!)

So, now, here I sit with cloudy eyes, uncertain of when truly clear vision will come to me, if ever.

The best part? They had to do "two stage LASIK" on my left eye. Meaning in October I get to go back and do it again! Woo hoo!