With corrective lenses, before my eye surgery, I was never able to see as well as I do now. Since elementary school I have worn glasses – the thick, uncool kind. In the early 90’s, I consulted with a doctor about the possibility of RK to correct my nearsightedness and astigmatism. My experience in that office was videos with rad-looking guys and stunning models, swirling to the joy of not wearing glasses. These video actors had never worn my thick lenses, if they had ever worn glasses at all. The doctor’s exam of my condition quickly changed my mood; perhaps he could correct “”30% of my high degree of astigmatism – I was one of the few that had a prescription too high to correct fully.”” A couple of years later I sought a second opinion. My eye doctor since grade school was offering corrective laser surgery, without videos. The exam was direct and too the point. My degree of astigmatism was too high; he did not recommend I have the surgery. I had to adjust to wearing corrective lenses for life.
We relocated to the San Francisco Bay area, in 1996, and during an annual eye exam I was told that I had a cataract in my right eye. Frankly my eye sight had always been so poor I hadn’t noticed much difference. Through my old doctor and a friend of his, we arranged to see Dr. Wallace for the cataract surgery.
During my consultation, Dr. Wallace told me it would be possible to correct much of my astigmatism as well as my nearsightedness with the surgery. He estimated at least a 60% improvement. Dr Wallace didn’t know that to me 60% sounded wonderful, compared to what I previously had been advised. And I didn’t even have to watch any promotional videos. I gave the OK, and off we went.
The next day I could see pretty darn good, 20/30 with my right eye. The next week I was back in LA and at that visit my vision tested 20/25, uncorrected. Dr. Wallace told me that over 90% of the astigmatism was now history. I went shopping for cool shades that afternoon.
My left eye, which was before surgery my best eye, was now the blurry one. Dr. Wallace told me he could correct this eye with LASIK. I waited about six weeks, then had the LASIK done. Compared to the first procedure, this was a piece of cake. No more glasses! My vision was now virtually perfect in both eyes, and I went shopping for cool shades again that afternoon. Thank you for a great job!
Lee C.
Note from Lee’s wife:
The suggestion that this surgery will “”save”” you money over prescription glasses is elephant poopie. Lee is on the hunt for that perfect pair of cool shades on a continuing basis. We may begin to break even in the year 2057. Thank you Dr. Wallace
