LASIK IS A DREAM COME TRUE

Dear Dr. Wallace,

I have always dreamed of having the ability to see clearly without relying on my glasses. That dream has finally come true for me!

At first, honestly, I was very reluctant and skeptical about the surgery, for fear of losing my eyesight. But after spending some time researching and reading articles on the Internet, my fears diminished and my motivation to undergo LASIK increased. I wanted to find the best doctor to perform the surgery for me, so I would have the best chance of getting an optimal result. After all, we’re talking about my eyes and my vision! I went through several consultations with other doctors before meeting Dr. Wallace. Like other doctors, I went through his consultation, and met his staff. They struck me as very warm and friendly. I enjoyed his coordinator so much I nicknamed her “Dr. Ruth.” My experience with Dr. Wallace and his entire team was fantastic! Everyone was really professional and made me feel at ease with the whole procedure. Dr. Wallace was very patient, knowledgeable, honest, and professional to me. Every time I emailed a question, he promptly answered my email with a sense of professionalism and a great deal of knowledge. He really has a strong background about the procedure. That inspired me to decide to pick him as my doctor.

Before having the surgery, I wanted to see the actual procedure. Dr. Wallace and his staff gladly granted me my wish. I was invited to observe other patients undergo LASIK by Dr. Wallace. Watching videotape of surgery made me feel a little uncomfortable, but I figured that I had come this far, and should not give up. I had done so much research, and I really wanted to move on to the next step. I felt confident that I was putting my faith in Dr. Wallace, knowing that he would definitely do a good job on my eyes.

So On July 11, 2003, Dr. Wallace performed LASIK surgery on me. I was very nervous but Dr. Ruth counseled me and provided me comfort. She answered my questions with courtesy, and I had to admit, she was extremely kind and knowledgeable about what was going to happen during the procedure. As bad as it was, it really wasn’t that bad. You feel mild discomfort when the flap in your eye is open. I thought it would be painful on my eyes but the anesthetic drops worked great, and I did not feel any discomfort at all. Then, the laser runs for a few seconds (less than a minute in my case but that’s because my prescription was so strong) and I was done! I had to admit, the anxiety I felt was all mental and I couldn’t tell myself to stop shaking and allow someone to cut my eyes. But after a minutes it was all over. Things looked a little blurry immediately after surgery because my eyes were dilated. I wasn’t too worried, hoping things would improve after the dilation wore off and as a few days passed.

Most importantly when I woke up in the morning the next day, I was able to see my alarm clock. Everything looked bright and clear! I felt like I was looking through my prescription glasses but I had no glasses on! It was amazing. I just couldn’t believe that my dream have come true! Just few minutes of discomfort for a lifetime of eyeglass-free vision. It’s worth the investment, and I would advise anyone thinking about LASIK to go for the best. The entire experience, from my initial consultation to the actual procedure, has been outstanding and I couldn’t be much happier. I will continue to enjoy my new vision without glasses!

Thank you Dr. Wallace and to all your entire staff team at LA SIGHT! You guys are wonderful and good luck to you all. Thanks again.

Yours truly,

Thomas

Doctor Wallace says:
Thomas is very bright and extremely well-informed about many of the fine points of laser vision correction. He had read extensively about the different lasers and many of the technology issues pertaining to LASIK. It was a pleasure to correspond with him, answer his questions, address his concerns and support his interest in laser treatment.

Some of the questions he asked, and I answered, included:

1. What is the difference between a “broad beam” laser like the Visx and a “scanning spot” laser like the Alcon “LADARVision” system?

Which system would I recommend for him, considering that he has very large pupils?

Considering his strong prescription, would there be enough tissue remaining after initial treatment to allow for enhancement, if necessary?

What are the merits of the differing pupil-tracking systems, which did I use, and why?

Is dry eye a significant problem after LASIK, and what can be done about it if it does arise?

We exchanged at least 8 or 9 postings, many of mine quite lengthy. When he came in for his evaluation, he had more questions, and I probably spent over an hour with him, addressing all his concerns. I did advise that he have treatment with the Alcon LADARVision laser to minimize the risk of glare, halo and night vision difficulties, in light of his pupil size (8.0mm, both eyes). I balanced two very important but opposing interests: (1) The desire for maximum diameter of treatment (larger diameters minimize glare and halo, but remove more central tissue than smaller-diameter treatments) and (2) The desire to preserve as much tissue as possible, to retain structural stability and provide ‘room’ for enhancement if necessary.

Well, we are both delighted at Thomas’ great visual results. Maybe a little luck was involved too, whatever. But it is a great feeling to see a guy like Thomas get such a “fairy-tale” result.

Way to go, Thomas!