LASIK

LASIK, or laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, is the process of ablating the cornea to its stromal layer using a microkeratome, then using a laser (not a little lightbulb that blinks) to reshape the eye in an attempt to improve vision.

That's the science. It's pretty damn cool.

Elective? Yes. Dangerous? Yes. But it has a very low failure rate and an even lower destructive failure rate. There was a non-zero risk that I could have come away from the surgery functionaly blind.

According to the doctor, a cursory eye-chart exam shows me at 20/20 now. I don't know what I was before -- probably somewhere in the 20/200 range or so. Near-sighted with a fairly strong astigmatism.

Now I can clearly see

• book spines from across the room
• highway signs from a couple hundred yards
• license plates from 3-4 car lengths away
• leaves on the trees in my and my neighbors yards
• subtitles on the TV in the bedroom
• the rooftops from my office window

I can also buy non-prescription sunglasses. And I can wear swim goggles and see underwater. Not yet, though. I have to wait about 6 weeks for the cornea separation to heal completely. I can wear normal sports goggles when playing racquetball.

But mostly, I don't have to wear glasses any more.

And it was worth it.