Sharing Success

After deliberating for over 10 years, last August I finally decided that the time had come. I was going to get LASIK.

Just to give you some back ground, I was BLIND! I believe my prescription was beyond 2400- which is off the charts. In secret, I owned a pair of 'coke bottle bottomed' glasses. In public, I wore contact lenses that were more important to me than family heirloom (truthfully, the first thing I would take out of a burning building were those lenses...yes, people vanity is a sin).

Determined to do LASIK the 'right' way, I did all my research. I talked to everyone I could. Friends, relatives, strangers! Anyone who undergone the procedure was then nailed with a littany of questions. "How was it?" "Who did it?" "Would you do it again?" "What are the risks?" "Should I do it?"

I am here to say, that all roads do not lead back to Rome! All roads, for me, lead back to Speaker. Dr. Speaker. In doing my research, I learned that LASIK is not an exact science, as every person heals and responds differently. So many people with whom I spoke had flawless experiences... but more importantly for me, several of those people had a few bumps in the road. Those people were the ones who really sealed the deal for me. "Yes," they would report, "I did have a few problems, but Speaker and TLC were there every step of the way. They never stopped until they got it right." That was all I needed to hear.

Upon my first consultation I learned that I was not an ideal candidate. I had a severe prescription, big pupils and thin corneas. "Great," I thought, " the only THIN part of my body is my cornea!?!" However, Dr. Regina consulted with the many surgeons at TLC and after much consideration they all agreed that I could enjoy corrected vision with either LASIK or LASEK (a more invasive procedure which has a longer recovery time, but produces the same end result).

The night before my surgery, I was so excited I couldn't even sleep! It was like the night before Christmas. I knew the following day that I would receive a gift far better than any that had been ever under the tree!

When I arrived at TLC that day, the staff was as friendly and professional as they had been on the day of my consult. The necessary paperwork was administered and the obligatory valium was ingested. On that particular day, Aug 13, there was a situation that required extra attention, so the schedule was running a bit behind. The staff was communicative about the delay and even brought out a tray of cookies. I remarked, "Wow! Valium and cookies...every doctor's office that runs late should try this! It's fabulous!"

Just a short while later, I was waiting outside of the room with my friend Don. Don had gotten LASIK from Dr. Speaker 5 years earlier and insisted that he come with me. I thought he was being supportive, but when I saw Dr. Speaker approach us, Don acted like Mick jagger was in his presence! He practically bum rushed-him.

"It's an honor to see you," he said.

"An honor!?! That's a bit much" I thought. I didn't get it. "You did my surgery five years ago and I just want to thank you again. I have 20/15 vision." I still didn't get it.

I walked in to the operating room not being able to see any of the faces who would perform the LASIK. Once in the room, I laid in the chair and squealed with excitement. That's right, I squealed- and that is not something I do. Seriously. I think I actually freaked out the surgical team. But that is how excited I was.

The procedure was like being part of a science fiction film! I could not believe that they were able to take a laser and RESTORE MY VISION. "Some days, I don't even make my bed," I thought. "These people are genius! I really need to raise the bar."

When I walked out of the room I was screaming in delight and my eyes which were welled up with tears, could now see the faces of the four men who gave me sight. IT WAS MIRACULOUS! I got it.

Dr. Speaker then explained to me that I should keep my eyes closed on the cab ride home and then relax and try to sleep. That was so difficult for me! I kept trying to sneak a peek. That last thing I wanted to do was close my eyes when I could SEE!

Dr. Speaker also suggested having a glass of wine to relax. I had two. I am an overachiever!

When I woke the next morning, my first thought was, "Oh no! I slept in my contact lenses!" But I hadn't! My vision was crystalline! It was unbelievable. I drew the shades in my bedroom and looked at the building across the way. I noticed the texture of the morter between the bricks. THE MORTER BETWEEN THE BRICKS!?! I had never seen such detail. I saw shading on each leaf on each tree on my block and was in awe!

For weeks, I kept this up. Noticing tiny details that I missed before the surgery. I would often burst in to tears just filled with sheer gratitude for this technology and for TLC. It sounds very corney, but it's true! I called it my "eye high!" And I really didn't want it to end.

I told my "LASIK story" to anyone that would listen. I felt like a cult member... but I found people to be very supportive and interested. They say, word of mouth is the best form of advertisement, after going through LASIK, I truly believe that.

It has been 6 months since my surgery. LASIK literally gave me a new attitude in life. Sure I got to swim and surf in the ocean without the fear of losing a lens, and yes, Italy was just as pretty before LASIK as it was after... but now I have a new view on life that comes from more than just my 20/15 vision.

Many thanks!
Ms. K.D.

Adventure Racing National Championship winner Michael Pape on how LASIK has made him a winner

"I guess it would be safe to say that for the past twenty five years I fell under the category of a bespectacled individual. The burden of not being able to see without the use of glasses or contacts affected my life on several levels, from doing simple day-to-day tasks to competing at a national level of competition.

The inability to see wasn't very conducive to my adventure racing. I was the weakest link on my team of three. I have never been the weak link at anything in my life, but thanks to Dr. Mark Speaker and LASIK, I will no longer carry that title and the only obstacles in my way to the national championships will be those presented by the race itself!"

After having the surgery, I now have 20/20 vision, better than I could have ever hoped for."

TLC Doctor As Patient

Yes, finally after 25 years of wearing glasses or contact lenses for hyperopic astigmatism, I am finally free again. Being very active in equestrian show jumping, sharp vision and binocular balance are very important to me. Unfortunately, dusty, dirty show arenas weren't conducive to comfortable, trouble free contact lens wear, and glasses were no better, as they constantly fogged up during the winter months, were dripping wet in the heat of summer, and since they aren't equipped with wipers, a total disaster in the rain.

Now all those problems are behind me. It is sort of like starting all over again with a new set of perfect eyes. So now it's time for you to make the decision. Take the "Leap of Faith". Your vision and your life will be enhanced!

L. Forgacs, O.D.

TLC staff member Sandra Martinez talks about how laser vision correction changed her life?

"After years of contact lens abuse and problems, and recurrent panic attacks at the thought of having to wear glasses forever, the decision to have laser vision correction was not an especially difficult one!

I suffered from moderate myopia, with a prescription of ? 5.00 D in each eye. This meant that until I could locate my glasses in the morning, I could not see the alarm clock just a few feet away from me. I had to check my bag every morning to make sure I had my second pair of glasses for fear that my first pair would break. Vacations were obviously a hassle because after figuring out that contact lenses are not the best thing to wear while scuba diving, I soon found out that glasses were much worse.

Even after having made the decision to have the surgery, I was still nervous. These were, after all, my only pair of yes, but if I were going to entrust them to anyone, it would be only to one our TLC surgeons. I saw every day the care and expertise with which they treat all of our patients. I had witnessed hundreds of procedures before I had mine, and every patient who came out of the laser suite smiling constantly reassured me.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful surgery, and almost a year later, I am more in awe at the world around me than ever. My brother had the surgery at the same time as I, and we now find ourselves reminiscing about the "old days" when we wore glasses. The most comforting part of having had the surgery is that when I cry with joy now at the things my son does and says, the glasses no longer get fogged up?"