Article published in Cork Independent, April 22, 2011.
It's D Day. By the time you are reading this (depending on what time you get your Cork Independent), I will be on my way to or in Optilase.
My appointment is for 4pm today. I need to bring sunglasses, and an escort to drive me home. I will probably need someone to drive me there, too, as my knees already feel a bit jelly-like just thinking about it. Today's the day the glasses go. I've been religiously taking my Omega 3 and Flaxseed and my tears are doing well, ably assisted by a very sad film or two I watched over the weekend. I'm not sure if this part was strictly necessary but I've never been one to do things by halves.
The operation I'm due to have - Lasik, Wavefront technology - takes about 15 minutes per eye in total. The laser part itself takes about 30 seconds per eye - almost literally in the blink of an eye. Although I've been assured by a colleague who had the same operation done just before Christmas that it is completely fine, I am still very, very nervous. I'm not remotely squeamish, but I am scared. Various people have written to the paper or commented online to say they have had this procedure done - some by Optilase - and they don't know themselves afterwards. They say it has revolutionised their lives. Tune in next week to find out if I feel the same way!