CANDID, STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWERS

For me, contacts were always uncomfortable, so I would never wear them. Also, I had astigmatism bad enough that contacts weren’t able to give me really clear vision. If you’ve ever worn those “”astigmatism correcting”” lenses you understand.

So I wore glasses which I also dislike, because of the distorted peripheral vision. I had heard about LASIK and was very interested, so I went to see Dr. Wallace. I found him to be very professional and very compassionate, and I was excited by what he had to say. I was ready to sign up right then, but my husband was very cautious, and discouraged me at first. I spoke with Dr. Wallace several times by phone, and then took my husband with me for another visit. He basically grilled Dr. Wallace with numerous detailed questions, and we were given very candid, straightforward answers. Both of us were reassured, and I decided to go ahead, having one eye done at a time. I have a hectic work schedule and wanted to miss as little work as possible, so scheduled LASIK for my left eye on the day before Thanksgiving. Things went great. I felt very comfortable as Dr. Wallace had prepped me well for what to expect, and it went exactly as he said. Neither during nor after the surgery did I have any pain, irritation, or discomfort. The next day I could see incredibly clearly. I felt so good that I went ahead and cooked Thanksgiving dinner for 25! I had the right eye done the next week, and it , too, went very well. I now see perfectly in both eyes, and honestly feel that it just couldn’t be any better. Seeing so clearly without correction is really a thrill, that I never thought would be possible. It has made a profound impact on me that I am grateful for every day. It has even affected my 3-year-old daughter, who now says she wants to be an eye doctor when she grows up, because she wants “”To fix Santa’s eyes so he, too, won’t need glasses!””

Doctor Wallace says:
Before LASIK, Cathy had what would be considered mild myopia and moderate astigmatism. She had very good reasons for wanting laser vision correction, and I was supportive of this care for her. I was also happy to talk at length with her husband who was, in my opinion, showing his love for her by being very cautious and protective. It is not at all unusual for a spouse, friend, or significant other to be either neutral or somewhat dubious about laser vision correction, especially if they themselves are not nearsighted!

Most people go through a process that can take several months and more than one visit with our office, before they decide to proceed. This is entirely normal and completely understandable – it’s a big decision that should not be taken lightly. Some people prefer to have one eye done at a time, and others prefer both eyes done concurrently. I always let each individual decide how they would feel most comfortable proceeding. Cathy considered for many months before having her first (left) eye done. When she could see clearly right away, and knew from her own experience how comfortable the actual LASIK surgery was, it’s not hard to see why the decision to have care for the other eye was an easy one.