Complete Book of Laser Eye Surgery

Chapter 1 What Can Corneal Refractive Eye Surgery Do for You? The ancient Greeks explained the mystery of sight by declaring that perception occurs when "internal fire" from the eye mixes with "external fire" from an object. "The Sense of Sight,"National Geographic It was a fresh spring morning. I had awakened early because a robin outside my bedroom was chirping away in wild abandon. Carefully removing my clear plastic eye patch, I glanced at my digital clock, which was about to start buzzing. No longer a total blur, the inch-high numbers on its face were now in focus. Without the aid of glasses for nearsightedness, I silenced the alarm, jumped out of bed, and flung open my second story window. Taking a deep breath of the heavy, gloriously scented air, I gazed at my Formosa azaleas. Covered with dark pink buds, they were about to burst into bloom. I turned and bounded across my bedroom toward the bathroom door and, for once, didn't run into my coffee table. Looking in the mirror, I clearly beheld my unmade face without thick-edged glasses for the first time in my adult life. What a shock. Although my curly dark hair was standing on end, my eyes sparkled, and my cheeks were rosy. Slowly, a huge unstoppable grin spread from one ear to the other. I look healthy, I thought. No one would ever guess that I had eye surgery recently. After examining my teeth, I reached for my toothpaste. With surprise, I noticed that I could read the label without holding it two inches from my nose. Another small pleasure. As I turned on the shower, I discovered that I could see the soap dish. Even the water marks on the glass door didn't bother me. That morning two days after my eye surgery was the beginning of one of the happiest days of my life. I could see! Not only could I see the coat hangers in my closet, but I could see my bright yellow egg on my breakfast plate. As I drove down the street without glasses, I waved at my neighbor. Approaching the feeder road, I noted the intense color of the red stop light. More sure of my vision and thus my ability to react the cars flying by on the freeway were less frightening than before my operation. I opened my sunroof and pushed the accelerator almost to the floor. Like a hummingbird let out of a dim covered cage, I was free. I felt like the luckiest person in the world. But the truth was luck had nothing to do with my miraculous new eyesight. Over fifty years of dedicated determination on the part of hundreds of people had changed my life. Karen The Elusive Dream of Perfect Vision The eye has a passion to see. Forty percent of the input to your brain comes from your eyes. Your vision affects every aspect of your life. Through your sight, you behold the flutter of a butterfly wing, the icy chill of a confidant's betrayal, and the adoration in your lover's smile. Penetrating your mind like a swift sword, a single image can unleash a cascade of shattering emotions. In the batting of an eye, a compelling look has weakened the mightiest will, commanding its total surrender. Focused shafts of light, amplified by your retina and interpreted by your brain, can trigger a complex series of chemical reactions within your body. Turning up the heat, adrenaline quickens your pulse. Your heart pumps primal hormonal messages throughout your bloodstream. Capable of igniting love at first sight, a mere glance can break your vulnerable heart or steal it for a lifetime. Only with your eyes, can you completely capture the moment. If you miss the magic, it is gone in an instant, never to return. If you are nearsighted or farsighted, you may fantasize about waking up in the morning able to see the landscapes of your world without glasses or cSlade, Stephen G. is the author of 'Complete Book of Laser Eye Surgery' with ISBN 9780553584226 and ISBN 0553584227.