I have always worn glasses since primary school. It’s hereditary from my mom’s side, and I had a high prescription of -10 D in both eyes. As a result, I was always seen with thick glasses at school. I was bullied for it for a good part, too. However, the glasses also set me apart—they became a shield to hide my mischief. My very own “mischief managed” spell, if you will.
No teacher believed someone with such thick glasses would want to bunk classes or skip homework. So, my weakness became my superpower.
But I would be dishonest if I didn’t admit that I wanted to be glasses-free. Movies, both Bollywood and Hollywood, had me believe that glasses make you unattractive. I dreamed of a day when I could get rid of my glasses and turn into a damsel whom men would find appealing.
Surgery was always on the cards once I came of age. I started researching it as my eye power remained stable for a long time. Finally, I got approved for LASIK at the age of 20.
For those uninitiated, LASIK is a commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) can be an alternative to glasses or contact lenses. During LASIK surgery, a special type of cutting laser is used to change the shape of the cornea and correct the refraction.
It was an hour-long procedure, and although I was anesthetized, I felt the laser beams cutting into my cornea. It was a dull pain, like accidentally cutting yourself. The post-care was more painful: no hair washing for a fortnight (the surgery happened during peak summer in India), and I had to always wear shades (I even partied with them, but that’s another story). The doctors warned me about photosensitivity and macular degeneration. The former is a challenge, while annual eye checkups help me keep track of my eye health.
I still have some residual power and wear glasses to this day. I find lenses intolerable.
So, that’s the story of my eye surgery. Have you ever had LASIK done? How was your experience?
Fingers in symphony 