I was blind, but now I see...

The year 2000 was a big year for me. Not only did we adopt our precious girl in August, but also 8 years ago today I had laser vision correction!

My vision started to go in about 4th grade. I remember struggling through a couple of yearly eye tests at school, straining to see the letters. The next year I flunked the eye exam, and got my first pair of glasses. They were beauties! Nowadays they’d probably be right in line with the styles, but back then they were pretty dorky...

Before I started high school I got new frames – groovy hexagon wire frames, and boy was I cool! (Or at least, I thought I was.)

For Christmas my senior year I got contact lenses, but my eyes continued to worsen as I progressed from hard to gas permeable to soft to toric lenses over the years. I hated the hassle and discomfort of contacts, but my glasses were so thick that I felt uncomfortable going out in public with them on. When laser surgery came around I wanted it, but didn’t feel like we could afford it. Then I started work at the law firm and learned that after 3 years I would qualify for their medical reimbursement benefit --- I knew this was the time. I went to our friend and ophthalmologist, Dave Markoff, and got the preparation underway. My 3-year anniversary was January 2, and I would have had the surgery that day, but had to wait until the first day Dave’s office had surgeries scheduled – February 24. I count it as one of the most wonderful days of my life. Three days of pretty bad pain, and the next day I drove myself to the mall! Later we had a ceremonial smashing of the lenses with a hammer, and boy was it gratifying!
(Believe me, I wore eye protection for that.)

8 years later, I think I’m still seeing 20/20. Now and then when the weather is especially clear, my vision is so sharp that it takes my breath away and all I can say is W-O-W!!

Thanks, Dave!