Lisa Manning of Lone Grove was like a lot of people — for years, her world revolved around her glasses.
Putting her glasses on was the first thing she did in the morning when she woke up and taking them off was the last thing she did before going to sleep at night.
But on Aug. 7, in less than 30 minutes, all that changed when she underwent individualized laser vision correction at Wells Vision and Laser Eye Center in Ardmore. The result — 20/20 vision in both eyes, without glasses or contacts.
Just minutes before entering the surgical room, she talked about her decision to have the surgery, called CustomVue (individualized laser vision correction).
“Today is my birthday and this is my present to myself. I hate glasses. I’ve worn them since I was 11 and I’m ready to wake up in the morning and see (without glasses),” she said. “I work in home healthcare. I drive a lot and I’m looking forward to being able to see the street signs before I pass by them. It will be great.”
In theory, being able to toss your glasses away and see, really see, clearly sounds like a dream come true. Still, in just minutes, Dr. J. Chris Hummell will use a laser to reshape her eyes — both eyes. So it’s truth time. Are there any last-minute second thoughts?
“My dad has had it done and so has my brother and a friend. They all said it was the best thing they ever did,” Lisa said. “Sure, I was a little nervous, as well as excited, when I came in. Then they gave me a Valium and it’s working. Now I’m more excited than anything else.”
While she talks, Dr. Kevin Wells puts pre-op anesthetic drops in her eyes. Minutes later, she is led into the surgery area and settled comfortably into a reclining chair. The lights dim.
Lisa’s family and visitors watch the entire procedures through a large glass half wall. Her right eye appears on a large computer monitor. A grid appears over the eye and Wells explains the computer notes any eye movement and repositions the cool-beam laser, which, in turn, allows Hummell to operate exactly where necessary.
“The cornea has five layers — two thin ones on top, a meaty center one and two more thin layers behind,” Wells said. “What he (Hummell) is doing is making very thin flaps with the outer layers. He then reshapes the eye and flaps the thin layers back in place.
“Once the flaps are back in place, it’s basically healed,” he said. “You can blink normally right away, although there are some things you can’t do for about a week, like swimming or wearing eye makeup.”
In less than 30 minutes, Hummell has reshaped both eyes and removed any imperfections Lisa may have had on each eye. Her eyes are flooded with antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing drops.
Hummell turns around and gives her family a thumbs up.
The lights come on in the surgery room. Lisa gets up and walks back to the waiting area, accompanied by an aide. She is seated in a recliner. Wells tilts the recliner back and tells her to, “Close your eyes and sleep for about 30 minutes. Then you’ll be ready to go.”
And Lisa says, “There was no discomfort at all. If I had known it was this easy, I would have done it a long time ago.”
By 10 a.m. on Aug. 8, Wells has conducted Lisa’s post-op eye exam and pronounced her vision in both eyes is 20/20.
A few hours later, Lisa talks about the experience and her newfound vision.
“It’s amazing. I got up this morning and I could see. I can even write. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
Vision correction facts
• LASIK-type surgeries can correct the following: Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness) and Astigmatism. But aging eye, known as Presbyopia cannot be corrected by LASIK surgery. Those with Presbyopia can have other vision problems corrected, but will probably still will need reading glasses.
• CustomVue is advanced LASIK and can address eye imperfections unique to the patient. CustomVue starts with a WaveScan exam that provides what Hummell described as a “fingerprint” of the eye. The WaveScan provides a “detailed map” of each eye and that information is fed into the excimer laser and used as a guide to reshape the cornea during the procedure.
• One in three adult patients are good candidates. Pre-surgical exams and screenings will provide the information doctors need to assess who can safely have the procedures. Those with certain medical conditions and women who are pregnant are not good candidates.
• Patients can expect to have their vision improved “as good or better” than their prescription glasses or contacts.
• Once the procedure is done, it is permanent. But the procedure does not prevent other kinds vision problems that might develop in the future.
• The cost is $1,500 per eye for LASIK and $1,950 per eye for CustomVue. Cost incudes pre-op and post-op kits. Insurance does not cover the procedures but financing is available. Overall, when compared to the cost of a lifetime supply of glasses or contacts, the procedure can be the most cost effective.
• “This is the latest technology and it is available right here at home. You don’t need to go out of town to get the most up-to-date care. There are a lot of great doctors right here in Ardmore,” Dr. Kevin Wells said.
