Wonderful Tales From The Lasik Waiting Room: The Chronicles Of John Doe

Introduction 

There comes a time in life when one is faced with a life-changing situation and not only do they have to tackle and deal with that once, but rather on a number of different occasions. Though there is hope, especially for John Doe who has been through a lot fighting to save his eyesight.

Chapter One 

As an experienced Lasik patient, John Doe thought he might give a glimpse into the worst part of the Lasik procedure... the waiting room, which can be pretty dull most of the time. John has had a Lasik procedure twice before, the second procedure being a follow-up since one of his eyes needed additional work after the healing procedure was complete. He was distinctly less nervous about the second procedure because the first one went well, and he also observed and talked to a number of the other Lasik patients that were waiting with him.

One of the patients was a young woman in her early twenties who talked incessantly trying to keep her mind off of any of the Lasik brochures and information on the table, I’d do that too if it was my first time. Fortunately for her, she had been thoroughly oriented to both the Lasik operation and post-op procedures, but because she was nervous, she had brought along a few stuffed animals to keep her company and destructed during the operation. Most Lasik physicians really recommend and operate on patients with the minimum age of 18 due to sufficient maturity of the eye, but it also made sense that maybe waiting for some emotional maturity might be another factor. On the other hand, though, John found himself wondering about what he looked and sounded like waiting for his first-ever Lasik operation.

Chapter Two 

After having a conversation with a few of the other Lasik patients, he quickly came to realize that he was not the only one in for a second Lasik procedure and that they were really looking forward to the second time around. Three others were like John in that they did not get sufficient improvement in their vision to satisfy themselves or the Lasik surgeon. In all of their cases, their first Lasik procedure that took place several months earlier went well, and none of them were particularly nervous to be quite honest…

It did surprise me, considering that it was 6:30 AM, of the variety of clothing styles of the Lasik clients. Most of us, considering the hour and the rather frigid temperature of the Lasik operating room and the waiting room, were dressed in snug and warm sweatsuits or other comfortable wear.  One Lasik patient was dressed in formal business attire with full makeup.

Chapter Three

This puzzled me for at least two reasons: any makeup, lotions, or other things that could get into the eye are forbidden for at least 24 hours before the surgery, and it is highly recommended to go home and sleep as quickly as possible after the Lasik procedure. The only thing I could figure out was that she wasn't actually getting a Lasik procedure, but no one else is there at 6:30 AM. Her dominating and withering look made me decide that any pre-Lasik conversation with her was better left unsaid.

I was probably the fourth person escorted into a waiting room for a final discussion on Lasik post-op procedures, but I could not tell how long I had been waiting. I think they avoid clocks for a very good reason. The lady two seats down from me was very calm enough about her Lasik procedure to go back to sleep while waiting, which seemed like an eminently sensible idea.

Each patient is offered a mild sedative before the Lasik procedure starts. It is mainly for psychological purposes, as my first Lasik experience was not painful at all. I did take it for my first experience, but my own Lasik history and the others I have heard in the waiting room made me think that I don't need it. But I take it anyway, just in case. I hope that this window into a Lasik waiting room helps give the attitude that for most people it is not a dreaded procedure, and for those of us that have had Lasik done, a rather uneventful one.

The End

Thank you for reading till the end. If you loved what you just read please have a look at this short story Lasik Gave Me A Second Chance which is also published on this site.