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I was in a daze as we packed and drove for my postoperative visit. We played the Keali’I Reichel tape as we passed vineyards and golden-green pastures. I wept with joy at being able to see the cattle and horses. I will never forget that magical morning. Now I knew how my patients felt about being able to see without glasses or contacts. He could not believe how well I was doing – 20/20 in each eye and able to see J1. We bid farewell until January, when we would speak on the same panel at the Hawaiian Eye Conference and Visx University.

The first postoperative week On Sunday, Dec. 21, I went for a 5 mile run along the ocean. I could see distance, peripherally, and up close. I used artificial tears frequently to help with my dry eyes, but the clarity was unbelievable. Our little daughter Nicola, and I compared how far we could read street signs and license plates.

On Monday, Dec. 22, I drove to work without glasses or contacts. I stopped by the ocean at the same place I stopped before my surgery. I could see the waves and the surfers, as well as the formation of pelicans flying gracefully over the waves, and the seagulls and little plovers running along the sand. I could see a marker buoy a half-mile out, as well as Catalina Island and the rooftops along the Palos Verdes peninsula. I arrived to a warm welcome from my staff and saw a full load of patients and consultations.

Tuesday, Dec. 23 was the real test – it would be the first day I would do surgery without glasses or contact lenses. I performed LASIK cases with no difficulty whatsoever. I actually felt I could see better than with contacts. My night driving was also better than it had been with contacts.

Christmas day and beyond
On Christmas day my family and I gave thanks for a most wonderful procedure by a superb doctor using a superlative laser. In January, I marveled at the beautiful island of Maui with new eyes. Today I’m 20/20 in both eyes and still J1. Laser vision correction is truly a miracle of modern medicine.