> Then the traditional Bozo Glasses were used to confirm the machine's results. My eyes were -2.25 in the right eye, -2.00 in the left. (Or -2.50 in the right, -2.25 in the left. I can't remember.) My pupils were relatively small in dark, something like 4.8 in one eye, 5.2 in the other, which didn't tell me anything. However, the doctor called me "Golden Boy", so I guess those were good numbers.

I've wanted corrective eye surgery for several eons, and a few years ago I did quite a bit of research on the subject. But with my vision of -10 and -11, I'm not a qualifying candidate at this time. They do have a way of inserting contact lens-type things in your eyes, but I still haven't heard a lot about that method. Until something new comes along, I will continue to support the saline solution industry.

> SUDDENLY I had an appointment to get my eyes dilated and surgery scheduled for about a week after that. Things were moving faster than I thought they would.

Our news editor at the paper is getting eye surgery in two weeks, so his eyes were dilated the other day. We have some great photos of him wearing these goofy eye coverings to shield his eyes from the bright light. But my solution was easier: dim the lights in the newsroom, which also pleased the graphics people.

> Post-operation instructions consist of go home and sleep for five hours. Put drops in. Go to bed for the night. For the next four nights, wear these clear plastic shields when you sleep. Use paper tape to secure them to your face. For the next week, wear these thick sunglasses whenever you go outside.

I've heard of people who are back to their normal routines within a day or two of having LASIK surgery. Is that the case with you, or is it longer and slower? (I'm suddenly wondering WHAT will happen if our news editor is laid up for longer than the week he had planned on.)

> And there we go. I can see again.

I envy you. I've been wearing contact lenses for 10 years, and I still haven't gotten over such marvels as no longer getting lost at water parks because I took my glasses off, or taking a shower and actually differentiating between the shampoo and conditioner bottles without squinting at them from a range of approximately two inches. But I can't do things like lie under the stars and watch them until I fall asleep. Well, I can, but it's not a good idea to sleep in contacts, and I try to be nice to my eyes -- most of the time.

At any rate, congratulations on being able to see again!

-Ell