| So, there I was
with all that crap over my eyes - plastic shields and those squirrelly
eye-doctor sunglasses. Doctor Chayet instructed me to rest and
not do anything for the next 24 hours and to keep the plastic shields
on my eyes. Sounded like good advice... Lee and I headed
back to our rooms at the Miramar Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ).
On the way, we stopped for lunch at a barbecue place that Lee thought
I would like. Unfortunately, the anesthetic was wearing off and
I was feeling my eyes - it wasn't comfortable (try polishing your eyes
with sand and you'll get the idea...).
We returned to my BOQ room where I settled on the bed with the TV on, determined to follow the doctor's instructions. After a period of time I started to get bored - it may have been 15 minutes... I was reflecting on my new life without glasses or contacts and decided that I might need a new pair of sunglasses. Since we were at Miramar and the Base Exchange was within a stone's throw, I figured we could get over there and shop for sunglasses without too much risk. I discussed this theory with Lee. She did her best to convince me to stay put without using the "idiot" word. But I was on a new mission, maybe even in the Platt zone.... Those annoying plastic shields came off, and we departed for the Exchange. Once there, I found the fluorescent lights were tolerable and the headache not much of a problem. Lee moved off to pursue her interests while I searched for the sunglasses. "Where is that damn sunglass display? Ah... there it is...." Soon, I found a dandy, sleek looking pair of glasses. I started to try them on.. The temples were slightly curved... "Ouch!! God dammit!" I poked myself in the left eye with the sleekly curved temple... "Whew, that hurts.." "Can I still see? Yes... Can I feel a dangling corneal flap? Nope... Ok, maybe I didn't do any serious damage..." I had a follow-up appointment the next day and figured Chayet would notice if I'd done any serious damage. "Excuse me Miss, I'll take this pair..." I returned to Tijuana the next day for my post surgery follow-up. I kept my mouth shut about the sunglass incident. No need to say anything, if there is any issue the doctor should notice it.. "Everything looks fine - you are doing well..." "Thank goodness!" 30 days later I scheduled a follow-up visit with a local ophthalmologist in the DC area.. "Hmmmm... great results - obviously a skilled surgeon did this for you... However, you have an epithelial in-growth on your left eye." "What's that?" "Some corneal surface cells are growing underneath the flap - we'll have to clean them out of there." "How could that happen?" "Oh, defect on the knife or some other disturbance to the cornea..." "Crap.. - what will it cost to fix it?" "I can clean it up for $700..." There goes my bargain.. "Let me think about it - I'll call you back." I called Chayet and told him about the problem. He was horrified - he never has complications like that. I was too chicken to tell him him about the sunglass incident. I let him stew.... "$700 is outrageous! Come back to my clinic and I will correct it for you." Hmmmmm.... use air miles, another trip to San Diego and Tijuana... could be another good time... "Hey Lee, I have a complication with my eyes - want to go back to San Diego with me?" Denouement Lee and I returned to San Diego. Doctor Chayet fixed my eye during a brief, uncomplicated procedure. I never told this superb surgeon that I suspected I was responsible for the problem. Lee and I had another great weekend in San Diego and Tijuana. Follow your doctor's instructions!!!!! Thanks to Dr. Chayet and his terrific staff for my new eyes! Dr. Chayet and the Codet Clinic are affiliated with the ARIS Laser Vision Institute |