Thinking about ditching your glasses or contacts? You’re not alone! Sarah, a longtime member of the Milwaukee Eye Care team, recently took the leap and chose EVO ICL surgery, an exciting vision correction option now offered by our cornea specialist, Dr. Jason Edmonds. For years, Sarah saw many patients come through our office for LASIK or PRK, but with her high prescription, she wasn’t a candidate. EVO ICL offers new hope for people with strong prescriptions, thinner corneas, or those who haven’t been eligible for other vision correction surgeries. In this Q&A, Sarah talks honestly about her experience, from pre-op preparation to post-surgery “wow” moments, giving you an inside look at what the process is really like and what’s possible with this technology.
About Your Decision
Q: What made you decide to consider vision correction surgery, and why did you choose EVO ICL instead of LASIK or PRK?
A: I had worn glasses for the last 20 years, and I never thought I’d be able to see without them. Contacts were never very comfortable for me, even when playing sports. Glasses were the only option I had. LASIK was out of the plan because I was not a good candidate, mostly because of my high prescription. My doctor, Dr. Jason Edmonds, also had concerns, which made me ineligible for LASIK. The only corrective surgery I was eligible for is called EVO ICL. This surgery is an implanted lens. It’s a fast surgery, and it only took about 30-40 minutes total.
Preparing for Surgery
Q: What was the consultation process like with Dr. Edmonds and the staff? Did you feel all your questions and concerns were addressed?
A: During my evaluation with Dr. Edmonds, there were lots of measurements taken and also lots to go over. He also answered all my questions and concerns. I was concerned about dry eyes after surgery because this is something I already have. He was able to answer all my questions and address my concerns. The refractive coordinators, Amanda and Shawna, were also very helpful throughout the process of getting the surgery scheduled and in answering all my financial questions.
The Day of Surgery
Q: Can you walk us through your experience the day of the procedure?
A: The day of surgery went very smoothly. The staff at the Envision Surgery Center were so lovely and they walked me through everything they were doing. They would grab me an extra blanket or an extra pillow so I could lie down comfortably on the bed while my eyes were dilating. Once Dr. Edmonds was ready for me and my eyes were fully dilated, I was off to the procedure room to start my surgery. I was awake the whole time under light IV sedation. I remember some of the surgery, but not all of it.
Once I was done with surgery, the nurses brought me to a waiting room to relax for an hour. Dr. Edmonds had to check my eye pressure after the hour was up, and I was able to go home. I was there for about 2.5 to 3 hours total. One of the staff members was so kind and walked me out to my car, where my husband was waiting. I took a nap as soon as I got home. I made sure to use the post-operative eye drops as Dr. Edmonds instructed.
Post-op Journey
Q: How did your vision and comfort progress over the next 24–48 hours?
A: I woke up the next day being able to see without any issues, so I was comfortable driving myself to my follow up appointment. During the post-op appointment, Dr. Edmonds checked my eye pressure and my visual acuity. Everything was looking good and healing really well. All I had to do was stick to my eye drop schedule and post-op instructions.
Results
Q: How do you feel about your vision now compared to before? What little things in your daily life feel different or better now?
A: I am now 1 month post EVO ICL surgery, and my vision is better than ever. I am able to see more of my peripheral vision now that I don’t have to wear glasses. I love being able to see as soon as I wake up without grabbing my glasses to put on. I am still experiencing halos, but those will go away as my eyes continue to heal. Having better vision is a part of a lifestyle change, in my opinion. I can be out in the sun all day and not worry about having a glasses tan on my face. I can go swimming and be able to see everything around me. There are times I will wake up reaching for my glasses, but then remind myself I no longer need them! Being able to see without glasses is life changing. I am so glad I had the EVO ICL procedure.
Ready to see if EVO ICL is right for you?
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