After wearing eyeglasses for thirty-six years and birding using binoculars
against my glasses for twenty-one years, on June 29 I had LASIK eye surgery.
It is an amazing change.

For those who don't know, in LASIK surgery an instrument called a keratome
slices the cornea to create a flap which the surgeon then lifts away from
the rest of the cornea. The laser is brought in to sculpt the remaining
cornea to flatten it as necessary for myopia (near-sightedness) or create a
slight bulge for hyperopia (far-sightedness). The corneal flap is then
repositioned by the surgeon. In my case, I had to wear soft contacts for
three hours after surgery to help keep the flap positioned.

The next morning I was seeing 20/25 in both eyes. My vision has become a
little worse in my right eye to about 20/30 and the left eye has improved a
little in the distance. Both eyes are a little blurry inside of thirty
feet. That is the normal progression of the healing process. Total healing
takes up to six months. My optometrist today told me I should be seeing
very close to 20/20 in both eyes within a couple of months.

I went to Dr. David Lin in Vancouver, B. C., for the surgery. My
optometrist recommended him as being the best in the northwest plus he
charges $2400.00 compared to $4000.00 for the best group in Washington. I
was very impressed with Dr. Lin and his entire staff. My optometrist is
very impressed with his work as well, after having checked me for the second
time today.

I have gone birding three or four times in the last two weeks and am
thrilled to be using my binos as they were designed to be used. It is so
much more comfortable to look through them without having glasses on. It is
also wonderful just to be able to walk around without glasses, to be able to
read the clock on the bathroom wall when I'm in the shower, to wear "cool"
sunglasses for the first time, etc., etc. After having been dependant upon
my glasses for my view of the world, it is great to be able to live without
them.

If any of you would like more information about my experience, please feel
free to e-mail me privately and I will try to answer all questions.

Be sure to say "hi" if you see me out birding. I'll be the guy who is not
wearing glasses!

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA

Denny Granstrand