| Thomas As a certified ophthalmic technician and a person with nearsightedness, I had always been curious about refractive surgery to correct myopia. I love to |
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| swim and play basketball, and my glasses and contacts got in the way of both activities. I was also getting eye infections from the contact lenses to the point it wasn't even worth wearing them anymore. After working for three years with Dr. Salz in his Los Angeles office assisting him in Radial Keratotomy on literally hundreds of patients, I still wasn't convinced. |
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| Then in early 1991, Dr. Salz was asked to conduct an FDA
study on laser surgery to correct nearsightedness. (PRK) Many people who were curious came
into our office and had an examination to see if they were candidates. As the first patients started coming back from their surgery, I was amazed to see how well they were seeing, because before the surgery they couldn't even see the big "E" on the eyechart! After watching and examining about 100 of these patients with Dr. Salz, I was totally convinced that this was the right thing for me to do. I signed up for the surgery and had my PRK performed on my left eye in June 1992. Finally, the big day came. I was nervous, but trusted Dr. Salz because I knew he was an excellent doctor. The surgery only took about thirty seconds and involved absolutely no pain or discomfort. I went home with a bandage over my eye and some painkillers. The first day of the surgery and for about three days after that, my eye was very uncomfortable from the pain. However understand that they have made great strides in improving the post-operative pain from PRK since then. Dr. Salz checked my eyes every couple of days to make sure that I wasn't developing an infection and that my vision was improving. After only a week I could see fairly well, even though it was a little blurry, and after two weeks I could read the eyechart well enough to pass a drivers test without glasses! I couldn't believe it and neither could my friends. They thought I was crazy at first for having the surgery but when they saw the results they went to their own doctors to inquire about PRK. Six months after having the surgery, I also had my right eye operated on with similar results. This time Dr. Salz used a bandage contact lens and some drops to help with the pain. My vision recovered even faster than the first surgery. In only two weeks I was a perfect 20/20! Soon after my eyes had healed I was swimming underwater and I could see everything for the first time in 20 years. The most exciting thing was being able to wake up in the morning and actually see where I was going when I got out of bed! It was truly an eye opening experience. Today, over four years later, my vision is better than 20/20, it is actually 20/15 in both eyes! I have experienced no problems, blurry vision, pain, or regression. I am still amazed at what modern medicine can accomplish and how accurate the laser can be. I have had other doctors look at my eyes since the surgery and they can't even tell I had anything done! I knew that the surgery would be fairly successful but I had no idea that my vision would be perfect. I owe my good vision to Dr. Salz and his excellent care and advice. He is the most honest, trustworthy, and caring doctor I have ever had. I can honestly say to have PRK and be treated by Dr. Salz is the best decision I have ever made. Thomas McKay |
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