This is a sponsored post with KE Eye Centers of Texas. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
As a firefighter, being physically fit is an important part of the job. I need to be able to lift equipment, hoses, patients, and, God forbid, a fellow firefighter in an emergency situation. We are required to meet certain physical standards and have regular testing done to ensure we stay in good health.
Being able to see is also a critical component of what I do. Whether looking for street signs when driving the ambulance to a call or trying to see in the difficult conditions of a structure fire, clear vision is paramount.
It's a pain trying to keep up with my glasses when I am using them at night or juggling my prescription sunglasses when driving one of the pieces of apparatus. I've gone through a couple of pairs after they break as a result of me leaving them on the dash of the engine in the heat. Ditching glasses would make my job easier and be one less thing I had to worry about in an emergency. When the opportunity came up for me to meet with KE Eye Centers of Texas to see if I was a candidate for LASIK, I jumped at the chance.
The initial consultation involved a series of vision tests, an in-depth discussion with a knowledgeable patient counselor, a thorough eye exam, and a discussion with an optometrist to determine candidacy. That first appointment was about 1.5-2 hours long and very thorough.
After completing all of my exams and discussing my options with the surgeons, we decided that a PRK procedure was best for my situation. I had LASIK performed at another facility with another doctor and different technology almost a decade ago, which meant that I had less corneal tissue thickness for the doctors to easily and safely perform a LASIK enhancement procedure. I really appreciate the thoughtful, conservative approach that KE Eye Centers takes and felt confident in the plan we decided on together.
So what is PRK? PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy. LASIK and PRK, which both reshape the cornea, have comparable results but are performed a little differently. In both procedures, the tissue that covers the cornea must be removed (PRK) or temporarily moved out of the way (LASIK) for the laser to reshape the cornea. Dr. Evangelista explained that performing a PRK to remove my cornea (which grows back naturally) was a safer option than trying to lift my old corneal flap.
With the multiple locations and flexible scheduling at KE Eye Centers of Texas, I was able to easily set up appointments around my 24/48hr schedule. If you are interested in ditching contacts or glasses, or have had LASIK in the past and feel that your vision isn't what you want it to be, I highly recommend going in for a free consultation at KE Eye Centers. You can start with their LASIK Self-Test online and see if you might be a good candidate.
KE Eye Centers of Texas has locations in Arlington, Plano, Dallas, Mount Pleasant, Gun Barrel City, Southlake (coming soon). Visit LASIKsurgery.com, or call 800.714.2020, to find the location nearest you. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @keeyecenter.
Follow along with my journey to 20/20 vision on Instagram (@NineOneOneDad) where I will be sharing more about how #KEHelpedMeSee. Also, check out Emily's site at GraceandGoodEats.com (or @GraceGoodEats) where she will be sharing her LASIK experience as well.
