Pilot Paul
Pro Rec SNA
Hey, my name is Greg Paul, I'm a prospective SNA guy applying to OCS. I work as a flight instructor at the Whidbey Island Navy Flying Club at NAS Whidbey Island. Last Thursday I had PRK surgery (last big step before Operation: Hurry up and wait for boards). It went well and I was staying with my folks for a few days so they could help out. I didn't have too much pain or problems the first two days. until....today.
I had the second worst pain that I have ever experienced today. The regenerative contact had somehow fallen out in the night. Without that my eyelid was brutalizing my raw cornea. We weren't sure what it was and because it was sunday, and I live 2 hours away from the doctor I had to wait the majority of the day to be seen. It felt like the contact lense was just offset or folded somewhere in my eye but we couldn't find it. The opthomologist even had to dye my eye to determine it really wasn't in there. Fortunately the dye was numbing and for the first time in the day i could stand to open and move my right eye. So they slipped a new lense in and sent me on my way. So far so good thanks to "comfort drops" frozen peas and Vicoden.
Just sharing my experience. I hope all you other hopeful future comrades who are getting this done have an easier time than I did. I would suggest you keep rewetting drops by your bed and douse your eyes before you even try to open them in the mornings. Otherwise the contacts are dry and pull on them when you open your lids. Because man....That hurt...but I guess it was a good experience seeing what it would be like to be blind for a day.
I can't wait for the initial recovery period to be over so I can drive and fly again. Take it easy, everybody and feel free to ask me any questions about my experience so far. Go Navy!...I can't believe everything we do just to be able to be qualified to apply. But I still feel it's well worth it.
I had the second worst pain that I have ever experienced today. The regenerative contact had somehow fallen out in the night. Without that my eyelid was brutalizing my raw cornea. We weren't sure what it was and because it was sunday, and I live 2 hours away from the doctor I had to wait the majority of the day to be seen. It felt like the contact lense was just offset or folded somewhere in my eye but we couldn't find it. The opthomologist even had to dye my eye to determine it really wasn't in there. Fortunately the dye was numbing and for the first time in the day i could stand to open and move my right eye. So they slipped a new lense in and sent me on my way. So far so good thanks to "comfort drops" frozen peas and Vicoden.
Just sharing my experience. I hope all you other hopeful future comrades who are getting this done have an easier time than I did. I would suggest you keep rewetting drops by your bed and douse your eyes before you even try to open them in the mornings. Otherwise the contacts are dry and pull on them when you open your lids. Because man....That hurt...but I guess it was a good experience seeing what it would be like to be blind for a day.
I can't wait for the initial recovery period to be over so I can drive and fly again. Take it easy, everybody and feel free to ask me any questions about my experience so far. Go Navy!...I can't believe everything we do just to be able to be qualified to apply. But I still feel it's well worth it.