So, I’m in my 40′s, feel great, in decent shape, good health, wonderful family, awesome boyfriend, super network of friends…so what’s there to complain about, right? Just two little problems…declining vision and wrinkles!
I’m truly grateful for all I have including my glasses, contacts, crows feet and marionette lines yet what if I could have it all? LASIK surgery and Botox. Problems solved.
Here’s my thinking…get Botox first. Relax the wrinkles on my forehead, furrowed brow lines, crow’s feet, and the marionette lines around my mouth. That way when I get LASIK the first thing I’ll see is how incredibly young I look. Brilliant.
With that in mind, I decided to check into the side effects of Botox. Risks directly related to eye problems (there are others side effects too so be sure to check them all out) include double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes. I already have dry eye! Yikes. This information deepened my furrowed brow lines because I started worrying about how these side effects might impact the LAISK piece.
I called my friends at The Laser Centers (TLC) and they shared some very good information: If you don’t follow your postoperative instructions from your facility and/or eye doctor, you could potentially get droopy eyes. Patients are cautioned not to lie down after Botox. After LASIK, patients are told to take a nap. So TLC would never do LASIK and Botox on the same day.
After Botox, patients should be up and moving so that the Botox doesn’t settle. If it settles in one place, such as near the eye lids, it can cause a droopy eye lid which leads to an incomplete blink and can result in dry eye. TLC hasn’t found any problems with Botox and LASIK as long as patients do not have both procedures done on the same day. Additionally, TLC screens patients for incomplete blink and/or dry eye and if Botox (or something else) is the cause of those conditions, they remedy those causes before proceeding with any vision correction surgery.
What’s the next step? Understanding LASIK surgery risks. After that, making a decision. Botox and LASIK? Botox only? LASIK only? I’m not sure yet, but I feel like I can make a better informed decision. Hope it helps you too.
Fashion Maven
P.S. Check out Rebates and Special Offers on vsp.com for exclusive member savings on LASIK!
P.P.S. Watch our very own Jill N. go through her five part LASIK surgery journey.
