Thank you all for what you have done for me, after the most insane month of my life the smoke has cleared, the surgery is over, and things have gone so much better than I could have ever hoped for...a modern day miracle has happened! Not only were they able to stop the disease in my right eye, they were able to turn my left eye back on. Because of all of you I get to have my life back, see my wife again, and once again go shred a trail. I am healing up just fine, everyday getting a little better and a little stronger with my sight.
We truly love you all.
PS One of the side effects of having the three surgeries done is that I have to wear sunglasses like all the time now in any type of semi bright light because they just kill if you don't. So I'm not trying to look cool and be a rock star in the video.
What a ride. Audrey and I drove to L.A. for my eye consultation and surgery, when I walked into the office the first day I was scared out of my mind. We met with Dr. Boxer Wachler and even though this dude lives in down town Beverly Hills he is actually a total ski bum, he is a super humble dude who just wants to heal people. He describes Kerataconus like a hernia, the cornea literally bulges into cone shapes with peaks and valleys that distort the lens and drastically effects your vision. After loads of different tests and mapping of my eye he suggested a combination of three different procedures based on the current state of my eyes.
LEFT EYE: 1-Intacs-Cut into cornea and insert one C-shaped plastic piece to help prop and restore the shape of my eye. 2-CK-On the opposite side of the C-shaped plastic he burned the cornea in a C shape again (making a full circle) to control the warping that had already occurred. 3-CR-3-Prop your eyes open in front of an intense UV light then every 3 minutes baste your eye with riboflavin, cellulose, and vitamin B creating artificial connectors that replace the proteins that the disease attacks and break downs.
RIGHT EYE: 1-Only CR-3! My right eye just started degenerating so we caught it just in time. This procedure will halt the disease and my eyes will never progress and get worse.
The next morning I went back for the procedures. After the first two I sat up from the operating table and immediately tripped out, my eye was turned back on and I had peripheral vision again! There was so much information it was crazy. I went into another room for the CR-3 which was torturous, you are awake for everything! I saw needles and knifes all coming at my eye, and with the CR-3 I could see the material soak in and disperse to find the areas that needed to be filled, it was crazy. I slept a lot that day, the next morning Audrey drove me to my follow up appointment and I could read billboards and hotel signs, I could see detail in people's faces all in my left eye! I was shocked at the immediate results.
In the mornings it still feels like a 3 year old threw a handful of sand at my eyes, my left eye is still ultra fuzzy but my vision has improved more and more everyday and it will keep improving over the next 8 months and I'm beyond stoked. I go back in 3 months to get a custom fit hard contact lens that will help me see even more.
We are so overwhelmed by all your love and generosity, we made enough money to cover the whole surgery which relieved such a financial weight on me and Audrey. We felt your prayers as the surgery went perfect and have had such miraculous results.
Thank you for helping me see and enjoy life everyday. My eyes were saved by my family in dirt.
I've had the same surgery 3 months ago for my keratoconus too and I am still waiting for my left eye to let me see normally again. I will have the same sugery on my right eye too in a few months.
It's good to see this video and know that this surgery works (because I started having doubts)...It gives me hope!
I cant wait being able to see the trails properly.
(P.S : I'm French, sorry for my bad english writing skills, and thanks for this video!)
Thumbs up for the community!
he spent many a night at demon shipping stuff out and cutting stickers too.
Oh boy, the glare does suck doesnt it. It prob looks like there is a flashlight in your eyes 24/7.
Speedy recovery Nick!
Thats actually a myth, but rubbing does help the progression get worse. Thats correct.
So when and where is the first ride with your new vision Nick?
...now where's my jersey
...where is ma jersy .. .but seriously i ordered like 6 weeks ago and i really want to wear it
:]
I'm glad i helped.