Howerton Eye Clinic Blog

For my first rugby practice after the surgery I was still a little nervous. I decided to wear the goggles they gave me to protect my eyes. I usually played without my glasses and had to squint a lot to see the scoreboard and the other players. I had no trouble seeing any of it even with the goggles on! I can even see my teammates eyes a lot better so it is easier for me to read them now. This vision correction is going to improve my game a lot. I would have trouble seeing the coaches signs sometimes and reading the possession arrow, but not anymore! Crystal Clear!

-Norm
www.myspace.com/qrugby1

My first eye exam after the Lasik! I was barely 20/20 with my glasses on so I was anxious to see what my eye sight would be. I went in early the day after surgery to get the eyes looked at and take my first eye test. After Dr. Howerton examined my eyes to make sure everything was looking good, I took my first exam. My vision was 20/15 just 1 day after the surgery! Unbelievable, everything is so clear and crisp and no pain at all. My eyes got a little dry the first few days but drops take care of that. I look forward to my life without glasses! It's going to be so nice being able to see clearly while I'm playing rugby too. No more squinting and trying to focus while I'm on court. First day of practice is not far off!!

-Normwww.myspace.com/qrugby1

Norm did great on surgery day!
Here he is getting ready for surgery.

I couldn't wait to get in to the office and get my pre-op done. They had to run some tests and then get my Lasik scheduled! I figured the tests would be similar to the ones they had done earlier. Some of them were but they were a little more involved and I got to meet Dr. Nicolau and Dr. Howerton. They were very nice and I can't thank them enough for this opportunity to improve my vision!

Well back to the tests, most of them were pretty routine. Then they put these drops in your eyes to dilate the pupils. The told me that I would not be able to see things up close for about 4 hours. I was thinking whatever, I have very good vision up close. Sure enough I got handed a paper and had to hold it like 4 feet away from my face to see it! The rest of the tests went good and we scheduled the surgery!

I did have to wear sunglasses all day though, my eyes were very sensitive to the sunlight. Can't wait for surgery day!!

-Norm

www.myspace.com/qrugby1

Wow I still can't believe that I actually won the contest! It is such an awesome feeling winning by just one vote. When my girlfriend Katie first told me about the contest I was a little skeptical. I wasn't too sure about entering it, so she did it for me. I'M so glad she did. I have been wanting Lasik for a while but haven't had the money to get it. It will be so nice playing rugby and driving without glasses!

When they brought me in and told me I was in the final seven I was thinking I actually had a chance. At first I thought the staff was going to decide who won. Then I was told it was going to be an online vote that would decide the winner. I knew I had to do some work if I wanted to win.
I passed out little slips of paper with the web site on it to everyone at work. I also put a link to the site on my Myspace page, I think that helped a lot too. One guy at work told me that he gave the site to his wife and she had everyone at her office vote for me! I also asked everyone on my Rugby team to vote.

When I heard the news that I won I was in Birmingham at a training camp. I was so excited! I thought the contest was over a while ago and figured that I had lost, seeing I had not heard anything in so long. It was a total surprise when I got the phone call. I can't wait until I get the surgery!