First coming to America…
I first had trouble with my vision when I was fifteen and I started wearing contacts when I came to this country. I was born in Cuba and came to America when I was sixteen. We went through Spain and then received political asylum here. They let me and my mother leave but not my father. He is still over there. We keep in touch through the Internet. Now I live on Long Island and teach Spanish. As for my vision, I first realized that something was wrong when my mom, one time, asked me to help her find an address and I couldn’t see the numbers on the houses. So she took me to get an eye exam.

Hating Glasses, Abusing Contacts…
I had my glasses, but I was always wearing my contacts — virtually 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was really bad. I overused them. I didn’t like my glasses. I was uncomfortable. I was a teenager. So my vision started to get worse and worse and worse. By the time I did the surgery, I was like negative 5 in one eye and negative 4.75 in the other. So without glasses I couldn’t see. It was really bad. From overusing the contacts, I used to get infections all the time, so then I would have to get treatment for the infection and wear glasses for two to three weeks.

Not Worth The Risk…
Ten years ago, I was aware that something was in the market to fix your eyes called laser surgery. A friend of mine did it back then, however, and her experience was really bad. Something happened that prevented her from wearing contacts again, and they couldn’t fix it. She had to wear glasses for the rest of her life and I said, "No, I’m not doing this."

New Baby, New Resolve…
Then, four years ago, when I had my son, it was very frustrating having to get out of bed in the middle of the night and reach for my glasses. Now it’s a problem just taking care of your baby. So I thought, well, it’s been many, many years. I’m sure everything is more advanced. Let me start researching laser surgery again. So I did. I went on the Internet, looking at different doctors and different web pages, and I saw the procedure online and I said, "No, I’m not ready for this." I was scared after reading about all the possible side effects. So I waited another three years.

Enough Already…
Then finally, this past summer, I had really bad allergies and I couldn’t wear my contacts. I said, "That’s it, I have to do this." I started to do some research again and I found Dr. Kelly on the Internet. First off all, I had a bunch of printouts from different doctors and I was very skeptical. But I liked the way Dr. Kelly’s website was set up, the way it guides you through everything. I was familiar with a lot of the terms and procedures by then, but I liked the way he presented the information. I liked the fact that he had his picture there, that I was able to read patients' thoughts and comments. And then, of course, I liked the location. When I saw the address, I knew exactly where the office is since it’s very close to my house on Long Island. That night I submitted all my information and they called me the following day and I saw him that same week.

Enter Dr. Kelly…
I got there for my consultation on a Wednesday afternoon. He was amazing. I had been very afraid about doing this, and he made me feel so comfortable and secure. The way he guided me through the procedure, the way he explained everything, was very clear and reassuring. He was very kind, very… well, human. He didn’t feel like just a doctor, he felt like a friend. When he told me after the exam that I was a candidate, I felt so comfortable with him that my only question was, "When can I do it?"

A “Zero Pain” Procedure…
I came with my husband. When I got to the office, Dr. Kelly was waiting for me. I had already filled out all the paperwork, so that was all set. I was nervous. It wasn’t that uncomfortable, but you feel a little nervous. I had this wonderful lady who was holding my hand. Dr. Kelly was amazing too. He explained everything he was doing as he was doing it and kept telling me I was doing great. The support, the way he is, made such a difference. It was not painful at all. Zero pain.

Sweet Recovery…
Once it’s done, your eyes get watery a lot. You feel like you have pink eye, or kind of like you have sand or an eyelash in your eye. You have that sensation. The best thing was to close your eyes and relax. But actually, I have to tell you, when I got up from the machine, I was already seeing better than I was before. I saw my husband’s face and I saw Dr. Kelly’s face and I was thrilled. I was seeing, of course, with shadows, and it wasn’t totally clear yet, but I was seeing better already even before I went into the recovery room. Twenty minutes later, after he checked me one more time, Dr. Kelly told me to take two Tylenols and go home to sleep, and he would see me tomorrow. That’s exactly what I did.

The Amazing Thereafter…
When I woke up later, I have to tell you that it was the most wonderful experience of my life. I was able to see everything around my house. I went to the shower, and my shampoo and my conditioner look the same, so every time I took a shower before, I had to hold them up close, but now I could see them. I was reading everything around the house. I could see the clock. I could watch TV. It was amazing. I was seeing perfectly. He did the eye test that Saturday morning, not even twenty-four hours after the surgery, and I was able to read the tiny little letters. It was wonderful. I said to Dr. Kelly, "Can I give you a hug?" Because what he gave me was so precious, when you cannot see and then, from one day to another, you are able to see everything. It’s amazing. It’s really amazing.