Help Nikki get eye surgery

Hi Folx,

I'm asking for your help with something that's hard for me to share.

I've worn glasses since I was 3 and my parents took me to the Dr because I wasn't learning to walk and they discovered that I couldn't see well.

I have Duane Syndrome.

I also have severe astigmatism and I'm very nearsighted. (I can see things close to me better.)

At some point in my childhood I contracted a disease called histoplasmoses that causes retinal scaring.

Most people with "bad eyesight" who are nearsighted like me have a prescription that is -5 or maybe -7, my latest is a -18.

I have to wear my glasses to do anything more than get to the bathroom at my own home. In places I'm unfamiliar or for prettymuch any activity, I wear my glasses. I'm 44 and have never even hoped that NOT wearing glasses was a possibility.

I'm lucky that as a child my parents could get me prescription eye glasses and that as an adult I've usually had jobs that allowed me to get glasses with the assistance of vision insurance, but even with insurance and the growth of online discount stores, a pair costs well over $100, usually it's several hundred and I need to get new ones about every 1.5 years. Even if my prescription doesn't change a whole lot, daily wear takes a toll on lenses and frames.

There's currently 1 lab in the world that can make my lenses. My lenses are so thick, especially on the left that I have to be very selective about frames or they will tilt off my face.

Over the years I've been told there was no other option for me. Old methods of vision correction procedures where more likely to leave me blind than to help.

A few months ago I learned of a relatively new one called Visain ICL and that one of the top surgeons for it was near me.

I had a consult last week and they can help. They can give me eyesight that's 20/30 which is better than where I am with glasses, at 20/60. In a few years I may need readers but I would be able to see and swim, snorkel, maybe even learn to scuba, be active without fear of my glasses falling off my face or getting hit and glasses being broken by a volleyball, or stepped on by another person. I'll be a safer driver because I'll have more peripheral vision, have less troubles with depth perception that currently even makes it a challenge for me to walk at dusk without tripping myself on a curb or to navigate stairs at night.

I'll be able to work without glasses. Have less eyestrain and be able to have the font set to something reasonable. I'll be able to read more, which has become increasingly difficult in recent years.

I'm putting this gofundme up because I've been told people will help me raise funds for this procedure. I've got it scheduled with a $200 deposit for August 26th and I'm working on loans, both personal and medical, and liquidating anything I can to help me pay for it.

I'm asking you all to help make this less of burden on myself and my family. Even if I get a loan, the intrest rate will kill me financially if I have to pay for it all on my own.

Unfortunately, neither medical nor vision insurance will cover any of it. They consider this a cosmetic procedure. For some people, maybe it is... For me, this would be life changing and so I'm asking for your help.

Your donation will be used for the $12,000 procedure, the transportation to/from the preop, surgery and post op, as well as lodging for the night before and the night after the surgery. I have to stay near the Dr both nights because of the time of the appointments and the distance from our home. This amount will also help cover the fees gofundme deducts and the meds I'll need post op and the extra testing they had to do as part of my consultation to make sure this procedure will be successful.

Your support will have a huge impact on my life, and the life of my family because not taking loans for all of this will help myself and Mita take care of the rest of our health needs. Both Mita and I are in the process of getting some major dental care and Mita has been evaluated and is in need of hearing aids as well.

I know this is a lot to ask, but I'd very much appreciate any help you can give.