I jumped on the plane this week to Vancouver and forgot two things, my BOSE headset and my glasses. I can’t prevent forgetting my headset, but on April 21^st, I hope to send the glasses on their merry way for the first time in 26 years.

I still remember when I first got glasses. The chalkboard got a little harder and harder to read in class, until I had to see the optometrist and the verdict was in: I needed glasses. I was 16. Since that time, my prescription has remained virtually the same at -2.25. About 8 years ago I went into Lasik MD and went through a consultation on having corrective eye surgery. The company was rather new, and what I didn’t realize at the time was that the founder was the doctor who did the consultation.

After much thought, I walked. I just was not comfortable. It also didn’t help that a colleague had just had it done and suffered through detached retinas (unrelated, but still spooked me). I stuck with glasses and disposable contacts. And every year I would think, this year?

Last week I bit the bullet and went in for a consultation. I asked a lot of questions; about monovision (I decided on full correction) and the difference between the stock program and custom Lasik. In the end, I have decided to go for custom and on April 21^st, I go under the laser, joining the 14M+ North Americans who have had the procedure.

The last time I woke up in the morning and did not have to fumble with glasses, suffered through an irritated contact lens on the golf course or had to worry about whether the contact was inside right was 26 years ago.

I can’t wait.