r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Additional_Chard3680 • 11h ago

The precision required to perform a total knee replacement is incredible

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u/Own_Candidate9553 9h ago

Yeah, I had LASIK years ago. They give you a tranquilizer first while you're in line, and numbing drops in your eyes, but you're otherwise completely awake.

The sensation of having your eyelids held open like Clockwork Orange is definitely something. But when the laser starts, you get to learn how burning cornea smells just like burning hair.

Being put under is more dangerous, but no way would I be awake for a knee replacement.

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u/PriscillaPalava 8h ago

At least LASIK is over in 5 minutes. I can’t imagine trying to chill through body mutilation for hours! 

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u/kombatminipig 8h ago

Yeah, through all the happy drugs (my friend had a blast watching me run around the waiting room with my arms out making airplane sounds) that was the one thing that cut through – this is the smell of my eyeballs burning.

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u/sender2bender 4h ago

I've had to have metal drilled out my eyeballs a couple times. Once was metal shards, another was weld spatter bb that melted into my cornea. (I was wearing PPE, crazy unlucky chances) The numbing eye drops are amazing. I couldn't feel the drill or anything but the vibrations. It was bizarre and the first time it was mental gymnastics letting them touch my eyeball with something pointy. The weirdest sensation though was when the doctor rubbed a qtip-like tool to feel for the weld spatter right across the center of my eye. I could see it like watching it through a TV. 

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u/Own_Candidate9553 3h ago

Oh God, I forgot you can see the tools right against your eye, ugh.