Yes! I finally underwent the surgery and im glad that i actually went through it. For those who are considering about it or something, let me share with you my whole experience at the Lasik Surgery Clinic.
I did a lot of research and spent lots of time reading people’s reviews before making up my mind to do it there (at Paragon).
For contact lens wearers, have to lay off soft lens for at least 3 days and hard lens for (actually i also forgot but can check it up at the website) before you go for the tests or surgery. (This one depends on the clinic you go to. Different websites i checked had different requirements. I laid mine off for 5 days.) On the day of evaluation and surgery, no perfume, lotion, sprays or anything chemical is allowed (machines are sensitive to smells).
Day 1 (16-9-08)
My appointment is at 10am and once i registered myself, a string of tests began:
1) Power Test
2) Eye Pressure Test
They squirt air into your eyes.
3) Corneal Thickness Test
You have to stare at a red dot for few seconds and to neither blink nor move.
For tests 1 to 3 ah, i have to do almost all of them repeatedly. Machines cannot capture the results. All because of my super small eyes. Used every ounce of my facial strength to open them as wide as possible.
4) Manual Eye Power Test
Like what you did at the optician’s.
5) Dilation Eye Drops Instilled
After dripping the drops (it stings), you will feel like the inside of your eyes swell. This one is for them to check on any undetected problems of your eyes. Near vision will be affected. LOL. I got much difficulties trying to type messages.
6) Video About Lasik Treatments
- Sit through a 10 minute video.
7) Repeated Eye Power Test
8) Repeated Manual Eye Power Test
- My eye conditions: 850 (Left), 900 (Right), 175 Astigmatism (Right)
After which, its:
9) Counselling Session
Along with 5 other people, we came to this room where the lady explained to us in detail 6 aspects: the lasik process, do’s and dont’s, risks and the rest i forget liao. But the session actually answered everything that i had written down waiting to ask the doctor during the consultation.
10) Payment for evaluation
Because i had my surgery scheduled at 5pm, i paid my fees together at the end. At this stage, i was given a piece of paper that contained everything the lady had explained to us (counselling session) and sign as well as checking on my health, asking me if theres anything i want to highlight to the doctor.
11) Consultation by Senior Eye Surgeon
So i went on to meet my surgeon, Dr Jon Goh. He did some more tests on my eyes and decided on the treatment for my them. He said i have healthy eyes but my corneals are thin (i think its the right eye thin only, left eye ok, my right eye is the weaker one). At first i thought i was doing the Wavefront method but he said i was to do the Custom Intralase Lasik (bladeless). Wavefront not an option because of the thiness of my corneals and my astigmatism isnt that high to require for it.
12) Payment
After everything, we went to pay up. For my treatment, it costs $2388, after adding on medication, evaluation fees, 10 boxes of eyedrops (theirs alot more cheaper compared to outside) GST etc it comes to $2700+. If you use certain credit cards can pay by instalments too.
All these takes about 3 to 4 hours so by the time i finished it was already about 2 plus and i went to have lunch with my mum.
I never expected so many people at the clinic leh. Really alot of people. So i just sit there wait for them to call my name, do the various tests while reading my magazine (mum joined me just in time for the consultation). You dont do the tests all at once. Its like you go from station to station and theres waiting time in between. LOL.
I started to get really relieved (because im suitable for it) and super nervous (about the surgery) from lunch onwards. I was advised to have a light meal so mum and i went to Delifrance while Dad went off back to work. I wanted to have Spageddies for lunch leh but i think too filling. After that, i didnt want to tire myself too much so i went to grab a copy of CLEO and went back upstairs to wait for 5pm while mum went around to shop (no point asking mum to wait along with me).
The waiting part is really the worse part leh. I got all jittery and panicky. But not bad la 5pm came faster than i expected. So i was led to the waiting area outside the operating theatres. While waiting for our private cubicles, a nurse(?) came over to explain our medications and post-surgery care to us. So i was led to a cubicle soon after and the nurse came to help me put on my sterile attire.
Like this:
Haha. Nothing to do except wait for my turn so camwhore la. Also, iodine and antiseptic wipes were applied to my forehead, eye areas and nosebridge. The fear that im feeling inside here is worse than when im outside. Really damn nervous. Difficult to describe unless you experience it yourself. Im really afraid about the outcome. I forgot the exact time that i was called for my turn but it should be around 6.30pm. Earlier on, during the counselling session, we were told that the whole process takes about 15 minutes for both eyes. But actually the whole thing just felt as if it was over in 5 minutes.
So i went into the room and the doctor asked me what is my NRIC number. After that, i climbed and lie on the bed. To prevent your head from accidently moving, they have this cushion rest around your neck and head to stablise the position. Theres 2 machines in the operating theatre and im lying between the both of them. So they started off by giving me anaesthesia eye drops and paste scotchtape on my eyelids to prevent me from blinking.
Then (i forgot when exactly) the doctor inserted the eye suction thing onto my eyes to prevent my eyeballs from moving during the surgery and then they move the bed to place me directly under the left machine. This machine is to create the flaps off my eyes. After its done, the doctor flip my flaps open and move the bed over to the right machine. Then just stare at the red light for about 20 seconds for each eye and after that the doctor put the flaps back on. During the whole surgery they will constantly apply the anaesthesia eye drops. Also, when you are at the 2nd machine, theres will be this ‘tak tak tak tak tak’ sounds and chao tar smell coming from it. After the laser is done, the doctor use a brush like thing to smoothen my flaps back on.
Finally, after a final check by the doctor, im done! Doctor said that the surgery is successful and everything went well. So i went back to my cubicle and the nurse applied antibiotic drops and put on the eye shields for me, after which she accompanied me out to meet up with my mum and dad who were waiting for me.
Post-surgery.
After surgery, vision is still blur but its not as if im not wearing my specs like that. I can see but its like blurry blurry like that. On the 1st day of surgery, must apply antibiotics every hourly and that your eyes will feel very uncomfortable. As what had been mentioned on forums and so on, 1 hour post-surgery, i had difficulty trying to keep my eyes open – it felt like i was cutting onions and i started tearing nonstop. Tears just flow out of my eyes. Because of all these systoms, doctor advised us to go to sleep after surgery (sleeping pills were given to aid us sleep) because all these will go away after 4 to 6 hours.
And because i had to have my sleeping pill after food, i cannot go to sleep immediately. Plus the jam at the highways. So by the time i finished up, it was already 8 plus when i went to bed.
Day 2 (17-9-08)
Woke up at 7 for my review at 9am. Following the surgery, have to go back for reviews on the very next day, first week and 1 to 3 months later. Happened to meet Dr Goh in the lift and he asked me if my mum was relieved. He said she seemed more anxious than i was. LOL. Very nice and friendly doctor. I went through an eye power test before i was ushered to the wrong doctor’s room. But Dr Marc Tay (there are three doctors there) was also very friendly! He gave me a check on my eyes before telling me that he will ask the nurses(?) to direct me to Dr Goh’s room again.
And so, Dr Goh gave me a check on my eyes and everything is fine. So im going back to see him next Tuesday for my 2nd review.
Post-surgery care
These are the following things to take note:
1) Day 1 of surgery, drip antibiotics eyedrops every hourly. Day 2 onwards, 4 times daily till the 10th day.
2) Drip eyedrops every hour for the 1st month, more if needed.
Only pull the lower eyelids down and not the upper ones when applying eyedrops.
3) Put on eyeshields when sleeping (like the ones in the post-surgery photo)for at least 3 nights.
4) No squeezing and rubbing of eyes for how long i forget but as long as possible safer la.
5) No washing of face and hair for 2 days after surgery (but can go salon wash). Use antiseptic wipes to clean eye areas (gently) and wet towel to clean face (i use baby wipes). Water not allowed to get into eyes. On 3rd day can resume washing face and hair but have to keep eyes closed (for up till a week).
6) No eye make up or cream for first week.
They will give you a piece of paper containing instructions of the to-dos and not-to-dos.
Side-effects
Everybody have different side-effects and it all depends on the individual. For me, i have pretty dry eyes so i tend to apply eyedrops often or so depending on my eyes. Driving at night is possible but not comfortable because of all the glares and halos from the streetlights and headlights. I tried driving with sunglasses on but still pretty uncomfortable la. Haha. Other than that nothing much else for me. You also will feel like theres something in your eye for a few days (which is what im feeling in my left eye) but it will gradually disappear.
Oh ya, redness around pupils is common (because of the suction thing doctor place to prevent ur eyes from moving) and it will vanish in 4 to 6 weeks i think. I have it both in my eyes but they are slowing disappearing liao.
***
Up till now day 4, i can see clearly without the aid of anything but it gets blurry at times. Eyesight is expected to fluctuate for 3 months before they stabalises. That pretty sums up my whole lasik experience. Haha i tried to type out everything that i can remember but maybe i missed out somethings. Anyway, if you are planning to have lasik, i pretty much recommend Lasik Surgery Clinic! Its good! Very friendly and nice staffs there! You can go to their website www.lsc.sg to check it out or call them (24 hour hotline) if you have any enquiries.
Ok i think thats about it already.
Hahaha.
Im so happy with my new eyes!
:)
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