My experience with Lasik/Epi-Lasik

Ok, those who are feeling a sense of Deja-vu can stop wondering. I did port over my experiences with Epi-Lasik when I moved sites, only because I wanted some form of continuity with my future Epi-Lasik updates. If you’d like to read my experiences, hop on over to Part I and Part II. They were written just a few days after I’d done it so its pretty much how I felt then.

Anyway, I’m writing this chronicle because Pelf kindly asked if I would. Of course I said yes She’s a representative of the Eye Digest, which is a site that provides free articles and information on everything to do with the health of your eyes. Very noble cause this.

Anyway, coming back to me. The decision to undergo Lasik was not one that I really thought very hard over. To be honest, my sis underwent the procedure first, and any time anyone asked if I too might do it, my answer was always “No, I’m too scared of going blind”. That’s the honest truth.

So, the day I told my sis “Eh, can help me make an appointment with Optimax ah?” her jaw practically hit the floor. Till today, I can’t quite tell you why I decided to undergo the procedure. It was a period of change in my life at the time, and with things moving in a flux, I decided to take the plunge. It was one of those on-the-go decisions that you make. A leap of faith you might say.

Hearing the consultant tell me that my cornea was too thin for conventional Lasik was a dash of cold water to my system. I was then introduced to Epi-Lasik (you can read all the gory details in my previous posts) and told I could think about it. I did. I agonised over it but there was no one I could talk to because everyone I knew had had conventional Lasik done. Epi-Lasik is not a common procedure. Add to that the high power of my sight and my large pupils and you would think I’d scuttle for cover and refuse to do it.

Again, I cannot quite understand what made me do it. I found myself saying “Yes I’ll do the procedure” and undergoing the scary operation. I knew deep down that it would turn out alright, and to my relief, it did.

Its been nearly 7 months to the day since I had the procedure done. I still suffer these shortcomings:

• Dry eyes but not chronically so - regular eye drops keep them lubricated
• Pinprick lights - bright lights at night look like pinpricks of light like stars
• Halos - At dusk and in dim lighting there is a halo around the light source
• Driving at night takes a lot of getting used to, and I have to be extra careful especially when trying to read signboards or getting on an unfamiliar road
• Unstable sight - some days I feel like I can see forever and on others its all a little unclear

Ultimately however, I’d say it was a good thing I did the procedure. For the first time in 20 years, I’m able to wear trendy sunglasses (yes, vain me loves this!), not have indents on my nose where spectacles sit, not suffer pain behind my ears and headaches from wearing glasses, wake up in the morning and see clearly, read in bed without getting my glasses bent out of shape and wear eye makeup and mascara without hiding them behind my glasses.

Oh and there’s another side benefit to having Lasik done. When I had it done, I was warned not to rub my eyes during the healing period. This was so the epithelium was not crumpled or moved out of place, which would be detrimental. I religiously refrained from doing so. Till now, I don’t rub my eyes because of this fear that the surface of my cornea will warp. So what’s the side benefit? I don’t end up with wrinkles around my eyes!

I haven’t been fully discharged by the centre yet. I still go for monthly check ups so they can track my progress. My sight is not yet stable, according to them as I have found that it fluctuates from visit to visit. I might even have to undergo another correction to bring the sight up to an ideal level. I’ll wait and see how it goes. I’m quite happy with my current sight. I was practically blind before - I could not see clearly beyond a few centimeters so the fact I can see road signs and read fine print all without glasses on, is as close to a miracle as you can get.

Lasik is not something that everyone can undergo, for you must be prepared to accept that complications can occur. If you plan to undergo it, make sure you go to a proper centre with a proven track record. The Eye Digest has some good articles on this:

• Laser Vision Correction (LASIK) - Preoperative Considerations
• Lasik Review
• Lasik, Epi-Lasik, Lasek reviews

At one time I would never have messed with my eyes. Now, I’m happy I did. Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if you are mentally prepared for it and appreciate that there may be complications and side-effects. Otherwise, don’t do it just because everyone is. Its not a fashion trend, its your eyes and its the only pair you have.

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