Entries Tagged 'Lasik' ↓

I had epi-lasik done on my eyes in November 2006. I have a whole category dedicated to my Lasik experience and with it coming up to nearly one year since I went under the laser, I thought it would be a good time to introduce some tips and tricks for surviving epi-lasik for anyone thinking of doing it.

Epi-lasik is a slightly more complicated procedure than conventional Lasik and there can be instances of patients experiencing haze or an improperly healed cornea. Here are my 4 tips:
1. After the procedure, wear sunglasses at all times when out or when exposed to the sun, to minimize the formation of haze. Believe me, your eyes get very sensitive to light anyway.

2. Immediately after the procedure and for the next 4 days, listen to the doctors and drop eye drops and antibiotics in your eyes every 2 hours. I set my alarm clock to ring every 2 hours so I’d remember to drop my eye drops. I also took leave from work and stayed home with the lights low and curtains drawn to minimize strain on the eyes.

3. Do not rub your eyes under any circumstances! As epi-lasik involves the epithelium of your cornea being removed and then put back, rubbing your eyes may cause it to shift and fold and not heal properly. You do not want that to happen.

4. Be patient. Epi-lasik heals more slowly than conventional lasik but I found that I was doing great about a week later. You can’t be impatient because every eye heals at a different rate but communicate with your doctors if you feel its taking longer than it should.

Another thing I did was to take eye vitamins or supplements that are supposed to help eye health like bilberry and kei chi (wolfberries, goji berries). I’m not sure if they help but even the eye doctors recommended them so maybe there’s something to it?

This is an entry in the Daily Blog Tips Blogging Project: Tips and Tricks.

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.

I went for my 4th month eye check up today, which is 4 months after my Epi-lasik procedure.

I’d been having relatively clear sight for the past month or so, but in the last 2 weeks, I’d been having bad nights which does affect the condition of your eye. So, I wasn’t too surprised when I was told that my present eyesight was:-

Right eye: short-sightedness 75

Left eye: Astigmatism 50

Otherwise, my eyes were doing ok. The consultant kept warning me that epilasik takes longer to heal and I had to expect a 6 month recovery period.

To be perfectly honest, coming from someone with near 900 shortsight in both eyes, having some residual short-sightedness is nothing! I can function on a day to day basis, which is good enough for me.

I still have some dry eyes, so lubricating eye drops are still the order of the day. Otherwise, I’m doing ok and am due back for another check up next month. Woohoo!

From Part 1

Post procedure

Once both eyes were done, I realised all of a sudden that I could see without glasses! I could see the face of the nurses, I could read the lettering on boxes, I could see obstacles in my way…. I could SEE!

Coming from someone who has been unable to function without glasses since I was 8 years old, its pretty much a miracle, I tell you!

You are given a care package containing eye drops, antibiotics and painkillers (should the need arise) and then you are off home. Its advisable also that you bring along a pair of sunglsses because your eyes will be very sensitive to light due to your pupils being dilated.

I had been told to expect a certain level of “pain” and discomfort which is higher than that of conventional Lasik, and it was supposed to last a day at least. Fearing this “pain”, I took the painkillers and pain drops faithfully as directed and did not suffer anything the first day.

Day 1

You have to go back to the clinic for a follow up check up the following day to make sure everything is fine. So I did, and was told all was well and to come back in 4 days when they would check if the contact lens could come out.

When I got home, I found that my left eye was starting to smart. If you have ever had to peel and cut onions in large quantities, you will know how it feels. It basically feels the same way. My left eye was smarting and tearing and it was beyond my control. Thankfully however, by the end of the day, it stopped and I felt better. I’m told it lasts longer due to the epilasik procedure. If you do normal lasik, it only lasts a few hours then you’ll be fine.

Day 2 - 3

I woke up in the morning and could see! Well, I could see more clearly than I would normally without glasses on. I stayed home with my curtains closed and lights off and rested my eyes the whole day. There was no more discomfort and I did not have any dry eyes. However, I faithfully dopped my antibiotic and lubricating drops anyway as per doctor’s orders.

Day 4

I went back to the clinic. I could see with near perfect eyesight in the morning! When I got to the clinic and after the routine eye check up, I was told the contact lens could be taken out - yay! It had been irritating me for the past 2 days. I did not have any further complaints, but my eyesight was not up to par again. Everything looks slightly blurry but I’m told its normal and will only get better as days go by. It is supposed to take 4-6 months to fully stabilise.

1 week later

Things have been going well. I don’t have 20/20 eyesight yet, but I can see enough to drive and function on a day-to-day basis. Its great not having to wear glasses anymore, except sunglasses, and I’m in the market for some nice sunnies! I don’t really have problem with night vision (its not too clear so I don’t drive at night) but while I was out at night I did not notice any particular problems with unbearable halos of light at traffic lights or street lighting as I had been warned about. In fact, it felt pretty normal to me.

Oh, there are some precautions though:-

• No swimming, sauna, facials for a month
• No eye makeup for a week to a month (ARGH!)
• No contact sports for a month
• No rubbing eyes for a month
• You have to sleep with an eye shield for at least a week
• No splashing water into the eyes for a month

And due to that last precaution, I have been having the hardest time washing my hair and face every single day!

This in a nutshell, is my experience with Epi-Lasik to date. I will update as I go along. Even as I type this, I’m not seeing the words too clearly on the screen and I’m resting my eyes often to reduce strain.

Every day is a brand new day, and every morning when I open my eyes, I will look forward to an improvement in my sight. Not having to wear glasses is, at the moment, very liberating!

technorati tags: Lasik, epi-lasik, eyes, health

Aw below asked me where I did my lasik procedure and how high my eye power was when I did it. Well, this inspired me to re-post my Lasik experience which I had previously chronicled in my old blog.  I did mine at Optimax in TTDI. I’m not saying they are the best in the field, but they made me feel comfortable enough to go through the procedure. This is not sponsored by them in any way though if they want to sponsor me some preservative free eye drops I’m not going to complain!

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I had Epi-Lasik done on both my eyes recently (Nov 2006), and while I don’t know yet if its the best thing I’ve done for myself so far, its been pretty good so far.

Prior to doing it, I’d been talking to a few friends and they candidly told me about the plus and minus points of the procedure. In most of their cases (which was conventional Lasik as I only found out later) they only experienced a few hours of discomfort and sensitive eyes, and their vision stablisied in a relatively short time i.e. about a week. The downside I was most told about was of having dry eyes, so they had to use more lubricant eye drops more often.

Armed with this knowledge, I went for my eye test, fully prepared to go through with Lasik on the same day if I could. However, as I posted before, I was unable to do the conventional Lasik procedure due to various factors which was explained to me by the doctor, and optometrist as follows:-

• My eyesight power was too high (900+)
• My cornea was too steep
• My cornea was too thin

So, I was told about Epi-Lasik instead. The procedure is different from conventional Lasik as I have also posted before. I was told that while I might have less experience with dry eyes (since the cornea is not cut) I might experience “haze”. This “haze” affects some patients and it was not something that could be predicted. Part of it depended on how your eyes heal in the initial days and a whole week or 2 weeks rest for the eye was recommended just after the procedure.

I decided to take the plunge and this is my experience of Epi-Lasik and also how I felt over the 1 week.

Pre-Procedure

I was put into a hospital gown and told to wait in the waiting room. It is a bit chilly, so do wear pants (you’ll be lying down so pants will be most comfortable anyway), a light sweater/cardigan, and socks. You are also told to bundle up your hair into a paper cap and paper booties are placed over your feet. While waiting the nurse will ensure that your pupils are fully dilated.

Then, when it comes to your turn, the doctor will explain the procedure to you again just to make sure you understand what is going on. This is a good time to ask any questions in case you have further doubts.

Then numbing eye drops will be put into your eyes in preparation for the laser procedure to follow.

During the Procedure

You will be asked to lie on a flat bed machine thing while the nurses and doctor prepare the machine. The key is to relax. Its not easy but deep breathing as well as not dwelling on what was happening around me, helped me. Also a recommendation from another friend is to keep singing “Mary had a little lamb” over and over in your head - well, it helped her!

Then you will be asked to look and focus on a red blinking light. A sterile sheet will cover the rest of your face except the eye being worked on, and an instrument will be used to clamp your eye open. (I wonder if I lost any lashes to that instrument!) Then more numbing drops will be dropped into your eye so its totally numb. At this point I was feeling rather terrified due to my eye being clamped open but actually its pretty much the point of no return.

A machine is placed over your eye and you will feel something going over your eyeball. Its not painful nor is there any real pressure. This is where they remove your epithelium. The scary thing is that there will be about half a second when things sort of black-out before you see the red blinking light again. I had been prepped for this by a friend and by the doctor so I didn’t freak out too much. But it is definitely scary!

When the light returns, you’ll feel the doctor lightly pulling away the epithelium and then the lasering starts. Mine took a while due to my high power and you can hear the machine counting down as it goes along. It was probably the longest 1 minute 20 seconds in my life! I could hear sparking sounds (like electrical sparks) and smell something burning. Rather disconcerting when you realise its all happening to your eyeball!

When the lasering is done the epithelium is put back, more lubricating drops are dripped into your eye, a contact lens is placed over your eye, and its done! The amazing thing was that I could see! It was the first time I noticed that there were ARROWS pointing to the red blinking light! All I could see before was a fuzzy blinking red dot.

And then its onto the next eye. See Part 2 for more.

technorati tags: Lasik, epi-lasik, eyes, health