Susna Falkenthal
1. What convinced you to go through the Lasik/Lasek surgery? And what made you to choose Dream Eye Clinic?
I do a lot of activities (dancing, yoga, working out, hiking) and I didn't like wearing glasses when I sweat because they slide down my nose. Also, I don’t like having to protect them from getting broken or scratched, or having to buy new glasses to keep up with fashion. I think I look more attractive without glasses and my friends have said this too. Contacts were not a solution for me though because of Dry Eye Syndrome. I could not wear contacts for more than 6 hours at a time and not more frequent than every other day. In fact, contacts were almost intolerable. On the subway, for example, the heat or air conditioning would make my eyes and contacts so dry that I couldn't keep my eyes open. Also, I could not wear contacts on windy days. I chose Dream Eye clinic because a friend had her Lasik surgery at Dream Eye Clinic in Gangnam in 2007 and because many Korean celebrities get laser eye surgery at Dream Eye Clinic.
2. Tell us about what has changed since you had your Lasik/Lasek surgery. What are the major changes comparing your life before and after the surgery?
The major change is that I can see 20/20 without having to wear glasses or contacts. Now I don't have to be bothered with glasses or contacts. I can see when I take a shower. I can sit on the couch and watch TV without having to wear glasses. I can work on the computer at my desk and then look up and see objects with clarity that are off in the distance without having to put on glasses. I can go dancing without wearing glasses. I can workout without having to deal with wearing glasses.
3. Were there any inconveniences during the recovery process? And tell us about how satisfied you are with your newly improved vision.
The recovery process has been different for both eyes because of the post-Lasik surgery complication in my left eye (corneal flap displacement). My right eye was a perfect case and is recovering exactly as expected. Ten weeks after the surgery, both eyes were finally measuring matched (20/20) vision and artificial tears were required daily, at about 4pm after 7 hours of computer work. Now, fourteen weeks after surgery I no longer need eye drops every day, rather a few times a week. With artificial tears, proper blinking, hourly eye rest and a humidifier at work the recovery process continues to proceed quickly and smoothly. Though without proper sleep or super dry conditions which cause my eyes to easily fatigue, I'm fully satisfied with my newly improved vision. Following after care instructions is easy and manageable. (Note: the tape provided to secure the plastic eye covers at night was too strong, and was therefore painful to remove in the mornings, and left a sticky residue on my face, but that was only slightly inconvenient.)
4. What were the most valuable and memorable experiences at Dream Eye Clinic?
As soon as Dr. Jung discovered that a corneal flap displacement had introduced wrinkles in my corneal flap he urgently removed the wrinkles and flattened my corneal flap in an unscheduled and impromptu surgery. He was focused and exceptionally thorough during the flattening procedure and clearly explained post-op care instructions and set reasonable expectations for recovery. He gave me his undivided attention and even called me personally to check my condition that night. I am confident that Dr. Jung would do his absolute best to fix any further complications urgently and competently. I'm very pleased with the exceptional level of care that Dr. Jung and Kim MunJu gave me during all my visits to the clinic (consultation, surgery, flattening procedure, and all my check-ups).
5. Finally, what else do you want to tell us (our medical staffs, doctors, and nurses)? (Anything is OK including some of your wishes that may inform us to improve ourselves.)
In my case, I experienced corneal flap displacement in my left eye less than 5 minutes after leaving the clinic the day of my LASIK surgery. I stepped out into a cold, windy, and sunny Myeong-dong and for protection I was squinting and squeezing my eyes and that's when the left flap popped off. The flattening surgery was very painful and caused me to miss 1.5 days of work. The ordeal was stressful and upsetting, and in my opinion, completely preventable with proper information and instruction. I would like to recommend that all LASIK patients be specifically told not to squint or squeeze their eyes after the surgery. I would also recommend that all LASIK patients have their eyes patched BEFORE leaving the clinic. As required, their escort can assist them home. If the patient's eyes are patched then the patient won't have a reason to squint or squeeze his/her eyes. It's too tempting to try to use the eyes because they feel completely normal after the surgery but there's really no need to be using them since the patient is being escorted home. Plus the eyes have to be patched and closed for 4 hours upon arriving home anyway so why not put the patches over the eyes at the clinic.
Despite the complication, I have recommended my friends to see Dr. Jung and Kim MunJu at Dream Eye Clinic
