LASEK

Andrew MacDonald

I had the M-LASEK surgery done two and a half weeks ago. I've worn glasses or contacts since I was 8, and getting the surgery has been a dream for over a decade. Back in Canada it would have cost me close to $5000, here I received a 10% discount for being a foreigner, and a second 10% off for mentioning HiExpat.com, and cost about 1,900,000 won - a little less than $1600. The offices are state of the art, and the staff are very friendly and helpful with a fairly good grasp of english. I knew I was in good hands when I went in for my initial consultation and Ji Ah (sorry about the spelling!) quickly determined that my glasses prescript　ion I'd been wearing for six months was ever so slightly off in strength. When I went in the night of the surgery (I was able to schedule it the Friday night before my weeks vacation) I was more than ready to ditch my lenses. As they made the final checks I was kept informed of each step of the process, and told by at least three different people to "Look at the green light, do not look away, I am sincere." Believe me when I tell you Jay Gatsby never stared at a green light more intensely than I that night! Eventually I was led into the operating theatre, draped in a robe comically small on my frame, and led to the operating table. I was somewhat surprised not to be strapped down, but they ensured I was comfortable and again reminded of the paramount importance of not looking away from the little green light. Laying back on the table they ensured my head was comfortble enough to not move in the next fifteen minutes, and the doctor kept me informed throughout what was going to happen next. Naturally I was nervous and scared - its freaky having someone above your head, outside your range of vision and intermittently reaching in to administer anaesthetic drops or rewet my pupils - but there was an attendent at my side who held my hand. The 30 seconds of laser application per eye were painless, just scary as I fixated on the green light, although when the doctor flushed my eye with water to decrease the heat it was so uncomfortable I admit I thrashed my feet. Following each application of the laser a white film was placed over each eye for 30 seconds, I was very grateful for the doctors assurance that this would ease the healing - and didn't mean I was blind! I could see after the operation, although the lights were very bright and I certainly didn't have 20/20 right away. I was led to a darkened room to recuperate for 15 minutes, and then allowed to leave. A life changing surgery that lasted perhaps an hour, start to finish! I was given eye drops, painkillers and instructed to return the next morning. It wasn't really painfull, just uncomfortable - until about 3 that night, when I awoke in severe pain, wishing I could claw my eyes from my head. Thankfully I'd been given eye shields to wear for the first week when I slept, and I was able to restrain myself. The next morning the doctor told me I was recovering nicely and told me to return five days later to remove protective contact lenses that had been fitted. I ran through the pain killers that weekend (ask for extra) but by Monday felt almost normal and certainly when the contacts were removed Tuesday I felt little irritation. I've been back for my 2 week check up and was told that it normally takes up to a month to heal but that I seem to be experiencing a fast recovery. When I tested my vision I have better than 20/20! Here's hoping the next two weeks will see even greater improvement. When I come home at night one of my first thoughts is still that I need to take off my contacts, and I get a rush of gratitude when I realize thats not necessary. I teach young children and often use wacky facial expressions to keep them interested - I hadn't realized how I unconsciously restricted opening my eyes to keep my contacts in place until that was no longer necessary. When I awaken in the morning and can see clearly . . . it was so worth it. I would definitely recommend Dream Eye surgery.