My thoughts, My feelings, Everything From my Heart: My IntraLase Wavefront LASIK Experience

29 September 2012

Went for my eye evaluation appointment. Reached the clinic at 9am and I register myself filling up some personal particulars and were given a list of procedure that is going to happen next.

Then I was brought in to a room to have my Visual Acuity Test, whereby they check my eye degree check and also on my spectacles like the picture shown below:

Image by Google Search

After this, I was brought to another room to have 4 different tests on my eyes as follow:

Computerized Visual Test

Subjective Refraction(Spectacle Power)

Pupil size measurement

Topography (Corneal Map)

Once all the 4 testes where done the nurse Dilated my publis with Eye Drops Instilled, follow by asking me to watch a Video about Lasik treatments for 10 minutes. Repeated the Computerize Visual Test and Cyclo Refraction (Spectacle power with dilated puplis)

Then they numb my eyes with eye drop and did the following

Pachymetry (Corneal Thickness Check)

Tonometry (Eye Pressure Check)

Once all this check was done, had my consultation with Dr Lee and he told me that my eye lashes were quite near my eye ball but its not a problem. Telling me that my astigmatism on computer is shows 290 but by default it’s not really that high so he won’t be lasing that amount but rather will follow what my brain would want it to be.

My surgery date on 5th October but i change to 12th October! wish me good luck!

12 October 2012
Today is my Lasik! Reach the clinic at 9am, was asked to read some consent form & signed on them here

Dr Lee recommend me the IntraLase® Wavefront LASIK cost $2888(before GST) for both eyes. Had my eye power checked and the nurse gave me some numbing eye drops into my eyes and also gave me Lorazepam(Sleeping Pills). Was also given a grown & a shower cap to wear to prepare for the surgery and the nurse also clean my eye area with iodine which i kinda feel sticky.

Dr Lee told me that when the nurse checked my eye power, i gave a very unusual answer meaning to say, both of my eyes astigmatism is around 200 degree but when tested i gave my degree between 200-300. Normal people will only ask between 200 and not more then 300 degree. So its difficult to tell which is my exact astigmatism degree. He told me that he'll go with my Right eye 250 & left eye 200(If im not wrong).

Found my Spectacle Prescription! Donkey years ago in 2007! Most of it still remind the same till now, except for my left CYL now is -2.25 which is my astigmatism.
Right Eye: SPH: -1.50 CYL: -2.00 AXIS: 180
Left Eye: SPH: -1.50 CYL: -1.75 AXIS: 180

Then i was usher to the operation room to have Intralase laser which is used to create the cornea flap. Once i was on the operation table n\the nurse gave me more numbing eye drops. This is the MOST scariest part! He have to put this Ring onto my eyeballs to do the suction so that my eyeballs wont move when the laser start and you can feel the pressure he put into it! Can feel a bit of pain but its was bearable.

Look something like this! BTW this is NOT my eye i googled it

This is how it look like when the cornea flap is open

Picture taken from Google

This is what happen to my left eye, a LOT of blood clots as he put too much pressure on it =(

Can see more blood clot here but i find that after Lasik my eyeball like become very SHINY!

my lower eyeball also got blood clot

Then i was asked to look at this circle lights so as to start the lasering. Throughout the laser Dr Lee kept asking me not to move my shoulder and to look straight.

Picture taken from Google

Once both my eyes where done creating the cornea flap, the nurse wash my eyes & i was yet again given numbing eye drops to prepare for my Lasik using the Wavelight Allegretto Laser in another room.

Dr Lee came and cover my face with the operation cloth and stick something like Scott tape in between my upper and lower eye lids and he use a clamp which look like this to open up my eyes.

Picture taken from Google

And keep asking me to look at the green light, while i can him opening my cornea flap which then became blur once the flap was opened.

Picture taken from Google

Dr Lee kept asking me more to move my head & eyes not even to swallow my saliva to prevent lasing wrongly. Once the laser started, i could smell burning smell coming from my eyeball & within seconds, it was done & he started clearing up my eye and covering up my cornea flap. i could SEE what's he's doing all the while! I remember he kept saying very LIMITED space for him to work with on my eyes because its too SMALL!

Once everything was done, the nurse clean off the iodine area my eye area and gave me more numbing eye drops and also taught me how to take care of my eyes while im at home. i need to drop each of this eye drop Cravit & Pred Forte both are for anti inflammatory and OptiClear for lubricant each waking hour, 5 minutes apart from each drops:

Cravit & Pred Forte

OptiClear

While waiting for Dr Lee to check on my eyes, i suddenly felt very teary looking at lights & also with a very bad headache. When asked, he told me that normal people who have high astigmatism tense to be very sensitive to lights and will have headaches. I asked for a stronger dose of sleeping pills but he did not provide =( Everything ended like 10.45am.

This is how i look like =( Cant even OPEN up my eyes and teary =(

my tweety mini tiny eyes

My Damage! Lucky can pay by instalment.

My medication kit.

They gave me a $50 Voucher valid till 26 October 2012, anyone want?..

I'm LUCKY that my son accompany me to the clinic as i couldn't even OPEN up my eyes how to go home myself?!? The nurse was kind enough to bring us to the taxi stand. I thank God that my son knows the way back because i cant even see outside to even direct the taxi driver =( To think that i'm able to go home myself. Once i was in the cab m\i was freaking in PAIN, couldn't open my eyes, was tearing so badly, my nose was also dripping! Felt like my eyes were being PIERCE! Took one of the sleeping pills but it doesn't seem to work! When i reach home, ii quickly went to sleep so that the pain will go away! Slept till evening and the pain was GONE!

But my eyes were still very sensitive to the light so i had to wear my sunglasses even inside my house. Tried looking out of my window & my oh my...... It's so CLEAR!! Before i couldn't even see my opposite block clearly but now i could! so HAPPY!! When to sleep again after putting more eye drops as my head is busting with headaches really bad & both my eyes had blood cloths due to the suction.

This is what happen to be everyday when i wear the eye Shield to sleep. Kinda pain but no choice.

13 October 2012
1st check up. Reach at 9am, Dr Lee said that my eye got inflammation gave me Maxidex eye ointment. Ask me to apply before i sleep today, next day morning & night. And to see him again on Monday to see how it goes. Since Friday after my Lasik i didn't even watch any tv =( my favourite past time.

Maxidex eye ointment

Yucky Ointment on my eyes!

15 October 2012
Went for my check up, Dr Lee said that my eyes are much better now to see him again on Friday.

my DARK dark sunglasses!

19 October 2012
Dr Lee said that my eyes are 6/6! Prefect eyesight! BUT my left eye got 50 astigmatism but overall still prefect! Asked him why i kept having headache, he just brush it off saying that if i keep having it to ask me to take painkiller! Not even answering my question at all =( sigh..... Brought 2 more eyes drops and mine are able to finish. I've been having this headache ever since i done my lasik, i HOPE that it will go away SOON! No doubt i LOVE my eyesight now, everyday at home i always have to look out of my window =)

How i sleep everyday, i wear the eye shield

Follow by my sleeping eye pad just incase the tape drop and my eye shield

13 November 2012

Last check up! Still perfect eyesight!! Ask me to fill up some feedback from and thats it! I HOPE that it will stay this way for as long as it can be! Got to admit that the nurses & Doc Lee are REALLY nice & caring. From my 1st appointment to my surgery to post check up! Thumbs Up!=)