I can see clearly now – my Lasik surgery experience

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News Service, July 16) – For approximately twenty years, I have been wearing a pair of eyeglasses. I was plagued with poor eyesight ever since I was young. My parents would always scold me because when I am watching the TV, my face would be only inches from the screen. They said that I will ruin my eyesight, but actually, the reverse is true. I sit extremely close to the TV screen because my eyesight was very poor to begin with.

I grew up believing that the world looks like a fast-moving blur of indistinguishable colors. Imagine my surprise when I first wore eyeglasses – so, this is what the world looks right when you have good eyesight.

 

I wore glasses since elementary. It is not really a hassle, especially if you are already used to it. But wearing glasses can be very limiting. You cannot participate in rough physical activities for fear that they may be broken. Also, there are instances when you cannot wear glasses like simply taking a bath or swimming. I learned to always keep a spare because despite all my efforts at taking care of them, I always manage to destroy my eyeglasses at least every two years.

 

And my eyesight even took a turn for the worse. As I replace each pair, the grade of my vision goes up. When I started wearing glasses, it was at 200. By the time I decided to have Lasik surgery, it is at 975.

As a treatment for poor eyesight, Lasik surgery has steadily gained popularity. It is actually an elective medical procedure, which means that you chose to undergo said treatment to cure your defective eyeballs. And after twenty years of wearing eyeglasses, I decided to try this procedure.

Before you undergo Lasik surgery, you first have to go through a lot of pre-screening to determine if you are a good candidate. The doctor will also inform you that Lasik is primarily for the correction of vision and he will also tell you about other alternative methods of correcting vision like wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Then you’re all set. The helpful nurse will drop anesthesia into your eyes and wait for it to take effect. Then, they lead you to a comfortable bed, with a huge microscope-like device placed over your head. This is the Lasik machine.

Now what follows may be a bit disconcerting. It was uncomfortable for me, although it did not hurt, on account of the anesthesia. Then, they will place industry-strength tapes on your eyelids so that your eyes will remain open. Then, they shine incredibly bright lights on your eyes.

The doctor had a hard time coping with my small, chinky eyes, he has to use more tape. What comes next is the irrigation of the eyes. And yes, it is exactly what it said. The doctor will wash your eyes with running water. At this point, I would like to add that I am aware of what is happening and since they are doing things to my eyes, I can see the blade coming to make a small incision in my corneas. Then you will what looks like a piece of transparent plastic being peeled from your eyes. This is actually a part of your cornea. Then the Lasik will be placed over your eyes, then a green light will fill your vision. This is the actual Lasik process and it only lasts for a few seconds.

Then, all of it will be repeated in the other eye. The whole process – preparation and actual Lasik lasts only under thirty minutes. The result is very immediate. Although, everything looks like its under water, I can actually see very clearly as if I’m wearing eyeglasses even if I’m not. This underwater feeling lasts until the next morning.

Full recovery will take a month and I have to wear protective goggles but my eyesight is already good and after twenty years of wearing eyeglasses, now I must adjust to not wearing them anymore. A welcome development in my opinion.

(ENS, written by Jay Paul Carlos, with additional research of Lovely Ann Cruz)