Ok, buksi is back! Had the Lasik surgery at Rutnin last week, here is a quick rundown (note: not for the squeamish):
Background
Worn glasses for about 22 years, contact lenses for a few years when I was younger, prescription is -4/-3.75 myopia.
Pre Op
You need to have a pre-operation assessment for the doctors to run a range of tests on your eyes to determine compatibility with the procedure. This takes about 3-4 hours and consists of testing vision, cornea thickness, light sensitivity, retina condition which needs pupil dilation, and a few other things. Vision is blurred for a few hours after this so you can't drive. Cost is 1,500 baht.
95% of the other people going for the same surgery were young, trendy Bangkok Thais.
The doctor also noted that my glasses were slightly out and one lens was too strong (got them in Top Charoen in Hua Hin - the angels in white strike again - great looking but no opticians).
The doctor will then give you the results on the same day and explain the procedures, there is Lasik and PRK - Lasik involved cutting and lifting the cornea and a short burst of laser to reshape retinal tissue and correct vision, it is the preferred procedure. He said I may need reading glasses when I get into my forties but my distance vision will be good.
Costs on their price list range from 50k to 80k depending on surgery type, eye health, current prescription, other complications etc. I was told my eyes were in good condition (aside from the vision), was quoted 54k for the procedure (both eyes), and asked when I wanted it done.
ASAP I answered - before I change my mind!
The Op
ASAP was not wrong, 07.30 the next morning I'm back at Rutnin where I sign my life away and get given a medication pack with eye shields, antibiotics and eye drops. The actual surgery is done in an adjacent building, a short wait when the nurse explains the procedure to you and then you go into the prep room. Your eyes are given several rounds of drops which are anesthetic, antibiotics and artificial tears to keep them moist.
Into the operating theatre and onto the bed, your eyes are fixed open to prevent blinking and you're told to keep vision fixed on the red light at all times. Now comes the scary bit ... the doctor will make a number of incisions on your cornea and a device comes over to remove the flap, everything goes black and all you can see are thousands of multi-coloured dots, like stars, for a few seconds.
Heart rate is through the roof and you wonder what the hell have you done.
Vision then returns, albeit blurry, then the laser fires up for about 12-15 seconds, you cant feel a thing but can smell a slight burning which is rather disturbing. The cornea is then re-attached and the left eye is done. The worst bit is knowing what they're doing, there is no pain but it is very unsettling. Whole procedure is about 20 minutes.
The doctor will then check your eyes, apply moisturising eye patches and you're sent on your way. They tell you to sleep for six hours so I pop a Xanax, fire up my audio book and nod off. I groggily surface at about 4pm and fumble for my glasses ...
Being able to see without them is amazing, there are so many things that you miss without full peripheral vision - the world is clear once again! Switching between close and distance is also instant whereas there was a delay in focusing before, probably due to the incorrect glasses lens.
Post Op
You have to go back the next day for a post op eye exam, this took 15 minutes and the doc said all was healing fine, I have 20/20 vision. You need to apply the eye drops often and wear sunglasses for about a month as they are still quite sensitive.
Another appointment to check healing progress is required a week later (which is tomorrow). Basically told to avoid water, sunlight, smoke, dust and touching your eyes, they also advised not to overdo the computer work, reading, bright light or TV too much initially.
Welcome to a new world.
