Lasik!

Yes, I was Lasiked on 4th Sep 2008, and of course I must blog about it!

I'm the lazy, ai swee mai mia person. I'd rather be dead than caught with my glasses on, so I'd wear my lenses for long hours (and very proud to say they're the extended wear type). I'd forget to take off my lenses sometimes before sleeping. God has been merciful that I never had eye infection so far. But I shouldn't always depend on that.

The desire to have my eyes lasiked started one or two years ago. The reason for the delay?
1. SNEC was closed last Apr/ May due to some infection cases
2. Changed jobs last Sep, which means not so nice to take leave.
3. Tricky family situation since May.
4. July my colleague was on leave, in August there were just too many activities (team building and futsal!) to give a miss.
But I didn't want another quarter closing with super dry eyes by midnight... So it was decided. I want to do it in early September.

Well, if I'd tell you God sent me the clinic, would you believe it?
I didn't really research much to know which doctor is good, or have many good doctor recommendations. I just prayed what I wanted, and it got answered. :)

So here are my criteria:
1. The operation has to fit my schedule.
1st week of Sep. No compromise. So SNEC and TTSH out. Despite great cost savings!
2. No horror stories.
Obvious, right? And I am not convinced at all by friends who told me it was ok with horror story plagued clinic. Even though they have done it themselves.
3. As few ugly specs day as possible.
Refer to ai swee mai mia.
4. A suitable operation for me and quick recovery time.
Quarter closing month... want to reduce downtime to as little as possible.
5. Near home.
To save transportation (aka taxi) costs.
6. Reputable doctor

I thought I'd settled on Shinagawa, because they're too new to have any bad publicity and was offering good rates. And follow ups even in Japan in case I do ever move back there again (what was I thinking?). BUT a friend who did hers there told me they only offered one kind of Lasik (Intralase). Which means if at the pre assessment I am deemed unsuitable for Intralase, I got to go find another clinic. Gasp!!! I couldn't imagine having to wear glasses for more days!
Well, anyway, strange as it may sound, somehow I couldn't find the number when I made up my mind to call them.

Then I spotted a flyer which which was sent to our postbox.
It's about Eagle Eye Centre @ Mt Alvernia, which is a hill and a road away. Actually, I've never heard of this place. Well, not that I've really done much research with the lasik clinics.
What caught my eye was they had Isaiah 40:31 printed on the card. Since Christian cannot be that bad right? And I'll always have God as a backing if any thing happens. :P
So did a little surfing, seems like Dr Julian Theng is well trusted and famous. (In actual fact he IS, which I found out later.) So I called, and only to have added bonus to know that they can do assessment and lasik on the SAME day.

So, I fixed the dates for operation. Just that I always have this problem when people ask me how much, I'd tell them I don't know. It could range from $200 (if I am deemed unsuitable for Lasik) or $3200. And I know God was really blessing me, because as I told my friends where I was going, the response was the doctor is good, you're in safe hands, you've chosen the right clinic... and no horror stories. :) So people do know this clinic and the doctor!

So I endured 5 days of glasses on my nose, and I went for an eye check up in the morning of Operation Day.
I could never tell if the green appeared clearer or the red. Or whether or not I could read the last line. As it turns out, even though my contact lens were 650 (L) and 575 (R), I was only a 400plus person! The opticians I've been going to actually increased my degree to compensate for my astigmatism! So people, please go to a proper optometrist to check your eyes!
But poor me was so worried I had to call Shandy, the optician @ Eagle after my assessment to have confirmation and assurance that I am indeed a 400plus. And she was kind enough to do another check for me before my operation to confirm my degree and let me go with a peaceful mind.

I chose the Bladeless Wavefront Optimised Lasik. I could have done with Epilasik, which does not involve a flap and thus less risky. BUT the recovery process is slow, 2 weeks! No way!
So it was $3200... well spent. Dr Julian is very reassuring. He will tell you what is going to happen throughout the whole procedure, good for curious people like me.

And now, after the operation, I can see without aids. :) And not much discomfort.

What fascinated me in EEC:
1. The sensor operated rubbish bin.
2. Optical illusion book they have on the tables.
3. The clock with the Eagle logo.
4. Ok, something related to Lasik. The curtain to the operation room can be raised and you can watch a live operation in process, if the timing is right!

And finally, giving thanks to God, who knowing I was too lazy to read up that much on lasik, sent me a good doctor and good clinic with good timing, so that I could procrastinate no longer in giving my eyes and myself some good quality life!