Weird...blogger seems on and off recently,
their pages don't load completely.
Well...I promised myself and someone that when holidays arrive,
it's time for a new layout and start posting again,
so here I am~
Holidays just started this tuesday,
although I got a feeling that it started during examinations period.
Wednesday I went to Singapore National Eye Centre to get an assessment for my eye to do Lasik.
Just for those of you who don't know what Lasik is,
It's an operation on the eye with laser which allows the correction of the eye to correct the vision~
Well...when I walked into SingLasik,
I realised bookings have to be done online prior to coming.
But luckily, they service walk-in customers too~
I registered myself with a Senior Consultant for the operation,
Then I proceed with the eyes assessments.
Their service was of a high standard and you're being told what is going on every step of they way.
After a short session of Q&A about me (Medical history blah blah...),
They told me the assessments need around 4 hours to complete. (OMG SO LONG I DIDN'T KNOW!)
First, I was led into a room with 2...should I say doctor or assistant...
They're not wearing nurses uniform,
So I think they should be assistant,
Don't look old enough to be doctor.
Maybe is students on Internship.
Well, the first test was to look into the light at the center of all those hypnotic black and white circles.
"blink, don't blink, blink" I was told. Lolx.
Right eye was fine,
Left eye took some time to get an accurate measurement,
Not sure why.
After that,
I was led upstairs into the clinic for more tests.
It's weird to see that so many people have eye problems,
I didn't think so many people have problems with their eyes.
After waiting awhile,
I was called into a room with various eye devices.
Eye torture devices!
They have weird stuff in the room,
One of which is intent to shoot a burst of air at your eye!
After that I waited awhile before going into another room.
This time it's the room where you go when you make spectacles.
Wear the silly spectacles with loads of lenses to read the words on the wall.
Then there was also this word reading test with my spectacles on and off.
I told the nurse I can see nothing when I took my spectacles off. =/
Then finally I get to see the doctor I was assigned to for my operation.
She asked me if I knew about blade/bladeless Lasik,
I told her I know and she said I must have read up a lot about lasik.
Then she asked me which one I prefer,
I told her I haven't made up my mind yet,
So she said at the end of the day she'll ask me again.
She asked if I have any questions "Edwin, do you have any question you wanna ask me?" before I leave the room,
I told her no and left the room~
I was then administered a stinging eye drop 3 times every 15 mins interval.
At first I thought it was nothing besides the few seconds of stinging,
Then I realised that I can't see anything near when I wear my spectacles,
Everything is blurry at close range when I wore my spectacles!
And I start to develop a headache due to the eyedrop.
After that I was called into the word reading test room again.
They expect me to see the words on the wall after the eye drop. lolx.
I went back to see my doctor after the test and she ask which one I prefer.
I asked for the bladeless one.
Anyway, Blade is cutting of the flap using a device called Microkeratome,
Bladeless is cutting the flap using laser.
Basically, both is not much different,
But the laser one have more precision for the additional price of $220 per eye.
I was also asked if I wanted to do one eye at a time or both eyes together.
I was surprised they allow the operation of 2 eye at the same day as it was not avaliable before,
So I asked for 2 eyes~
She asked if I have any question again and I said no. lolx.
Then I proceed down to 1st level to schedule a date for the operation.
But before that, Payment time!
The pre-consultant evaluation test, PRK/Lasik Assessment and SNR CONS costs a total of $176.55~
Payment by credit card,
Had a hard time signing the receipt as I can't see clearly due to the eye drop!
After that I went to book my operation.
My doctor will be on leave next week,
And the week after that she's fully booked.
So around 25th then she'll be avaliable.
I was sad as I need to wait so long.
But then the scheduler told me she's free on thursday!(Directly next day!)
So I just booked the thursday slot. lolx.
More forms to sign and more troubles seeing clearly.
Went home on a cab after that.
The eye drop made my vision blur, have headache and feeling nauseous.
Took a nap after reaching home.
The next day!
It was the day of the operation~
My mum took urgent leave as she can't bear to let me go alone.
Went to the hospital,
PAYMENT TIME! Lolx!
I paid $3000 using credit card and the remaining $361 using NETS.
Waited for 1 hr to get a test before going to the actual operation.
This time I had to stare at the red light in the middle,
And if I see any light blink around my eyes,
Must click on the clicker once.
It was really tricky as the blinking lights is faint and the noise from the machine will trick your mind to think that there is light blinking.
After that tricky test,
It was off to operation!
I was called into the operating theatre to prepare for the operation,
My mum had to wait outside.
In the room there is a row of locker for me to put my things inside.
After putting all my belonging in the locker,
I was asked to sit down and wait awhile.
The nurse then talk me through the procedures and help me put on protective hair cap, gown, and shoe covers.
Then she proceed to apply anesthetic eyedrops to my eye and clean the area of my eyes.
I was then asked to enter the first laser room.
In this room was the bladeless machine which cuts a flap of your eye open for the actual correction.
My doctor was already in the room and she greeted me.
She would tell me what she'll be doing next so as to not surprise me.
She covered my left eye,
Administered some eyedrops into my right eye,
And then she use a contraption which hook onto the eye lid and the lower lid to keep your eyes open.
Just when I thought that was scary,
More scary stuff is coming up next.
I always wondered why during eye check up,
They always shine bright lights into your eyes and expect you to keep your eyes open.
It hurts!
She then asked me to stare into the green light of the machine.
The machine then lowered down till it touched my eye,
Then a suction is activated to keep my eyeball in place.
The feeling of the suction is scary,
The whole operation was more scarier than Saw movies!
Then the laser proceed to cut a flap out of your eyeball.
While cutting,
The green light which I was staring at slowly fade away and everything became blur.
That was when I began to be scared that the operation might go wrong and I will become blind!
Being blind is scary,
Thinking that you'll be going blind is scarier! lolx!
After cutting the flap,
The machine released the suction and move away from my eyes.
Everything is still blur.
When I think the worst is over,
There is still the left eye!
My god, the whole procedure all over again!
Left eye was definately more horrible experience.
While cutting the flap,
The machine actually jerked by itself!
I was shocked and jerk along with the machine...lolx.
Then I was lead out of the room to rest awhile on the chair while they prepare the next room.
Seeing blur is scary.
Knowing there is an open flap in your eye makes me scared that I'll mess up just by blinking. =/
After awhile I was called into the other laser room.
This time I was scared till I tremble at the table.
I had to hold onto the table to stable myself.
Right eye first again~
The doctor drip something on my eye again,
Use the hook to keep my eyes open again,
Then proceed to use some clippers or something to lift the flap up.
I'm looking straight but my vision will move around by itself while the doctor tries to lift the flap.
Then I need to stare at the red light while the green laser works it's magic.
While the laser is correcting the eye,
There is this sick, disgusting burnt smell coming out from the eye!
It's scary thinking that my eyes are being burnt. Lolx.
After the laser,
She closed the flap and used some sort of glue or something to glue back the flap.
Again, Right eye is still the better luck eye.
The doctor have a hard time removing the flap of my left eye.
Maybe caused of the machine jerking just now.
Left eye gone through the procedure,
But when closing the flap,
It didn't go back into position perfectly.
My left eye is total blur and when I blink I can feel the flap,
Like contact lense blocking your eye lid feeling.
Then I went into an examination room where she checked my eye.
When she look at my left eye,
She ask me to look towards the device,
But I can't see!
So after awhile of figuring around,
she notice the problem and brought me back into the operation room to re-adjust the flap.
After the re-adjustments,
I can see fine.
After the operation, I was being informed about the medications and then I went home.
Everything was extra bright and there is halo all around places with lights.
I need to wear the shades provided as everything is too bright for me.
The first hour post op was okay,
I feel fine and everything.
Until the anestetic wore off,
Then I begin to feel the full force of the operation.
I was tearing and have running nose nonstop.
My eyes were so pain I can't even open them.
It was horrible for the 5 hours,
After that the pain subsided and I felt a bit better.
I went to sleep with the shades on to prevent myself from poking my eyes during sleep. lol.
Today I went back to have a check up.
Doctor says I have 6/6 vision~
Eyesight will still improve overtime.
Before I left the room,
She asked me if I have any question anot,
I said no.
Then she said "Edwin, you always have nothing to ask me about."
Lolx...I don't like to trouble ppl.
Oh ya...During operation she keep asking for my acknowledgement before proceeding.
I'm so used to nodding or shaking head while answering strangers,
So tempted to move my head during operation...lolx!
Overall, although it's not their fault and they provide excellent service,
This is considered the most horrible experience I ever had in my life!
Makes me realised that eyes are very important to me and I must cherish it well~
