Laser Eye Surgery đź‘€
It started when I "borrowed” a friend’s pair of stylish pink glasses in sixth grade, this kickstarted my journey with glasses. At first, the prospect of wearing glasses for my -0.5 prescription was exciting however with age and my progressively worsening prescription my dependence on glasses/contacts started to become a nuisance!
Per my optometrists' recommendation, I waited for my vision to stabilize over a 3 year period before considering getting corrective vision surgery. At the beginning of 2020, my nearsightedness vision was at -3.25/-3.50. I had to go in for a consultation to ensure I was a good candidate before moving forward with the actual procedure. Since we were in the midst of a pandemic I had all the tests done in person followed by a virtual consultation to go through my results and what to expect on the day of the surgery.
One of the test results from my right eye - this machine performs topography measurements of the front and back surfaces of the cornea
Types of laser eye surgery:
LASIK uses cool rays of light to reshape the inner tissue of the cornea to the proper curvature. The surgeon will use the laser to create a protective flap that is folded back. Next using a different laser they will reshape the inner tissue of the cornea and reposition the flap back into place. The typical recovery time is ~3 days.
PRK is similar to LASIK however the surgeon removes the surface layer of the cornea completely leaving the epithelium to regenerate on its own. This results in a longer heal time ~5-7 days but also means you won’t be at risk of having your flap dislodge in the future. Typically people get PRK if they have a thin cornea or are at higher risk of ocular trauma.
I chose to go with LASIK while Eugene had the PRK procedure. Spoiler alert, we both have 20/20 vision so do whatever procedure is right for your eyes.
What is similar though is both Eugene and I had our procedures done at Bochner Eye Institute (Prince Arthur location) with Dr. Raymond Stein, MD. Here are the top 3 reasons why I went with Bochner:
They’ve been in the business since 1929 (Dr. Stein’s grandfather established the institute and his daughter is currently an ophthalmology resident at UofT - talk about 4 generations in the family business!)
They are at the forefront of eye-care technology, ensuring their equipment and practices are up to par as they treat a vast range of eye conditions.
They have thousands of patient testimonials ranging from Prime Minsters to professional athletes (They’re the official laser and eye centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays - that’s a convincing sponsorship deal).
Those who know me, know I love a good deal but since I only have one pair of eyes - this didn’t seem like the occasion to cheap out for the sake of my vision. I paid the $5,400 flat rate in full (on my Amex of course).
Leading up to the surgery I was feeling hesitant about losing the “look” of wearing glasses. So I ordered a pair of non-prescription blue light lens from KITS (Your first pair is free using code FREEKITS)
I rock these on no-make-up days, at work or when my eyes are feeling a little strained from being on the computer.
July 17, 2020 - The day of the surgery
I was asked not to wear contacts for 5 days leading up to the surgery so I showed up rocking my glasses for the last time! I arrived 1 hour before my procedure so they could do another round of tests, go over the post-care routine and get the necessary numbing eye drops/mild oral sedative to take the edge off.
I was in the laser room for less than 5 minutes - in fact, the actual laser time was less than 1 minute per eye.
First, a suction ring is placed on the eye causing slight pressure then the 1st laser passes over the cornea, creating the flap. They then bring you to another room (I was a bit confused at this point as I thought I might be done)
In the second laser room, this is where the excimer laser is applied to correct your vision by reshaping the cornea. During this process, an instrument called an eyelid speculum is placed between your upper and lower eyelids to prevent from blinking (this caused some broken blood vessels below my eyelid but disappeared within 3-4 days)
During the procedure, you can’t see the laser - it’s just a bunch of green dots and lights. One of the nurses is explaining everything out loud so you understand what’s happening. While the laser is being used there is an odour, but I would describe it as a similar smell to getting a laser facial treatment.
Afterwards, I was brought into a rest area where I waited to be re-examined. I was given my antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, lubricating drops, a pair of solar shields and a Toronto Maple Leafs cap #Fashion.
A selfie I managed to take post-surgery in the rest area
I’d say my vision improved significantly immediately after the surgery - a modern-day miracle!
My designated driver picked me up and when I arrived home I immediately slept for 3 hours - it’s recommended that you close your eyes as much as possible for faster recovery. The next day I went for a follow-up check-up, my vision was at -0.5 (back to my grade six days) and would only improve as my eyes healed. For the next 3 days, I plowed through audiobooks and podcasts while resting my eyes under an ice pack.
My natural habitat post surgery
I had my surgery on a Friday and went back to work on Monday but because my work involves intensive computer time I opted to take a few hours off every day in between meetings to ensure I wasn’t putting too much strain on my eyes.
I drove for the first time to go to my 1 week check-up where I noticed very minor halos from oncoming traffic and streetlights (which is completely normal). For the first month, I was putting in lubricating drops every 1-2 hours and noticed my eyes were significantly more dry in the mornings (also normal). I would say I fully recovered from the surgery after 1 month at which point I was seeing 20/15!!
Would I recommend it? 100% - It’s quite liberating not to be dependant on glasses to see; sometimes waking up with perfect vision still takes me by surprise! I no longer have to remember to take out my contacts, pack my glasses for overnight trips or have contact solution take up significant liquid volume in my carry-on. I think the peace of mind is one of the greatest things about having 20/20 vision and I’m looking forward to living life in HD… until I need reading glasses!
