20/25 Vision thanks to Lasik Surgery

I have worn eyeglasses and contact lenses as long as I can remember, more specifically ever since I was in the 1st grade. I recall, I was the tallest girl in the class and so the teacher has placed me in a sit at the back of the 1st row. That was the time I realized that I was having some trouble following the lessons because I can’t see anything the teacher was writing in the blackboard. That was when my mom scheduled my first ever trip to the optometrist. Although I was doing fine with glasses/contact lenses, all the optometrist that I have visited pointed out that due to my very high astigmatism, the grade of my eyeglasses and contact lenses was never enough to give me 20/20 vision and is just enough to make me see until the 4th line of the eye chart (or whatever that is called) so even though I have glasses and contact lenses, I still requested my teachers/professors to put me at the front row of the class. Ever since, me and my eyeglasses and contact lenses have battled through elementary, high school and college quite well.

Lasik (laser assisted-in-situ keratomileusis) surgery was something that I have been looking at for quite sometime now but I just feel queasy by the mere thought of someone poking my eyes and I was a bit terrified about the results (although I know that these fears were unfounded). What if I go blind or something, better to have blurred eyesight than none at all. However when we moved to the Netherlands, I have known a few people who have undergone the surgery and have assured me that the results are very satisfactory and the risks are minimal.

Finally, I have discussed with my honey and we have decided that it’s best that I undergo the procedure when we come back in Manila for our holidays. I have done some research online and found several well-reputed eye centers that offer the procedure, I have decided to inquire with Asian Eye Institute and American Eye Center through their websites. Both websites promise a response within 48 hours however only American Eye Center delivered an answer to my query. I tried to inquire again with the Asian Eye Institute but still no response. I also asked my mom to inquire with both the eye centers through phone and she commented that American Eye Institute is more accommodating. Finally, I decided to entrust my eyes with American Eye Center, I assume that if they are very accommodating with their clients online, how much more if they’ll be performing a procedure on you.

I had my initial tests on the 12th of May and the moment I have passed the screening, we immediately scheduled the surgery on the 19th of May. Even during the screening, the doctor already told me that due to my very high astigmatism, the best-corrected visual acuity that can be achieved through the operation was 20/25, which was more than fine with me. I was asked to arrive at the American Eye Center in Shangri La at 1:30 pm so that I could undergo further retina tests, among others. At exactly 3:45 I was inside the operating room with at least six others waiting for our turn to be placed under the humongous laser machine thingy that will eventually give us a brighter vision. Dr. Jack Arroyo performed the surgery on me. The actual procedure only lasted for approximately 15 minutes for both the eyes so before I knew it, it was my turn. As I lay on the operating table, my heart was pounding so hard I was worried that my eye would pop out of their sockets. It was so quick, I remember following Dr. Arroyo’s instruction to focus on the red blinking light at the center of the machine, there were moments when the light was blurry, sometime it was clear still again sometime it was not even there but I was still asked to focus on it. I didn’t feel a thing although I remember having a weird feeling around my lashes a split second while the procedure was being done. I think I held my breath the entire time. After a couple of minutes, which was like forever to my oh so nervous heart, the doctor finally placed the flap on my left eye (my right eye was already flapped right after it was done) and said that I did great. Whew, what a relief!

I was guided to sit at the waiting room just right outside the operating room and asked to wait for a little over 15 minutes, right after that, the flaps were removed and an attendant asked me to open my eyes so that she could drop some antibiotics over it. After the antibiotics were dropped, another doctor examined my eyes and said that everything looks great. I was escorted into yet another waiting room outside where my honey was waiting for me. The attendant gave him all the instructions, to which I was not paying attention to, about all the medications and instructions on what to do and what not to do. I had tears trickling down my cheeks for the next couple of hours. In spite of that, I can already see an improvement in my vision, I just can’t keep my eyes open for a long time coz tears are flowing harder and my eyes couldn’t take too much light. What did I do when I got home? I slept it off.

The following morning, I removed the protective glasses from my eyes and realized that I had a clear vision, one that I have never had before with contact lenses or glasses. I went back to the American Eye Center at 9am for my check up and the doctor confirmed that the operation was successful and I have now a 20/25 vision, which was in line with our expectation. In fact, on my 1st week check up which was last 26th of May, a day before we went back here in Amsterdam, the doctor was quite impressed with the result, she said that in fact, with my very high astigmatism prior to the operation, normally the best vision would be around 20/40 which was a blessing for me of course.

Thanks to all the doctors and staff of the American Eye Center for taking care of my eyes and for their warm and very professional approach in doing it.