"In Your Eyes" - Part 1

Undergoing Lasek/Wavefront Eye Surgery in South Korea

Overview:

After careful consideration and research, I was compelled to undergo LASEKsurgery last week (not to be confused with LASIK click here to read about the differences). With a lot of help from my girlfriend who had the procedure done at the same lasik center about a year ago, I had made a consulation a couple weeks ago to see if I would make a good candidate for the procedure.

I've had glasses for a little over 10 years due to astigmatism, and recall when I was given my first prescription that I was considered an excellent candidate for LASIK as contacts were not recommended by my doctors. Time has passed and the procedure has changed so much that I was not only still a good candidate, but a better candidate for LASEK - a less risky procedure, in which the corneal flap heals better with less chance of infection and you have the option to redo the procedure if necessary. Since I have astigmatism, I was also given Wavefront -  a step in the procedure customizable to my eye that will improve my vision even more so.

Consultaion:

Overall, the combination of the two procedures is the more expensive than either on its own, or the cheaper LASIK operation. Either way, the option I recieved is much cheaper than anything back in the U.S. (1.15 million Won = $1,000 and LASIK being about $8-900) In the U.S. the average LASIK procedure is anywhere between $2,000 - 4,000, so this clearly is a cost saving measure. Also, LASIK/LASEK in South Korea is highly popular and one of the best places in the world to get any type of cosmetic surgery. In the Gangnam area, it is very competitive this, of course, effects the costs. I went to a highly reputable place called Bright St. Mary's Lasik Center (www.oklasik.com).I'd recommend them if you have someone who speaks Korean help you.

During the consultaion, I had my eye exam done free of charge, and the customer service representative explained the procedure to Hwayoung who also served as my interpreter for my own questions. Later, I spoke to one of the doctors, who recieved her degree in the U.S. and spoke decent English.


I asked many questions, as I wanted to know the procedure inside and out, as well as any possible side effects, what steps would be taken if anything went wrong, and the risks involved. I recomment using this guide if you are thinking of undergoing the procedure. Click the link for a PDF.

50 Tough Questions For Your Lasik Doctor

The Procedure:

The procedure was pretty much painless besides a few pinching/pressure situations, and cold shock of fluids and eye drops being placed on my eyes.

The procedure depends on the kind you get, so you should do your research. The LASEK procedure involves preserving the extremely thin epithelial layer by lifting it from the eye's surface before laser energy is applied for reshaping. After the LASEK procedure, the epithelium is replaced on the eye's surface. LASEK is used mostly for people with corneas that are too thin or too steep for LASIK, when it may be difficult to create a thicker LASIK flap. LASEK was developed to reduce the chance of complications that occur when the flap created during LASIK does not have the ideal thickness or diameter.

The LASEK Procedure

During LASEK, your surgeon uses local anesthesia. Then he or she cuts the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, with a fine blade (trephine). Then the surgeon covers the eye with a diluted alcohol solution for approximately 30 seconds, which loosens the edges of the epithelium. After sponging the alcohol solution from the eye, the surgeon uses a tiny hoe to lift the edge of the epithelial flap and gently fold it back out of the way. Then he or she uses an excimer laser, which is used for LASIK, to sculpt the corneal tissue underneath. Afterward, the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a type of spatula.

After LASEK

In many ways, LASEK vision recovery is slower than LASIK recovery, but there are some differences. According to doctors who perform LASEK, the flap edge heals in about a day, though patients usually wear a bandage contact lens for approximately four days to protect the eye. Your eye may feel irritated during the first day or two afterward. Also, with LASEK compared with LASIK, it often takes longer to recover good vision — up to four to seven days — but this can vary from one person to the next. You also may experience more pain with LASEK compared with LASIK.

 

This is pretty much what I went through - don't watch if youa are squeemish!

With the first eye, I can recall smelling and seeing the smoke coming out of my eye as the laser did its work! That freaked me out a little, but I just remembered what the doctor kept saying "Focus on the green light." I listen to directions when the slightest movement can blind me for life. With the second eye, I felt nothing except for the coldness of some of the solutions applied. Overall the entire procedure was less that 10 minutes.

I have to say, that the doctors and nurses were superb. They were very comforting and willing to help me as much as I needed. 

Post-Op and Recovery:

Our friend Chang offered to sit with us at the lasik center and drive me home so I wouldn't have to spend money on a taxi or use the germ ridden subway. He's the best!

I was told that during recovery I would need to follow some simple directions. No driving obviously, no drinking alcohol for 10 days, I couldn't allow anything in my eye besides the drops they gave me - not even water -so I had to be careful when taking a shower. I also have to take an anti-biotic steroid drop once every 3 hours for 5 days, until I return to the hospital to remove the protective contacts that they place on your eye to let the flap heal. With LASIK the flap never heals much past 70-80% of the way, but with LASEK, the flap heals to nearly 100%.

I was also given pain reliever drops, which came in handy and told to use them when I felt pain. I didn't think the pain would be as bad as it was. It was very uncomfortable at first, and I relied on the drops to numb my eyes, but then I started taking regular Tylenol and that sufficed. The best remedy has been sleep. I don't think I have slept more in the past 4 days than these. I am usually not one to sleep in or take naps, but as I recall I slept at least 15 hours a day. I also read that taking Vitamin C improves the healing process. I bought a package of tablets, and took about 6 a day.

After the contacts come out tomorrow, I need to take drops about 4-8 times a day for the next 3 months so that my eyes don't become dry while healing.

With LASEK/Wavefront, the recovery is slower and more painful than with LASIK - but again, less risky. The most painful thing about the entire thing so far has been taking the drops and adjusting to light as my eyes were closed for almost 3 days. I am really bad at letting anything get into my eye, and the drops tend to sting. But I'll gladly be a little uncomfortable in order to make sure my eyesight is healthy.

A lot of people have commented on how I must be out of my mind to get a procedure done in another county. I felt nervous mainly because of the language barrier (and because I don't like things touching my eye), but the equipment and technology is either equal-to or better-than what you would find back in the U.S. It's NOT like I'm going to Cambodia and having someone remove my eyes with a dull spoon. All I can say is that you should do your research and enlist the help of someone who is bilingual.

My next post on the subject will be about my recovery and some embarassing pictures that Hwayoung took of me while I was recovering.

I apologize for any spelling errors - my eyesight hasn't quite recovered enough to stare at the computer screen for more than a couple minutes at a time.