Rewind back to 2017 when it was one of the research lectures for my postgraduate degree in journalism. One of my classmates walked in with bulky sunglasses and he clearly caught everyone's attention. He wore high-powered glasses and suddenly seeing him in those post-surgery black sunnies had all of us curious to know the reason. "I got Lasik done," said he. And that was the first time I'd ever heard of something like that. I gathered information about Lasik from him and just tossed it in the air because I knew I was not making that "unnecessary" expense ever in future.
I came home, told my dad, and he suggested I get it done as well. But I was too nervous because just like everyone else, my eyes are too precious. I didn't want to risk damaging them. So this idea got lost as time passed by.
Rewind back to a year ago when one of my old-time friends got closer to me and left no chance to tell me how amazing Lasik is. He did it in 2016 and had had a great experience. I'm not sure how did I agree on sitting for this surgery, but I did, thanks to him I guess? He suggested I at least visit the doctor and get my eyes tested. Honestly, I assumed my eyeballs are too thin––sorry to make it sound so ignorant––but that's the truth. So he drove me to the clinic in the city and sat throughout my 'pre-Lasik' examination.
(I'm gonna make this procedure and this Lasik surgery experience sound as simple as possible because no way I want to actually Google any of the technical information.)
MY LASIK EXPERIENCE
I went to an eye hospital for the 'pre-Lasik' examination. The doctor first checked my eyes and put on a few eye drops. I was made to sit with closed eyes for a while with those eyedrops still in. The doctor then put another round of drops and these were anaesthesia drops. I was fully aware at the moment but my eyes had lost their senses. She then brought a laser near my eyes and asked me to look at a dot on the wall in front of me. She literally touched my eyeballs with the laser and I felt no pain absolutely! This was done in a few seconds for both the eyes and she put on eyedrops yet again.
Later, the main doctor called me in her cabin and gave me a general idea of LASIK surgery. What is the Lasik surgery cost in India, how long does it take, etc?
She said the Standard Lasik surgery costs Rs. 50,000 and the Custom Lasik costs Rs 55,000. And although that was too much, my dad still agreed on doing it. I did my surgery on a Saturday so that I could rest another day without taking a leave. I was called to the hospital. I filled out a form and the nurse took me for the dressing.
She cleansed my eyes with some solutions, gave me a surgery uniform, tied my hair in a high bun, secured my flyaways with tape. I was nervous. This was the first time I was being operated and I hoped things went well.
After another round of examination, I was called to the operation theatre. Nervous, I laid down on the bed. The doctor secured my eyelids with tape and did the same for my lower lids as well. Later, absolutely horrifying to read, she inserted a bracket in my eye in a way, the eyeball pops out. With the tape and the bracket, she had a proper space to work on.
The lights in the room were dim. They dragged a machine from the side and placed it above my head. This machine sent a beam of light to my eye, probably to help with the marking. They put on anaesthesia eyedrops and the Lasik surgery was about to commence. Seeing my nervousness, they handed over a stress ball to me. I would squeeze it whenever I felt anxious. One of the doctors even held my hand, and that was absolutely sweet of her.
I have no idea what they did later. Although I was fully conscious, my eyes had anaesthesia drops so I could not feel the pain, however, I could see different instruments move on my eyeball. The vision would get blurry, then it would be normal again. I was asked to look at a green dot on the machine above my head. The dots would change colours, sometimes they appeared like a kaleidoscope, crystal clear. I also felt my eyeball move, just like how the man at the Nitrogen ice cream parlour scrapes the ice cream. I could resemble it with that.
Another horrifying thing was the burning smell. They burnt my cornea. That's how the Lasik surgery is done.
After a lot of squeezing the stress ball, fidgeting, and moving the head, the right eye was done. "Hush!" I was relieved. Now for the left eye, I was already aware of the procedure but the anxiety still remained.
Post-surgery, I was asked to keep my eyes closed. They gave me transparent glasses to protect my eyes. I could feel the burn. The doctor put multiple eyedrops, one for soothing, one for cleaning, and one for ensuring the surgery stays intact since it was freshly done.
I was asked to not open my eyes for 24 hours. And strictly no screen-time for 48 hours minimum.
HOW DOES IT FEEL POST LASIK SURGERY
I couldn't open my eyes as they were stuck due to the eye drops. And the pain was real. My dad and I went back home. I was still wearing those protective glasses.
For the next 24 hours, I could barely open my eyes. I did open them for a few seconds when I was sitting on the balcony, having poha, and it was raining. I could feel the rain and cool breeze, but I wanted to open my eyes and see the rain because it was June, and the monsoon had not commenced yet.
Those few seconds were heavenly. I cherished them for all the 48 hours I was asked not to touch any screen.
I would call my friends using Siri. I even sat on the terrace with my best friend on the same evening. I hoped when I opened my eyes, I could see everything clearly, even far off objects and letters.
Unfortunately, since my job was new, I couldn't shamelessly ask for a leave. So from Monday, I resumed work from home. I had texted my boss requesting him to be lenient with me as the doctor has asked to use the screen as scarcely as possible. But the boss said you could take a leave instead, but my stupid ass refused. And the pain for the next week was so bad, I would cry for not taking a leave. Imagine resuming work 48 hours post-surgery. I know I am stupid.
And for the drops, I was asked to take three eyedrops, multiple times a day. The frequency reduced as the days passed. I was called for regular checkups to track the progress.
Four months after the surgery...I rarely put the soothing drops. But I do feel the drying of the eyes quite frequently, especially if I haven't slept well. So I keep a bottle of eye drops at the office, although I have used it only once there. I'm asked to wear computer spectacles while working, but of course, me being me, I don't wear them.
How's it going so far? I can see things well, I can drive without glasses or lenses, there's no hassle of wearing something in order to see, I can wear sunglasses every day, I can sleep without taking off lenses...all in all, the Lasik surgery has been an absolute blessing. The drying of the eyes is really annoying though. I should put eyedrops more often, I know!
POST LASIK SURGERY CARE
- No head bath for five days
- No face makeup for a month
- Avoid sports and swimming for 3 months
- Do not rub eyes
- Wear protective glasses for the initial days (even while sleeping)
- Put on eyedrops
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from direct sunlight
- Wear glasses if you're on a bike
- No screen time for 48 hours
- Avoid screen time post 48 hours
Final word
Lasik treatment is highly recommended especially if you're an adventurous person whose activities get hampered due to glasses. It's a divine experience to wake up one day and see clearly without glasses. Also, there's no need to wear lenses so you save a lot of time. The surgery is a bit expensive but worth it in the end. The pain is not as bad as described, it's just a different feeling. I totally recommend it.
