Getting LASEK in South Korea: Part 1

Part 1: The consultation

I recently had a consultation for laser eye surgery at Dream Eye Centre in Gangnam, Seoul. I knew pretty much nothing about laser eye surgery going into this, and I chose this clinic based on recommendations from other expats on Facebook. Dream Eye's many positive reviews boast consistently good results and great client service, and they've been operating for twenty years, so I figure they have a lot of experience. The clinic also has English-speaking staff- not always necessary, but definitely preferred when you're seriously considering putting laser beams in your eyeballs. 

My only close encounter with laser eye surgery was in second-year university, when one of my roommates got it. While I did think it was a smart and proactive decision on her part, I also have strong memories of her stumbling around in huge black goggles, bemoaning the pain in her eyes. I also remember thinking that I would probably never save enough money or be future-oriented enough to consider eye surgery myself (my frequent misguided refrain at the time was "this will be future Franni's problem"). However, a decade later and many continents away, I've found myself considering it, wondering if it's worth elective surgery and a considerable chunk of cash to achieve the supposedly life-changing results of 20/20 vision.

Eye protection- about to become a lot more important. 

At my consultation, as a very kind nurse instructed me to sit in chair after chair for test after test, I asked her if she had had the procedure herself- she had. "Are we totally stupid for signing up for this," I asked her, "lasering our eyes unnecessarily?" She laughed, not directly answering my question (I realize also that asking "was it worth it?" was pretty pointless, given that this is her place of employment). She did say that ditching the glasses, contacts, and blurry vision raises one's standard of living in a significant way. This seems to be a widely-held belief amongst people who choose this surgery, and I understand it. While obviously not medically necessary, I do feel like achieving perfect vision will bring me closer to the whole wide world around me (and further away from my constant state of rearranging my glasses on my face). Many make the case that the surgery (which will cost me about $2000 CAD) is a wise financial decision in the long term, considering the cost of glasses and contact lenses over a lifetime. Without a doubt, it's a mark of real privilege to be able to afford and have access to this kind of voluntary medical treatment. But on the other hand, the nurse told me that sometimes you can smell your own eye burning as they laser it... so there's that, too.

After I had patiently endured a battery of vision tests, my assigned nurse used the eyedrops that test for glaucoma. These drops also have the fun side effects of making the sun super blinding, and making you look super high on club drugs- all pupil, no iris. I'd done this before at the optometrist, so that part was fine. Next, she administered anesthetic eyedrops in order to poke me repeatedly in the eye (great, I know. Truly living my best life). I suspect that my body somehow knew that it is not advantageous to become oblivious to pain in your vision centre, because I immediately felt extremely faint and disoriented. I pushed through the discomfort to sit calmly while the nurse poked my eyeballs. I stared (as instructed) at a little pumpkin ornament, thinking that this might be the last image I ever saw, because my vision was quickly closing in around me. Fortunately I had the wherewithal to ask for a little break from the ocular prodding, and was guided to lay down on a couch, where I was kindly provided with a blanket and OJ like a kid getting a needle (and where my senses blessedly returned to me). I felt fine, if a bit shook up, a few minutes later. Apparently a fair number of people have a mildly adverse reaction to this anesthetic, which is the same one used for the laser eye surgery itself. Conveniently at that stage I will already be laying down, but I really can't say I'm looking forward to it.

The last step of the consultation process was a brief meeting with my assigned doctor. He showed me images from my various tests, indicating important information such as the curvature of my eyeballs and something about the number of cells in my eyes. As you can probably tell as you're reading this, I really didn't know what I was looking at, because I don't speak science pictures. However, he did make an effort to use accessible language, explain the images and convey their relevance to the procedure. My doctor also explained the two different surgeries that are available at this clinic, which are called LASIK and LASEK. I am still frankly upset regarding the nearly identical nature of these names, and confused about who allowed this. Essentially, LASIK involves cutting an eye flap (lovely imagery, yes?), and heals extremely quickly. LASEK involves dissolving a thin layer of eye (also very pleasant sounding) and has a slower recovery process and more gradual improvement in vision. While the former sounds much more appealing, the doctor explained that he almost always recommends the latter, because it is a much safer procedure. He continued making the case for LASEK while I continued nodding and smiling, as I am trusting this man with my eyesight and definitely intend to take his suggestions in full. I may have pretended to understand the eye science at play here, but the takeaway message was crystal clear: I had passed the tests, and my reward was to be lasers in the eyes. 

Stay tuned for part two, the LASEK surgery itself, which I will be sure to write about as soon as my eyes work again and screens no longer cause me pain. Until next time!