Our Lasik Surgery
PROCESSES, PREPARATIONS, AND EXPERIENCES THE PATIENT WILL UNDERGO WITH LASIK.
07:00
Today I will prepare for LASIK. I have not worn my contact lenses for 2 weeks. I have only worn my spectacles. I hope that this is the final day that I ever have to wear spectacles. I am not wearing any perfume or any other fragrances, including “make-up.” Today I will take a day-off from work.
14:00
With anxiety and hope, my husband, my child, and I, go to I Care Lasik Center located at Slipi, West Jakarta. The address is: Wisma Slipi JL. Letjend S. Parman Kav. 12. It is directly across from the Jakarta Darmais Cancer Hospital.
14:30
Upon arrival at the I Care Center, we are received and warmly welcomed by the friendly staff receptionist. We are then cordially escorted to the waiting room.
15:00
The nurse prepares everything and gives me a consent form to be filled out, which contains information about the procedure that is to be done.
15:30
After conducting the payment, I enter the preparation room, and the nurse gives me a white surgical gown, hair net, and socks to wear. I lie down in an inclining chair in which the slope can be adjusted. At the same time, the nurse gives me medicine to relax me and eye drops to anesthetize the eyes. Several anti-biotic drops are also given to make certain that the eyes are invulnerable to infection.
16:00
In the operating room, the doctor and staff prepare the laser. Then, I am called and taken to the operating room. The doctor greets me warmly, as do all the other staff in the operating room. I am invited to lie down in the bed and the the doctor explains to me the steps of the operation that I will undergo. The operation begins. The eye is cleaned and draped. A speculum is inserted to help prop the lids open. I am instructed to always look at the green light in-between the red lights. I feel a tight pressure sensation. Suction is applied to hold the eye steady and to maintain the internal eye pressure. The vision became dim and dark at this stage, but I was not alarmed because the doctor had already extensively explained this to me before the operation. I heard a high pitch mechanical sound for about five to ten seconds. The suction was then released and my vision returned. The corneal flap was made using the Amadeus II. It only took several seconds. The flap was then folded out of the way to expose the deeper layers of the corneal tissue. It was now time for the laser treatment phase.
I heard a high pitch clacking noise triggered by the laser. This laser treatment part of the procedure lasted for about only 20 seconds.
And now the right eye was done. It was now time to do the left eye. The procedure for the left eye was the same as for the right eye.
16:30
When the procedure was finished, I was instructed to sit and read the time on the clock on the wall in front of me and WOW!!! I could read it clearly. Behind me was a transparent glass where I could see my husband and child. Vision was a little hazy, but the doctor said that this was normal, and tomorrow morning it would be clear and no longer hazy. This is because of the swelling from the operation and it will subside within several hours due to the healing process.
16:40
My husband and child escort me from the observation room. I wear sunglasses given to me by the nurse and I am taken to a room to rest. There, I am given a small snack and hot tea which I enjoy while resting.
17:10
After resting for a half-hour, I re-enter the doctor’s room for examination of the cornea with a slit lamp. Everything is found to be fine. I am given eye drops to take home and use. I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the doctor and all the staff at I Care Lasik Center. Finally, I shouted, “Good bye to glasses and contact lenses.”
18:30
When I reached my home, I rested for awhile, and then I slept until morning. The next day I went for my one day check-up after the operation.
