My Journey Through LASIK

After wearing glasses for around 15 years, I chose to undergo LASIK procedure to experience life without needing glasses every single minute of the day. My prescription was stable for the last 7 years, and I didn't wear contact lenses (had a try 5 years ago and absolutely hated it). So, I went for a consultation to a well-known hospital in Chennai, and they suggested Epi-LASIK for my power (3.75 in both eyes).

Epi-LASIK is a variation of PRK. In standard PRK, the outer layer of the eye is removed or ablated, allowing it to regenerate over time. In Epi-LASIK, the top layer (epithelium) is lifted, the PRK procedure is performed, and then the layer is replaced. The epithelium grows back, so there are limited flap-related complications compared to traditional LASIK as the layer grows back.

I went back and forth on my decision to undergo the surgery but decided to finally do it because, based on my research and consultation with my doctor and other known doctors, the Epi-LASIK procedure was generally safe.

The Surgery:

The hospital gave me antibiotic drops to take two days before surgery. Those drops tasted bitter as they traveled down from my eyes to the taste buds and triggered sneezes when they went through my nose. On the day of surgery, they took me to a white room and made me sign some paperwork which basically stated that the hospital and the doctor were not responsible if I went blind.

Before I went to the surgery suite, the staff applied some numbing topical anesthesia, after which I barely felt my eyes. They then sterilized my eyes and sent me to the suite. My doctor came in, and the surgery started. I had a case of adrenaline rush prior to the surgery, which helped me to get through it. I don't remember much of the surgery because I didn't feel my eyes during it, only that I was told to focus on a green light. Each eye was kept open using a clamp. I do remember a burning smell, which would have been my cornea burning and being shaped. The surgery took only five minutes for each eye. After that, they placed a bandage contact lens over my eyes to protect the healing epithelium and keep it undisturbed.

After my surgery, the doc checked my eyes through equipment and had a postgraduate student view them too, because the student apparently hadn't seen an Epi-LASIK live specimen before. The doctor also told me that my eyes would be watery and that it was normal. Let me tell you something, there was nothing normal about that. From the instant the procedure was done, my eyes started to sprout water as if they were pumping it from my whole body. As I was shaking because the adrenaline started to wear off, the staff gave instructions about the medication.

A little later, the anesthesia also started to wear off and then the pain began to kick in. Before the surgery, I had researched about Epi-LASIK and about various people's experiences who underwent the procedure. Everyone had told that there would be excruciating pain and I thought I was prepared for it. But man, I was wrong. Nothing could have prepared me for the pain of a thousand needles piercing my eyes. And add a large amount of water coming from the eyes which didn't let me keep my eyes open or closed for a long time and a contact lens stuck to my eyeballs.

After the instructions, my parents dragged a blind me home. Everything was too bright for me on the way. The hospital gave me two painkillers which, I would say, were insufficient. They also gave a sunglass and another two sets of eye drops and asked to continue the bitter tasting antibiotic drops.

Day 2-5:

These days were a blur, both literally and figuratively. There were constant tears flowing from my eyes. If I closed my eyes, the tears pushed my eyelids open, and if I opened my eyes, the pain caused me to close them again. Sometime on the third day, I disturbed the lens in my left eye, and the pain became unbearable. The tears that streamed after that? Those might’ve been mine too. During this period, if my mother hadn't been there to take care of me, I would have been found lying unconscious somewhere in the corner of my house. In my head, I was counting the days until the contact lens would be removed. Finally, on the fifth day, I went to the hospital again, and the doctor removed the contact lenses without any incident. My eyes felt free only after this.

End of the 1st week:

I was continuing my drops. After all the waterworks that my eyes did, they were completely dry now. Even my lips became dry. Earlier, the drops applied in my eyes wouldn't stay there because of the tears. But now, my eyes drank the drops greedily.  And I wore sunglasses even while I was at home because my eyes couldn't handle any sort of light. But I started to see the changes in my vision. I was not blind anymore when I took a shower, and I shrieked in happiness (alarming my family) as I was able to see the temperature set on the AC when I woke up in the middle of my sleep. Still, I was not able to keep my eyes open for long durations. I started listening to Harry Potter audiobooks (thought I wouldn't like audiobooks, but I did). Days went by sluggishly.

End of the 2nd week:

My vision became considerably better. I was able to read even the small words scrolling on a news channel on the television from a distance, though my eyes would tire out immediately. However, my sight became fuzzy at night, probably from the exhaustion during the day. I still continued my drops. I went to my office at the start of the third week and promptly returned home after the lights glowing there threatened to blast my eyes. After that, I worked from home for a week after that with the laptop screen set to the lowest possible brightness.

A month after the surgery:

Even after a month, I couldn't look at lights directly or go outside without sunglasses. I think the surgery transformed my eyes into a vampire's eyes. That's the only possible explanation. Other than that and the halos around lights at night, my vision was great. In my first checkup after the surgery, I was told that I had acquired 6/6 vision and my eyes had healed significantly. After I bombarded the doc with questions about the kind of care I should give my eyes, the good doctor very calmly said that I could do whatever the hell I wanted as my eyes were fine now.

So, that's my journey after LASIK surgery. I wanted to keep it short, but it became a rant. I think all of this would apply only to Epi-LASIK because the bandage contact lens in the eyes notably increased the pain and discomfort. Knowing all this, would I do this surgery again? I don't know; I would have to wait for another 3 months until the halos at night and the vampirism in the eyes fade to answer that. The doc said it would take that much time. But for now, I'm glad that I don't have to wear spectacles anymore.

Let me know if you have any questions!!