I got the idea of getting Lasik done while listening to the Not Overthinking pod in December 2021. It’s always been on the back of my mind, but not urgent or important enough to get it done (and I’ve also thought it was going to be very pricey).
There’s an eye clinic nearby my place, Vista Eye Centre, so I paid them a visit for a free eye assessment to determine my suitability. Based on the brief assessment, they determined that my eyes were suitable for Lasik, the price was going to be about RM 5K, including follow ups and meds. If you decide to do it, you’ll have to do another comprehensive eye assessment that would take about 2 hours. I think this gives the doctor more information on your eyes and able to program it on the laser machine.
A friend suggested I check out Optimax. After googling the centre, my instagram and facebook became flooded with Optimax ads, so I sent them a message. They’re quite helpful. And the package seemed more interesting. It was slightly cheaper, but there’s an option to get the lifetime warranty for an additional RM 1.2K - this is my estimate based on how much in total it would have cost without the warranty. If the short-sightedness comes back in the future, this will be corrected at no additional charge. I was told that there’s a very small chance I’ll ever need to exercise the warranty, but I took it up anyway for the peace of mind.
There are a few ways of getting your vision corrected, and the term used by each clinic can be different (and confusing since you can’t look it up on YouTube for a similar procedure). Here are the ones I see being offered at eye clinics in KL, and my understanding of each procedure:
- PRK, also known as TransPRK, TESA, ASA. This was the procedure I had done. There are different methods to PRK, hence the different names, but it could also be the clinic’s branding (like TESA at Optimax). It involves lasering off the epithelial corneal skin, and then the laser will correct the inner cornea. The corneal skin will regenerate over the course of 1-2 months. This option is the best and cheapest, at least in Malaysia. From youtube vids, it’s more expensive to get PRK done vs Lasik in the US.
- Lasik, or iLasik, femtolasik. The difference with PRK is that instead of removing the epithelium, it’s partially peeled (making of the flap), and then the laser will do the correction - similar in PRK - and then the flap is put back in place. The advantage of this is that everything heals quicker and your vision gets better much faster too. The downside is potential flap complications, so this isn’t suitable for people in certain jobs like army, pilots, athletes, where there’s a higher risk of the flap dislocating.
- ReLEx SMILE. There’s a cut made similar to in Lasik but much smaller, and then something is taken out from that small incision made. That’s all I know.
- ICL (Implantable Contact Lens). This sounds like a cataract surgery. My boss had ICL done a few years back and it gave him a few complications, but now all is good. I didn’t consider this as it’s the most expensive, around 15K. For some reason I also don’t feel comfortable with the idea of putting a foreign object in my eye, even though I’m sure it’s safe.
Timeline of my PRK journey
21st Jan 2022
Eye assessment at Optimax, and to schedule the surgery date.
26th Jan 2022
Surgery day. There’s another round of eye checking by the optometrist and the doctor, and numbing eye drops are applied. The clinic staff (or nurse?) explained how the meds are to be taken after surgery at the waiting room. And then to the surgery room. It’s a huge machine, like a very large dentist chair. The doctor then put on the eye-opening device to avoid blinking during the laser procedure. From then on it’s all touchless. The laser itself only took 30 seconds per eye, so most of the time you’re there is spent preparing for the before and after of the procedure itself. After laser, there is a bandage contact lense you have to wear for a week (not to be taken off), so that the epithelium can regrow without being in contact with your eyelids or god forbid, your fingers.
Because of the numbing eye drop earlier, I didn’t feel pain for an hour after the procedure and I actually was able to see quite well. The eyes were very light sensitive so bring sunglasses to wear right after surgery. Do not drive for a week after the procedure. Have someone drive you back, or Grab.
27th Jan 2022
1-day post surgery follow-up. Just to check if everything is ok. Everything was ok.
Between 26/1 - 7/2
Eyes are very light sensitive, I wear shades even in the house and turn off all lights. My eyes are watery all the time and the bandage lense felt like it was poking my eye all the time. I’m afraid to shower in case soap gets in the eye, and I can’t go out because I can’t open my eyes for long periods. In the first week, Grabfood and sleep were my main activities.
My vision was functional enough to be able to drive a week later, on 2nd Feb.
7th Feb 2022
This is the 1-week follow-up to remove the bandage contact lense. But because of the 1-week CNY break, mine was delayed by 5 days.
22nd Feb 2022
Another follow-up to check my vision progress. It was below-average of what was expected. This was my fault. When the clinic-dispensed eye drops had run out, I bought a cheaper alternative at the pharmacy, not knowing there’s actually a difference in the composition of what’s inside. To compensate for the delay in recovery, I was then prescribed with a much more expensive brand of eye drops LOL.
8th March 2022
Fourth follow-up. Vision is great. The right eye’s power is now 0, meaning fully recovered, and there’s a bit of power left on my left eye but this is normal as it’s the non-dominant eye. And given time, the left eye would be 0 as well.
The next and final appointment will be in May. After that, I’ll need to visit once every year to not lapse the warranty.
In case you’re wondering, none of these procedures are covered by your individual medical insurance, except for cataract surgery. But you’re able to spread the payments with 0% EPP depending on your credit card.
Cheers. - wan