If you’re thinking about getting laser eye surgery, but are hesitating because your “Ahn-yong-ha-sae-yo” might not translate to surgery vocabulary, relax.  You’re going to be okay.

I have worn glasses since I was seven years old. My friends used to tease me that my extremely thick glasses had “X-Ray” capabilities. 16 years later, I felt I had enough.  I was tired of dealing with annoying contact lenses, groping for my glasses in the morning, and having to pack extra crap whenever I traveled.

I heard and read that corrective eye surgery was more practiced and affordable in Korea. I went for a preliminary exam. The first exam is a thorough (but painless) two-hour process and is a free consultation to see if a candidate is eligible for the surgery. It mainly tests levels of astigmatism, myopia, and the thickness of your corneas.

 


After declaring that I had one of the best corneas he had ever seen (one of the weirdest compliments I have ever received), the optometrist said he recommended the “Wavefront M-Lasek Surgery” for me, due to my strong astigmatism.


Now, I was super excited and ready for the surgery. Normally, I'm a big baby. I put up a fight with the nurse before any shot takes place. However, when it came to getting laser surgery, all I asked was, “Where do I sign?” For those of you that have surgery-jitters, I suggest that you just take the first step in getting the initial exam to see what your surgery options are. I have heard that Lasik surgery is a way easier recovery process and the results are different. I guess the best advice I have is to NOT FREAK OUT. If you spend hours poring over forums with negative feedback about the surgery, you will just get worked up into a major anxiety attack, and that’s just unnecessary.


On surgery day, fourteen minutes on an operating table and my eyes were laserfied! Four months later, I have terrific vision and my glasses have long been disposed of.  The only discomforts I experience are a little dryness in the eyes in the morning and a bit of sensitivity to bright lights at night. However, my vision gets better every week and the symptoms are supposed to go away at a full six months post-surgery.

The question you really want the answer to: DID IT HURT?  Honestly, my eyeballs were too drugged up to feel any pain. They basically numb your eyes with a cold anesthesia. Since I had Lasek surgery, the two to three days post-surgery were uncomfortable, but that’s normal. You can’t do much but sleep and eat all day. After about the third day, you’re a functioning human again. After the fifth day, I was back at the office. 

Good luck and welcome to the clear-vision club! Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about my surgery experience or about the clinic.


Costs: (costs will vary depending on where you go)
Lasik – 1.9 million won
Micro Lasik: 2.0 million won
Lasek 2.0 million won
M-Lasek 2.2 million won (my surgery)

Prices were all-inclusive – the initial exam, the operation, check-ups, medicine
The clinic will also provide hotel services if needed (I’m assuming if you’re coming from out of Seoul.)

Interested? Find out more in Business Directory for Eye Doctors

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