LASIK: A Chronicle
So much have happened this past year. For one thing, I haven't updated my blog since I graduated from bachelor degree last year. Sorry, I am just too lazy to update this blog.
I decided to undergo LASIK at JEC Menteng on the holiday season. Yes, I am still unemployed, unlike most of my friends who have real jobs. I spent this past year attending classes (again), because I am a student at MAKSI FEUI Salemba (read: postgraduate / S2). More about that later, because this post will focus more on my LASIK experience.
Before you read my post, or if you need to know more about LASIK, please read this webpage first:
LASIK? We Have All! by JEC
This is my LASIK experience in chronological order:
25/06/2015
I went to JEC Menteng with mom for LASIK pre-exam. They check my cornea thickness, retina, minus, etc. The good news is I am capable to undergo LASIK. The bad news, my myopia is increasing. Left: -11.00 / Right: -10.00. My doctor is dr. Johan A Hutauruk, SpM. He asked me to set the date, and I picked 8/7/2015. I just thought that 8 and 7 are lucky numbers so yeah. He also told us that there is a promo for Z2 LASIK at JEC Menteng during July, so instead of 25 mill, we will pay only 20 mill. Nice catch. Pre-exam cost me around IDR 2 million. That is a lot of cost to begin with.
This is the promo poster:
Source: JEC Instagram page
8/7/2015
On the day of the LASIK, I did some browsing about the difference between Z2 and 6D LASIK. You see, this is a pretty useless act because really, I don't wanna abort my LASIK today because of this. But I am still curious so yeah. Z2 is available at Menteng; while 6D is available at Kedoya (and I just found out about this). I called in to JEC Menteng and they confirmed that my LASIK is Z2.
The nurse explained that due to the current promo, the 20 mill must be paid in whole and is not allowed to be paid in installment or by credit card or any other type of collateral. Debit card is allowed. The total damage (which I saw later on the bill) is IDR 20.200.000 (after tax).
Right before I undergo the procedure, I asked dr. Johan regarding this matter, just to make sure. He said the technology is almost the same, it is only a matter of different brand, and the machine at Menteng is new. This fact is also confirmed by one other doctor there. Whether their statement is true or not, it is already too late to turn my back on this. Like I said, I do not want to abort or delay my mission, so here we go.
The process takes about 15 seconds + 10 seconds per eye for the laser. Believe me, that was the longest 25 seconds in my whole life so far. It does not hurt, but the atmosphere is full of pressure and you have to focus real good. Do I wanna repeat it? I would say, no. It is a one time experience which I would cherish dearly. My mom said she had stomachache during the procedure so she went to the toilet to finish her deeds (we are allowed to watch the procedure from the glass wall).
Afterward, I can see almost clearly, but still blurry. My left eye is bleeding (there is blood on the white spot). My right eye is normal, all white. The left eye is taking a little bit long during the process because I lost focus of the light during the cornea flap cut. This could be the reason why my left eye is bleeding.
I was given an eye mask / cover which looks like minion / Mad Max. I had to wear this to prevent dust and especially during sleep so that I won't touch my eyes. The nurse also gave me three types of eye drops to be used regularly (4-6 times a day): LFX, Tobroson, and Eyefresh.
BEFORE (with mom)
AFTER (3 hours later)
EYE DROPS
*Some photos are automatically rotated when I uploaded them to the image hosting and I cannot solve the issue, sorry about this.
At home, I was told to sleep and given the eye drops. The first three hours were the worse. “Discomfort” would not suffice to describe it, it was more like painful. I felt like my eyes are being stroked with a sharp object, it was a mixed feeling of pain and hurt. I could not sleep. But I bear with it. This is nothing compared to my bright future. I could sleep later at midnight.
Post-op is probably the worst and the most boring thing to endure. I am not allowed to play laptop or smartphone intensively for the next few days... Believe me, it is so difficult to resist them. I can stay away from laptop but not my iPhone. I keep boredom away by listening to my iPod (I forgot I own it).
9/7/2015
The next day, I went for checkup to dr. Johan again. He said the LASIK went smooth. The red marks should disappear in around 10 days. He took off the protector contacts that he put yesterday right after the procedure. He took photos of my retina and told me there is no allergy or irritation whatsoever (there are some cases of black dots which can lead to blurry vision). I am grateful everything went smoothly. Zero minus/cylinder and 20/20 vision. Unbelievable.
The next task? Purchasing sunglasses (because I am not allowed to be in direct sunlight).
The only thing that is bugging me the most here is I am not allowed to wash my face and hair for 3 days. I gotta go to salon just for the sake of washing my hair safely.
10/7/2015
Stuck at home.
11/7/2015
My hair feels so brittle and greasy; I just cannot take it anymore. I went to Johnny Andrean hair salon at 9am to wash my hair (finally).
My left eye is still red.
Auntie came to visit me and brought me salmon bento from Honoka Blok M for lunch. It tasted so good. Thank you auntieee :)
12/7/2015
Going out for the first time with mom and sis to grab some lunch. Mom bought me new glasses, zero lenses, with UV protection and anti glare for computer and smartphone. I picked new frame from Guess. I was about to use the old frame, but there is a breakage on one of the temples.
A week later
My eyes felt better, the red spots are already decreasing, and I am finally ready to wash my hair at home. (actually the prohibition is only 3 days but I am being too paranoid)
dr. Johan gave me prescription for eye drops called "Protagenta" to relieve the red spots and some eye vitamin called "Nutrivision" to enhance my vision.
Two weeks later
The red spots have almost gone completely.
To sum up, that is my LASIK experience. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to drop a comment below, and I'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks for reading, and I hope this post is useful for everyone who are considering to undergo LASIK. :)
I decided to undergo LASIK at JEC Menteng on the holiday season. Yes, I am still unemployed, unlike most of my friends who have real jobs. I spent this past year attending classes (again), because I am a student at MAKSI FEUI Salemba (read: postgraduate / S2). More about that later, because this post will focus more on my LASIK experience.
Before you read my post, or if you need to know more about LASIK, please read this webpage first:
LASIK? We Have All! by JEC
This is my LASIK experience in chronological order:
25/06/2015
I went to JEC Menteng with mom for LASIK pre-exam. They check my cornea thickness, retina, minus, etc. The good news is I am capable to undergo LASIK. The bad news, my myopia is increasing. Left: -11.00 / Right: -10.00. My doctor is dr. Johan A Hutauruk, SpM. He asked me to set the date, and I picked 8/7/2015. I just thought that 8 and 7 are lucky numbers so yeah. He also told us that there is a promo for Z2 LASIK at JEC Menteng during July, so instead of 25 mill, we will pay only 20 mill. Nice catch. Pre-exam cost me around IDR 2 million. That is a lot of cost to begin with.
This is the promo poster:
Source: JEC Instagram page
8/7/2015
On the day of the LASIK, I did some browsing about the difference between Z2 and 6D LASIK. You see, this is a pretty useless act because really, I don't wanna abort my LASIK today because of this. But I am still curious so yeah. Z2 is available at Menteng; while 6D is available at Kedoya (and I just found out about this). I called in to JEC Menteng and they confirmed that my LASIK is Z2.
The nurse explained that due to the current promo, the 20 mill must be paid in whole and is not allowed to be paid in installment or by credit card or any other type of collateral. Debit card is allowed. The total damage (which I saw later on the bill) is IDR 20.200.000 (after tax).
Right before I undergo the procedure, I asked dr. Johan regarding this matter, just to make sure. He said the technology is almost the same, it is only a matter of different brand, and the machine at Menteng is new. This fact is also confirmed by one other doctor there. Whether their statement is true or not, it is already too late to turn my back on this. Like I said, I do not want to abort or delay my mission, so here we go.
The process takes about 15 seconds + 10 seconds per eye for the laser. Believe me, that was the longest 25 seconds in my whole life so far. It does not hurt, but the atmosphere is full of pressure and you have to focus real good. Do I wanna repeat it? I would say, no. It is a one time experience which I would cherish dearly. My mom said she had stomachache during the procedure so she went to the toilet to finish her deeds (we are allowed to watch the procedure from the glass wall).
Afterward, I can see almost clearly, but still blurry. My left eye is bleeding (there is blood on the white spot). My right eye is normal, all white. The left eye is taking a little bit long during the process because I lost focus of the light during the cornea flap cut. This could be the reason why my left eye is bleeding.
I was given an eye mask / cover which looks like minion / Mad Max. I had to wear this to prevent dust and especially during sleep so that I won't touch my eyes. The nurse also gave me three types of eye drops to be used regularly (4-6 times a day): LFX, Tobroson, and Eyefresh.
BEFORE (with mom)
AFTER (3 hours later)
EYE DROPS
*Some photos are automatically rotated when I uploaded them to the image hosting and I cannot solve the issue, sorry about this.
At home, I was told to sleep and given the eye drops. The first three hours were the worse. “Discomfort” would not suffice to describe it, it was more like painful. I felt like my eyes are being stroked with a sharp object, it was a mixed feeling of pain and hurt. I could not sleep. But I bear with it. This is nothing compared to my bright future. I could sleep later at midnight.
Post-op is probably the worst and the most boring thing to endure. I am not allowed to play laptop or smartphone intensively for the next few days... Believe me, it is so difficult to resist them. I can stay away from laptop but not my iPhone. I keep boredom away by listening to my iPod (I forgot I own it).
9/7/2015
The next day, I went for checkup to dr. Johan again. He said the LASIK went smooth. The red marks should disappear in around 10 days. He took off the protector contacts that he put yesterday right after the procedure. He took photos of my retina and told me there is no allergy or irritation whatsoever (there are some cases of black dots which can lead to blurry vision). I am grateful everything went smoothly. Zero minus/cylinder and 20/20 vision. Unbelievable.
The next task? Purchasing sunglasses (because I am not allowed to be in direct sunlight).
The only thing that is bugging me the most here is I am not allowed to wash my face and hair for 3 days. I gotta go to salon just for the sake of washing my hair safely.
10/7/2015
Stuck at home.
11/7/2015
My hair feels so brittle and greasy; I just cannot take it anymore. I went to Johnny Andrean hair salon at 9am to wash my hair (finally).
My left eye is still red.
Auntie came to visit me and brought me salmon bento from Honoka Blok M for lunch. It tasted so good. Thank you auntieee :)
12/7/2015
Going out for the first time with mom and sis to grab some lunch. Mom bought me new glasses, zero lenses, with UV protection and anti glare for computer and smartphone. I picked new frame from Guess. I was about to use the old frame, but there is a breakage on one of the temples.
A week later
My eyes felt better, the red spots are already decreasing, and I am finally ready to wash my hair at home. (actually the prohibition is only 3 days but I am being too paranoid)
dr. Johan gave me prescription for eye drops called "Protagenta" to relieve the red spots and some eye vitamin called "Nutrivision" to enhance my vision.
Two weeks later
The red spots have almost gone completely.
To sum up, that is my LASIK experience. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to drop a comment below, and I'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks for reading, and I hope this post is useful for everyone who are considering to undergo LASIK. :)