Jan 1, 2025
Goodbye, glasses! My experience getting LASIK in Malaysia
After 10 years of inconvenience with glasses and contact lenses, I finally decided to rid myself of the nuisance forever and get LASIK! It was one of the best decisions of my life, up there with getting an IUS to stop getting periods and period cramps.
Many people have asked me about my experience, so I thought to share it here :)
My misconceptions about LASIK
- “It will take a really long time to recover from LASIK.”
- The recovery period depends on the type of procedure and can be as quick as a few hours.
- “LASIK only lasts for a few years, and then you'll have to do it again.”
- The procedure doesn't wear off. As a testament to this, my clinic offered a lifetime warranty, so if my shortsightedness returned, I'd get to do the procedure again for free.
- You maintain good eyesight until 老花眼 “old people eyesight” sets in.
- “LASIK is a relatively new type of procedure.”
- Pilots and military personnel have been doing LASIK since the 1980s! Granted the procedure has evolved and improved since then, but this isn't a novel procedure.
Why I finally decided to do it
When my best friend (who also recently became a doctor) did the surgery and spoke highly of the transformation, I decided it was time!
I chose not to go down a research rabbit hole and settled for asking her questions about her experience. Was this a bad idea? Maybe. But I had already heard lots of success stories from other friends, and this surgery has been around for a long time, so I decided to put my faith in modern medicine and recency bias.
The consultation
At Asia Eye Specialist Centre, they checked my eye power, eye pressure, cornea thickness, among other things to ensure I was eligible for the surgery.
Then, the clinic explained two available options:
- FEMTO LASIK
- The laser cuts a thin flap on the cornea, which the doctor lifts so a second laser can reshape the cornea. Then, the flap is replaced, and the corneal tissue naturally reconnects.
- Fast recovery time, I could see immediately after surgery.
- The procedure cost me ~RM6,000 for both eyes.
- PRK/TransPRK
- This is a no-touch surgery that uses a laser or solution to remove the outermost layer of the cornea so that a laser can reshape the cornea.
- Slower recovery than FEMTO. ~1 week recovery time where you won't be able to see clearly.
- This procedure would have cost me about ~RM5,000 for both eyes.
Note: Costs depend on eye power and cornea thickness. With my -4.00 prescription in both eyes, I needed a more expensive version of FEMTO. Fortunately, my thick corneas meant I didn't need artificial enhancement, which would have added to the cost.
The surgery
I went for the consultation and booked my surgery for 3 days later. I was told not to wear contacts before the surgery because it might alter the shape of my cornea and to have someone drive me home after the surgery.
They offered me a Xanax to calm my nerves during the surgery. After a lot of waiting, I went into a room where I was asked to lie down, and they put some anaesthesia in my eyes so I wouldn't feel anything.
The doctor walked me through the procedure in broad strokes and reassured me that all I had to do was focus on the red light during the procedure.
I was a little nervous but decided just to empty my brain. It probably helped that I took the Xanax, but who’s to say?
Aside from the slight pressure from the suction stabilising my eye, I didn’t feel anything. By the end of the 20-minute procedure, I could already see better, though things were slightly hazy from the lubricating drops.
The clinic sent me home with eye drops and painkillers and told me to come back for a checkup the next day.
The recovery
They said I might feel some pain after the surgery, but honestly, I was fine.
The Xanax made me drowsy, so I took a nap once I got home. Two hours later, my vision was clear!!
For the first week, I continued to use the eye drops — one to reduce inflammation, one to prevent bacterial infection, and one to maintain hydration. Each night, I taped on plastic eye guards so I wouldn't accidentally rub my eyes, which felt gritty when I woke up. Once I stopped unconsciously rubbing my eyes and when the grittiness lessened, I slept without them.
I was especially sensitive to light in the first two weeks. I wore sunglasses indoors to stop the headaches and fatigue from squinting against the light. Some other friends who have done the procedure told me this would improve after a month or so, so fingers crossed!
Another benefit I didn't realise was my astigmatism got better! Before the procedure, about 30% of my vision was blocked. Now, it's down to less than 10%.
The most annoying part of the recovery was that I couldn't get sweat in my eyes for a week, which meant no vigorous exercise. I also couldn't do contact sports or water activities for a month (sadness for BJJ!). Very woe is me.
While this reflects my personal experience with LASIK, everyone’s experience differs. I’d encourage you to read other people’s experiences on r/LASIK and talk to others who’ve had the procedure. For me, though, it was worth it to never have to wear glasses or contacts again.