My Lasik Journey - Part 3 : Surgery Day & 1 Week Checkup

Part 1 : Consultation Day

Part 2 : Detail Checkup

It's the day of surgery! A little nervous to be honest. On the day I had to wait for quite sometime cause they said there were some problems..waited for almost 3 hours, that the nervousness had gone away while waiting.

Anyway, before the surgery they check my power (read the letters) again. Just a quick check up.

Then, I was brought to the changing room and put all my belongings in a locker.
I need to take off my hijab (make sure to wear inner that can cover your neck too)
they gave me the hair cover and the surgery gown.

Then, the assistant brought me to the other room, put eye drops in my eyes. maybe more than 3 types of eye drop and I need to wait there (while lying down) for almost 20 minutes. I nearly dozed off while waiting...haha. They even gave me blanket since the room is too cold. Very good service here.

Next, they brought me to the surgery room. The assistant put eye drop in my eyes again (only one type) after I sit on the big and comfortable chair for the surgery. Then they adjust the chair so that I can lie down during the whole process. Setting the machine so that the laser will be on the center of my eyes and wait for the doctor to come.

Once the doctor came, he apologised that I need to wait for long time (which is very unusual I guess), and he started the surgery by asking me to close my eyes while he put on the eye cover for my right eye first. So, I thought it won't hurt at all. I was wrong. Actually he inject the anesthetic right under my eyes which hurt a bit - he didn't do this on my left eyes.

During the surgery, I just need to look at the red light (I was lying down under the machine) - I don't feel like blinking my eyes at all. While looking at the red dot, I can see that these things are happening :

I lost focus, sometimes my vision is totally grey, they wash my eyes with cold water for few times (yes I felt the cold water but its a comfortable one) and the tools that they use on my eyes.

Everything was done around 15 minutes for each eyes. The finishing step was when the doctor hold my head (so that I won't move) while the laser do it's thing. The assistant will do the countdown and said 80 90 100 something like this. When they said 100, at the same time the machine stopped and it's done!

In the surgery room, there was a clock on the wall. Before the surgery I can barely see the numbers since I'm not wearing my glasses anymore, but I can guess what time it was. After the surgery, I can see the numbers clearly. Can't be more than happy at that moment.

Then they brought me to the changing room again to take my belongings and wear my hijab back. I can see through the mirror in that room that my eyes were swollen, reddish, and I can see the lens that they put on (I never wear lens so it's a weird feeling)

After the surgery, my vision is not totally clear yet, of course. But I could say it is better than ever! I can see outside view was pretty clear (sunlight was extra bright but not too much glare) I don't really need to wear sunglasses while in the clinic, but since my eyes just went through surgery, I should take better care of it, so yes I wore it.

Before I went back, I need to pay for the balance and they gave me the medicine and eye drops.

Put on every 1-2 hours

Put on 4 times per day

my bestfriend for the next 3 days

One of the tablet that they gave was paracetamol which I need to take 8 tablets per day in total (I can feel my body restraining the pain and feel like having fever if I don't take this one. Sometimes I will have headache if I take the med late. Two other meds are capsule form and small tablet (this taste sweet). I finished 2 of the meds on Saturday and the capsule on Sunday.

They also gave me a painkiller in eye drop form in case the pain get worse. But they remind me if I use it, it will slowing down the healing process. So I decided not to use it until my eyes heal naturally. Last one, they gave me eye protector which I need to wear every night for at least 2 weeks to avoid scratching and etc.

So this one is my eyes right after I reached home from the clinic after the surgery. It doesn't look bad at all..

shiny eyes!

 Wait, don't feel relieved yet cause in the late evening after took a nap, my eyes turned out like this..

swollen eyes to the max!

My eyes were teary for most of the time thus that kind of eyes. It doesn't feel really hurt.
To be exact, it felt like you're cutting onion - non stop.

The next day when I woke up in the morning, it was hard to open my eyes. It was a little hurt. I need to open my eyes slowly. my eyes is still teary but less 50% compare to after the surgery day. The same goes for Saturday morning. A little less pain to open my eyes in the morning.

less swollen in the Saturday morning

I need to go to clinic for one day after surgery checkup. I need someone to drive me to the clinic, absolutely can't drive by myself. The checkup was pretty quick. They check my power by identifying the letters again - I can see the smaller one now but still not clear and had a quick checkup with the doctor. Since everything was good, they set up the next appointment on upcoming Wednesday to take off the temporary lens.

I didn't take photo of my eyes on the next few days but what I can say is, on Saturday I can watch television using sunglasses indoor - don't judge me lol since it was still too bright - for a short while, less than an hour for every time. On late Saturday evening, it was the last pain that I could felt (I ate the last 2 tablet of paracetamol left) and went to sleep quite early.

I took a lot of nap from Thursday until Saturday, imagine the amount of paracetamol that I need to take...2 tablets each time and those naps really helped to ease the pain.

On Sunday, Alhamdulillah best vision so far since the last few days and no pain neither swollen eyes. I can even sit in front of the laptop (sunglasses) for quite some time to download dramas lol my eyes improved a lot within a day!

On Monday, my eyes were back to normal.

ignore the dark circle pls haha

Everything looks normal again but not my vision, yet. It was still not clear but definitely can see far and near things are equally blur, everyday it's getting clearer surely.

During my next appointment on Wednesday - my sister accompanied me since I was scared lol, as usual they will check my power, Alhamdulillah I can see all the letters now. But the smallest one, few of them are still quite blur not sure if it was right or not. Then they called me to meet the doctor and he took out the lens. Before that, the assistant put on an eye drop to both eyes.

Once the lens were out, I can feel a little pain for short while, few minutes only and my vision I could say, with the lens was better. When they took out the lens, my vision getting slightly blurrer. I was worried if I could drive back or not. But Alhamdulillah, I managed to drive back home. I could even stop by at shop lots to buy few things.

Before going back, they prescribed me a new eye drop and I don't have to use the other two anymore. For this one I need to pay extra cause they said it is not included in the package.

this little one cost RM48 - 4 times/day

So until the next appointment which is after 1 month, I just need to put on 2 types of eye drop.

As for now, 9 days after surgery, I could say my vision is 90% clear.

So below are the list of appointment and charges for lasik (PRK) surgery from USJ Eye Specialist (they may change it from time to time)

1. Pre check-up - Free

2. Detailed check-up (can be done on the same day as pre check-up) : RM180 + RM300 (surgery deposit) = RM480

*if you are not entitle for the surgery you only need to pay RM180

3. Surgery day : RM2918 (including extra medicine for power more than 300 which costs RM418)

4. Post check-up ONE DAY after surgery - FOC

5. Post check-up ONE WEEK after surgery : RM48 (new eye drop)

6. Post check-up ONE MONTH after surgery 

7. Post check-up ONE YEAR after surgery 

I will update more related to this post in future. Maybe it will be about one month and one year post checkup appointment

Hope this helps anyone to prepare for their PRK surgery.

Thanks for reading!

My Lasik Journey - Part 2 : Detail Checkup

Part 1 : Consultation Day

So, I just had my detailed check up today. I could say it's not one of the thing that I want to do again in my life. I came exactly on my appointment time, 9.30 AM and waited for the doctor for around 15 minutes or so.

First test - remember the machine that dries out my eyes on the previous post? I need to do the same thing again but on different machine, next to it. My eyes dries to the extend it becomes wet naturally or in the other meaning, the tears came out. Then only I feel better.

Second test - still in the same room but different machine (I guess they have dozens of different machines in the clinic with different purposes) not really sure what this test is about but I will need to focus on blue light for this one. This one is okay.

Third test - they will test my power where I will need to see some letter and they put on correct lenses on my eyes like they one they did in optical shop. Still okay.

Fourth test - for this one, they asked me to see to different directions and they test my eyes moisture using something that looks like litmus paper. While they're looking into my eyes using another machine, they asked me to look up, up right, right, down right, down, down left, left, up left for few times so bear with it. At this time, my eyes feel so tired already.

Fifth test - They asked me to look at X sign and test the eye strengthness using a tool where they put it on my forehead. While the doctor is doing that, I thought my eyelashes disturb the process but actually I think it was because of the tool - anyway its not painful at all.

before starting the sixth test, they put eye drop into my eyes and I need to wait until the pupil enlarged. This may take some time and while waiting I can feel that my eyes are becoming stiff. The first drop was quite sting to my eyes. The assistant put around 3 drops into each eye. Soon my sight becomes more blurry and the light glare is getting worst especially when I try to look out where I can see the sunlight. Even when I wear my spectacles, I can't see well. If I look at my phone or something near (which I can see perfectly before) I can't see well like i'm having farsighted.

When I have all that symptoms (also I can see my pupil enlarged)  means that I'm ready for the next test.

Sixth test - they repeat on doing the fourth test but this time since my pupil is enlarged, the glare effect is killing me. Previously during this test my eyes was okay, but the second time, tears come out to the extend the doctor asked me to wipe it.

They gave me a little time for rest before go to the next test. I started to feel dizzy during this time. It was the eye drop effect I guess.

Last one, seventh test - it was just a simple one where they captured my eyes (maybe) I can see a flash light for a second.

and that's it.

So, it's true that I can't drive by my own after the test is done. Once I step out of the clinic, the sun glare makes me dizzy and it hurts my eyes too. So I need to use sunglasses instead of spectacles.


For any of you that will go through this, remember, someone need to drive for you and bring your sunglasses!

The result for today checkup is - Im eligible to the lasik surgery BUT since my eyes are stiff and size are small they suggest me to do PRK instead of normal lasik. If I want to do lasik (faster recovery) there will be high risk. As for PRK, they will put a lens on the outer surface for the recovery - but this will take some time to get recovered. Please pray that I will get better sooner, people! T.T

Anyway like I said before there are pros and cons, so basically here it is:

credit : https://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/prk.htm

Since my eyes are small, I guess the risk will be about the corneal flap complications (not really sure about this) so if there are complications, they will not proceed the surgery and will need to wait for my eyes to recover which will take months. To avoid the risk, I have no option but to proceed with PRK, since they knows better :) My surgery will be on this Thursday!

So as for today I paid the check up fee RM180 and deposit for PRK surgery RM300.

Will update soon - when my eyes gets better after surgery. Hopefully everything will go well. Ameen!

BROMO TRIP 2019 - Part 3

Let's continue our journey in Kota Malang!

*This post will have lots of photos, so enjoyyyy!*

The next day, we had breakfast in the hotel, my current obsession at that time was toast so this is my favorite spot. 

They also have local food such as fried rice, spicy chicken, tempe, fruits and etc. We checked out that morning cause we will move back to Surabaya by end of the day.

First destination for the day was one of the many Toko Ole-Ole in Kota Malang, I didn't get to take any photo cause I was busy browsing hahaha. Just manage to keep this one, after finished shopping the outcome be like....

Before that, inside that toko(shop/store) they have this small stall selling cendol you have to try this cause it's good af!

ES DAWET AYU SEGAR

i have no idea what is the exact meaning except for ES means ICE lol

They have varieties of topping like durian, sticky rice and etc..a must try!

Next, Mas Budi brought us to........can you guess based on below photo?

Near the entrance..

Maybe the sign is too small...this place is called

BATU FLOWER GARDEN 

located in Kota Malang.

This is the view to come up here (it's on top of hill)

love love love

When we reached the parking area, I can see lots of avocado beside the road like photo below.

Can you spot the avocado? In Malaysia, one avocado cost around RM3 and more while in here...just wasted like this >.<

Next, from the parking lot there are 2 options to go up the hill. Walk or ride motorcycle. We choose to ride motorcycle - it took around 5 mins to get there. As for walking, do your own calculation lol Actually, for motorcycle there are lots of rider who can go up with you but for us since we have just enough of 6 people (3 pairs) we decided to ride ourselves. Please excuse me for being too excited riding the motorcycle XD

Next, we need to buy ticket first. So you can choose the attraction spot that you want to take photo. Here you can see the famous "bicycle ride in sky", "floating in the sky" spot and etc. They have packages to choose and also ala carte spot where you can choose any spot that you wanted to take photo with. But first, you need to pay for entry fee which costs Rp 25,000 ( fee is not included in the tour package with Mas Budi)

Ticket booth at the entrance. Choose wisely.

But before that, people, I would suggest you to bring your own drinks (to save money and from being dehydrated) cause it will be so freaking hot - the weather itself is hot plus there are lots of people over there.

So, for the first payment is entry fee. Next is the spot fees (depends on your package or ala carte - also not include in tour guide package) so this is our receipt,

For me, roughly I spent around Rp. 50,000 approximately RM14 here. The entrance fee includes 2 free spots as seen in the receipt (no.1 and no.2) and we choose the ala carte spots since the package spot is not as to our likings.

Before that let me show you how's the surrounding at the hill top. 

Fresh air - eventhough there are lots of people but still air is fresher!

view from above

Our first spot is called 'LOVE'. 

At each of the spot, there will be this small shelter for the photographer and counter where you need to sow you receipt to them. So, keep the receipt well.

So first spot! 

2nd spot..

Next is "Gowes Air" I dont know what is the meaning but its this one...

floating in the air riding a bike lol there will take duo and solo photos

No worries, the bike is very stable actually. At first I was a little worried but when I sit on it, I know that it is very safe. They put on the safety belt too before sending us off the platform.

testing macro setting...

 

i think this one is ulam raja, its everywhere here

our own photographer..meanwhile waiting for others who's doing their ala carte spot

this one is free spot as in tepi bukit pun jadi la~ captured by Mas Budi

Next is group photo called "Hammock Tower"

Since I was at the top, it was so freakin high. I do feel scared and nervous actually but heyy why not, just once in a lifetime. Plus they put us on safety belt too. So you don't have to worry actually lol

Lastly, for "Ayunan", I dont have a nice photo so I will not upload here lol. After finish taking photo at all the spots, we need to go to their counter to collect softcopy photos. Each spot they will only give you 1 photo for free(included in the fee you paid before) any additional photo, you NEED to pay extra. One extra photo will cost you (if i'm not mistaken) Rp. 5000

While waiting for the photos, we're enjoying the ice-cream there. 

Hot weather and ice-cream is heaven on earth!

traffic light ice cream

After done with copying the photos, we're going to our next destination...but before that..

 

freestyle guys~

Supposedly our next destination is Ladang Epal (Apple Orchard) but we decided to skip that one since we took a lot of time in Batu Flower Garden. On our way to next place, we stop by the roadside to take a photo...it was so so so nice and beautiful!

Group photo is a must!

Then, we're heading straight to.....

view on the way to next place..

The famous...

CAFE SAWAH

From parking lot to the entrance, there are some small stores selling apples (very near to the apple orchard), avocados, stinky beans, and other local products.

Our main reason to go here is to have lunch . They have varieties of dishes - like lauk campur (mixed rice) style. Not sure how to exactly eat them, I just get anything that make sense lol

Corn rice, medium sized salted fish, veges that looks like kerabu-mixed veges (my favorite), and jengkol

 Just right after we finished eating, the rain is pouring. It's quite heavy rain so we have no choice but to wait for a while. They have musollah over there so you can perform your prayer too.

Musollah is at the tallest building there..magnificent view it is..

Enjoy some of the photos!

They just grow tomatoes anywhere...this looks very fresh isn't it?

love love love

another group photo~

Last but not least (the sky is getting darker and weather getting colder), we headed to our next destination..

BUKIT PARALAYANG

very foggy, the coldest place so far

new flower entry to my life dictionary - bell flower (naturally grow upside down exactly like a bell)

a hotspot for paragliding but the weather is really bad at that time...too cold!

Angel Wings - 1st try....

 Since it was too cold and we can do nothing , we decided to take some rest in cafe nearby. They have few cafe/restaurant there so you can take time to warm up your body too. 

Warung Anu - they have varieties of cappuccino - mixed of milk and flavors desired

everyone is tired so antisocial time lol

 Before heading back to the city, Mas Budi try to take the photo at the "Angel Wings" again and it looks better than previous one...it could be better if the sky is darker..

the sky should be darker so that the wings will be brighter (there is no light on the wing, it was just a plain iron)

 On the same night Mas Budi passed us to his friend - Mas Bagus to bring us to Surabaya City again. We will meet Mas Budi again on our last day before departure to Kuala Lumpur, see you again Mas Budi~!

Guess what, we arrived at our hotel in Surabaya past midnight time!

 See you on my last part of Surabaya Trip...

..phew finally!