One Year After Eye Surgery

Today is the first year anniversary of me getting a new pair of eyes!!!

Well… Sort of!!!

A year ago, apart from quitting my job to travel, I made one of the best decisions of my life – getting my eyesight fixed via Laser Surgery at the AsianEye Institute!

 Read about my experience here.

RECAP

I wasn’t a candidate for a Lasik surgery because of a few preexisting conditions I had on my eyes… And so Dr. Ang, my Eye Doctor at Asian Eye recommended that I do the Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) surgery instead. PRK just takes longer to heal, but will be better for me in the long run.

I did the surgery, I was in and out in under 7 minutes, and everything went off without a hitch. My recovery time was a little difficult… I was basically incapacitated for a week. I was in pain for the first 3 days or so, but nothing too intolerable.

I had several check-ups after the surgery… A day later, a week later, and a month later. Everything was just fine, and I was healing normally. I was a little concerned only because I had to leave for my round the world trip a day after my last appointment, and my vision wasn’t perfect yet. Technically, the full and complete recovery time for PRK patients is 6 months – meaning I won’t achieve my full and most optimal vision till then… But Dr. Ang assured me that I was going to be fine, so long as I followed instructions (i.e. No swimming or extreme sports before I am healed, and keep lubricating my eyes with the drops)

With Dr. Ang - Best Eye Doctor Ever!

6 MONTHS LATER

My eyes were healing so gradually throughout the 6 months that I hardly ever noticed that my eyes have gotten so clear! I remember I was in Wales, about 4 months after the surgery, and I was hanging out with my friends one night out in their back yard. It was a clear night and I looked up to admire the stars… There were so many stars out because there’s hardly any light pollution in the area I was in… And then suddenly it hit me… It was the first time I was seeing the stars clearly with my new eyes! I could see everything… EVERYTHING! I didn’t have any contacts on… And I wasn’t wearing my glasses!

I got VERY emotional all of a sudden… you would think I was seeing this...

Honestly… I saw things differently after that night – literally and figuratively. I started noticing how much brighter and beautiful everything is. It just got better and better after that, and even after the 6 month mark, I felt like my eyes were improving everyday.

A YEAR LATER

I think the best way to describe it is… that I feel like for the past 20 years or so, I’ve been living my life in Standard Definition… and after the surgery, my life is now in HD! And sometimes even 3D! It definitely came in handy when I came across beautiful sights like these on my travels...

Cinque Terre, Italy

Gisborne, New Zealand

Athens, Greece

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

If it weren't for my new eyes, I wouldn't have appreciated beauties like these the same...

One thing I have to say though is that my eyesight is not perfect. I don't think I have "perfect vision," but it's definitely the clearest I've ever had since before I started wearing glasses. My right eye is distinctly blunter than the left. It's considerably weaker... but the doctor said they purposely make one eye more dominant than the other... One of them is meant to be sharper, and in my case it's the left one. There are days though, especially when I’m tired when I’d find myself squinting because my eyes would get dry and blurry… and this usually happens at the end of the day, just before it gets dark. My right eye especially would feel really worn out. I don’t use my eye drops that often anymore, but I use them whenever they feel dry, and I usually feel better afterwards.

Having said that --- I still stand by what I said… that having the surgery was one of the best things I ever did for myself. You just don’t realize how much a hassle it is to wear glasses or contact lenses until you’re free of that burden. It has been a part of my daily routine for so many years, that it feels like a huge burden has been lifted when I didn’t have to carry my glasses, my contact lenses, spare lenses, and contact lens solution anywhere I went… Especially on a big trip like this!

My new eyes are a blessing… Everything is illuminated. Everything is beautiful! I still get a little teary-eyed every time I see a sky full of stars... I have Dr. Ang and Asian Eye Institute to thank for this. They made me feel so safe and comfortable. Their facilities are top notch, and they are all such professionals. I could not have asked for better people to take care of something so precious :)

If you or someone you know are struggling with poor eyesight, I wouldn’t wait to take care of it… because you really don’t know what you’re missing. Being able to see very clearly after more than a decade of being in the dark is almost miraculous to me… and if your eyes are as bad, or worse than mine, then do yourself a favor and give yourself the gift of sight. It will be the best investment you’ll ever make on yourself, I promise. :)

My Top 13 of 2013

Happy 2014 everyone!!!  

Has it really been a full year since my Top 12 of 2012?? Everything seems to have gone in a blink of an eye. I distinctly remember writing the best things that happened to me in 2012, thinking to myself – “Wow… It’s been one heck of a year…” And there was a mixture of nervousness and excitement, because I knew that 2013 was going to be even better.

And what do you know… I was right!

Can I just say – and I hope I’m not coming across as boastful or self-involved – that I had SUCH a difficult time picking only 13 AMAZING things for 2013’s “Best Of” list… It’s like trying to pick only 13 of your favorite children, out of a hundred.  It’s just not possible!

I did my best nonetheless. And the 13 that made it to the list are the events, moments, or experiences that were special…unexpected…  Moments where I felt infinite. Special circumstances where I just went, “Holy macaroni. How on earth did I ever get so lucky… Thank you… THANK YOU…”

And so without further ado, here it is… The best of the best. My Top 13 of 2013!

1 FAREWELL LOS ANGELES

Leaving Los Angeles was particularly special to me, because of the two send-offs I received. The one from work, and the one with friends.  At work, we all gathered at the conference room as my bosses and coworkers said all these really nice things about me, thanking me for “my services”.  I was glad to be leaving corporate, but it sure was nice to be appreciated like that. I basically ugly-cried the whole day.

Then on my last day in LA, night before I flew out, I invited my friends to come down to The Garage, this local pub in Culver City, just to hang out so I can see them before I left.  I remember inviting about 40 people or so, hoping at least 25 would show up.
Well, on that night, 53 people came. I counted. There were 53. I didn’t even know I had THAT many friends in LA! Every single person who came showed their support in what I was about to do, and they all wished me luck and sent me off with a lot of love. I was completely touched… SO touched, that it made me wonder, for a split second, if I was making the right decision to leave. 

Well, we all know that I DID leave eventually… but that night only confirmed the fact that I will always ALWAYS have a home to go back to in LA.

2 GETTING INKED FOR THE FIRST TIME

I planned this tattoo for a year… It was tiny, pretty simple… but just what the doctor ordered for what lied ahead of me.  I got it ON my birthday – which was crucial, because I do “something I’ve never done before” on my birthday every year… and getting a tattoo fit the bill perfectly.
The icing on the cake? IT DIDN’T HURT! :)

3 RECEIVING THE GIFT OF SIGHT

Thanks to Asian Eye Institute, I have brand new eyes! I CAN SEE! This PRK procedure was and still is a blessing… I never knew how difficult it’s been having to wear glasses and contact lenses all the time, until I didn’t have to use them anymore. My eyesight was so bad, I came close to being half blind… But now, I look up at the sky at night and see the entire milky way and I get emotional. Now I can see the world for its true beauty in High Definition. It’s amazing… Thank you, Asian Eye!

My post-op visit with Dr. Ang
I could not see anything yet. Haha

4 THE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE IN NEW ZEALAND

I was driving from Rotorua to Gisborne in the North Island, completely out of my element because I was maneuvering a tiny right hand drive car around a mountain, when I got stuck in a LIGHTNING HAIL STORM.  Having just visited Hobbiton, I was in a very Lord Of The Rings-ish mindset, and so my imagination went wild as the lightning roared and the hail hit my car like bullets.  In my frightened state, I thought I was in Mordor… about to plunge into my doom. 

I had half a mind to keep going… and thankfully I got out of it in one piece. And just as I was catching my breath from the traumatic incident, I reached the bottom of the mountain and was greeted by a full-on double rainbow.  It was quite miraculous, I couldn’t describe the joy I felt when I saw it. It was almost like a clear cut sign that everything was going to be okay… That I was going to be okay. 

As I explained in my blog post on this experience, I didn't have time to switch lenses when I saw
the rainbows. My zoom lens was attached, and I only managed to take this photo. STILL
pretty good though, right?

And as if that wasn’t a miracle enough, the next morning, I saw the firstsunrise of the world in Gisborne… before anyone else. The experience was just… MAGIC.

5 JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY EXPERIENCE

Ohhh definitely one of my favorite things about this year… It was just the COMPLETE Japanese experience. I was dressed up in a kimono and I felt like Mulan and Julia Roberts combined. Read my full post on The JapaneseTea Ceremony at Hotel Chinzanso here. I still dream about that Matcha Green Tea.

6 GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

5 days camping in a huge farm with hundreds and thousands of people for food, love, and music… And seeing The Rolling Stones and Mumford and Sons (and a whole bunch of other talented musicians) play live? AH-MAY-ZING!!!

7 ANOTHER PLACE – THE IRON MEN OF CROSBY

When my friend, Andy and I went to Liverpool, we took a quick detour on our way back to see about the Iron Statues of Crosby Beach. He’s read about them and heard they were brilliant… I had no idea what he was talking about then… but when we got to the beach, I was floored! 100 cast iron statues of men were scattered across Crosby beach, and it was sooo eerie and beautiful… I felt like I was in a movie.  I remember staring into one of them, secretly wishing they were alive and that they had a story. Some of them were even submerged in the water… and appear and disappear depending on the tide. Seriously one of the best art I’ve ever seen.

8 FAERIE ADVENTURES IN THE ISLE OF SKYE

My whole experience with the Isle of Skye tour with MacBackpackers was  sooo awesome, but there was one day in particular that stood out…  On the third day… We started out the day storytelling by the Sligachan Bridge, then we dunked our faces in the water for 7 seconds because legend says it will give you eternal beauty… Then we headed over to Faerie Glen, a place so green, so beautiful and so special, that apparently the fairies of the glen whispers responses to your life’s unanswered questions. I don’t know if that’s true, but I definitely felt a different energy vibrating from that place.  Finally, we ended up at the Faerie Pools, which are the most beautiful little rock pools that are dotted along the path going up to the mountain. The waters were so clear, so fresh, and so beautiful… we dove straight in even if it was freezing. Even jumped off a cliff!! (A tiny one) This day did it for me. It sealed the deal. It is because of this experience that I decided that Scotland still is my favorite country, ever! :)

9 THE SHANTI HOUSE EXPERIENCE

I’ve written about The Shanti House numerous times. It is my first Help Exchange Experience… a rustic B&B that attracts only the best people in the world. There was glorious and fresh food, constant music being played, and the most amazing Italians you’ll ever meet…. And while I was there, I was able to take a day trip to Cinque Terre (A MUST DO!), and somehow ended up in a documentary about Voluntourism! Italy will ALWAYS be special to me… and I have The Shanti House to thank for that.

10 THE WALL AT GUBBIO

While I was working at La Preghiera in Umbria, the other volunteers, Richard, Eduardo, and I, went to Gubbio on our day off, just to get out of the hotel and hang out. At this point, the three of us have already become very good friends, having very similar reasons for traveling. As we were walking around the old town, we came across a wall with a view and just sat there. We sat, we talked about how grateful we were… About how happy we were about the decision that we made to travel… And about how great it was that we met and became friends. We shared beautiful moments of silence where we just sat there with our eyes closed, basking in the sunlight… 

“And in that moment, I swear… we were infinite.”  - Stephen Chbosky

I love that wall…

11 HEARING MASS WITH POPE FRANCIS AT THE VATICAN

I never got the chance to write about this… I’m not sure why… BUT YES. I am one of the lucky ones. I got to hear mass with – currently one of my favorite people – Pope Francis, Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, at the Vatican.
I never actually got myself inside the church… I was with thousands of other people in the crowd OUTSIDE The Vatican, hearing his mass via the speakers, and seeing him through those huge monitors.
STILL… I consider myself quite fortunate to have experienced being within his presence. I’m not going to win any Catholicism awards, not having practiced the religion for years… but I really like and admire the pope. He just gets it… you know? He’s special, and open minded, and both his head and his heart are in the right place. This guy is the type to move mountains… And I’m proud to have breathed the same air as him. :)

12 THE OVERSTAY EXPERIENCE

OK… I know a lot of my Jewish friends might not appreciate this, but I am not the biggest fan of Israel. Let’s just say that it isn’t my taste when it comes to places to visit. Like… for example, I’m not a big fan of olives either… but it’s a perfectly good fruit! Tons of people can’t get enough of it… It’s just not my thing.
HOWEVER… I did enjoy the experience of staying and working at The Overstay Hostel in Tel Aviv. I don’t think I’ve ever worked as hard as I did over there… Cleaning, cooking, managing some of the events and some of their social media… But I learned SO MUCH from the experience, and I have met the most amazing people… some of which, I’m sure, will be my friends for life.
I also had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem, The Dead Sea, and take a 2 day excursion to Petra -- which is definitely a highlight of this year as well... I went with new friends I never would have met, had I not worked at The Overstay. I had a really good time there… made me think that maybe I have what it takes to run my own hostel one day. :)

13 NEW YEARS WITH THE FAM

And by, “The Fam”, I mean my UK family… 

Because of these guys, I can proudly say that The UK is my official third home. I visit them so often, they’re getting sick of me, I think. But in a good way, I hope.
It was always my plan to spend the holidays in the UK with my friends… I think it’s a fitting end to a year of traveling, and jumping from one place to the next, to end up in one place that is comfortable and familiar, with a whole group of great friends all together. We didn’t do anything crazy or fancy… Really, as long as we had some food, booze and a few fireworks to keep us entertained, we were all pretty satisfied. Me especially… knowing I’m gonna have to get a move on pretty soon, it was really special having the gang together for the year’s end. 

______________

AAH! Best Year Ever!!! It has truly been a remarkable year... And my year of travel isn't even over yet! There are still so many things to look forward to.... and I'm so excited to see what 2014 has to bring.

To those of you guys who have gone through my journey with me, and are still reading this blog... THANK YOU. It's nice to know people are listening to what I have to say... and I hope I inspire you somehow... not just to travel, but to do something with your life if you're stuck or feeling unhappy. I hope that through my story, you'll be encouraged to take a leap of faith yourself... and trust that if you are in the pursuit of your own happiness, the Universe does conspire to make things happen for you.

It won't be easy... but it will be worth it. I promise.

Start with today. :)

All my love to you guys, and have a great 2014!!!

The One About My Eye Surgery

I am typing this blog post, silently thanking my high school typewriting teacher for making us memorize the qwerty keyboard, and for ordering us to spend hours typing with our heads covered by masks... a more creative way of blindfolding (my mask of choice was a "Polgas" paper mask -- the dog from my fave Filipino comic book, Pugad Baboy).

Polgas

It has been almost a week since my Eye Surgery at Asian Eye Institute, and I am still visually incapacitated. In fact, I may as well still be wearing my Polgas mask right now because I'm typing with my eyes closed. I am peeking every now and then to check for spelling errors. None so far. Woohoo!

Anyway... nothing to fear though because all of this is expected and pretty normal. As I have mentioned in my previous post, my doctor, Dr. Ang, recommended that I do the Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) surgery instead of LASIK because of several issues surrounding my eyes.

PRK vs LASIK

PRK is a type of refractive surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The difference between that and LASIK is that in LASIK, they create a thin flap on the cornea to access the treatment area, whereas in PRK, the cornea's entire outer layer is removed, and no flap is created.
The upside to PRK (in my case) is that since my cornea has a very irregular shape, not creating a flap is safer for me... Plus, since I do a lot of contact sports (like Boxing and Muay Thai), there is less risk for "flap complications". Dr Ang also said that if he did LASIK on me, because of my eye situation - there would have been a possibility that 5 years down the line, I might start losing my eyesight again... 

I read up on Dr. Ang. He is the only doctor in the Philippines to have finished two sub-specialty programs at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School.

Harvard Med.

OK. So whatever Dr Ang says, goes. End of discussion!

The downside to this is that my recovery time is longer. If I had LASIK done, I'd be typing with both eyes open by now, enjoying my perfect vision. Since I have to wait for my "epithelial cells" to regenerate, they say it might take several weeks or even months for the full effects of the surgery to manifest. I suppose it's a good thing I have a month of bumming around to do here in Manila anyway...  might as well use it to heal and recharge!

THE ACTUAL SURGERY

Me, pre-surgery looking like a public school
lunch lady.

I'm not gonna lie. I was pretty freaked out while waiting for my turn at the surgery room. I was dressed up in scrubs and a hair cap, and I was with two other people, comfortably propped up on one of those massage chairs.
I heard it wasn't going to hurt at all... but I mean they're my EYES. The windows to my soul!!! The thought of having them poked and prodded would make anyone nervous, right?

I went into the surgery room, and I was helped into the little bed where the "laser" was. I honestly thought they were going to give me some Valium or Diazepam beforehand, but I was wrong! I guess I got so used to being in the states where they give you a drug for everything!

Dr Ang warmly greeted me, and said he was going to talk me through everything while it was happening. He explained once again why he thought PRK was the best and safest route for me, and I appreciated the reminder. It helped calmed me down, knowing I was in good hands.

Then as he was giving me some anesthetic drops for my eyes, he said, "OK! You are on your way to having perfect vision for the rest of your life!" My heart jumped to my throat and my hands gripped my sides. Here we go...

First, there was an instrument that was placed over my right eye to keep them open. Dr Ang asked me to focus on the red light. Then he placed an instrument over my eye and I felt a little pressure... like he was pressing down on it, but it didn't hurt. Then they counted down 30 seconds - I have no idea what for. Afterwards, he took out the instrument, and I vaguely saw him take out what looked like a contact lens from my eye -- I guess that was the outer layer of the cornea.

THE "LASER"

One of the things I was nervous about was - what if my eyes moved around? Will the "laser" zap the wrong area of my eye? What if I shifted around because of nerves? I just thought so many things could go wrong... but here's a tidbit I read from Asian Eye's website:


Asian Eye Institute uses the latest technology to ensure the highest level of safety for its patients. At present, it is the only eye care facility in the country that uses Active Control Eyetracker (ACE) and Iris Registration (IR). 

Active Control Eyetracker – Eye movements are unavoidable during surgery. Asian Eye uses a multidimensional eyetracker that detects movements and adjusts the laser several hundred times a second to ensure that the laser pulses are fired at the correct location on the cornea. It is best used for high grade and astigmatism treatments.

Iris Registration – The iris has different patterns that differentiate one eye from another. At Asian Eye, the patient can be sure that someone else’s treatment will never be applied on his or her eyes. This equipment also detects the change in the eye position due to a change in body position. The iris registration, combined with the active control eyetracker, automatically aligns the treatment pattern once it detects the change in eye position, increasing the accuracy of laser pulse placement.



It pays to do research - and this information definitely made me feel a lot more at ease. In fact, everything about Asian Eye Institute was very comforting and professional. Everyone was so nice and accommodating. :)

Before the "laser" started, Dr Ang said it was going to smell like there was something burning, but that it was normal. He really wasn't kidding! The burning smell was pretty pungent. My heart was beating really fast and it was a little scary, but it didn't hurt at all. In fact, I didn't feel anything. The "laser" was over pretty quickly, I don't even know if it lasted a minute. After that, my eye was doused with cold water --- and that one I felt. It was fine... just felt, well, cold!

They repeated the exact same process on my left eye, and it was over in a jiffy. Doc placed a bandage contact lens over each eye and they're still on at the moment. He takes them out on Saturday, a week after the surgery.

And that was it! Tadaa! Surgery finished! Didn't hurt a single bit! I don't know what I was nervous about! They sent me home after explaining some post-op reminders and that was that! Voila! Piece of cake!

THE AFTERMATH

I am going craaaaaazy!!!!
I can't swim, I can't do any exercise, I couldn't go out much... AAAGH!!!

Alas... it is all part of the healing process. The first night was very uncomfortable, I couldn't really do anything else but sleep it off. The next three days got better, but it still felt like there was something stuck in my eye, like a contact lens not put in properly... or a piece of sand that won't go away. It's better now, but I still can't really see that clearly yet. It's like everything is illuminated and bright and scattered. I mean I can walk around fine and I can see, but it's difficult to read a book or write on my computer or watch TV. I have to constantly protect my eyes with these super cool glasses they gave me... I even have to wear them to sleep to prevent accidental sleep-poking! Oh and I also have to keep lubricating my eyes with these drops they gave me every four hours.

Again... this is all apparently very normal. It will take a while for me to achieve perfect vision, but I have to be patient and take it one day at a time. I am sooo looking forward to being able to work out again. If I can't see properly, I'd like to be able to punch or kick something (or someone) at least!

I have a follow up appointment on Saturday (a week after surgery), and then another one right before I leave for Australia (a month after surgery). I am crossing my fingers that my vision would be significantly better by then! I take comfort in the fact that I see an improvement everyday so far... Hopefully my next update about my eyes will be crystal clear!

**Click on the poster below to see about what Asian Eye Institute offers! :)

(**Read about my Lasik Screening at Asian Eye Institute here)

******
Hi There! Have we met before? You look familiar! Those shoes look great on you, by the way! I’m Eartha and I recently decided to quit my job to travel the worrrrld! Join me in my adventures by checking back on my blog, and leaving me a comment or two!

• Subscribe to my blog and get updated every time I post here!
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Come and visit me again soon! :)

*****

The Woes of Traveling Blind

I've been wearing glasses since I was 11, and contact lenses since I was 19, which basically means I've struggled with poor eyesight for more than half of my life. I would have carried on with the hassle of wearing my lenses everyday if I weren't as active as I am, or if I didn't travel as much.

The thing is, contact lenses and everything else that comes with it are expensive... especially since my eye grade changes constantly. Plus, my lenses have to be especially made too because of my astigmatism and dry eyes. My lens solution also has to be a specific brand, and when you add all of that up, it ain't pretty.

And there's also the water dilemma. Those of you who know me well, know that I am practically a mermaid. I swim, I do triathlons and I surf. There is always the internal debate on whether or not I should wear my lenses before those water activities. If I did, it's not safe. If I didn't, I won't be able to see. Aaaagh! It's so inconvenient!!!

LASIK

I've thought about getting a Lasik procedure done a few times before. I guess I just never got past the fear of doing it, plus the cost. I did have myself evaluated 5 years ago in Beverly Hills, and I was a candidate then. However, the cost was the same as getting a boob job - and I could not afford either (not that I would want my boobs done though). But then a few years ago, I heard a few of my friends say the prices of Lasik have dropped significantly, especially here in the Philippines. A couple of them have had theirs done at Asian Eye Institute for 1/10th of the price I was quoted in Beverly Hills 5 years ago, and they couldn't be happier!

What pushed me to really do it was 3 weeks ago after having an eye exam at an optical shop. My eye grade jumped up to a whopping 525 from 400, and it scared me to pieces.

ASIAN EYE INSTITUTE

Asian Eye's Reception

I booked a screening at Asian Eye a couple weeks later. I didn't really know what to expect, but I had a few fears. First was that I might not be a candidate anymore because of all the weirdness surrounding my eyes (dry eyes, astigmatism, high grade, graves disease)... Second, was that if I were a candidate, doing the Lasik procedure freaks me out!!!

Exam Room

Anyway, I was asked not to wear my lenses 7 days prior to the screening. I was also told that the screening would take approximately 3 hours. I thought they were exaggerating, but it really DID take 3 hours! It was the most comprehensive eye check up/exam I've ever had in my whole life! Talk about being thorough!

At first it was just like a normal eye exam at the optometrists. Then they take you in to see these machines check the size of your cornea, check your retina, check your (or my) astigmatism, the amount of tears you create, then they counter check that with a manual process... These guys mean business! I have to say it was very organized  though... I had half a mind to take a book with me, but the waiting time was very minimal. I was being ushered from room to room quite efficiently.

THE PROBLEM

Because of how comprehensive the exams were, they detected a few problems with my retina. Because of my astigmatism, my eyes stretch out to the shape of an American football, causing my retina to stretch beyond its capability, therefore making them thin. The main doctor, Dr. Ang, called in their Retina expert, Dr. Quilendrino to look further. She confirmed that my retina was close to tearing (in both eyes) and suggested that they do a laser therapy treatment to repair them and make them stronger. (The image below practically shows how they did the treatment on my eyes, and honestly, I was really uncomfortable. It felt like the laser was inducing brain freeze... It really wasn't pretty. I was glad it was over quickly though, and Dr Quilendrino had the nicest, soothing voice that made me feel really at ease.)

photo from uwhealth.org

I AM AN ANOMALY

Apart from the weak and thin retinas, I apparently also have very irregularly shaped corneas. Even more irregular than what astigmatism does to them. Dr Ang says that because of this, he wouldn't do LASIK on me, but suggests PRK instead - Photorefractive Keratectomy. From what I understand, instead of removing a flap like they do in LASIK, PRK works by reshaping the cornea using an excimer laser, allowing light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clear vision.  PRK also falls under the umbrella of laser eye surgeries, but is recommended for cases like mine - meaning people with corneas that are thin, or with unusual curvatures. The downside to it is that my recovery time is a little longer and more uncomfortable, but the upside is that I have less risk for infection. Dr Ang says it is the safest route for me, and I really have no cause to disagree with him.

photo from www.kovacheye.com

THE GOOD NEWS IS

At least I AM a candidate and I am scheduled for the procedure on Friday. Am I scared? YES. Am I excited? YES. Bottom line is, I just want to be able to see clearly again without having to rely on lenses or glasses. To those of you who have struggled with eyesight like me, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. And as for travel, this means not having to worry about buying lens solution or lenses or carrying glasses or worry about whether or not I should wear them before getting in the water. The good always outweighs the fear. I've been semi-blind for too long. It's time to see things clearly.

Wish me luck!!!

Have you struggled with poor eyesight? Ever considered or done Lasik yourself? Please share your thoughts and comments below! I'd love to hear about them :)

******
Hi There! Have we met before? You look familiar! Those shoes look great on you, by the way! I’m Eartha and I recently decided to quit my job to travel the worrrrld! Join me in my adventures by checking back on my blog, and leaving me a comment or two!

• Subscribe to my blog and get updated every time I post here!
• Add me to your feed reader here!
• Wanna be Facebook friends? Like my page here!
• Are you as epigramatic as I am? Tweet me @earth2eartha
• Do you have cool photos on Instagram? Check mine out too @earth2eartha
• Or if you want to leave me a message or a limerick, email me here!

Come and visit me again soon! :)

*****