One of the most difficult things to deal with is having poor eyesight. Our eyes are our windows to the world, and having a dysfunctional faculty of vision may result to a lot of challenging times – from day to day living, to vacations and doing simple outdoor activities.

Although glasses and contact lenses can be a person’s best friend when it comes to dealing with poor eyesight, there are still certain situations when neither are helpful and you would have to resort to giving up seeing properly just so you could move more freely (case in point: swimming). However, because of the continuous advancements in technology, various procedures can now be done to bring back your 20/20 vision, get rid of your good old glasses, and embrace a life where you can see everything clearly.

One of the most performed laser eye surgeries to date is the LASIK procedure, which treats myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. It reshapes the cornea, enabling light to enter the eye and help it focus on the retina properly, so that the patient has a clearer vision. The surgery is painless and is completed within 15-20 minutes for both eyes. The results are usually seen immediately with patients enjoying a clear vision within 24-48 hours after the procedure.

The Medical City, one of the top hospitals in the country, has been offering Lasik surgeries since 2012 through their Lasik Center. For the past 4 years, they have liberated hundreds of patients from their glasses and contact lenses. Their center is equipped with the latest in advanced laser vision correction technologies and is backed by the country’s leading ophthalmologists.

At the moment, they are carrying the most advanced lasers that are available for performing Lasik surgery: the WaveLight FS200 and the WaveLight EX500. With their top-of-the-line services and premier care for their patients, The Medical City continues to prove that they are one of the best choices when it comes to eye care and surgeries.

Before the operation!

Just recently, I was able to undergo their Lasik procedure, and I must say that it was definitely a life-changing milestone for me. I have been suffering from nearsightedness and astigmatism since I was 9 years old, and for the past 15 years, I have been seeing the world in a blur. My grade prior the surgery was 625/20, so it felt amazing when I saw everything in clarity without the aid of my glasses after my surgery. I consider this procedure as a miracle and getting my 20/20 vision back is something that I will forever be grateful for.

I know that many people are also suffering from bad eyesight, so finding out that there is still hope is a very comforting thought. If you are currently considering Lasik surgery, here are some of the things that you have to know:

You have to go through a thorough eye screening process to determine if you are qualified for Lasik surgery.

Just like every other medical procedure, the surgery has certain requirements that you need to meet before you can proceed. A thorough eye screening process is conducted before you move forward with the other surgery. From refraction tests to measuring how much your eyes can tear up, the checkup will ultimately determine whether or not you are fit for the surgery. Some of the things that they will consider include your medical history, your family’s background (cataract, glaucoma, etc.), and, of course, your eyes’ current state (scratches, dryness, irritations).

Just in case you are not qualified for Lasik, the doctors can still provide alternative solutions depending on your condition. Since The Medical City’s Lasik Center offers a variety of surgeries for eye correction, I’m pretty sure they can offer whatever suits your situation. They can also provide certain treatments for your eyes if needed.

My eye screening took around 3 hours. There is no reason to be scared during the process since nurses and other hospital staff will be there to assist you. Much like the surgery itself, it was not painful at all, although there is some discomfort because of the pupil dilation. Most of my screening process was conducted by Ava, Lasik Center’s resident staff. She guided me all throughout, taking the extra mile of explaining each process before going through them. I appreciated their effort of letting the patients understand what they are about to go through. It felt very reassuring that everything is going well and everything will be okay. They are also very entertaining to questions, so rest assured, you need not worry about a thing.

There is a minimum downtime after the procedure that is completely painless.

Based on my recent conversations with friends, most of them are concerned about two things: the recovery time needed after the procedure, and the pain involved. As mentioned earlier, the surgery was practically painless and only lasts for about 15-20 minutes. Based on my experience, I didn’t really feel any pain during the surgery itself; but after the anesthesia wore off, there was a bit of a stinging sensation in my eyes. I was also extra sensitive to light, and my eyelids were really heavy. All I needed was a quick nap, though, and after a couple of hours, I was able to go back to my usual routine. There is minimal discomfort within the first 24 hours (totally normal), but once you’ve passed that, you won’t really feel anything anymore.

On our way to the hospital, I was a little anxious about how it would go. However, when we got there and the prepping started, I no longer felt scared about the operation. The staff was very reassuring, and I also got a pep talk from my doctor, Dr. Cecilia Agdeppa, before going in for surgery. She was kind enough to address my nervousness as we discussed the procedure and the possible side effects that I may experience afterwards. During the surgery, Dr. Agdeppa gave me instructions on where to look, and despite all of my fear, I was able to go through it with a breeze. The instructions and the reassurances that she gave were enough to keep me calm all throughout.

Swimming and strenuous activities are prohibited for a couple of weeks after the surgery.

Although there is no downtime for your eyes, you will still have to follow certain protocols to ensure that they heal properly. Strenuous activities like jogging and exercising are not allowed for the first two weeks after the procedure. Swimming, on the other hand, is prohibited for four weeks after the surgery, as the eyes need extra TLC during recovery. Even washing or rubbing the eyes is strictly not allowed to prevent irritation and possible infection.

You will still need to take care of your eyes after Lasik surgery.

Consider this as your second chance for a brighter future. Although your eyes will never go back to its old grade, there is still a small chance for you to gain a bit of an adjustment should you not take care of your eyes properly. Resting the eyes and preventing situations that can cause eye strains will ultimately help in maintaining your perfect vision.

Our eyes are one of the things that we really need to take care of, and there’s no better way for us to redeem ourselves than to start anew. This Lasik surgery is one of the things that I will forever be grateful for as never in a million years have I imagined that I could live without the help of glasses again. It’s never too late to save yourself. Lasik surgery is definitely one hell of an investment that you shouldn’t pass on.

If you are interested to know if you will qualify for Lasik surgery, you may contact The Medical City’s Lasik Center to schedule your screening.

The Medical City – Lasik Center

Mondays to Saturdays, except Sundays and Holidays – 8:00AM to 5:00PM

2nd Floor, Podium Building, The Medical City Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City

(632) 988-1000 or 988-7000 ext. 7783-7786 / (632) 234-0746

https://themedicalcity.com/department/lasik/