Phew, looks like I’ve not been updating the log for the past two weeks. Sorry about that, I caught a very nasty flu and had a bad sore throat. I’m still coughing while I’m typing this. *cough*
Okay, here’s my update, I’ve finally placed an order for the Reverse Geometry GP contact lens with BL Optometrist today. It would probably takes two to three weeks for the lenses to arrive. Oh, I just can’t wait to try out the lenses. Hope they can really help! A please don’t fail me…. *praying..*
I went to my LASIK centre today and had a short chat with the manager over there. I must say that the staffs there have been treating me quite well. Well, at least they still show concern about my problems and willing to help (Although, my LASIK surgeon has ran away and opened his own LASIK centre)…
After all the trauma that I’ve been going through, after what they have done to my eyes, knowing that I’ll have to suffer for the rest of my life… I think they definately have the responsibility to help me. So, I’ve made a simple request from them. I want them to pay for my first pair of Reverse Geometry RGP lens because I couldn’t afford it. Fair isn’t???
- www.afterlasik.com
I’ve come across this short piece of article and it catches my attention. Being an Asian myself, I find this survey is quite interesting. A survey is done to find out the different outcomes between Asian and Caucasian eyes. And the results show that “The risk of chronic dry eye after LASIK was significantly higher in Asian eyes.” Click here to read more.
www.afterlasik.com
Orthokeratology or Ortho-K in short is the use of hard contact lenses (RGP lenses), normally worn only at night (when we are sleeping), to gradually improve vision through the reshaping of the cornea. This method can be used as an alternative to LASIK (NON-SURGICAL METHOD) by those desiring to not have to wear lenses during the day. Click here to learn more.
www.afterlasik.com
Finally! I’ve finally found someone who might be able to help me here in Kuala Lumpur! I went to see the lady optometrist just now. I’m so glad that she can really make a pair of Reverse Geometry RGP contact lens for me. Now if you don’t know yet, we (after LASIK patients) for most cases, cannot wear normal conventional contact lens. This is simply because our cornea has been flattened. Due to this, post LASIK patients with refractive error AND after LASIK complications like seeing haloes, glare, starburst, double vision will have to opt for a special kind of semi hard lens called ‘REVERSE GEOMETRY’ RGP lens. This is the only non-surgical method that we can try in order to reduce or eliminated the after LASIK problems.
Okay, back to my story… I reached there at about 7pm. I followed the lady optometrist, Miss Low into a room and have my eyesight checked. When I looked at the Snellen Chart (without glasses) , I can only manage to make out the top 3 rows which is 20/70 vision. With corrected vision, my vision acuity is 20/30. The room is quite dim, therefore, I noticed glare, and halo around the back-lit Snellen Chart. And it was obvious that there were vertical shadows around the alphabets that I’m looking at.
I told her about my case, and she told me that I could try Reverse Geometry RGP lenses. Since she practices Orthokeratology, she will know how to do it because Orthokeratology lens IS Reverse geometry lens. I can’t tell how happy I was to hear that at that time. But one piece of that lens will cost me 750 Singapore dollar. Which is equivalent to RM3400 (almost 1000USD) per pair! Now that’s hell a lot of money for 2 pieces of tiny transparent plastic. Well, I think it’s still cheaper for me to get it done here than traveling all the way to Singapore. Anyway, I don’t really have a choice do I? – www.afterlasik.com
Hmm… I gave a call to BL Optometrist today and made an appointment to see the Optometrist (Ms. Low Bee Ling) there. I’ve been told by Mr.Yap that they can make orthokeratology or ortho-k reverse geometry lens. I’m very eager to find out. I’ll be meeting her tomorrow night. The shop is located somewhere in Bangsar. It’s not very far from my office but since I couldn’t drive, I’ll need someone to drive me there. – www.afterlasik.com
Oh, it’s 24th already. And because of this, I had to take a half day leave to see Mr. Yap, the optometrist. While waiting for my turn, I met a guy named Sajif, and we had a chat. He’s wearing RGP lens too. From the way he described his problems, I think he’s a keratoconus patient. And I think doesn’t even know what ‘keratoconus’ is. Anyway, he still can see things and drive with his normal glasses, he just needs to wear contact lens for sports. For me, I can’t see clearly even with my glasses on.
Ok, it’s my turn now, I went in to the room and he tried to fit me with an RGP lens on my left eye. Oh God!! It’s extremely uncomfortable, the lens is rocking and moving whenever I try to blink and I can barely open my eyes. The edge of the lens is sharp and it’s like scratching my eye like crazy. I can’t stop tearing. It’s horrible! After a few minutes, he put on another one on my right eye… very irritating… after about 15 minutes or so. I feel more relieved but it’s still very uncomfortable, there’s no way I’m going to get used to this feeling. And most important of all, my vision is totally blurred. He told me that, after fitting the RGP lens, I become far-sighted. He put some lenses in front of me, tweak here and there and finally I’m able to read chart. Well, I can see clearly, and I noticed that the glare and halo was gone. But the vision is not very stable, whenever I blink, my vision changes. From what I understand, because my cornea is too flat, there’s a big gap in the centre between the lens and my cornea and because of that a lot of bubbles trapped in there. Meaning, they don’t fit properly on my eyes, that’s why they’re rocking. At last, he took off the lenses for me. I felt relieved and disappointed at the same time. Relieved because the lenses were finally out of my eyes, disappointed because the lenses didn’t work quite well for me.
Luckily, he told me that he knew a friend who is practicing ORTHOKERATOLOGY and she might be able to help me in making REVERSE GEOMETRY lenses. He gave me her name card and I’m full of hope again.
For many times, I’ve requested a copy of my medical records (details before and after my LASIK surgery) from my LASIK centre but they refused. After all the pestering that I’ve made and some e-mails, they (my LASIK centre) finally agreed to give a copy of my medical records. When I reach there, they gave me an envelope containing some orbscans, refraction data and some other details of mine. I don’t know whether they are still hiding anything else from me or not but I sure hope not. I’ll try to scan them and post them onto the site after I have enough money to get myself a Scanner.
I’ve consulted a LASIK doctor (not my surgeon) there again. I wanted to know what else can he do for me for all the haloes, doubles, glares and starbursts that I’m seeing. He suggested me to go for an enhancement surgery. He told me that I can go for LASEK instead of LASIK. What is LASEK? Okay, from what I understand, LASEK (laser-Assisted Epithelial Keratemileusis) is basically a variation of PRK and LASIK. But unlike LASIK, LASEK does not cut a flap of the cornea’s tissue. LASEK is more like a modified form of PRK and is a moderately popular form of surface ablation.
“In LASEK, a solution of alcohol is used to soften and temporarily remove the epithelium (outer “skin” of the cornea). An excimer laser is then applied to the stroma underneath and then the epithelium is replaced. LASEK is often offered to patients who do not have sufficient corneal thickness to have LASIK performed safely, such as those with high prescriptions and/or thinner than average corneas.
Like all surface ablation procedures, LASEK takes longer to heal than LASIK and may involve more discomfort or pain during the first day or two. However, what it loses in “convenience factor” or “wow” effect it may gain in increased safety. LASEK does not use a microkeratome blade and therefore the complications associated with those blades are eliminated. It also reduces the risk of ectasia by not compromising as much of the cornea, and it may possibly provide superior quality optics as there is no flap interface.” – taken from the encyclopedia of www.lasermyeye.com .
Theoretically, enhancement with LASEK should reduced my LASIK complications and it should NOT make things worse. But then again, there’s always risks. Now the question is, should I go for the LASEK enhancement?
After months and months of researching, I’ve decided to go to the National Eye Hospital which is known as Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital (THONEH) again. I’ve actually visited one of the eye specialists there in 2002 and complaint about my left eye’s double vision and night glare due to my LASIK surgery, but they can’t do anything for me at that time. So after 2 years, I want to see them again HOPING to find an RGP lens specialist that can fit me a pair of good RGP lens.
I went there and consult the same doctor which I’d seen 2 years ago which is Dr.Sheamala. After I did an ORBSCAN (I’m surprise to know that they actually have these things), she referred me to an optometrist called Yap Wing Foo. I went to the optometrist’s room and had my eyes checked. To my surprise again, he’s actually kind of good. I mean, before I could explain to him that I needed something called REVERSE GEOMETRY lens, he started talking about it first. Unfortunately, they don’t have to facility to make reverse geometry lenses. Anyway, he wanted me to go see him again and have a go on the normal RGP lens, just to try whether they can work or not. So my next appointment would be on 24th October 2005. And I spent RM125 for the consultation fee.