LASIK Laser Eye Surgery - Auckland, NZ

I had laser eye surgery done when I was 19, once my eyesight had been stable for over 2 years. It was definitely worth it - I hated wearing glasses, contact lenses were expensive in the long term and painful if they rip while being worn. I had my surgery a few years ago now, and so remember little about the process but I do remember having quite a few pre and post treatment appointments with my surgeon and clinic staff to test the stage my eyes were at and how everything was going. Pre-surgery all my eye testing (I had more than one test done to ensure the results were correct) were done by a computer system, to ensure the most accuracy and remove the risk human error in getting my eye prescription absolutely correct. On the day of the surgery, at the clinic I had 7 or so rounds of eye drops applied to my eyes - anaesthetic mostly, but also drops to keep my eyes lubricated, and some disinfectant etc. Some of the drops stung, but that only lasts a few seconds and is only minor. After all the eye drops, I went into the operating theatre. You stay awake the whole time, as it is important for you to keep your eyes focused on the laser. Lying back in a medical recliner, the surgeon puts metal rings in your eyes to keep your eyelids open, but you can't feel this due to the anaesthetic. The hardest part about the entire thing, is that for the entire surgery you have the surgeon and the laser right up close in your face, which I found very claustrophobic. You are unable to blink, look away, cry, or have a break. You can't see anything really. Only the bright lights right above you, which you have to focus on. You have to focus on keeping your eyes still and focused on those lights above you. If your eyes move around too much, the laser will stop automatically, but avoid it if you can. Make sure you have a support person with you, as it is quite intense and scary having all of this going on right up in your face - in your personal space. I had the theatre nurse hold my hand, which I truly needed! Just focus on your breathing and keep yourself calm. There's no pain at all during the surgery, just a slight smell of burning flesh from the laser, and the sense of everything in the room being focused on your face - I found it very claustrophobic in there, those who suffer from claustrophobia who are considering this surgery should practice having things right up close in their personal space/facial area. But - it's a very quick process. I think surgery usually lasts between 10-15minutes, mine lasted 11. Once you're done in theatre, you head to a post-op room. Your eyesight will already have improved! The surgery provides instant improvement, and your eyes will gradually get better and better as your eyes heal. The surgeon tapes goggles over your eyes, to keep you from touching them, and to protect them as they heal. I suggest that you book your surgery in the afternoon on a Friday, and you'll head home and just want to sleep. Pretty much you'll just want to sleep for the next two days, and make sure you keep up the drugs they give you (I had Codine) as recovery can be painful if your drugs wear off!! For the next week or two, be prepared for bloodshot (but not sore) eyes, and no makeup! I started with a prescription of -2.75, and now a few years later I still have 20/20 vision. I feel like since getting my eyes layered, my eyes don't have the stamina they used to - my eyes get tired quicker when using a computer/watching TV (this is after a whole day at work, not like after 2-3hrs), and while I do not think my eyes have been drier since the surgery, I feel that maybe if I used eye drops when my eyes are feeling tired then that would refresh them.
All in all, it's a scary 10-15mins, but it is well worth it and I would recommend it to anyone who wears glasses or uses contacts. The freedom to be able to see without any assistance is incredible, and if my eyes deteriorated in the future I would not hesitate to get this surgery again. Definitely worth checking it out!