WARNING: This is an extremely long blog post.
The Before:
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| Waiting for surgery! |
After a while we decided to do it. Nicole & Krystal had to buy some sunglasses to wear out of the clinic. After that, we returned to get the surgery done. We were on the surgical floor by 2:30 & all of us back to the main floor by 3:15.
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| Almost ready! |
The During:
John went in first. Nicole & Krystal watched with anticipation for only a couple minutes. After about 10 minutes, Nicole went in; another 10 minutes, it was Krystal's turn. It was a quick process. There were 2 steps. First step was to lie under a machine that was going to make a cut in the cornea. This cut created a flap that could be pulled back & then folded back over after laser treatment. Our faces were covered with a large mask so that only one eye was visible to the doctor at a time. The area around the eye was iodized; several drops were put into the eye to numb it & then the cut was made. The worst part about that for all of us was the amount of pressure on our faces & eyes. None of us felt the cut. Then, eye number 2.
Step 2... we had to move chairs. That was weird to do after getting the cuts. We moved to the laser machine. A new mask was placed over the face. The eye that was visible got several drops. A clamp went into the eye to hold the eye open. The doctor then brushed the flap back gently & cleaned a bit around the eye. During this whole process we were to remain focused on a green light. After the flap was back, the laser came. It lasted a maximum of 20 seconds per eye. None of us felt anything but John & Krystal sensed a smell of burning hair. Nicole did not smell anything. After the laser, the flap was put back into place & more drops went into the eye. A lens was placed on the eye to help recovery. The clamp was removed & then the process repeated on the other eye.
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| This was taken just a few minutes after our surgeries. |
At the end of each of our surgeries all the doctors clapped & told us congratulations. When all 3 of us were done we got a picture with our doctor. Then returned to the main floor.
The After:
While down on the main floor we were reinstructed about what to do with the 5 bottles of eye drops we each got. One bottle was to be used every 10 minutes for the rest of the day. Another every 30 minutes the following day. And another to use as needed. The 2 other boxes are an antibiotic & anti-inflammatory that we take 5 minutes apart, 4 times a day. The antibiotic we only have to take for a week. The anti-inflammatory we take for 1-2 months.
~Hour 1: Subway rides
John started to become anxious & sweaty while still in the office so he went downstairs to cool off & wait for Nicole & Krystal. After a few more minutes we were all on our way to the subway. All our visions were very blurry still & John was feeling nauseous. He could not open his eyes for more than 2 seconds so Nicole & Krystal were helping him to make it through the subway rush hour of Seoul. We were the 3 blind mice. After transferring to the next subway, Nicole started to get a severe headache & the same symptoms John had earlier. We then made it to the Seoul Station & got in line to buy tickets.
~Hour 2: Waiting at the station
While standing in line at the station Nicole's headache worsened & she could barely open her eyes for 2 seconds long. We bought our tickets but had to wait another hour. John was feeling much better by then. He could stand to open his eyes longer & didn't feel sick anymore. Krystal went upstairs to get some food & John took Nicole into a coffee shop to sit down. At that point she couldn't stand to open her eyes & her headache was so bad that she started to cry. After settling down, John went to get juice for all of us & Krystal returned with some food. We couldn't stand the lighting in the shop for too long so we went into a dark, non-busy area of the station after eating. That was when Krystal started feeling the same symptoms of burning eyes that she couldn't keep open for more than a couple seconds at a time. Nicole & Krystal sat on the floor for the next 20 minutes looking like hot, homeless messes. All the while, John discovered how clear & far he could see.
~Hour 3: Train ride
We were heading to our train. Nicole held John's hand & Krystal held John's backpack as he led the way. Krystal was in a different car than us so John got her situated & then we went to our seats. For the next hour, Nicole's headache lessened & she was able to open her eyes for longer periods of time. John was a great at taking care of both ladies. He was texting Krystal to make sure she was taking her drops when needed.
~Hour 4: Going home
The train arrived in Daejeon & Nicole was able to open her eyes long enough to watch where she was going so John ran to make sure Krystal got off the train okay. Both Nicole & Krystal were feeling better but still making weird squinted faces. We all got some Coldstone ice cream before getting on the subway home.
~Evening: Home!
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| Bedtime goggles! |
~Day 2:
We all returned to Seoul the next morning for a follow-up appointment. The healing lenses were removed from our eyes & we were quickly checked. All went well.
For the next 2 months we need to wear sunglasses when going outside. We also need to take our anti-inflammatory drops.
For the next 4 weeks we need to wear our goggles at bedtime & avoid alcohol, saunas, steam baths, & strenuous activity. We also must avoid rubbing our eyes.
For the next 2 weeks no eye make-up is allowed.
For the next week we need to continue taking our antibiotic drops.
~Day 3:
We all returned to work on Monday. This also happened to be the day that Nicole & Krystal had "open class". Parents of the students came in to watch 40 minutes of "teaching". It's mostly a practiced show. The day went very well and no eye issues.
~Day 4:
It's still difficult for our eyes to adjust in the morning but it takes less time. Nicole still is searching for her glasses before she realizes she can already see. John still sees halos at night around lights but that will go away with time.
~Day 5:
Today! Still doing great. We are supposed to have another follow up appointment this weekend.
We are all doing fantastic & loving our new eyes!
We highly recommend getting eye surgery in Korea. The price is significantly cheaper than in America or Canada. Even with the round-trip flight cost, it would still be less. And if you chose to do it while we were still here, accommodation is free! Just a thought.
Happy week before Christmas everyone!!
