Eye Talk – My ReLEx ®SMILE Vision Correction Surgery

I started wearing glasses since I was in Primary 2 at 8 years old and since then, my glasses had been my best friend. At the age of 15, I was finally being given the chance to wear contact lens and that became my second best friend until the recent years, when my trusty contact lens started to fail on me. My eyes started getting irritated very easily and I could not wear contact lens for more than 5 hours and by the 4th hour, my eyes would have gotten red and irritated. I was only wearing my contact lens for events, shoots and important functions. Daily, I would be wearing my glasses even when I worked and worked out. At night, I would sometimes be woken up by irritation on both eyes and both hands rubbing both eyes, not being able to even open my eyes after all the rubbing.

I was also stuck with the regular contact lens because of my high degree of astigmatism by the time I started wearing contact lens. I could not use any form of coloured and fancy contact lens too.

Love at FIRST SIGHT (in the mornings) 

I relied so much on my glasses than anything else. First thing I reached for in the morning was my glasses. I wore glasses to work and worked out uncomfortably and inconveniently in my glasses. Even the nicest and most expensive glasses were uncomfortable for me, I wanted out of this love-hate relationship.

I then dreamt of getting a set of perfect eyesight as I heard about the wonders of getting LASIK done, from many friends. I came up with pros and cons of investing this huge amount of money to get my eyesight fixed (almost) permanently. I started doing research and reading up the pros and cons of LASIK VS glasses. Of course, the ‘pros’ won hands down because LASIK is a ‘one-time-cost’ solution to clear vision as compared to the lifetime cost of relying on glasses or contact lens.

I heard about LASIK and even though my friends all encouraged to go ahead with it, I was still skeptical because of the cutting of flaps and flap complications, etc. Until I was introduced to the new ReLEx ® SMILE procedure, that was when I decided I should just give it a go!

What is ReLEx ® SMILE?

ReLEx ® SMILE stands for – Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. 

As compared to LASIK, ReLEx ® SMILE, doesn’t create a flap – instead, the laser creates a refractive lenticule (a thin lens shaped cornea tissue) in your eye and a 2mm to 4mm incision is being made and the surgeon then removes the lens. Your cornea’s integrity is maintained, and since it is less invasive, it also means you heal faster than a flap would, and there’s less risk of the flap dislodging as well. Dryness may be less too.

Watch the procedure here:

Pre-evaluation tests & Consultation Day

I quickly wanted to get the pre-evaluation done (was actually more worried about whether I will pass the tests). There are only two eye centres in Singapore that has the ReLEx smile procedure available. I managed to schedule the earliest appointment at this Lasik clinic in Paragon level 13. I was told to lay off contact lens for at least 3 full days (I did for a week just to be safe).

When I arrived at the clinic, bright and chirpy nurses and staff at the front counter greeted me. They were so helpful and cheery I almost forgot what I was there for and felt so at ease. I was told to fill up some forms and an optometrist took over from the counter and briefed me on the pre-refractive surgery evaluation procedure.

The evaluation process took about two hours, which includes a consultation with the doctor.

The pre-refractive evaluation compromises of a series of test to scan from the front to the back of my eyes. From evaluating my prescription to assessing my eye pressure. The tests also picks up imperfections, analyses & measure my cornea thickness.

And finally, the optometrist brought me in to see the doctor for the final confirmation! The doctor told me I was eligible for any form of surgery, both LASIK and ReLEx ® SMILE. I was super relieved!

Surgery Day

J and I scheduled the same day of surgery and so we were there first appointment in the morning. We had some waiting time so we went ahead and helped ourselves with some biscuits and MILO. :P 

YAY to last time (in a long time) without glasses!

Amidst all that excitement and nervousness, the nurse gave me a briefing on the post surgery procedure when I get home.

The nurse applied numbing eye drops just before I was ushered into the surgery room and before I knew it, the surgery was over within 15 minutes (which includes a quick post-surgery check by the doctor/surgeon). I went straight home after the surgery. I felt no pain at all, just discomfort and involuntary tearing throughout my ride home. As soon as I got home, I went straight for the bed and rested for 3 hours. Right after 3 hours, the discomfort was completely gone and my eyesight was already super clear, it was like a miracle!

1st Post surgery review – next day

Our first post surgery review was the next day and VOILA, the optometrist checked that my eyesight was already 6/6 and the doctor also gave the go-ahead to do whatever I want, except swimming! I could literally feel myself jumping! :P

2nd Post surgery review – 2 weeks later

This was right after I completed the 2 weeks course of antibiotics. The doctor checked that my eyes were still 6/6 and gave the consent to do WHATEVER I WANT such as swimming! :D

It’s been almost 4 months since my surgery and I still am very thankful that ReLEx ® SMILE totally changed my life! I was still trying to get used to the fact that I do not need glasses anymore and waking up in the morning was such a breeze! I must say, that this was one of the best decisions and investment ever (the other is braces)!