PRK at TRSC Internation Lasik Center

Recently I had an interesting experience with what I suppose could be called medical tourism, I hesitate to say that because I didn't specifically come for that reason, I'm just waiting for my Pakistan visa to come through. Anyway I underwent Laser Eye Surgery in Thailand to correct my vision. I'll try to explain how it all worked. Keep in mind reading this that I spend most of my time in countries where things don't work that smoothly so for me spending time in Thailand is like therapy, everything works, the Thai's are courteous, concientious, and totally "switched on" I'm not going to complain about other countries here I'm just going to say I'm baised because in general I'm really impressed with Thailand. This also isn't a comprehensive explanation of the surgery/benifits/complications, just a brief description of my experience.

I picked the center TRSC by browsing the internet and reading a random account of someones experience here. Maybe you'll do the same. Keep in mind if you do and if you mention my name you'll get a 4,000 bhat discount. I did and I just grabbed a name from the internet! It's one of largest centers and that meant I could call, schedule an appointment for 2 days later and surgery same day of consultation- easy, impulsive.. I like easy and impulsive.

I set up my appointment by email, the responses were fast and clear explaining what I needed to do to prepare, basics of Lasik and FAQ's including a map of their location, just opposite Lumpini Park which I'm familar with.

When I got out of the elevator on the 6th floor this man greeted me. Every day after that I came back he was the same, friendly genuine and interested in how I was doing. After the surgery he and my personal counselor escorted me into a taxi below and explained to the driver where I needed to go. His name is Opass tell him I say hello if you come.

Next is the reception, for the entire time I was really "handled" always a clear explanation with a super friendly person showing me what was to happen next. A brief bit of paperwork and then I met my patient counselor who was to insure my well being for the rest of the process.

Patty, shown on the right then walked me through the rest of the process, going into several rooms for testing my vision, cornea thickness, ocular pressure, blah blah blah. Anyway it went really smooth, some of the staft didn't speak perfect english but all spoke enough to inform me of what was happening which was reassuring, "put your chin here" "I going to put a strap on the back of your head" "hold still one moment" ect ect. No surprises just clear reassuring explanations and efficient professional treatment. There were a couple questions to decide- 1 Lasik or PRK and 2 Which laser- 3 choices of different prices.

I went with PRK- it's what my sister did when she researched it years ago and my sister is really smart so that was an easy one. I chose the most expensive laser because they said my night vision would be better, again pretty easy decision. Total cost was 77,000 bhat with consulation fee of 1,500 and discount of 4,000.

There was a consultation with the doctor doing my surgery and I was impressed by her unhurried nature and taking time to answer all my questions. Sukanda Swasdibutra has been working at TRSC for 12 years and done somethign like 10,000 surgery's. Reassuring. AFter PRK I've come in every day since the surgery for a brief checkup to make sure there is no infection. Again all questions have been answered and every effort made to make me comfortable. Patty gave me here card and stressed that I should call her mobile number 24hrs a day should I have a problem or question.

Oh another cool thing during the consultation they dialate your pupils with some eye drops and it takes 20 minutes to take effect, during that time yet another kind, well dressed staff puts you in a massage chair and covers you with a blanket.. Damn I like the way Thai's do things!

Ok so what about the surgery? Well I came in at the scheduled time and found something odd, I was getting nervous! A valium is given which I thought wasn't necessary but in fact it really helped. I had this moment where I was really sympathetic to all my tandem passengers. You've decided your going to do something, it's been explained what's going to happen and you've agreed to do it, but still nervousness and fear comes in because you don't know exactly how it's going to go. Now I'd say I'm pretty good at dealing with fear when it comes to facing bodily harm and having to make fast decisions while flying or climbing but surgery, especially an elective surgery that doesn't actually need to be performed is a very different kind of fear. I could see myself trying to deny what I was feeling and really had to make an effort to be honest with myself about how nervous I was feeling.

I was put in a gown and hair net over my street clothes, instructed to wash my face, sat in a reclining chair while numbing eye drops were repeatedly applied over 20 minutes. Then all I had to do was walk to the OR lie down under the laser and told to look straight ahead.. well there was a little cleaning/scraping of the cornea, and a metal ring put on the eye... but then the laser about to start and you're told it's important not to move your eye, damn if I wasn't super focused on not moving my eye for the 16 seconds the laser is active! It's funny, a crazy laser show with flashing red lights, no pain but the peculiar smell of burning cornea tissue and then its over. By the second eye I was more relaxed and even looking forward to the weird visual effect of the laser reshaping my cornea. In minutes it's over. "Sit up", says the doctor, "Now you can see" I look at her, and the wall behind her and damn if it's not all clearly in focus! what a trip.

Because of this particular surgery I've had to rest a lot the first 3 days and had some discomfort and distortion of vision as the surface of my cornea heals but nothing I would describe as pain. Now it's all feeling quite normal and it's starting to sink in that I've really done it and I won't need to wear glasses again. I'm still a little hesitant because it can take months for the vision to totally stabilize but as it seems now I'll have 20/20 or better corrected vision. Wow, cool. Thanks to all the staff at TRSC they do a phenomenal job!

Oh, as I write this I'm in the waiting area on my laptop using the free wifi and enjoying a hot chocolate while chilled by the AC. My beverage choices were: pineapple or roselle juice, the assortment of cappucinos and coffee from a machine, hot peach or chrysanthemum tea with some really tasty biscuits... what next?