Ann Müürsepp: The biggest change is that sense of lightness in my daily life!

What kind of work do you do? What are your hobbies?

I am currently studying marketing at Tallinn School of Economics and also working as a designer. I have my own leather accessories brand, Annreal, where I make bags and small leather products mainly from recycled materials. It’s what I consider to be my biggest hobby. I like hands-on activities. I enjoy experimenting with materials, learning new techniques and creating visuals and content. And when I have time, I also enjoy walking around the city, going to exhibitions and museums: it’s a great way for me to find inspiration.

Why did you decide to have laser surgery at Silmalaser?

I made the decision because glasses and contact lenses had been a part of my daily life for so long that I felt that I finally wanted freedom. I’m very active and I do a lot of things where glasses get in the way, and I wanted to stop having to plan my day around my vision.

To be honest, I was also a bit scatterbrained. I kept forgetting my glasses everywhere and wore contact lenses for so long that my eyes began to hurt. There were times when I accidentally left my lens solution or containers at home, and then I often didn’t have my glasses with me. I had wanted surgery for a long time, but somehow never took the first step. Here, I have to thank a good friend of mine. She basically took me by the hand and said: let’s do it now.

How long did you consider laser surgery?

It was on my mind for a very long time, but unfortunately always faded to the background. I kept putting it off in the meantime, as life was busy and there was always something more important. In the end, I felt that I just didn’t want to drag this decision out any longer. I knew I was going to do it one day anyway; I just needed that little push from someone.

What stood out to you most about Silmalaser throughout the whole process?

Kai and Inger were both very caring and lovely. They explained exactly what was going to happen. Unfortunately, my first surgery was unsuccessful because on the day of the surgery I, for some reason, couldn’t control my eye movements, and when the clamp was placed, I moved my eye so that my cornea got scratched. Just in case, we decided not to risk it and to do the surgery a week later.

When we met again a week later, it was very nice to hear that Kai had thought about me. She explained that I need not worry, the surgery will definitely get done, just maybe we’ll need to do a different type of procedure. Luckily, everything went well the second time around, and now I can see clearly thanks to Femto LASIK surgery! 🙂

What was your biggest fear before the surgery?

To be honest, the thing I was most afraid of was not being able to control my eye movements. I have always had very sensitive eyes.

How did you feel after the surgery, when your vision had recovered and you could see the world around you without glasses? Did anything exciting or unexpected happen?

It was a kind of quiet euphoria. I remember looking around and for a moment I had this feeling of “oh, this is how sharp the world is”. In the evenings, I sometimes catch myself thinking that I should take my contact lenses out, but then it dawns on me that I don’t have to. I don’t have to do anything anymore. It’s the same when I leave the house: sometimes I panic, thinking, “Wait, where are my glasses?” And then I remember I don’t need them anymore.

What has been the biggest change in your life thanks to the surgery?

The biggest change is that sense of lightness in my daily life! The little things that I used to think about automatically: whether I had my glasses on, whether I had my contact lenses, whether my eyes were tired. It gives me more room to be present and do things spontaneously.

What activities do you now look forward to enjoying even more without glasses?

Definitely travelling and moving around without having to worry about glasses or contact lenses. And wearing sunglasses is finally easy as well: I don’t have to wear contact lenses just to wear my sunglasses anymore. In the past, it was often the case in the summer that if my eyes were tired and I didn’t want to wear contact lenses, I couldn’t put on my sunglasses either.

And to be honest, I’m also just looking forward to that little daily luxury of being “me” without the extra hassle. Even going outdoors in the rain is now a different experience, or stepping indoors from the yard in winter is no longer a struggle with foggy glasses.