What are your hobbies? Do you do any sports?
I do a lot of sports every day; it’s what you could call my hobby. I’ve been active since I was a child. I’ve been playing tennis for over 10 years. On school days, I play both tennis and volleyball.
“Glasses have always gotten in the way during exercise.“
Since tennis is an active sport, I have constantly had to either clean my glasses or keep them in place so they don’t break during activity. Contact lenses have never been a good option for me either because they tend to be rather uncomfortable and I can’t keep them in my eyes for long. I’ve felt that the glasses have held me back when playing sports, but I couldn’t play without them.
Why did you decide to have laser surgery at Silmalaser?
I decided to have laser surgery because I had already been thinking about it for a long time. I didn’t know much about it and no one around me had had the surgery either. As I just turned 18 this year, the possibility of laser surgery became more realistic. After that, various posts about Silmalaser started to appear on social media. I saw other people’s experiences, and it got me interested. With the free code, I decided to go for a pre-operative examination and see what it’s like. As the pre-operative examination went well, I decided in favour of Silmalaser.
How long did you consider laser surgery?
I didn’t consider laser surgery for very long because I knew I had always had the desire to have it, and that this desire would not go away.
What stood out to you most about Silmalaser throughout the whole process?
What struck me the most about the whole process at Silmalaser was that the preparation, the surgery itself and the recovery afterwards were all very patient-centred and professional. It was also very nice to get a call before the surgery to see if I had any questions or fears about it.
What was your biggest fear before the surgery? What would you recommend for those who have a similar fear?
Before the surgery, I was a bit scared of the three to four hours after surgery, during which my eyes were supposed to feel quite uncomfortable. I would recommend to others the same thing that helped me in those first uncomfortable hours: I didn’t make the experience any harder on myself. Yes, I felt that my eyes were uncomfortable and that they were watering and scratching. But I was thinking about how it’s really not that bad, and how it would all be over very soon.
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?
I felt very satisfied after the surgery. I was able to open my eyes properly for the first time only after I slept after the surgery, as I was not able to open my eyes immediately after leaving the clinic. Afterwards, I was very happy and wondered how it was possible that I could see so well without glasses.
What has been the biggest change in your life thanks to the surgery?
At the moment, the biggest change thanks to the surgery has been driving without glasses. Now I feel that I can see road signs from a distance even better than I did before with glasses. Of course, I haven’t gone back to training yet because of certain limitations after the surgery, but I think the biggest and most important change for me from now on is that I can do sports without glasses. I no longer have to wonder if I took my glasses to training, and now I can wear sunglasses in the summer!
What would you recommend for those considering the surgery?
I would recommend that people thinking about surgery go for a pre-operative examination. There, you can get a thorough examination of your eyes, and if you have any questions or concerns about the procedure, Silmalaser staff can help you find the answers.
