Stella Terna: “One big step towards improving the quality of life has now been taken!”

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

I am currently a full-time entrepreneur! I write books and self-publish them, perform and organise events. A freelance project manager, basically! I don’t have very many hobbies because I tend to turn my hobbies into business, but in my spare time I really like to bake, take care of my dog, go for a walk in the woods, and go to pilates or other similar exercise classes.

Why did you decide to have laser surgery at Silmalaser?

I’ve been wearing glasses for 10 years now, and it’s been very annoying. I didn’t the way glasses looked on me as much as I liked going without them, and having to wear them was such a hassle! I used to wear daily disposable contact lenses from time to time, but they made my eyes tired, and keeping track of my glasses or contacts was a hassle. I always ended up leaving them somewhere, and it was just one more thing I had to think about. On top of that, my glasses were so scratched and scuffed by the end that I just couldn’t wait to get rid of them. 

In the grand scheme of things, I decided to have laser surgery so that I would have one less thing to think about on a daily basis and to improve my quality of life by seeing CLEARLY every day, every hour!

How long did you consider laser surgery?

I suppose I’d been thinking about it for years, but it wasn’t so much that I was afraid; I just kept putting off figuring out how and when to fit it into my budget. 

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

I really liked the warm and professional attitude of the staff! In addition, during the pre-operative examination, the procedures were explained to me in great detail, so I felt that I was in good hands and that I understood exactly what was involved, why, when, and for whom. The thorough pre-operative examination made the picture much clearer!

What was your biggest fear before the surgery? What would you recommend for those who have a similar fear?

I was afraid that the surgery would be painful and the recovery would take a long time. In the end, neither of these fears came true: the surgery was moderately uncomfortable, but nothing that would have left me traumatised or been excruciating. Just a few brief moments of discomfort and it was over. In addition, Dr Noor talked to me throughout the surgery about what was coming next and what it might feel like, so I didn’t experience any “not knowing” or confusion during the surgery. The recovery was also moderately uncomfortable for only a few hours, some of which I slept through, so the whole “uncomfortable” part went by very quickly. I can’t even remember it today! So, based on my own experience, I can say that the fears were much worse than the experience itself, and I don’t regret having done it!

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 didn’t have much of an emotional reaction when I first opened my eyes and saw clearly. I think it’s because I KNOW what it feels like to see sharply: I’ve experienced it with contact lenses. However, I was relieved that I had taken another step towards improving my quality of life and no longer had to think about glasses or contact lenses. So, the feeling was more of a relieved sigh. Later, I discovered that this feeling of joy and relief comes back again and again whenever I find myself reaching for my glasses out of habit as I walk out the door and then it hits me: Oh, I don’t need them anymore! So, I’ve had that feeling of joy in small doses several times since the surgery.

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

The feeling of relief and happiness when going to a concert and seeing the stage clearly without glasses! Or when I go to the gym and see the trainer clearly. Before the surgery, I used to never wear glasses to training because they wouldn’t stay on my head. And honesty, being able to do my makeup while seeing clearly is really nice as well! A lot of relief has come from this surgery. It has really made life easier.

What would you recommend for those considering the surgery?

Every health-related decision is very individual and requires careful thought, research, and consideration, so I definitely recommend thoroughly researching, asking questions, and talking to doctors before making any decisions. If you’ve still decided that you want to go ahead with it, then my experience has been very positive and easy. I don’t regret for a moment that I had the surgery and that I did it at Silmalaser, where I felt supported and informed throughout the entire process. 🙂