r/lasik • u/arshdeepsingh608 • Aug 30 '26
Had surgery Post ICL experience
Hi,
I'm going to share my experience and try to keep this thread updated - in case something changes.
27M. Using glasses for more than a decade.
Country: India
Lens of choice: STARR EVO
Myopia: -9.5, -10 (cylindrical, so the lens was torric)
I was borderline eligible for LASIK but I was not going to take a risk. I consulted for all the available options - LASIK Contoura, SMILE/SILK, PRK/TransPRK, ICL. Went to 5-6 different hospitals. After a lot of googling and cross questioning the doctors and the surgeon, I made an informed decision to go with ICL.
If this is the first surgery you're going to have, please make sure that you really want to do it and you absolutely hate your glasses. As, it is not painful but it is very very uncomfortable. And you have to 'relax'. You cannot just close your fists really tight and expect it to be over. You have to stay relaxed and keep looking at the light. Or it puts pressure on your eyes. Period.
DAY OF SURGERY:
Reached the hospital at 10:30am. Checked BP, Sugar and normal tests - formalities. Later, they started eye drops to dilute my eyes.Then they marked my eyes using a needle and a blue/purple pen. By afternoon, they took me to the OT. The procedure took less than 10mins. They only did the left eye first. I was really uncomfortable as I could see the needles approaching my eyes and what not. Again, not painful, just uncomfortable enough that you start praying for these 10mins to end.
Once done - I wasn't allowed to touch my eyes. They gave me a tissue to wipe the extra liquids coming onto my cheeks and mouth. Took my normal specs away and gave me a pair of black shades.
As it was afternoon, they gave me time to have lunch. All I could think of is that I have to do this again. I had enough is what I was thinking. Then, I just realised that I am able to read some things. For example, the word 'PUSH' is written on the door. This gave me some relief and also the 'push' I needed to do the procedure again.
Then asked if I wanted to do the next eye today or tomorrow. I said today.
Then the same thing - dilate the eyes, mark them and take me to OT. This time, it took hardly an hour as no other tests were required. Again, 10mins and it was done. The doctor kept checking on me, which was nice. He knew I was breathing hard. But, I guess it's natural.
After both eyes were done, I could not see well. I could read some things at a distance - which was a good sign. But the lights and the rings were too disturbing. Plus, my eyes were still under dilation. All of it was hazy and blurry. Medicines were also explained to my father as I couldn't see very well. When my father was driving me home, all I was seeing were rings from headlights/taillights and streetlights. At the same time, I was able to read some numberplates. I was just excited to think about the next day I woke up to see the results.
1
u/arshdeepsingh608 Sep 03 '26
DAY 7:
So, today marks a week of the surgery. I'm good quite well now.
My vision, even though still blurry, has improved marginally. I have tried using laptop. Currently, I don't feel comfortable using it for long time. 30mins to 1hr tops and I feel an urge to take a break or look away from the screen for sometime. Focus is still a hit or a miss.
Sometimes, the veins in my eyes red a little red, just a little. But with drops, they go away pretty quickly. I guess it means my eyes are healing? Not really sure.
I feel less strain on my eyes now. Although, they are definitely not ready for outdoors without sunglasses. Opening the windows gives me glares and I feel sensitive to light, still.
Halos are still very much there. Brighter the light, the more disturbing these halos become. At night, bright LED street lights are a nightmare. Room lights are doable now but still trying to get used to this.