Okay, maybe “peer pressured” is a tad harsh. “Roughly persuaded” is more like it.
But the second part is true. I had just met her for the first time in my life, and five days later, I found myself climbing into the surgery bed, shaking uncontrollably, under glowing lamps and strange machines.
Less than five minutes later, I walked out of the surgery room sore-eyed but glasses-free. For the first time in over a decade.
Wait, I’m getting completely ahead of myself. Let’s start from the beginning.
We arrived in Beijing a little over two weeks ago, timing it with my mom’s annual trip. Visiting Beijing is a homecoming like no other. All of my mom’s side of the family, along with her best friends, reside in the city. In the typical Chinese fashion, everyone clamored to take us out.
One such friend (I call her Auntie Yang) invited us to a day at the thermal baths. Her exact relationship to us is best summed up as my mom’s friend’s late aunt’s widowed husband’s new wife. Confused? Basically, she’s the new wife of an old family friend. In fact, the friend who gave us our first Christmas stockings for our first holiday in the U.S. (he has since remarried and moved back to Beijing after the passing of his wife).
We all met at the bathhouse. Long lost reunions and new introductions were made. I immediately liked Auntie Yang. She’s a gracious and generous host with an infectious laugh and bubbly personality.
my mom’s friend, my mom, my cousin, me, Auntie Yang
“Oh how pretty!” Auntie Yang crooned. “But what a pity she wears glasses,” she added a few seconds later.
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard such a remark. It’s always bothered me that people treat glasses as a debilitating, repulsive problem to be fixed. Oh, you could be so pretty if only you didn’t wear glasses! How come you don’t get contacts? I’m not insecure or ashamed to wear glasses. I may have gripes with other body parts from time to time, but I’ve never believed that wearing glasses lowered my aesthetics.
“You should get Lasik. You know what? I know a place,” she went on to say. “My son and his wife both got their eyes done there. They’re both so happy with it.”
Even though wearing glasses doesn’t bother me, I have thought about Lasik before. Mainly because I have an irrational fear of going blind someday since my eyes are already pretty bad and I spend so much time looking at a computer screen. But I’ve only vaguely considered it in a wouldn’t-it-be-nice kind of way. I’m a HUGE scaredy-cat when it comes to objects near my eyes (and hence why I’ve never worn contacts). The thought of someone poking around my eyes makes me break out in sweat.
“I’ve thought about it before,” I said. “But I’m scared.”
“Nothing to be scared of! You don’t feel anything. And it’s so fast… a few minutes at most!”
“Is it safe to get it done in China??”
“Of course! This place uses American technology. The doctors are more skilled here because there are so many people with bad vision in China, so they perform more surgeries!”
Hmmm… that does make sense.
After some encouragement from my mom, I agreed to an appointment. I wanted to correct my vision permanently but I knew I would never do it if it were completely left up to me. This seemed like the perfect opportunity because 1) having my mom there makes me braver (there are some situations where you just need a mother no matter how old you are), and 2) it’s cheaper in China.
I knew nothing about this hospital. I did absolutely zero research. I put all my trust into this woman I’d just met.
“Good! Let me make you an appointment,” she said. “Then we can get this task over with.” Like correcting your vision is a thing to be checked off a to-do list.
The next day, she called to say she got me an appointment. Two days later, I went to the hospital and took a slew of examinations to confirm that I’m eligible for Lasik. And two days after that, I found myself on the surgery table.
It’s been one week now since my surgery. I’m loving my new perfect vision and am still getting used to my new reflection in the mirror. I’ve just started to get back on my laptop, catching up on emails, comments, and blogs. It’s more or less back to normal, though I’m finding that looking at a screen for too long hurts my eyes still. And then I have that irrational fear that my eyes will go bad again.
first picture post Lasik
This is just a quick update to let you know where I’ve been and that my presence may be sparse for a while still. I plan to write an entire post talking about my Lasik experience, so stay tuned!
Oh wow that was a fast, but then again, that’s how I’ve always imagined medical tourism would be like, fast sell, fast execution.
It’s much more convenient not to have to wear glasses – no more paying for a new pair every 2 years or so. But I’ve always been impartial to glass… they just make ppl look so sexy lol
I agree that no longer wearing glasses is a lifestyle change for the better, but I do also think that glasses are cute too! I’m definitely still getting used to looking at myself without them.
Oh. my. goodness.. I would be TERRIFIED! And I say this from experience– people in China can be so persuasive. I’m glad this turned out well!! Can’t wait to read more!
Oh I know! People in China are so persuasive. I’m really glad I did it and I’m glad I didn’t have to plan it myself!
Ditto what Daisy said, I’d be terrified! Fortunately I’ve still got pretty good vision (despite far too many hours each day in front of a computer screen) but if I didn’t then yeah I’d probably just get it done kinda impulsively like you did – no time to even think about chickening out!
Yeah exactly! I’m glad I didn’t have too much time to think about it. On my own, I know I’d never do it would and would just wear glasses for the rest of my life!
Whoa, what a story! I think you looked super cute with your glasses, though, but it must be awesome to have good vision without help. I need glasses for a lot of things, but unless I’m driving, I end up not wearing them because 1) I get self-conscious, 2) I legit forget to bring them with me, or 3) a combo of the two. I’m also scared of anything touching my eyes (I passed out an the eye doctor’s once because of said fear), which is one reason why I’ve never seriously considered it.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s afraid of things touching my eyes! It is so awesome to just wake up with perfect vision now!! You’re lucky you can still get by without wearing glasses most of the time. But I think a flattering pair of glasses can be super cute on a girl!
Ah! I’m so terrified of anything to do with my eyes. It took me a long time to get used to putting my contacts in and taking them out. Glad it all worked out for you! And I didn’t know it took so little time – that’s crazy!
I can’t stand just the thought of having to dig contacts out of your eyes!! And does it feel weird to have it up against your eyeball all day?! But yeah, the surgery is soooo quick, so you just have to endure for a little bit. I’ll talk about it in detail soon!
I love that story! I have good vision and have always been jealous of people who get to were glasses- they are so cute!
Ah you’re lucky to have good vision! The fashion-statement glasses with plastic lens seem to be popular now, so you can always try that. :P
I wear contacts but I get so sick of dealing with them… I’d love to get lasik but like you, I am terrified! I dislike anything to do with doctors and hospitals and get all sweaty and panicky when I have to go in for something. I think I’m going to have to suck it up and have it done while we are in Taiwan though because it seems more affordable here. I’m glad it was a good experience for you, and hoping that reading more will give me some courage! that dress is super cute too :)
Thanks Jamie! I’m going to write about my experience in detail soon, and I hope it’ll make you less scared!! I was SO terrified, and I really think if I can do it, then anyone can do it. It’s over so fast, so you just have to endure a bit of discomfort, but not pain.
I like my glasses, but I think that is because I can still see *fine* without them, and I agree with you it also bothers me when people see them as a problem. I will say however that you do look just beautiful in your last photo … with or without glasses.
Angie from reasons
to dress, fashion, travel and life as a mom in Italy.
Thanks so much Angie! And yay for wearing glasses and not giving a damn what other people think!
The auntie that DOES wear glasses thinks it is better if you DON’T wear glasses? I’m sorry but I’m kind of having a WTF moment here! I actually thought you look great with your glasses..
Hahaha she says she’s already old so it doesn’t matter for her, but for a young woman, it’s a shame to have glasses. Lol. I do think my face wears glasses very well and it’s weird to see it without them now! But I am glad I don’t have to worry about my eyes getting worse anymore!
omg this is such a crazy story! I would have freaked out! I’ve had laser eye surgery (about a year ago), but in the U.S. and at a highly reputable (and expensive) place. I’m so glad I did it, but I still have nightmares that I will wake up and my vision is all messed up again. Or it’ll be that I have just convinced myself that I had the surgery but really I’ve had contacts stuck in my eyes for a year. haha crazy.
I know! I’m paranoid that my vision will go bad again if I look at the screen for too long. How is your experience a year later? Is your vision still perfect?
Haha what an awesome story! I wanted to get LASIK for a while now and I asked my eye doctor recently and he kinda told me not to get it in his words. He said since I’m already (almost) in my mid 30’s that it wouldn’t last as long since my eyes will probably change again in my 40’s… damn I sound old! haha
My mom is nearsighted too.. not nearly as bad at I was, but enough that she wears glasses all the time… and her vision is getting better and better now!! So your vision may change for the better too. And I would never have guessed that you were over 30! :)
Ha, thanks… gotta love those Asian genes ;)
Some of the best decisions are made on a whim! Most of my life changing decisions are made on whims and look at me, totally fine, totally normal ;)
I really enjoy window shopping in the opticians window, I think glasses are so pretty and all the colours and shapes you can get, I (sometimes) wish my eyesight would be a little bit shitty.
But I guess, we all want what we can’t have….
And I shouldn’t really wish for bad vision either. That will give me bad karma or something.
Hope you and your new eyesight are doing well!
Haha nope, I wouldn’t wish bad vision on you! I used to wish I could have a few pairs of glasses in different colors and styles, but of course, they’re expensive. Who knows, maybe I’ll be one of those hipster who wear glasses with no prescription lens. :P
Haha, I guess you just needed the motivation. As a person who wears glasses too, I’m always wondering if I would bea good fit.. since both of my parents would freak out big time (probably not now that I’m married, I hope!). Good for you! You look great with or without glasses. Hope you make a good recovery!
Thanks Isabel! I”ll talk about my Lasik experience in detail soon. But in general, I think if you have the money, it’s a good investment to get perfect vision back. I’m excited about all the things I can do now, especially more water sports. For example, snorkeling without glasses sucked!
Yeeeey! So cool! I definitely want to noooow, some things I don’t get to enjoy as much because I don’t see anything!
I WANT LASIK SO BAD! I wear contacts and I’d love to be able to just SEE without having to deal with them, pack them, take them out at night, accidentally sleep in them, etc. Especially while traveling – one less thing to bring. I’m just scared of all the rumors surrounding them- losing my night vision, having to get it done again every whatever # of years it is. But literally everybody I know that has had it done raves about it. I wish somebody would set it all up for me and coax me into doing it like you!
I’m really glad now that someone scheduled the whole thing for me and I didn’t have to think about it, because otherwise, I’d NEVER do it! There were a few different types to choose from (not that I understand the difference), but the doctor said that this one type will provide a higher quality night vision, so I went with that one, and I feel like I can see completely fine at night! I am paranoid about my eyes getting bad again if I spent too long on the computer, but I have heard of people whose vision is still perfect after 10 years!
Can’t believe you finally been persuaded to do it! So used to looking at you with glasses for sooooo long…let me just say that you looked really pretty with glasses! Unique and cute! I guess u can still put on a pair of fake glasses if u wanna. This surgery way gives u an option of wearing or without ;)
I know!! I still can’t believe I did it, and I trust me, I’m still not used to seeing myself without glasses! Hehe maybe I will get a pair with no prescription lens. I do think glasses suited my face!
Oh, what a story!! I think it sounds better that you made the decision really quickly, as you didn’t have so much time to over-think it all :) Glad all went well, and I hope the computer light is getting easy to deal with, it’s definitely not a bad time to indulge in some screen-free time!
The break was so nice, but now I’m having a hard time getting the motivation back!! My eyes are feeling much better now after almost 2 weeks, and I can look at a screen for longer now. I kinda miss the computer-free life!
I hear you! I’m feeling a little dip in blog motivation too. I’m going away for three days, in ten days time and I’ve decided to have three totally free internet days, I’m excited! :) xx
Yay!! We all need that from time to time! Where are you going off to?
Definitely! We’re going to Cornwall, on the south coast of England, as we have a 3 day weekend coming up :) Can’t wait!!
How fun!!! Have a great time! :D
Oh gosh, what an adventure! I think if I were to ever agree to something like that, I’d need my mom there too!! But congrats on your new perfect vision! I hope the adjustment is going smoothly. Did it hurt at all during the surgery? I heard that you have to stay conscious through the entire procedure, which would totally freak me out!
It was a bit uncomfortable because they put a thing about your eyeball to keep you from blinking, but you just have to endure it for maybe 30 seconds on each eye! Yep you’re awake the whole time. I kept on saying that I’d do it if they could put me to sleep because I was so scared! But it was definitely endurable.
Wow, I guess 30 seconds isn’t so bad. (Though I’d still be terrified to be awake through it all!) It’s crazy that they can do the procedure that quickly!
I know! I just kept thinking that I only need to endure it for a tiny bit and then I’ll have a lifetime (hopefully) if perfect vision!
Can you believe that I had the chance to have FREE eye surgery and passed it up? My father-in-law was an opthalmologist, but I was too chicken to do it. Now, my eyes are getting too dry to comfortably wear contacts, and it turns out I hate glasses. So, I walk around not being able to see, only putting on glasses if I need to drive or look at something far way, like the TV.
Omg FREE?! That’s an amazing offer! I’m guessing that he’s no longer practicing and you can’t get it done for free anymore?! I think it’s a really good lifestyle change for the better for just a bit of discomfort. For the first few years I wore glasses, I only put them on to see far away stuff too. But then I got sick of walking about half blind so I just started wearing them all the time, haha.
Wowee! Now that is a great travel story, haha. I had to start wearing glasses for long-distance seeing almost two years ago. I’m still not used to it!
I think a stylish flattering frame can be really cute! I actually kinda miss how I look with glasses on, hehe. Would you consider Lasik in the future?
Totally agree, I think glasses can be super elegant and stylish. I just don’t feel quite confident in them yet, haha! It’s strange suddenly becoming a person who wears glasses after 25 years of not wearing them. I don’t need to wear them all the time (though do I feel the need to wear them more and more! I think my eyesight is getting worse!), so I’ve never considered something like Lasik. Someday, perhaps!
Oh no! My eyesight got worse and worse for like 5 years before they stablized. By then, they were so bad that I just had to wear glasses all the time, lol.
Wow! Cannot believe you made a decision so quickly, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time! But I haven’t quite decided whether or not to go for it yet!
Glad it all went well!
Hi Courtney! I’ll be writing a detailed post of my experience so maybe that can answer any questions or make you feel more confident about the decision!
Oh wow… good for you! That is a brave decision, but I had no idea the procedure was so fast either. My eyesight isn’t terrible but it is worthy of at least contacts, which I have always refused for the same reasons. Recently been thinking a lot about “medical tourism” as it’s called as CZ is one of Europe’s big areas that see a lot of this as everything is so cheap here. Still haven’t got up the courage to go to any appointments (because not all doctors speak English) but think I definitely will moving forward.
I’m glad I’m not the only one with the issue of putting things in my eyes! One of the biggest reasons I went ahead with it is because it’s much cheaper to get it done in China. There should be at least one international hospital, right? Good luck with your search!
Wow, what a big thing to mark off your “to do” list! haha. Proud of you for taking that step though, especially since your mom was there with you! :) It’s funny how some people are so blunt about the appearance of others and what they “need” to do to change themselves somehow! I’m interested in reading more about your experience when you get the chance!
Hehe yeah I think Chinese people just tell it like it is. If you’ve gained weight, skin got too dark, etc. I am glad I did it, though I found myself trying on glasses frames with plastic lens, hehe.
I’ve thought about getting Lasik and maybe one day I will, but it really just terrifies me. It sounds like it went well for you though!
I’m so surprised that so many people are terrified by it! I’ll write about it in detail soon so maybe that will put you more at ease. I really think if I could go through with it, anyone could!
I had my short sight corrected with LASIK 4 years ago and it’s absolutely the best choice. Being able to go scuba diving without worrying about glasses, contact lenses has been wonderful. I would recommend http://www.ooglaserkliniekheuvelrug.nl as best eye laser clinic and if I can do, you can do too.
I wanted to do lasik for long time, but kept postponing since the mixed review of people, but i am fed up relying on glasses everytime i travel, what happen now? Is there any side effect?