Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gladiator]

I wasn't sure where to post this but figured it was probably most appropriate here.

I'm scheduled to have LASIK performed by Dr. Park early next year. Basically I'm looking for feedback from any of his former patients (any complications, how were enhancements handled etc.). I know of one ex colleague who had problem free surgery from him years ago and he appears to have a good reputation (he's performed the procedure on quite a few resident foreigners).

So, if anyone has anyone has any info. they could share with me please send by PM.

Cheers,
Gladiator

[Mr. Pink]

I'll bite: What is LAZIK surgery?

[Guest]

Well actually it is LASIK not LAZIK, and it stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It's the most popular of the current methods of Laser Eye Surgery for correcting vision. I don't know this doctor but Korean law does require that they have dynamic documents showing the current rates of a particular doctor's procedures -- how many, categorized complications, and of course, the overall corrected success rate. Also be sure to ask if you have any astigmatism and ask how many patients he's treated with it as well, it changes the procedure a bit as to success and complications.

[Bulsajo]

I just had RPK surgery done 2 weeks ago, but not in Korea. Freedom from glasses, contacts, solution, anti-fogging spray, lense-cleaning cloths for the first time in 30 years!

[kangnamdragon]

[sparkx]

Be very, very wary!!

i saw this doctor before coming home and was all set to go through with the procedure. When I got home I saw a specialist who told me that no surgeon worth his salt would perform the surgery on my eyes. I have larger than normal pupils, a very thin cornea, astigmatisms and the possibility of a regressive cornea disorder which lasic would have exacerbated if I had gone through with the operation leaving me blind in 5 - 10 years.

Make sure that one of the tests performed is a crazy strobe light type test which creates a topographical map of your eyeball. It tells whether or not you may have this condition. Do your research...it's your damn eyes your putting into the hands of a korean for god sakes.

[Blue Flower]

Why does astigmatism make the procedure more difficult? I always thought that when i had enough spare cash, i would get the lasik done, as i hate wearing glasses/contacts. But I do have astigmatism.

[sparkx]

I think in most cases its inconsequential as long as you have fairly thick corneas and your eyesight hasn't changed in the past few years. From what I was told by my specialist, it is in fact easier to treat an eye with an astigmatism.

[Bulsajo]

For those thinking of Lasik but may have 'issues' (both physical and emotional/mental) with it- check out RPK surgery- it's somewhat slower, more painful, but safer in many ways. My cornea was too thin for Lasik (well actually my cornea was the regular width but my prescription so bad that Lasik would have been incredibly risky).

The idea of Lasik is basically to make an incision in the side of the cornea, lift it open, and slim down the Cornea from the inside (middle) downwards. If things go wrong you could be a candidate for a corneal transplant. In RPK the the laser 'shaves off' the outer (or top) layers of the cornea until the desired width is reached. This means a wider surface area to heal, meaning you'll be off work for almost a week and it hurts more- but it's safer: if something goes wrong it just means you'll need to re-do the surgery- there is much much less chance of going blind.

I have no idea if RPK is done in Korea, but I would imagine so- I believe the equipment is exactly the same. Korean doctors probably recommend Lasik because it's less painful and can get you back to work in a couple of days.

[Ryst Helmut]

Not to get too off topic, but I wonder how many 'practice' runs the doctors and/or practitioners did before getting this down pat......and for those who were experimented on......ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch.


Shoosh,

Ryst

[Swiss James]

I was thinking the same thing the other day about dentists.

[gi66y]

Is RPK the same as PRK?

I talked with my doctor about it a few years ago and I thought it was PRK that they used for people that weren't suitable for LASIK

Some people aren't suitable for any kind of laser surgery...sadly I think I might fall into that category with my right eye, even contacts can be a problem. Be wary! It's your eyes after all.

[Bulsajo]

[Raoul Duke]

[dutchman]

Gladiator,

Why'd you change doctors (not the same name as original post)? And how much did it cost?