The Better To See You Guys! :)

Adrian Wong · 1st Oct 2008, 02:30 AM

Sorry for the absence after the Tech ARP BBQ (Steamboat) Party, guys. I had to undergo surgery on my left eye last week.

Thanks to extended use of corticosteroids, my left eye developed a cataract about a year ago that rapidly matured. Soon, I was only able to make out light and shadow. So, it was time to get it replaced with a new, clear lens.

Fortunately, I was able to get an empty slot for day care surgery in PPUM (University Malaya's Medical Center). Otherwise, it would have meant a wait for 3 months or so. That would have been a really big problem as it is ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to judge distances using just one eye.

I never appreciated the value of having stereoscopic vision until now. Try parking your car in a small parking lot with one eye closed. You will find that it is quite impossible to know if you are going to hit the wall in front or the column beside you. As a result, I often had to come out of the car on many occasions to ensure I do not hit anything while parking!

At first, I considered doing it in a private hospital but man, the cost was just insane! The cheapest quote I got was RM 6,000 (USD 1800) for the surgery. I've seen it done many times before and it is a real easy procedure. In fact, with practice, one can do it in just 10-15 minutes!

Okay, maybe I'm just cheap but I didn't have that kind of money handy, so I opted for PPUM instead. It was MUCH cheaper. The total cost was only RM 500 (USD 145) and RM 780 (USD 230) for the lens. The only problem was the waiting list. Even though it is a semi-private hospital, the typical waiting time for cataract surgery was about 3 months.

Fortunately, the doctors there recognized Jenny (who used to work there) and I was given an empty slot just a few days after the Tech ARP Annual BBQ (which ended up as a steamboat dinner!). Phew! I was really eager to get it done ASAP.

Although I've seen it done before, I must say that it was different lying down in the OT. There wasn't much pain even though I opted to only use topical anaesthetic. But the tugging sensation was quite unnerving. I kept hyperventilating thoughout the surgery. LOL!!!

Fortunately, everything went pretty well. There was no infection or any post-op complications. It took several days for the wound to heal and for me to start adjusting to the lens. Even now, my vision isn't completely back to normal, but it's improving on a daily basis. Hopefully, I will be able to see well enough to do without my ugly glasses!

In any case, I sure am glad that I have my stereoscopic vision back!

PS. Here's a picture of my eye before surgery. The cataract is the whitish part (partially hidden by the iris). Because it's opacified, light cannot pass through. I will go take a picture of my new lens soon.

lee_what2004 · 1st Oct 2008, 03:37 AM

wow
best wish for you
recover quickly

PsYkHoTiK · 1st Oct 2008, 03:48 AM

What big teeth you have....

LOL jking.

Hope it heals up real fast...

The_YongGrand · 1st Oct 2008, 09:47 AM

Yeah and get well soon!

Uh... just curious, why did you use those steroids?

strawroot · 1st Oct 2008, 11:19 AM

can put wide angle lens in eyes? hehe

Papercut · 1st Oct 2008, 12:00 PM

Wow that sounds pretty bad, glad to hear you're ok now

Trinity · 1st Oct 2008, 05:22 PM

Wow!

Hope you get back to 100% soon!

"Although I've seen it done before, I must say that it was different lying down in the OT."

OMG!!! Trin would have been scared sh*tless.

"But the tugging sensation was quite unnerving. I kept hyperventilating thoughout the surgery."

I would have passed out.

Adrian Wong · 1st Oct 2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

Yeah and get well soon!

Uh... just curious, why did you use those steroids?

Eh, not anabolic steroids la.. Just topical corticosteroids for my eczema. Unfortunately, corticosteroids were the only treatment available those days. Now, we have non-steroid alternatives like pimecrolimus and tacrolimus.

Adrian Wong · 1st Oct 2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trinity

Wow!

Hope you get back to 100% soon!

"Although I've seen it done before, I must say that it was different lying down in the OT."

OMG!!! Trin would have been scared sh*tless.

"But the tugging sensation was quite unnerving. I kept hyperventilating thoughout the surgery."

I would have passed out.

LOL!! You have to be awake for the operation as they will ask you to move your eye. So, if you faint, they will have to wake you up. Hehehe...

Thanks for your best wishes, guys!

The_YongGrand · 1st Oct 2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Eh, not anabolic steroids la.. Just topical corticosteroids for my eczema. Unfortunately, corticosteroids were the only treatment available those days. Now, we have non-steroid alternatives like pimecrolimus and tacrolimus.

OOo i see... Eczema really sucks, sometimes it's really itchy and sometimes the skin could peel off, I heard that.

I hope it goes away though. Now it's wrecking your eyes. So you actually bring it in control or is it already cured?

Anyway hope for a speedy recovery!

(Ok, I can make a better lens if I want to. Besides, that's all my course is all about!)

1st Oct 2008, 02:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,299 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	The Better To See You Guys! :) Sorry for the absence after the Tech ARP BBQ (Steamboat) Party, guys. I had to undergo surgery on my left eye last week. Thanks to extended use of corticosteroids, my left eye developed a cataract about a year ago that rapidly matured. Soon, I was only able to make out light and shadow. So, it was time to get it replaced with a new, clear lens. Fortunately, I was able to get an empty slot for day care surgery in PPUM (University Malaya's Medical Center). Otherwise, it would have meant a wait for 3 months or so. That would have been a really big problem as it is ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to judge distances using just one eye. I never appreciated the value of having stereoscopic vision until now. Try parking your car in a small parking lot with one eye closed. You will find that it is quite impossible to know if you are going to hit the wall in front or the column beside you. As a result, I often had to come out of the car on many occasions to ensure I do not hit anything while parking! At first, I considered doing it in a private hospital but man, the cost was just insane! The cheapest quote I got was RM 6,000 (USD 1800) for the surgery. I've seen it done many times before and it is a real easy procedure. In fact, with practice, one can do it in just 10-15 minutes! Okay, maybe I'm just cheap but I didn't have that kind of money handy, so I opted for PPUM instead. It was MUCH cheaper. The total cost was only RM 500 (USD 145) and RM 780 (USD 230) for the lens. The only problem was the waiting list. Even though it is a semi-private hospital, the typical waiting time for cataract surgery was about 3 months. Fortunately, the doctors there recognized Jenny (who used to work there) and I was given an empty slot just a few days after the Tech ARP Annual BBQ (which ended up as a steamboat dinner!). Phew! I was really eager to get it done ASAP. Although I've seen it done before, I must say that it was different lying down in the OT. There wasn't much pain even though I opted to only use topical anaesthetic. But the tugging sensation was quite unnerving. I kept hyperventilating thoughout the surgery. LOL!!! Fortunately, everything went pretty well. There was no infection or any post-op complications. It took several days for the wound to heal and for me to start adjusting to the lens. Even now, my vision isn't completely back to normal, but it's improving on a daily basis. Hopefully, I will be able to see well enough to do without my ugly glasses! In any case, I sure am glad that I have my stereoscopic vision back! PS. Here's a picture of my eye before surgery. The cataract is the whitish part (partially hidden by the iris). Because it's opacified, light cannot pass through. I will go take a picture of my new lens soon. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

1st Oct 2008, 03:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
lee_what2004 Super Active Join Date: 28 Dec 2007 Location: Melaka Posts: 1,313 Reputation: 1106 Rep Power: 14	wow best wish for you recover quickly __________________ Once a wise-man said : Chapter 1: Don't ever compare if you want to stay constant..... Chapter 2: Whatever you have done in the internet, you will never get away from it... Chapter 3:To be continued after I thought another one

1st Oct 2008, 03:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,661 Reputation: 4442 Rep Power: 64	What big teeth you have.... LOL jking. Hope it heals up real fast... __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

1st Oct 2008, 09:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Hyperactive Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,744 Reputation: 1144 Rep Power: 18	Yeah and get well soon! Uh... just curious, why did you use those steroids? __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E7200, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Gigabyte 945GCMX-S2, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5B-E Plus, nVidia Geforce 7950GT 512MB DDR3

1st Oct 2008, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
strawroot I Lurrrve Panda Biscuit! Join Date: 3 Jul 2006 Location: sitting next to da almighty boss Posts: 2,377 Reputation: 2100 Rep Power: 27	can put wide angle lens in eyes? hehe __________________ You know you're really trailer trash when... You think Genitalia is an Italian airline.

1st Oct 2008, 12:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Papercut Hold me back! I can't stop posting!!! Join Date: 14 Jul 2004 Location: Singapore! Posts: 5,106 Reputation: 2557 Rep Power: 36	Wow that sounds pretty bad, glad to hear you're ok now __________________ "Use in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep out of reach of n00bs. Overclock within 24 hours of opening. Do not read instructions before proceeding, do not use only as directed. May cause frustration, late nights and empty wallets. If symptoms persist please consult your hardware professional."

1st Oct 2008, 05:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trinity Little Kiki Join Date: 5 Jan 2003 Location: Ohio,usa Posts: 7,131 Reputation: 5836 Rep Power: 72	Wow! Hope you get back to 100% soon! "Although I've seen it done before, I must say that it was different lying down in the OT." OMG!!! Trin would have been scared sh*tless. "But the tugging sensation was quite unnerving. I kept hyperventilating thoughout the surgery." I would have passed out. __________________ (\__/) (-. - ) (> < )

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What do you guys think?	s p r a n k i k o	Overclocking, Cooling & Modding	4	27th Apr 2006 09:23 AM
Thanks Guys!	PY 222	Distributed Computing (DC)	21	25th Nov 2002 12:38 AM