Google-san doesn’t tell you much about CXL or intralase or standard or RLE, etc. Go in for a consultation and let the surgeon explain the procedures and what is right for you (depending on your condition like the thickness of your cornea or size of your nose, etc. the procedures that can be done on your eyes may be limited) based on an initial test they perform.
Two of my friends had their procedures done at the Shinagawa lasik center. Their surgery was done by an English speaking professional and his assistant and they were sharing instructions and step expectations and outcome in English to the patient throughout the surgery.
I had my lasik done at a hospital whose name I can’t remember but it was a female surgeon who did tests, and walked me through the entire process and did the surgery. It was a 2-day ordeal. My procedure was done with the oldest method and equipment. There was a complication in my procedure and I couldn’t see red light clearly for 6-months (starburst blurr). I was asked to come in for free consultations but I never went. It’s been 10 years and I have perfect 20/20 vision to-date and after the first 6-months I’ve had no issues with light or colors.
I went with Shinagawa Kinshi Clinic when I did mine a couple of years ago. They’re not specifically targeted at foreigners, but they have English/Chinese speaking staff.
I went with them since they seem to be a pretty well regarded practice and I also got a 5man discount code from a friend.
The process itself basically went as such:
1. Consultation (1 man, or free if you do get your lasik on the same day), this thing takes about half a day, but basically expect to spend your whole day sitting/doing tests/talking to doctors, etc… 2. Surgery. Basically 5-10 minutes on a big ‘ol machine. They place something around your eyes so that you don’t accidentally blink, then add some sedatives on your eyes. Finally lasers go pew pew to slice a thin flap into your eyes, then the doctor opens the flap, cleans a bit, then the laser does a bit more work, close flap, done. 3. Get sent to the room next to the surgery room and wait for 20 minutes with your eyes closed. 4. Pay up and go home. You can already see pretty clearly at this point, but everything looks a bit glow-y and starburst-y. 5. The doctor gives you 2-3 eye drops and you have to use them every hour or so. 6. Go home, eat dinner, and try to go to bed ASAP because your eyes will tear up. It doesn’t really hurt, but your eyes won’t stop watering. Oh, and you need to wear a pair of protective plastic glasses for about a week. 7. Wake up, eyes are dry as hell. Eyedrop. Basically perfect vision, no pain. I was working my office job by my third day, but I probably could have done so on day 2 if I wanted. 8. Got back to the doctor the next day/week/month/etc… checkups until the 6th or so month when you’re home free. You’ll progressively need less and less eyedrops, but expect to use at least a bit for your first year or so.
It’s been about 3 years for me, but I think I didn’t use any eyedrops after the first year or so. The vision started out better-than-perfect, then it settled down after a few months, but it’s still better than standard 20/20 even now.
I think the main things that you might want to consider are:
1. What grade/type of lasik do I want/What are the pros/cons of each. (Some are better for people who engage in contact-sports, some have easier recovery. The example above was for LASIK with the latest Amaris) 2. Is my cornea thick enough (The doctor will check for you, but maybe just read up on your own time beforehand) 3. Will I need Cross Linking (角膜強じん化). i.e. basically whether your cornea needs extra reinforcement after the procedure. It’s just an eyedrop, basically.
If you want to give Shinagawa Kinshi Clinic a try, I can give you a referral code that’ll give a 4 or 5 man discount. Though, full disclosure this would give me a kickback as well. I happened to have a good experience with them, but you’ll probably have just as good a time with any competent doctor so definitely shop around if you’re curious, especially if you’re curious about some of the methods not offered through them.
2 comments
Google-san doesn’t tell you much about CXL or intralase or standard or RLE, etc. Go in for a consultation and let the surgeon explain the procedures and what is right for you (depending on your condition like the thickness of your cornea or size of your nose, etc. the procedures that can be done on your eyes may be limited) based on an initial test they perform.
Two of my friends had their procedures done at the Shinagawa lasik center. Their surgery was done by an English speaking professional and his assistant and they were sharing instructions and step expectations and outcome in English to the patient throughout the surgery.
I had my lasik done at a hospital whose name I can’t remember but it was a female surgeon who did tests, and walked me through the entire process and did the surgery. It was a 2-day ordeal. My procedure was done with the oldest method and equipment. There was a complication in my procedure and I couldn’t see red light clearly for 6-months (starburst blurr). I was asked to come in for free consultations but I never went. It’s been 10 years and I have perfect 20/20 vision to-date and after the first 6-months I’ve had no issues with light or colors.
If you still want answers from the Internet read this https://notesofnomads.com/lasik-eye-surgery-japan/
Also see: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/r4xp7p/good_and_affordable_lasik_in_tokyo/
I went with Shinagawa Kinshi Clinic when I did mine a couple of years ago. They’re not specifically targeted at foreigners, but they have English/Chinese speaking staff.
I went with them since they seem to be a pretty well regarded practice and I also got a 5man discount code from a friend.
The process itself basically went as such:
1. Consultation (1 man, or free if you do get your lasik on the same day), this thing takes about half a day, but basically expect to spend your whole day sitting/doing tests/talking to doctors, etc…
2. Surgery. Basically 5-10 minutes on a big ‘ol machine. They place something around your eyes so that you don’t accidentally blink, then add some sedatives on your eyes. Finally lasers go pew pew to slice a thin flap into your eyes, then the doctor opens the flap, cleans a bit, then the laser does a bit more work, close flap, done.
3. Get sent to the room next to the surgery room and wait for 20 minutes with your eyes closed.
4. Pay up and go home. You can already see pretty clearly at this point, but everything looks a bit glow-y and starburst-y.
5. The doctor gives you 2-3 eye drops and you have to use them every hour or so.
6. Go home, eat dinner, and try to go to bed ASAP because your eyes will tear up. It doesn’t really hurt, but your eyes won’t stop watering. Oh, and you need to wear a pair of protective plastic glasses for about a week.
7. Wake up, eyes are dry as hell. Eyedrop. Basically perfect vision, no pain. I was working my office job by my third day, but I probably could have done so on day 2 if I wanted.
8. Got back to the doctor the next day/week/month/etc… checkups until the 6th or so month when you’re home free. You’ll progressively need less and less eyedrops, but expect to use at least a bit for your first year or so.
It’s been about 3 years for me, but I think I didn’t use any eyedrops after the first year or so. The vision started out better-than-perfect, then it settled down after a few months, but it’s still better than standard 20/20 even now.
I think the main things that you might want to consider are:
1. What grade/type of lasik do I want/What are the pros/cons of each. (Some are better for people who engage in contact-sports, some have easier recovery. The example above was for LASIK with the latest Amaris)
2. Is my cornea thick enough (The doctor will check for you, but maybe just read up on your own time beforehand)
3. Will I need Cross Linking (角膜強じん化). i.e. basically whether your cornea needs extra reinforcement after the procedure. It’s just an eyedrop, basically.
If you want to give Shinagawa Kinshi Clinic a try, I can give you a referral code that’ll give a 4 or 5 man discount. Though, full disclosure this would give me a kickback as well. I happened to have a good experience with them, but you’ll probably have just as good a time with any competent doctor so definitely shop around if you’re curious, especially if you’re curious about some of the methods not offered through them.