My Lasik procedure in Dubai

YES I already did it, I had my Lasik procedure last April here in Dubai and from my experience I can definitely say it's very worth it! I have worn glasses for almost 6 years though compared to others you can say I am still newbie in wearing one but life can be pretty difficult at times. I didn't consider wearing contact lenses because it required so much effort to wear and I need a custom made ones due to one of my eyes has a very high astigmatism.

It all began last year when I saw Kris Fade made this video of his Lasik experience and how it changed his life. I also had a friend that have done it and loved the results. I gave good thought about it and realized, I need to do it as well. But prices of Lasik procedures here in Dubai is very expensive, it's like triple than the procedure cost in the Philippines. Since the price here is very expensive and may not have the time do it locally, I decided that I'll just have it when I am on vacation in the Philippines. But I was informed by my friends that they know somebody that got their Lasik procedure here for an affordable price, I tried to searched the internet. After some time spent and a lot of keyword combinations, I saw one promotion.

I saw a promotion made by Atlanta Vision Clinic for their Lasik procedure in one of the discount websites. This was the same clinic where Kris Fade got this Lasik. So I am very much confident that I will be in good hands if I decide to do the procedure here. I've thought about it and weighed the pros and cons and in the end, I went ahead with it here mainly because of the after-procedure check-ups which I cannot do if I did it in the Philippines.

I went to their clinic, got my eyes check if I am eligible for the Lasik procedure. My doctor was Dr. Huda Radhi. She was very warm and informed me very well about the procedure, the do's and don'ts and encourages me to ask questions that I might have. I am a little nervous at first. Who wouldn't be its my vision were talking about here. But after speaking with Dr. Huda and their staff, I was confident that it will be ok. So after a couple of exams, I was informed that I can do the procedure.

The day of procedure came, feeling mix emotions but I was looking forward in having a clearer vision after. I need to be at the clinic 15 minutes before the procedure to make the preparations. Also, they told me to wear a jacket because the room will be pretty cold. The procedure started and after 15 minutes it was done. At that time, my vision is a bit cloudy but it got better overnight. The procedure went smoothly I didn't feel any pain from the laser itself but you can definitely smell the burning. You can feel pressure from the device they use but it is tolerable. I didn't feel any pain after but there are once in a while itchiness and dryness of my eyes though I already have that prior the Lasik. After the procedure, I needed to keep my eyes closed for 3 hours (I think). Even though your not sleepy, you need to close it to encourage healing of your eyes.

We went home and I felt the greatest feeling yet, TO BE ABLE TO WEAR SUNGLASSES! hahaha. Yes, it is one of the reasons why I got the Lasik besides getting married this year. After the procedure, you need to attend the constant check-ups to monitor the progress. The scheduled check-ups would be 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery. For me, it's been more than 2 months now, my daily life improved a lot. I am able to see far away distances, read billboards, and everything is very crisp like its been sharpened in Adobe Fireworks, hahaha. From my last eye check-up I can read even the 20/15 line. Impressive. My vision went from 250-350 vision to almost 20-20 again and my eyes are continually healing so there will be a chance it will get better but even just now, I am very happy with the results.

See pictures of my Lasik procedure and some of my friendly tips....

Holy Week 2012 - Pope John Paul II and Divine Mercy

Holy week, for us Catholics, is a time to repent, to ask for forgiveness and forgive and to sacrifice. Here in Dubai, Holy week is commemorated the same way as it is in the Philippines. We have Palm Sunday, Visita Iglesia and Stations of the Cross. The things that they don't do here is pasyon and salubong.

Last Sunday, we went to Saint Mary's Church to attend the Palm Sunday mass. Good thing we arrived early we were able to get palaspas from the lector. The palaspas here is not that fancy like in the Philippines. We have the traditional one, Palm leaves.

The "palaspas" in Dubai. One for me, 1 for my fiance and 1 for my brother

Before the mass started, people were forming a line and as if they were waiting for something. I was curious so I followed the line with my eyes and I saw the lector handing out Divine Mercy posters, novenas and pocket photos. And then it came to me, the feast of the Divine Mercy is near as well. It happens a week after Easter Sunday. 

I am a devotee of the Divine Mercy ever since I graduated college. There is a story on how a began to be a devotee. It all began when I was reviewing for the board exam and my mother, a true blue Roman Catholic, believes that I should have one patron saint that I need to be a devotee to. I tried to think who should I choose but it was unsuccessful maybe because you're not suppose to be the one to choose but instead they will choose you. So I went to sleep and when I woke up commonly you don't remember anything about your dream but I remembered hearing someone say "Divine Mercy" during my dream.

After that my mind was set to becoming a devotee to the Divine Mercy but actually all along I was thinking that the Divine Mercy was Mama Mary @_@. I realized that I was wrong when I was watching television and ABS-CBN channel 2 is always broadcasting the "3 o'clock habit". To be honest, when I was a child I always change the channel whenever that prayer comes up. I was young then and don't know what I'm doing. Also, I already asked for forgiveness for that. Having second thoughts about it so I asked for a "sign", I was on the bus going to the review center and I said if I will see a pink rose within the day I will be your devotee. Needless to say, when I took the notebook that I have been using and glanced on the front cover there it was the pink rose that I am looking for. :D

That's not where the coincidence ends. I love Pope John Paul II ever since he visited the Philippines during the World Youth Day in 1995. I was 11 years old at that time and its common that at that age kids are not that religious but when I saw on TV the millions of people gathered at Luneta Park / Quirino Grandstand to see the Pope, I was in tears especially when I saw the Pope. There was a unexplainable radiance that beams out of him that caught my young heart, soul and mind. How I wish I was there to see it happen personally.

I remember the oral speech exam given to us in Sutherland in Clark Field, Pampanga. The question given was "If you were given a chance to ask a question to a dead person, who would it be and what will the question be?" (pang beauty queen ang tanong, hehe). I answered "I will ask Pope John Paul II how did he find in his heart to forgive the person who tried to kill him". This act of kindness he made shows how great and forgiving he was and I idolize him for that. 

This video is the collage of Pope John Paul II visit during the World Youth Day in 1995. This brings me back at the time when I was a child. Still love the theme song as well.

Origami: One of my stress relievers

I was searching the web yesterday when I saw the new Google doodle. It's kind of familiar so I clicked it and it was redirected to Akira Yoshizawa. I got curious why Google is commemorating his birthday and then I knew that he was considered the grandmaster of Origami.

Google doodle (14-Mar-12). ©Google Inc.

I am a big fan of Origami and made some of them before though I am not that skilled. But I love the art that can be made just by simply folding a piece of paper. So in cooperation with the celebration of the birth of Akira Yoshizawa, I am posting the origamis I made before. It's nothing fancy but I love them. :D

These are the origamis I made way back 2009 when I tried to study more elaborate origamis. Back when I was child I just do simple origami like boat, plane, cup, box, crane (the incorrect one), heart and polo shirt.