Aaron An, a post-graduate student at the prestigious INSEAD business school in Paris, can see the world more clearly a day after undergoing EagleVision LASIK surgery at Assil Gaur Eye Institute (AGEI).
Aaron, 30, who also lives part of the year in his native Shanghai, knew that the long flight to Los Angeles would be well worth the time and effort because his glasses would then be a thing of the past.
“I wanted a new life without glasses, especially since I have been wearing them for half my life,” he says. “I always dreamed about being able to live without them.
EagleVision (Elliptical-flap Aberrometry Guided Laser Enhanced Vision) LASIK is the latest and most advanced LASIK technology available today. It was developed at AGEI by Dr. Kerry Assil, one of the modern pioneers of LASIK surgery.
“Coming from a basketball-obsessed country like China, I knew that athletes like Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, and Dewayne Wade chose EagleVision LASIK for themselves. But I then started reading reviews from many people like myself who chose EagleVision LASIK. They all loved the results, and the care they received from AGEI during their process was great.
That’s when I decided to make the trip to Los Angeles."
Before his LASIK surgery, Aaron, who loves high-contact sports, was limited to activities that wouldn’t bump his affected glasses.
“I had to remove my glasses to wipe off the sweat constantly,” says Aaron, who wore glasses for nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism.” It drove me crazy and got in the way of me competing. Plus, I broke many glasses, which got to be very expensive!”
Now, without worrying about his glasses fogging or coming off, Aaron is ready to pursue his dream of skydiving and bungee jumping.
Aaron had a good idea of the surgery and the potential downsides of LASIK. Several months earlier, he had accompanied a friend who had LASIK in China. “Unfortunately, she suffered several problems after her surgery. I then learned that China suffers from a lot of Lasik failures,” notes Aaron. “So, coming to America for this surgery became very important to me.”
Even though he was coming to America and had chosen who he thought was the best doctor to perform the procedure, Aaron said it was still “a little bit scary” being the patient.
But that fear was quickly dissipated when he met with Dr. Assil for his complimentary LASIK evaluation. “I must tell you, his kind demeanor and the gentle words of encouragement from Dr. Assil and his staff made me feel safe and excited about having surgery,” he said.
On the day of the surgery, Aaron was given mild sedation to calm his nerves. Dr. Assil used eye drops to numb Aron’s eyes with dots and then used an eyelid blink-protector to help his eyes remain open and steady.
The procedure, employing a laser with customized algorithms developed by Dr. Assil, had been pre-programmed with exact measurements of Aaron’s eyes. After reshaping the cornea (about 30 seconds per eye), Dr. Assil folded the flap back down, which was sealed into position.
It didn’t take long post-surgery for Aaron to notice his improved vision. “Immediately after the surgery, I could read the clock on the wall without my glasses,” remembers Aaron. “Taking off my glasses changed my personality. I felt much more confident.”
The following week, he put his new-found freedom into action by visiting a friend in Vancouver, renting a car, and driving down to Seattle, glasses-free all the way.
Aaron has no qualms about spreading the word about the eye doctor and AGEI. “We only have one pair of eyes, and each is unique,” he says. “People should have their eye surgery at a world-class clinic. Dr. Assil is the best.”
Assil Gaur Eye Institute has assembled a team of top ophthalmologists from around the country who offer their patients the highest quality of specialist eye care in the United States.
In keeping with AGEI's founding principles, eye surgeons keep their clinics comfortable and familiar, much like family-run medical practices used to be.
Today, AGEI is nationally recognized for its compassionate, patient-centric care, commitment to pioneering advances in ophthalmology, and dedication to supporting its patients' and community's health and well-being. Please call (866) 945-2745 or make an appointment online.