Helena joined the KSA team at the end of 2021 and conducts vision examinations at our Tartu clinic. She earned her optometry education at the Tallinn Health Care College and has also completed numerous professional courses in both optics and customer service. Helena is especially known for her warmth, friendliness, precision, and sense of responsibility. It is also worth mentioning that Helena herself has undergone Flow laser vision correction.
Helena joined the KSA team at the end of 2021 and conducts vision examinations at our Tartu clinic. She completed her optometry education at Tallinn Health Care College and has also taken several professional courses in both optics and customer service. Helena is known for her warmth, friendliness, precision, and strong sense of responsibility. It is also worth noting that Helena herself has undergone the Flow laser vision correction procedure.
How does your previous job differ from your current one?
Before joining KSA, I worked for more than 13 years in an optical store, where I primarily conducted vision assessments and prescribed suitable glasses or contact lenses for clients. In addition, I have experience in making glasses and performing minor repairs. I have also worked briefly in the field of occupational health. While in my previous work I focused on finding suitable visual aids or solutions, at KSA I now help clients get rid of such aids by conducting mainly pre-procedure eye examinations, with the goal of providing them more comfort, independence, and a better quality of life.
I believe that my previous experience helps me better understand my current clients and provide guidance when necessary, especially in matters related to glasses or contact lenses.
What do you do in your free time, and how did you find your way into folk dance?
I have always loved dancing. I started folk dancing already in the third grade, and although I took a break during high school and university, I continued to miss folk dance and dance festivals. I found my way back to folk dancing a little over four years ago. This season, our women’s group has worked hard, learned the dances, and qualified for the XXI Dance Festival “Iseoma,” which will take place at the beginning of July. 🙂
How are dancing and good visual quality connected?
As with many hobbies, good vision is also essential in dancing. We all know that at the dance festival, beautiful patterns are formed by dancers on the Kalevi Central Stadium field. To be in the right place at the right time as a dancer, you need sharp eyesight and clear dance steps. I got my first negative prescription glasses when I was 12 years old. Over the years, my myopia progressed, and eventually, my prescription exceeded -7.00 diopters. I was completely dependent on glasses or contact lenses. During dancing, I always preferred contact lenses to avoid disruptive or performance-inappropriate eyeglass frames. Glasses also became inconvenient when it was raining outside or during winter outdoor performances. I remember one time I had to perform with a contact lens only in one eye, because something was irritating the other eye and I had to remove the lens — it was extremely distracting.
When did you decide to undergo the procedure yourself?
I underwent the Flow laser vision correction a little over three years ago, and I still wonder why I didn’t do it sooner. My quality of life is so much better now — I can see perfectly without depending on glasses or contact lenses. The issues caused by wearing contact lenses disappeared, and my confidence increased. I feel that freeing myself from visual aids has given me much more freedom and activity — it’s incredibly pleasant and carefree to enjoy my hobbies, exercise, and relax in the sauna and water activities.
How did the recovery go?
My recovery went quite quickly. Right after the procedure, I could see much more sharply than I ever did without glasses. Although my vision was unstable during the first few weeks, it improved day by day. During the first week of recovery, I spent time with my family, went on many walks, and rested. There was no pain or scratching sensation. The only slight discomfort came from a somewhat bitter eye drop and occasional blurriness.
I also remember a walk with my sister — we were walking through ploughed fields in the countryside when she suddenly said that a bear was moving toward us. Normally, I would probably have frozen in fear, but since I couldn’t see the bear, I assumed it wasn’t possible and didn’t feel scared. 😀 Fortunately, we stayed calm, and the bear decided to go in another direction.
How has undergoing the procedure affected your work at KSA?
My job is interesting – every client is different, every vision and every eye is unique. At KSA, we provide high-quality service from the initial examination to post-procedure check-ups. I believe that my own experience, both as someone who wore glasses and contact lenses for many years and now as someone who has undergone the Flow procedure, helps me better understand clients, give them more accurate recommendations, and support them more effectively during their recovery.
What I enjoy most in my current job is the moment when you see a happy and satisfied client who says that correcting their vision with the laser procedure was one of the best decisions of their life.
