Laser Eye Surgery FAQ

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Is the procedure painful?
The majority of our patients feel no pain; however some people report a slight discomfort. A sedative tablet is given to relax the nerves in additions to anaesthetic eye drops to numb the area. A fine guard is used to help keep the eye open during the procedure.
If you are having iLasik™, pressure is felt over the eye when the corneal flap is created. This takes a matter of seconds.
What if I move my eye during the procedure?
Our VISX Star S4 IR™ Excimer Laser tracks your eye movements during the procedure in three dimensions. Your eye can only move at a maximum rate of 15 – 20 times per second, and the tracking technology follows your eye at a far greater speed.
To find out more visit www.visx.com
Will I be awake during the procedure?
Yes, local anaesthetic drops are used and the entire iLasik™ procedure takes only minutes. You will be offered some minimally sedating medication by mouth before the procedure to further relieve any anxiety you may have.
How long will the procedure take?
You will be at the clinic for approximately 2 hours on the day of the procedure. This time includes pre-operative preparations, the procedure itself and post-operative requirements. You will be in theatre for approximately 20 minutes, with the actual laser procedure taking around 7 minutes per eye.
Will my eyes be covered after the procedure?
No, not totally. Sun glasses are worn after the procedure to reduce glare as you will be light sensitive. Clear shields are to be worn over your eyes overnight for the first 3 days after the procedure.
What will my vision be like immediately after the procedure?
Although your vision will not be crystal clear, you will be able to see well enough to be able to go home and carry on with most activities of daily living. You should not drive, however, until you have been examined by our staff the following day.
When will I be able to drive again?
This will vary with the type of procedure you are having and the degree of vision error you had corrected. The majority of our iLasik™ patients see well enough to drive a car the next day.
However, for patients having the PRK procedure, they will not be able to drive a car until after the contact lenses have been removed and they feel confident to do so.
Regardless of the procedure, you should wait until you have been examined by our staff before you take the wheel of the car again.
When can I go back to work?
The healing process will vary from person to person, and is dependant on the degree of visual error you had corrected. Each eye can recover at different rates. Most patients can see well enough to drive a car the day after the procedure - you should not drive, however, until you have been examined by our staff the following day.
We recommend you take the next day off work - especially if you work in a dusty or smoky environment.
When can I go on holidays?
We generally ask that you wait at least 1 week before flying domestically and 2 weeks flying internationally. The air conditioning used in aeroplanes can lead to dry and irritated eyes, causing discomfort. When you do fly, use lubricating eye drops to retain moisture in the eyes.
There are no pressure related issues from scuba diving; however you must wait 10 days before going in the water.
What restrictions are there after the procedure?
  • No swimming for 10 days
  • No eye make up for 10 days
  • You will need to use medicated eye drops for 10 days
  • Avoid rubbing or squeezing your eyes for 2 weeks
  • No body contact sport for 4 weeks
What are the short term effects of this type of procedure?
Short terms effects include dry eyes, glare, haloes at night and the ghosting of images. In the majority of cases these effects will correct themselves within 3 months of the procedure. However if a patient experiences these conditions prior to the procedure they may be exacerbated post-operatively.
What are the long-term effects of this type of procedure?
To date, after more than 25 years of use there is no evidence of any long-term adverse effects on vision due to laser assisted refractive vision correction. If the cornea is thinned excessively by the laser treatment there is a remote risk of inducing the problem of corneal ectasia.
This forward bulging of the cornea may occur up to two years after the procedure and is the only adverse effect taking so long to become obvious. It is correctable with further procedures.
How long will my new 'vision' last for and is it guaranteed?
This is highly dependant on personal differences and will determined by your particular eye condition and your age. Laser assisted vision correction will not and cannot stop the natural ageing process of the eyes. The average person whether they wear glasses or not, will most likely need reading glasses by the age of 45 or older. Laser vision correction has no effect, positively or negatively, on the possibility of this occurring to you, but can be used to overcome the problem in some people.
If, however, your vision after laser vision correction should regress in the direction of its pre-operative state, Perfect Vision Laser Correction will arrange to perform an additional corrective procedure at no further cost to you. This is our Lifetime Enhancement Support Program.