Deliberating taking the plunge and getting Laser Eye Surgery? You’re in good company. In fact, over 30 million people worldwide have taken the very same decision in the last few years and have opened up themselves to the whole new world of 20/20 vision in the process.

Introduced in the 1980s, Laser Eye Surgery has improved and restored vision for these millions of people who have until their treatment, often relied on glasses or contacts for years, and then, post-recovery, enjoyed a life free from glasses and contacts.

The surgery is painless, quick and recovery time too is short. Interested in finding out more? We spoke to Optilase, Ireland’s No.1 Laser Eye Surgery providers for the low down on the options available.

Laser Eye Surgery - Quick explainer
Laser eye surgery corrects poor vision, giving you freedom from glasses and contact lenses, so you can live your life to the full. It's a simple procedure that takes anything from a matter of seconds to just a few minutes, depending upon the level of correction that's required, but you'll notice an improvement in your vision after laser eye surgery which is truly remarkable.

A cool beam advanced laser makes subtle adjustments to the shape of the surface of your eye (the cornea), correcting its tiny imperfections and making your vision clearer and sharper. The vast majority of patients are amazed at how quickly they recover and the speed at which they can enjoy a life free from glasses and contact lenses.

How will I know if I am suitable for the procedure?
While most people will be suitable for Laser Eye Surgery, there will also be a number of people who will not. Generally there are a number of factors that may make you unsuitable for laser vision correction - include prescriptions stronger than -10 or +5, or having a squint or a lazy eye. For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is necessary to wait for 6 months postpartum before starting your treatment.

If you’re still not sure if you would be a suitable candidate for the procedure then the best thing to do to determine your suitability is to go to a provider that offers a free laser eye surgery consultation.

Optilase Ireland’s premier provider of Laser Eye Surgery, offers a free consultation with every Laser Eye Surgery enquiry. They told us what you can expect at one of their free Eye consultations, ‘At the free consultation one of our Laser Optometrists will carry out a series of eye examinations to determine your suitability. The Laser Optometrist will then explain in detail the processes involved and answer any questions you may have. The whole assessment takes approximately one hour to complete. At the end of the consultation a pre-operative consultation is then arranged with your Surgeon.

At the pre-operative consultation , your Surgeon will talk you through the technical aspects of your laser eye surgery and resolve any additional questions or queries. Then all that’s left to do is book in for your surgery. A real life changing moment awaits you, it will be something you will never regret.

Options - LASIK or LASEK
The experts in Optilase offer two types of Laser Eye procedures called LASIK and LASEK/PRK. The key difference between these procedures involves the method of preparing the cornea. LASEK, also referred to as PRK, was the first type of laser eye surgery for vision correction and is the predecessor to the popular LASIK procedure.

Laser Eye Surgery - Type 1 - LASIK
CEO of Optilase, Phillip McGlade explains that LASIK is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery procedure, with over 90% of suitable patients choosing this treatment, ‘LASIK is our most popular type of laser eye surgery and offers benefits including a fast recovery and excellent visual outcomes.’

So how does it work? LASIK treatment involves creating a very thin circular ‘flap’ in this outer layer of the cornea, using a laser surgical tool. In LASEK surgery, instead of using a laser, the surgeon simply loosens the top layer of cells of the cornea using a special solution.

The recovery time for LASIK patients is speedy too, allowing you to start living life to the full almost straight away.

Laser Eye Surgery - Type 2 - LASEK
LASEK is an alternative type of laser eye surgery for patients who are not suitable for LASIK treatment. The main difference between both treatments is that with LASIK, a corneal flap is created and replaced, and with LASEK, the top layer of the cornea is loosened, moved, and reattached.

Is it long lasting or actually permanent?
Yes, long term follow up studies indicate that after the healing process is complete, eyesight remains stable. Some patients may develop the need for reading glasses as they age but this happens to most adults regardless of whether they get laser vision correction.

Need a little help?
It might all sound a little confusing but don’t worry, once you book an initial consultation, you’ll be tested for suitability and the right treatment for you will be offered. Remember to go for a provider that has years of experience and offers you a free consultation so that you are comfortable with what your journey will look like. The consultation process will allow your treatment to be individually tailored and achieves optimum results, so you can look forward to a life free from the hassle of glasses and contacts sooner than you might think.

Market leaders in Eye Surgery
Finding the best provider is never an easy task, but once you do you’ll never look back.
The team at Optilase believes that laser eye surgery should revolve around the patient and because of this they are committed to providing patients with the latest and most effective products, surgery techniques and care programmes. Their passion for delivering exceptional results shines through in everything they do and as Ireland’s No.1 Eye surgery providers they are constantly seeking ways to improve their services.

From a lifetime guarantee to Optilase’s promise to always use the World’s latest technology, there is no doubting that Optilase are at the top of their game in Ireland. There’s some other perks too - like a finance package to fund your surgery that offers 0% finance, as well 20% tax relief.

And when it comes to experience, Optilase’s expertise is unrivalled. Since 2003 Optilase’s expert team of Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons and qualified Optometrists at Optilase have performed over 40,000 laser eye surgeries across the Island of Ireland. That’s a lot of patients, and a lot of happy patients with brand new vision! 99% of patients recommend Optilase, so you won’t be sorry you called.

Book your free consultation today
Ready to take the next step and find out more? Optilase offer a free one hour consultation process that could be life changing for you. Their experience means that they’ve had thousands of happy customers leave their Clinics feeling like they can see like never before, why not check out some of their testimonials for an insight into what your laser eye surgery journey with Optilase will look like!

Call Optilase today
As Ireland’s leading Laser Eye surgery providers, Optilase has Clinics throughout the country, so you’re never far away from making a great decision to give yourself back the gift of great vision. For more information on Optilase call +353 1 223 8821 now - we promise you’ll see the difference very soon.