The first step - Your initial consultation for Laser Eye Surgery

The first step in your Laser Eye Surgery journey is attending a free consultation at any Optilase clinic across Ireland where a qualified surgeon will determine how suitable you are for treatment.

The consultation will involve answering a range of questions about your general health and eye health as well as an in-depth eye examination.

It is vital that you answer all questions honestly, as this can affect whether you are a suitable candidate for Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase.

Do I have to stop wearing my contact lenses before my consultation?

Yes. Prior to your free consultation at Optilase, you cannot wear any form of contact lenses for a certain period of time as they can sometimes flatten the front of your eye.

• Soft Contact Lenses – 24 hours minimum
• Rigid Gas Permeable or Toric Lenses – 1 week minimum

Laser Eye Surgery reshapes the cornea which is located at the front of the eye, so it needs to be in its most relaxed state to accurately measure its natural curve and establish how much tissue must be removed.

What kind of questions will I be asked during my consultation?

The purpose of asking about a prospective patient’s health is to figure out if there are any medical factors that would adversely affect the outcome of Laser Eye Surgery or prevent a person from being suitable for the procedure. You will be asked about:

• General well-being
• Eye health and whether you have a stable prescription
• Any past or present medical problems
• Family history of medical conditions
• Whether you have had ocular surgery before
• Prescription medication
• Allergies

What will the eye exam involve?

A thorough eye examination is also carried out during the Laser Eye Surgery consultation process at Optilase to measure your refractive error and check your eye health.

• Visual Acuity: A Snellen chart comprised of letters and numbers will test your distance vision.
• Refractive Error: A range of corrective lenses will be placed in front of your eyes to measure your prescription and how much of a correction is needed.
• Pupil Size: How well your eyes function in both light and darkness will be checked as excessively large pupils can hamper the outcome of Laser Eye Surgery.
• Corneal Curve: The curve of the cornea will be examined to see whether it is too steep, too flat or irregularly shaped.
• Corneal Thickness: Because tissue is removed during Laser Eye Surgery, the cornea must first be a certain thickness in order to be eligible for the procedure.
• Intraocular Pressure: The amount of pressure inside the eye can be an indicator of possible health problems. When pressure is too high, it can impact a person’s eyesight.

After the free consultation, you will know whether you are a suitable candidate for Laser Eye Surgery and will be informed as to the realistic outcomes of corrective treatment for your individual refractive error.

To book your free consultation today, call +353 1 223 8821.