What Happens during Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser Eye procedures are usually quite quick; the Optilase Ophthalmic surgeons have performed the procedure safely and successfully on thousands of patients. Local anaesthetic drops will be placed into the eye being treated.
 
A femtosecond laser, precision controlled by computer, is used to cut a tiny flap in the cornea; a hinge is left on one end of the flap so it can easily be put back in place.
 
Once the flap is made, it’s folded back to reveal the middle part of the cornea, then the pulses from the laser will vaporise the microscopic portions of the cornea to reshape it. The flap is then replaced.
 

Can I Have Both Eyes Treated at Once?

 
Depending on the procedure, you may be advised to have each ye treated on a different days, particularly if clear vision takes a few days to return after treatment. You can have the option to treat both; your consultant will outline the risks and details for you. You’ll wear an eye patch over the treated eye for a couple of days, and will be given drops to keep the eye moist.
 

Why is the Cornea Reshaped?

 
Doctors use a laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea, the clear covering over the coloured iris, and the lens, which is just behind the pupil of the eye. People need to wear glasses for different reasons.
 
Some people are short-sighted or myopic. This is due to the cornea being too steeply curved, or the eye is a bit longer than normal. Light rays fall in short of the retina - the area at the back of the eye that interprets the image – and this results in blurred distance vision.
 
Other people are long-sighted or hyperopic because their cornea is too flat or the eye is too short. This means that the light rays focus too far beyond the retina. Others have a condition where the cornea is oval shaped rather than spherical, called astigmatism. This produces two different focal points which can blur images at all distances.
 

Will I notice the Difference?

Laser surgery can reshape the cornea can help to correct these problems, with absolute microscopic precision. The difference between your ‘before’ vision and your ‘after’ vision is usually quite profound, and the most common thing that patients ask afterwards is “Why did I wait this long to have Laser Eye surgery”!
 
Call Optilase today and book a free consultation in the clinic most convenient for you. Ring 1 890 301 302.