For anyone considering laser eye surgery, LASIK eye surgery is a term which you will commonly encounter; in fact, wherever you turn, at every stage of your research into laser eye surgery, LASIK will keep on popping up.
So what is LASIK eye surgery exactly and what are the key things to know about it when you are considering undergoing laser eye surgery treatment?
The first thing to know about LASIK!
The first thing to know about LASIK is this: it is the most commonly used laser eye surgery procedure in the world, and actually became the world’s most common elective procedure way back in 2001. This means that for pretty much as long as laser surgery has been around, LASIK has been the leading and preferred laser procedure. (We just wanted to clarify this first off because it’s a pretty important starting point in establishing the predominance of LASIK on a global scale).
But what exactly is LASIK eye surgery?
Now that we have established just how common LASIK laser surgery is around the world, the next question is, what is it exactly?
Well, without stating the obvious, LASIK (the full medical title for which is Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is simply a specific type of laser eye surgery which is used to treat a range of very common vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
What happens during the LASIK procedure?
During LASIK surgery, the surgeon uses what is called an “excimer” laser in order to reshape the cornea. So, a thin layer of the cornea is lifted to create a tiny flap on the surface of the cornea, using blade-free Intralase Technology. The laser is then applied to the underlying surface to reshape the cornea, correcting the patient’s prescription. The flap is then simply replaced into exactly the same position as before, and the procedure is complete.
Who can benefit from LASIK laser surgery?
Well because LASIK is by far the most common laser eye surgery procedure, approximately 80% of the adult population is a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery. Many will share the following eye traits:
- Aged 18 or over (the reason being that by this age their prescription will have stabilised, making them suitable candidates)
- Suffer from one of the three most common vision problems: astigmatism, nearsightedness or far sightedness
- Simply do not want to or cannot wear contact lenses or glasses!
Other factors will also be considered, when establishing your suitability for LASIK surgery, including your lifestyle, your overall general health and your previous medical history.
That is why here at Optilase Clinic we offer all potential patients a free consultation with one of our Optometrists, to determine whether laser eye surgery is the right solution for your particular vision needs.
How safe is LASIK eye surgery?
Whilst with any elective surgical procedure there is always some element of risk, the fact is that LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common and certainly one of the safest of all elective surgical procedures.
With LASIK surgery technology now incredibly sophisticated, it is now safer than ever before. Both eyes can be treated on the same day in approximately 5 minutes in total, and patients can expect to be in and out within approximately 2 hours. This highlights just how advanced the surgery now is.
Think of it in the context of this fact: the risk of going blind as a result of laser eye surgery is approximately 1 in 5 million. So, while no elective surgery can 100% guarantee, the risks of any serious, long-term implications are minimal.
How much does LASIK cost?
While the costs of LASIK surgery vary from patient to patient, according to unique patient vision conditions and ailments, the standard LASIK treatment with Optilase starts from just €795 per eye.
But of course with Optilase there are no hidden costs so the cost of your surgery always includes as standard, your free initial consultation, your pre-surgery consultation with your Opthalmic surgeon, the surgery itself and of course the Optilase lifetime care guarantee.
Arrange your free consultation today!
Contact us today to book your free consultation - because the sooner you meet with us, the closer you will be to knowing if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Call us today on +353 1 223 8821 or fill out the contact form on this page.
