Wondering whether your eyes are suitable for Laser Eye Surgery? Here's where to start

Is it time for a better plan for your vision? Decided that 2020 is the year you’re going to find out more about Laser Eye Surgery? Renowned as one of the most life changing every day surgeries, it has been tagged as the easiest way to great vision if you are a glasses or contacts wearer. And the feedback? You won’t be disappointed.

Laser Eye Surgery certainly is a very attractive option if you’ve suffered at the hands of bad sight over the years. And why not, it’s fast, affordable and absolutely life changing - so where’s the snag?

Well the good news is that there isn’t one, but like every surgery, you will need to be a suitable candidate for the treatment before you undergo it. But don’t despair, the odds are stacked in your favour, as 85% of people are now suitable for laser eye surgery thanks to rapidly advancing technology.

Here Optilase, Ireland’s No.1 Eye Surgery providers take us through patient suitability, and what you need to think about before starting your Laser Eye Surgery journey.

Where to start
Wondering how you’ll know if you are suitable for the treatment? In short, it’s impossible to really know without visiting Optilase for an initial assessment. The good news is that now, more than 4 out of 5 people, or 85% of people can have laser eye surgery even if they’ve previously been turned down for treatment. So thanks to the speed of technological advances, there’s a good chance that you’ll be suitable too. And who wouldn’t want to improve a wide range of prescriptions, including short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism?

So if you’ve been thinking about Laser Eye Surgery, but are still juggling glasses and contact lenses to be able to see the world clearly, take the first step. It’s time to book a no-obligation consultation with Optilase now.

Is there anything that might make me an unsuitable candidate?
Generally speaking there are a few factors that may make you unsuitable for the treatment like prescriptions stronger than -10 or +5, or having a squint or a lazy eye. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is necessary to wait until 6 months postpartum before starting your treatment.

But whatever you think of your suitability, the best advice is always to get professional advice - and your next step should be to go to Optilase for a free no obligation consultation to professionally assess your eyes, it will cost you nothing but your time.

What will happen at my initial assessment?
As Ireland’s premier private eye surgery the team at Optilase knows that not everyone is suitable for Laser Eye Surgery, and so to determine your suitability they offer a free laser eye surgery consultation.

Your journey with Optilase begins when you attend your initial assessment. One of their Laser Optometrists will meet with you and spend the next hour thoroughly examining and testing your eyes. You will find out if you are a suitable candidate, what treatment will be best for your eyes, and how much exactly it will cost. It’s important to note that you will not be able to drive after your assessment for at least 6-8 hours.

They will then explain in detail the processes involved and answer any questions you may have and 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.

How is Laser Eye Surgery performed?
The idea behind laser eye surgery is to produce small changes in the surface layers of the cornea, which in turn produce significant changes in the way the eye focuses light.

To do this, we use the most technologically-advanced lasers available to subtly reshape your cornea, transforming your vision and giving you the joy of clearer and sharper sight. The procedure begins with anaesthetic eye drops being applied, which quickly numb the eye.

The laser works in a matter of seconds, sending pulses of laser beams onto your cornea to reshape any imperfections.Most patients experience improved vision within a few days, though full recovery can take up to a week. It depends upon a range of factors, including the speed at which you naturally heal.

A little bit about the different types of Laser Eye Surgery
There are 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.

LASIK laser eye surgery treatment involves creating a very thin circular ‘flap’ in this outer layer of the cornea, using a laser surgical tool (femtosecond laser). In LASEK surgery, instead of using a laser, the surgeon simply loosens the top layer of cells of the cornea using a special solution.

When you visit Optilase for your free consultation we will be able to determine which type of surgery is best suited to you.

How long does the treatment take and is it permanent?
The laser vision correction itself takes around 7 minutes per eye. Between preparation, treatment and aftercare, you should expect to stay in the clinic for up to 2 hours on the day of your procedure.

Yes it is permanent, 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 or not they get laser vision correction.

After your surgery
Laser Eye Surgery truly is life changing, and in the aftermath there’s so much to look forward to - great vision, no more of the inconveniences that glasses and contacts can sometimes bring either as well as a new found confidence. But what about your post surgery aftercare? This topic often weighs heavy on patients, and rightly so.

Once you’ve had your surgery, it’s time to relax and let the Optilase medical team
explain everything about the aftercare programme. Remember that at Optilase, you’re in the best hands possible. The team will give you a post-operative information pack containing eye drops and a schedule of when to take them. This will also include our 24 hour patient helpline number should you need any more information.

Lifetime care guarantee
Optilase offers a free Lifetime Care Guarantee as part of our ongoing commitment to patients and will provide you with a thorough aftercare programme for the 12 months following your Laser Eye Surgery procedure. Depending on individual cases, this may contain an average of four post-operative appointments to attend throughout the year.

After the first year of check-ups, you’ll be discharged from our aftercare programme, but don’t be a stranger – Optilase’s doors are always open if you’re ever unsure of anything or have any questions regarding the treatment.

Learn more at Ireland’s No.1 Eye Clinic today
Optilase are a proud, family-owned Irish business and are privileged to have some of the world’s leading Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons, Laser Optometrists and Medical Staff working on the Optilase team, all of whom are focused on providing the very best laser eye treatment available, using the latest and most sophisticated technology.

Market leaders in Eye Surgery
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.

Book a 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
Optilase has Clinics, all over the Island of Ireland, including four Clinics in Northern Ireland.

For more information on Optilase and to book your free consultation +353 1 223 8821 now, you won’t regret it!