No. We cannot absolutely guarantee perfect results from the surgery because each eye responds slightly differently. Experience from previously treated patients allows us to estimate the probability of your achieving perfect vision.
With low amounts of myopia and astigmatism (up to 3 diopters) 95% of patients will achieve perfect or near perfect vision. With moderate amounts of myopia (3 to 6 diopters) 85% of people will achieve perfect or near perfect vision. People with higher amounts of myopia and astigmatism also have a very good probability of achieving good vision, but with a significant chance that glasses or contact lenses will be needed at times. Further (enhancement) surgery may be necessary to achieve a full correction.
Many people are suitable. During the free assessment, medical assessment and follow up consultation we determine your individual suitability. If you are not suitable we will inform you why we cannot proceed with Laser Refractive Surgery.
The following conditions are contra-indications for Laser Surgery.
Your eyes continue to develop up until the age of 20 years. Therefore we do not use laser technology to correct vision before a person is in their 20's. Once your eyes mature there are a number of laser and non laser procedures (covered in this booklet) that may correct your vision and that you may be suitable for. To determine your suitability it is best to book a suitability assessment.
Since many people develop some cataract between the ages of 65 and 85, if you are in this age group, we usually recommend that you consider waiting to have your vision corrected at the time of cataract surgery. The Intra-Ocular implant lens placed in your eye at the time of cataract surgery can correct either short sight or long sight. Laser Refractive Surgery can be used to correct focusing errors that occasionally remain after cataract surgery.
Most prescriptions are treatable with the latest Wellington and Hawkes Bay Eye Centre lasers, providing that you have sufficient corneal thickness and a healthy eye. During the assessments we will determine your suitability for laser vision correction.
There are number of procedures available. During the assessments we will determine the procedure that is best for you.
At Wellington and Hawkes Bay Eye Centre every procedure is customized to your particular vision requirements. Patient data obtained during your assessments is loaded into the laser computer which then determines your individual treatment.
With ASA both eyes can be operated on the same day. Some patients choose to have the eyes done separately because of concerns about visual functioning while both eyes are recovering. In this case, we recommend that they be done one month apart to allow for complete recovery.
If you are extremely short sighted, we usually treat the eyes a month apart.
With femtoLASIK, you should be able to return to work within 48 hours after surgery. With ASA LASEK your eyes can be uncomfortable for approximately 72 hours after surgery and your vision can be blurry for 5 to 7 days. Therefore we recommend you plan to have the rest of the week off work following refractive surgery. If your work is mainly computer based, you may need a few extra days off.
We can advise you as to how quickly we expect you to achieve unaided vision that meets the driving standard. Because vision can be unstable during the first week, we advise against driving until the contact lens is removed at day six.
With ASA, vision may be blurry or cloudy approximately six to ten days after surgery, therefore we recommend people should not drive until their vision has settled down and they feel comfortable with the vision in their operated eye(s).
Please ask for an Eyesight for Drivers Licence form to take to LTSA to get the need for wearing corrective lenses removed from your licence.
For a thorough discussion of the risks review The Risks of Laser Surgery and feel free to ask any questions of the surgeon that will perform your refractive surgery. Also see the Conclusion.
Because contact lenses can cause temporary changes in the shape of the cornea, they should be left out before pre-operative examinations and before surgery.
Soft lenses should be left out for forty-eight hours prior to the initial assessment and five days prior to surgery.
Hard (rigid gas permeable) lenses must be left out for several months prior to your initial assessment. Hard lenses distort the cornea and it is essential to get measurements as accurate as possible. You will need to be assessed by your optometrist or regular eye care provider monthly for three months to make sure your vision has stabilised. Even after this there may still be some delay in surgery if your refractive measurement is still changing. Once the measurements and initial consultation have taken place you may wear soft disposable lenses up to five days prior to surgery.
Topical anaesthetic drops are placed into your eye prior to treatment to numb the surface of the eye so no pain is experienced during the procedure, however slight pressure on the eye may be felt during the procedure. There is the possibility of discomfort or pain after the procedure for approximately 72 hours.
All patients are given a variety of medications to use after surgery, and are given full instructions about their use prior to the operation.
With a good surgical result, most patients do not need to use glasses or contact lenses post-operatively. If a patient was able to wear contact lenses comfortably prior to surgery, they will usually be able to wear them again after surgery. Because of the change in corneal shape following surgery there may be some who are unable to wear contact lenses and who, if they need corrective lenses, will therefore need to wear glasses.
With a good surgical result, most patients do not need to use glasses or contact lenses post-operatively. If a patient was able to wear contact lenses comfortably prior to surgery, they will usually be able to wear them again after surgery. Because of the change in corneal shape following surgery there may be some who are unable to wear contact lenses and who, if they need corrective lenses, will therefore need to wear glasses.
You should avoid swimming for three weeks after the surgery, to avoid any risk of infection. Exercise can be resumed a week after the surgery. If you are involved in contact sports, you should discuss when these can be resumed with your eye surgeon.If you ski or snow board it is essential to avoid excessive UV light by wearing wrap around goggles after having laser surgery.
To avoid foreign particles entering the eye that could cause infection, you cannot wear makeup for three days prior to and for three weeks after Laser Refractive Surgery.
The change in shape of the cornea following Laser Refractive Surgery is permanent. However Laser Surgery does not prevent age related change in vision. Some people may experience an increase in their short sight as time goes on due to the natural progression of myopia.