How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?

How does Laser Eye Surgery Work?

How does laser eye surgery work? The surgery works by reshaping the cornea, or surface of the eye. A laser is used to remove part of the formula, and reshape it, so that the image produced by the lens is in the correct position. If the image produced by the lens is not in the correct place, for example in front of or behind the retina, shortsightedness or longsightedness occurs. It is a commonly performed laser refractive surgery that is used to correct problems with vision. Laser eye surgery offers a great alternative for people who don’t want to wear glasses or contact lenses.

When the cornea bends light incorrectly to the back of the eye, blurred vision occurs. This can cause myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. This problem can be corrected with glasses or lenses, but often people want a more permanent solution. That solution is laser eye surgery. Here are several vision related problems that can be fixed with laser eye surgery.

Conditions that can be treated with Laser Eye Surgery

Myopia

Myopia is commonly known as short sightedness and is estimated to affect 1.5 billion people worldwide. Myopia is a condition of the eye in which light focuses in front of the retina instead of on the retina. This causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects appear normal. Other symptoms include headaches and eye strain. Treatment options for myopia depend on your age, your prescription, as well as a variety of other factors. The most common and effective treatment option for myopia is laser eye surgery.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia is also known as long sightedness. It is a condition in which light is focused behind, instead of on the retina. This causes objects that are up close to appear blurry, while far away objects appear normal. If the condition worsens, objects at all distances may appear blurry. Headaches and eye strain can also occur. Treatment options for hyperopia depend on your age, your prescription, as well as a variety of other factors. The most common and effective treatment option for hyperopia is laser eye surgery.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a type of reactive error in which the eye does not focus on light evenly on the retina, which causes distorted or blurred vision at all distances. The underlying cause of astigmatism is an irregular curvature of the cornea, or abnormalities in the sense of the eye. Other symptoms can include eyestrain, headaches and trouble seeing at night. Treatment options for astigmatism depend on your age, your prescription, as well as a variety of other factors. The most common and effective treatment option for astigmatism is laser eye surgery.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a progressively worsening ability to focus on close objects such as difficulty reading small print. The condition is caused by the hardening of the lens of the eye, causing the eye to focus light behind rather than on the retina. It is common for people over the age of 45. Other symptoms include headaches and eye strain. Treatment options for presbyopia depend on your age, your prescription, as well as a variety of other factors. The most common and effective treatment option for presbyopia is laser eye surgery. The treatment options need to be personalised to achieve the best results.

The 3 stages of Laser Eye Surgery

Examination

The first step is to undergo a suitability examination. This examination should be carried out by a fully qualified ophthalmic surgeon – the same surgeon who is to perform your laser eye surgery.

As one size never fits all, a thorough assessment of your eyes will be carried out, and only then will your consultant ophthalmic surgeon recommend a treatment. The surgeon will determine the best treatment for you based on your general health, eye health, eye conditions and a variety of other factors.

While most patients come to us with an idea of which treatment they want, after a consultation, eye exam and medical evaluation they often choose something different based on being fully informed. Approximately 10% of people are found to be unsuitable for laser eye surgery.

 Laser Eye Surgery

 On the day of your treatment, you will need to attend the surgery with someone who can take you home afterwards. This is because your vision will be blurry for a few hours after the surgery and it will not be safe for you to drive. Before treatment, you will see the surgeon again and he will check your eyes for a final time. Our Wavefront technology allows your surgeon to measure aberrations in your cornea’s shape and texture. He can then customise the lasers to treat these. This will improve results, including clarity of vision, ability to see at night, and ability to see contrasting colours. It also reduces side effects associated with traditional laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery treatments are usually no longer than 15-minutes in total. Once surgery is complete your surgeon will conduct a final check on your eyes and confirm that he is happy for you to leave the clinic.

 Aftercare

 The aftercare for laser eye surgery is just as important as the surgery itself. It is vital that your aftercare is managed correctly to ensure you get the best results from your laser eye surgery. You will be given a tailored aftercare plan and your surgeon will be available at any time if you have any issues.

Generally you will have six or seven consultations after your laser eye surgery. The first will be the day after, the next a week later, then a month later, three months after that and finally after another six months. This may vary depending on your treatment and the results of the surgery. It is very important that you attend your aftercare appointments as recommended by your surgeon. If, during an aftercare visit, it is deemed that a retreatment is necessary in order to improve your visual results, we will provide this for you with no additional charge.

If you are unsure about the procedure or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us by calling now on 01-280 9248.

We also offer a complimentary video or phone consultation with Mr Fenton, our senior laser eye surgeon. During this consultation you can ask him any questions you may have, about suitability, risks, outcomes, or discuss any concerns you may have about laser eye surgery.

Fill in the form on the footer of this page and we will call you back to arrange a convenient time or use our Self-Service Booking System to schedule your complimentary consultation.