Laser Eye Surgery At Visualase
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Frequently Asked Questions about Laser Eye Treatment
Call now on 01204 387467 and our friendly helpful staff will help you with any questions you may have How long before laser eye surgery do I have to stop wearing contact lenses?
Call now on 01204 387467 and our friendly helpful staff will help you with any questions you may have
You do need to refrain from wearing contact lenses prior to having laser eye surgery. In fact, you need to refrain from wearing them to have your suitability determined at your consultation. The length of time you mustn't wear your contact lenses for does vary based on the type of lenses that you use. Read more about contact lens & laser eye surgery
Can I wear coloured contacts after laser eye surgery?
You would probably want to refrain from wearing them for two to three months after undergoing LASIK (sooner after LASEK) just to make sure that your eyes have healed and have settled. Read more about colour contact lens & laser eye surgery
Laser eye surgery Intralase versus Microkeratome - which is best?
There is much debate amongst eye surgeons about whether Intralase or Microkeratome is best for creating the corneal flap required in the LASIK procedure. In traditional LASIK, a Microkeratome is used to cut a thin hinged flap and in Intralase a femtosecond laser is used instead. Many times a surgeon simply prefers one method of surgery over the other. Read more about Laser eye surgery Intralase versus Microkeratome
How old do I have to be to have laser eye surgery?
You must be over 18 and have a stable prescription. Similar questions have asked on Yahoo Answers recently about laser eye treatment. Our full response can be read by clicking here: http://bit.ly/sEa1LQ
Does it matter if I'm long or short sighted when it comes to laser eye surgery?
A similar question was asked on Yahoo Answers recently. Our full response can be read here: http://bit.ly/rMp24k
How do I know if my prescription is within the treatable range?
We can treat up to -10.00D for short-sightedness and up to +4.00D for long-sightedness. It is always worth ringing the clinic with the details from your last eye test as one of our advisors will be able to confirm this for you.
I’ve been told my prescription is too high for laser. Is there any other treatment available?
Ring the clinic with the details from your last eye test as one of our advisors will be able to confirm this for you. If your prescription is outside the treatable range then there may be an alternative and we will be able to tell you if that is the case.
I’m over 45 years old, will I still need reading glasses?
Although laser treatment cannot correct the need for reading glasses, it is possible to compensate for it by focusing one eye for distance vision and your other eye for near vision, known as monovision or blended vision. Please discuss this with your doctor in your consultation.
Will I be completely free from glasses?
This cannot be guaranteed although the vast majority of our patients do not need glasses after treatment.
Could my eyes go worse again?
The treatments tend to be very stable. During healing there can often be slight fluctuations in your vision. A very small percentage of patients do require an enhancement which normally presents itself within the first couple of months. If this happens to you, these enhancements are free of charge.
Will I need to leave my contact lenses out?
Yes. You will need to refrain from wearing soft lenses for three full days and gas permeable lenses for four weeks. This is the same for both your suitability assessment & consultation and also for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can both eyes be done at once?
It is possible to have both eyes treated at the same time. This will be confirmed at your consultation by your doctor.
Will I be able to drive myself home after treatment?
No. We advise that you arrange for someone else to come with you and drive you home, alternatively we can book a taxi for you.
What if there is a power failure?
The clinic is equipped with an uninterrupted power supply as a safety feature.
Will the treatment hurt?
No. We use anaesthetic eye drops to numb your eye. The procedure can be ever so slightly uncomfortable but most patients say it’s better than the dentist!
What if I move my eye?
Our laser is fitted with an eye tracker to compensate for any movement your eye may make.
How long does the treatment take?
If you are having both eyes treated, you will be in the treatment room between 20 - 30 minutes. The actual ‘laser’ part of the treatment can last up to two minutes.
Can I wear make-up?
Make up cannot be worn on the day of your treatment and must not be worn on or around the eyes for at least one week thereafter.
When can I start playing sport again?
Usually after a week. However, swimming and contact sports should be avoided for two to four weeks. Please check with your doctor.
Are there any extra costs involved?
No. All costs are accounted for in one fee, even enhancements and medications until you are discharged.
Can I Pay in Installments?
At Visualase we try to make Laser Eye Treatment affordable to every patient. We offer a wide range of payment plans including 12 months 0% interest free credit. See the Payment Options page for more information
If the VAT rate changes, does this effect the cost of laser eye surgery?
Don't worry, laser eye surgery is VAT exempt so any changes in the VAT rate will not effect the cost of laser eye surgery.
Can I have laser eye surgery even though I'm colour blind?
There is no constraint in having eye laser surgery if you are colour blind as it does not affect the condition - much like wearing contact lenses or glasses
Can I have Eye Laser Surgery even though I've got nystagmus?
Technically it is possible to treat a patient who has nystagmus as modern laser have very fast tracker systems that can keep up with the movement of the eye.
However, patients with this condition generally have poor best corrected vision and as laser eye treatment can only get their vision as good as can be achieved with glasses, then treatment is generally not recommended.
Is it worth traveling outside a main city to get laser eye surgery?
There are many factors to consider when thinking about having laser eye surgery. Everything from which clinic to how you are going to get there and how you are going to fund it.
One factor worth considering is that travelling outside a major city such as Manchester for laser eye surgery. Has numerous benefits, including access, parking, and also a lower cost of treatment.
What equipment do you use for laser eye surgery?
There was a recent article on the advantages in using a mechanical microkeratome compared to the femtosecond laser. At Visualase we ensure we use the for more effective equipment our patients and use a mechanical microkeratome for the Lasik eye surgery.
Can I have laser eye surgery abroad?
Some people consider having their laser eye surgery away from the UK. At Visualase we would always recommend looking for a clinic within the UK. There are excellent surgeons and technology available in the UK and with a little research, it is always possible to find a clinic/surgeon you are happy with.
Can I get laser eye surgery even though I have an astigmatism?
Yes you can have laser eye surgery if you have astigmatism, but it is all dependent upon the degree of the astigmatism.
Does Laser Eye Surgery affect your Night Vision?
Night vision problems that may be encountered include reduced contrast vision, glare and halos. However, these symptoms tend to reduce as the cornea heals and improvements in surgical technique and technology over recent years mean that night vision problems are less prevalent.
I'm thinking of going on holiday, how long before-hand do I need to have treatment?
Potentially the laser eye surgery can be completed within a couple of weeks of the initial consultation.
How far should the clinic be from where I live?
Our feedback shows that 80% of laser eye surgery patients come from within a 30 mile radius of the clinic. Even within the UK, choosing a clinic that is close to where you live is important as it means that you always have quick access to your surgeon and professional advice.
I am a sport enthusiast, should I consider laser eye surgery?
More sports enthusiasts are having laser eye surgery as a means of improving their game. All sports require a varying degree of hand to eye co-ordination. Top sports people are fine-tuning their performance by professional treatment of their bodies deficiencies.
How long before I can go swimming after laser eye surgery?
It is generally advised that swimming should be avoided for at least 2 weeks following laser eye surgery. We would probably suggest that when you do start swimming, you should wear goggles for up to 6 weeks post surgery.
Dry eyes after Laser Eye Surgery - How long does last and is there anything to take to ease this?
It is normal and expected that during the creation of the flap a certain number of the corneal nerves will be temporarily damaged. This means that for some period of time after your LASIK eye surgery, the regular nerve impulses that control the production of tears will be interrupted. This is a normal and expected part of the healing process after LASIK. It can be accompanied by dry, gritty and uncomfortable sensations.
In order to avoid this, your surgeon will have carefully examined your tear film beforehand. But, more importantly, every LASIK patient will need to use lubricating and moisturizing drops after their procedure.