What Is Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a true wonder of modern medicine. It has transformed millions of people’s lives. Laser eye surgery has undergone dramatic technological advancements over the years which makes it extremely effective and safe.
LASIK, PRK and SMILE are laser procedures performed to reduce our need for glasses or contact lenses. These procedures treat short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Laser eye surgery changes the shape of the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye) to ensure excellent clear vision without glasses or contact lenses.
Laser eye surgery is most commonly used to treat people under the age of 50. If you are older than 50, refractive lens exchange may be more suitable for you.
If you have a very high prescription, implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) may be more suitable for you.
LASIK, PRK and SMILE are highly refined and precise treatments which procedure excellent outcomes. Our team at Vision for Life Institute perform a thorough assessment prior to surgery to determine which procedure is most suitable for you.
What are the different types of laser eye surgery?
There are several types of laser eye surgery, each with their particular advantages.
- LASIK
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), also known as Surface LASIK
- SMILE
LASIK
LASIK is the most well known and most commonly performed type of laser eye surgery. As with all types of laser eye surgery, LASIK changes the shape of the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye). LASIK requires 2 different lasers to perform, a femtosecond laser and an ecxcimer laser.
During LASIK, a flap is first created in the cornea with the femtosecond laser (see diagram). This flap is then lifted and the excimer laser is applied to the deeper layers of the cornea. The excimer laser changes the shape of the cornea and alters the way it focuses light, resulting in much clearer vision. The flap is then placed back in its original position.
LASIK was previously performed with a type of blade called a “microkeratome” to create the flap. The use of the blades to cut flaps were associated with certain complications. The development of the femtosecond laser has dramatically increased the safety of LASIK and significantly improved the outcomes for patients. LASIK with use of the femtosecond laser really has become the “gold standard” of LASIK technology.
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
In PRK (sometimes referred to as “surface LASIK”) the excimer laser is applied to the surface of the cornea rather than the deeper layers. No flap is created in PRK. As such, only the excimer laser is required with PRK.
Vision after PRK surgery can take a couple of weeks to provide beautiful clear vision. However, compared to LASIK, it is less likely to cause dry eyes afterwards.
PRK can be preferable to LASIK in certain situation such as when a person has dry eyes or if they engage in contact sports or work in the military. It can also be a better choice in people who have slightly thin corneas.
Whether you choose LASIK or PRK, both procedures have been show to have equally excellent long term outcomes in terms of vision and safety.
SMILE (small incision lenticular extraction)
SMILE is the most recent development in laser vision correction surgery. SMILE uses the femtosecond laser to remove a very small and precise lens-shaped fragment of tissue from the cornea (lenticule). Removal of this lenticule changes the shape of the cornea and allows the eye to focus light correctly.
Theoretical advantages of SMILE include minimal dry eye symptoms after surgery and excellent long term structural stability of the cornea.
Am I eligible for Laser Eye Surgery?
Prior to any laser eye surgery, a thorough assessment is performed to determine if you are a suitable candidate. You will be advised on the day of your assessment whether you are a candidate for laser eye surgery and which option would be most suitable.
For most people there is a treatment option available as an alternative to glasses and contact lenses. There are, however, some instances in which laser eye surgery may not be the best option for you.
If you have other significant eye conditions, LASIK, PRK or SMILE may be associated with greater risk. In such cases, laser eye surgery is best avoided.
Conditions which may be associated with increased risk include
- Lazy eye (amblyopia)
- Glaucoma
- Severe dry eye syndrome
- Keratoconus.
- Significant corneal scarring.
Our Ophthalmologists at Vision for Life Institute will only recommend surgery if possible surgery would have an extremely high level of success.
Are there other options apart from laser to replace glasses and contact lenses?
At Vision for Life Institute we offer all types of vision correction. Apart from LASIK, PRK and SMILE, other options include refractive lens exchange and implantable collamer lenses.
Refractive lenses exchange is a procedure in which the lens that sits inside the eye is replaced with a customised lens implant that improves how the eye can focus. It is a procedure commonly performed by our surgeons at Vision for Life Institute. During a refractive lens exchange, multi-focal or extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses are implanted. Refractive lens exchange is more commonly performed in those over the age of 50.
Implantable collamer lenses can be an excellent option for those who have very high prescriptions (particularly very high myopia or “short-sightedness”) and may not be suitable for LASIK or PRK. In such cases a lens implant (similar to a contact lens) is permanently implanted inside the eye to ensure the eye focuses vision correctly.
What laser systems does Vision for Life Institute use?
We are proud to use the Alcon Wavelight Excimer Laser and the Zeiss Visumax Femtosecond Laser.
What can I expect on the day of surgery?
Please know that the process of laser eye surgery is very simple. On the day or surgery, you will need to come to the laser centre with a carer to drive you to and from your surgery. If you would like to be relaxed, we offer a sedative tablet to help with any anxiety you may be experiencing. Your eyes are then numbed with numbing drops to ensure that you don’t feel any pain during the surgery.
The surgery then starts. During the procedure you will feel movement around your eye and possibly some pressure but no pain. You will be asked to look towards certain lights during the procedure but please don’t worry if you look away. Our eye-tracking technology ensures that the laser is able to follow eye movements as they occur.
Within a matter of minutes the procedure will be finished and you are ready to start your new life with wonderful vision without glasses or contact lenses..
What can I expect after surgery?
After your surgery, you will need to use drops in your eyes for a few months to ensure your eyes heal nicely and that you have excellent long-term vision.
There are a couple of check-up appointments after your surgery which are important to ensure that everything is progressing as expected after your surgery.
How much does Laser Eye Surgery cost?
Please click for Laser Eye Surgery cost – https://visionforlife.au/laser-eye-surgery-cost/
Are other types of laser used to treat eyes?
Apart from the excimer laser and femtosecond laser used in LASIK, PRK and SMILE, there are several others that Ophthalmologists used to treat eyes.
Such lasers include
- YAG laser: this laser is commonly used in people who have previously had cataract surgery to treat a condition known as “posterior capsular opacification.”
- SLT laser: this laser is commonly used in people with glaucoma. SLT laser is used to lower pressure within the eye so that people don’t need to use glaucoma drops.
- Argon laser: this laser is commonly used to treat conditions of the retina such as diabetic retinopathy.
Which surgeon performs Laser Eye Surgery at Vision for Life Institute?
Dr Cameron McLintock performs Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, PRK and SMILE. Dr McLintock undertook extra sub-specialist training in laser eye surgery. Apart from laser eye surgery he also performs implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery and refractive lens exchange surgery. He is also fully qualified to perform cataract surgery, pterygium surgery, corneal cross-linking and all types of corneal transplant surgery.
