Symptoms
Potential candidates may experience:
- Difficulty reading without glasses
- Struggling with distance vision
- Frequent changes in prescription
- Discomfort with contact lenses
- Vision impairment affecting daily activities
- Specific refractive errors:
- Near-sightedness (myopia)
- Far-sightedness (hyperopia)
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
Causes
Refractive errors result from:
- Irregular eye shape
- Corneal curvature variations
- Lens or corneal length inconsistencies
- Genetic factors
- Age-related vision changes
- Developmental eye characteristics
Diagnosis
Pre-surgical assessment includes:
- Comprehensive eye examination
- Corneal topography
- Intraocular pressure check
- Corneal thickness measurement
- Pupil size evaluation
- Tear film analysis
- Detailed medical history review
Treatments
Laser Eye Surgery Involves:
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Correcting vision without external aids
- Reshaping the cornea
- Customised to individual eye characteristics
- Potential reduction or elimination of glasses/contacts
Surgical Procedure Characteristics:
- Performed under local anaesthesia
- Approximately 10 minutes per eye
- Laser reshapes corneal tissue
- Minimal discomfort
- Immediate vision improvement
- Potential for future enhancements
Multiple Laser Eye Surgery Options:
- LASIK: Most common, suitable for various refractive errors
- SMILE: Latest technique, minimal invasiveness
- Presbyond: Specialised for patients over 45
- Surface ablation techniques
Post-Treatment Expectations
Success Rate
- Approximately 96% achieve desired vision correction
- Most patients reduce or eliminate glasses dependency
- Potential for minor follow-up adjustments
Recovery Time
- Initial healing: 24-48 hours
- Return to normal activities: Within a week
- Full visual stabilization: 3-6 months
- Potential temporary side effects (dry eyes, night glare)
Medications and Care
- Antibiotic eye drops
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Protective eye shields
- Restricted activities during initial recovery
- Follow-up appointments
- Gradual vision adaptation
Note: Individual results vary. Thorough consultation and screening essential for optimal outcomes.