See what you’ve been missing
Do you wonder what your life would be like if you could see and do the things you love — without glasses or contact lenses? Part of the process of deciding to have vision correction surgery is getting the facts — and having an assessment to find out if you’re a suitable candidate. Here’s some common Q&A’s to help you get started on your path to brilliant vision. LASER EYE SURGERY
Q: How does laser eye surgery work?
A: Simply put, we employ a laser-based technology to change the shape of the cornea (the surface of eye) to correct focussing errors with extreme precision.
Q: What is the best age for laser eye surgery?
A: Laser eye surgery is suitable for people between 20 to 50 years of age who have had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for two years. Laser may also be used to fine tune focussing errors present after Lens Replacement or cataract surgery in patients over 50.
Q: What might make me not suitable for laser eye surgery?
A: Sometimes there is an underlying weakness of the cornea or the cornea is too thin for laser to be safe. Also, some people are not good candidates for laser eye surgery because of systemic or ocular disease. A full assessment at your first appointment with us will ascertain if you are suitable.
Q: What will my eyesight be like after laser eye surgery?
A: You can expect to achieve better than driving standard, and will most likely achieve 20/20 vision, or better, although individual results may vary.
Q: How long does the procedure take?
A: The SMILE procedure typically takes only 3 minutes per eye, with the laser portion being only 25 seconds. LASIK takes 10-15 minutes for both eyes, with the laser applied for only 10-30 seconds.
Q: Is it painful?
A: Due to the anaesthetic numbing drops applied before the procedure, laser eye surgery is painless. Depending on the specific treatment, there may be some discomfort as the eye heals during the first hours after your laser surgery.
Q: I have been told that I have astigmatism which rules me out from being able to have laser eye surgery — is that true?
A: Astigmatism is a very common vision condition that causes blurred vision - it occurs when the cornea is irregularly shaped, or sometimes because of the curvature of the lens inside the eye. Laser surgery can treat most types of astigmatism.
Q: When can I go back to work after surgery?
A: It depends on the specific treatment but, for example, most patients will be able to return to work the day after LASIK or SMILE surgery.
Q: What’s the main thing that people love about having laser eye surgery?
A: Independence from glasses or contact lenses is the thing people enjoy the most. The freedom to swim, ski and be able to see when you get up in the middle of the night. Every week our patients tell us new stories about the benefits they’ve experienced from their las
Q: What exactly is Lens Replacement Surgery?
A: Imagine that your eye is like a camera. If the camera lens is not focusing correctly, you would consider replacing this with a new lens. Lens Replacement Surgery involves replacing your eye’s natural lens with an artificial IOL ( IntraOcular Lens).
Q: Is Lens Replacement Surgery a relatively new thing?
A: At Auckland Eye we have been offering Lens Replacement Surgery for over 25 years with many thousands of procedures completed. It is an increasingly popular option for the over 50’s. Today, highly sophisticated IOL’s are available to deliver visual outcomes tailored to individual patient’s needs.
Q: What age is it ‘ best for’ and why?
A:
In our 40s, we start to notice difficulty with near vision, such as reading our mobile phones. This is because our natural lens loses its elasticity and its ability to auto focus from far to near. By the age of 50, this ability is almost completely lost, and reading glasses are needed. Lens Replacement Surgery is a great way of restoring some range of vision from ‘distance to near’ in the over- 50 age group, allowing people to live the lives that they want — drive confidently, read menus, follow the path of the golf ball, or enjoy the beauty of nature — all with little or no dependence on glasses.
Q: Why would I want to consider having it?
A: If you are looking for a permanent way to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses for your daily visual tasks, Lens Replacement Surgery is a good option. People often tell us that they wish they could see supermarket prices or menus when they’ve forgotten their readers, or that having to put glasses on and take them off repeatedly is a huge inconvenience at work. Also, if you have Lens Replacement Surgery in your 50’s and 60’s you will never develop cataract.
Q: So, if I have Lens Replacement Surgery does that mean that I won’t need to have cataract surgery later?
A: Yes, you will essentially be doing early cataract surgery before your natural lens has had a chance to cloud significantly.
Q: How long does the surgery take and how long is the recovery period?
A: The procedure is typically less than 15 minutes per eye and is commonly done on separate days for each eye, about a week apart. This allows the first eye to recover and vision to stabilise in thateye. The recovery is swift, and most are back to full activities a couple of days after the procedure, enjoying their new sight.
Q: What result can I expect?
A: The vast majority of people are very delighted with their improved sight and their reduced dependence on glasses for both distance and near vision.