Laser Eye Correction

Who does it?
Eye Surgeon

What is it?
Laser eye correction offers a permanent solution to vision impairment for those who are sick to death of losing their contacts or breaking their glasses and forking out huge sums of money to replace them.

The procedure works by using a laser to permanently reshape the cornea, which is the clear covering over the iris and the lens which sits behind the pupil.

Who is suitable?

If you are short sighted (where the cornea is too steeply curved, or the eye is longer than normal), long sighted (where the cornea is too flat or the eye too short), or you suffer from astigmatism (where the cornea is shaped in an oval rather than a sphere), then you are a potential candidate for this procedure.

It is often thought that age-related vision problems are untreatable with laser eye surgery, however according to the specialists at Focus Clinic (see below), who specialise in reading vision correction, this is no longer the case.

There are certain medical conditions which will preclude you from surgery – a thorough consultation with an ophthalmic surgeon will determine this.

Some clinics set age limits, and pregnant women are not able to undergo the procedure.

What’s the treatment like?
There are two main types of laser eye surgery in the UK – LASIK  and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The difference between the two is the method used to expose the stroma – the middle layer of the cornea – before remodelling it using the laser.

In LASIK surgery, a flap is cut in the epithelium – the uppermost layer of the cornea – and folded back in order for the laser to reach the stroma, whilst in PRK the epithelium is scraped away and discarded, which allows for the cells to regenerate.

The flap left after LASIK surgery is permanent, although it won’t cause you any irritation. Both procedures are quick – literally just a few seconds – and the area is numbed using drops of local anaesthetic.

What happens afterwards?
Patients are usually advised to take a day off work, but you should be able to resume normal activities, including driving, the very next day.

You might find you have a problem with dry eyes initially, and occasionally people find they need to use artificial tear supplements in the long term, but the complication rate is less than one per cent.

Will I have a scar?
No.