Consultation and surgery: Pre-operative

The pre-operative consultation provides a basic explanation of Excimer Laser surgery, its benefits, alternatives and complications.

An informed consent form will need to be signed before the laser treatment is performed. At that time, specialised testing is performed to determine your suitability for surgery.

Hard (PMMA) or rigid gas permeable contact lenses must be left off the eye a minimum of 4 weeks prior to this appointment. Soft contact lenses must be left off the eye a minimum of 1 week.

You may continue to wear a contact lens in the eye not having the operation. The laser surgery is performed at the Melbourne Excimer Laser Group practice at 160 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne.

It is a walk-in, walk-out procedure. You should be accompanied by a relative or friend who can provide transport after the procedure.

The majority of patients have both eyes treated on the same day, however in some circumstances your surgeon will recommend treatment on separate days. This will be discussed with you on the day of your assessment.

Consultation and surgery: Operation Day

Just prior to the procedure, anaesthetic drops will be instilled in your eye.

You will be familiarised with the way in which the laser will work, before the actual treatment.

You will then be positioned lying horizontal on a motorised chair, with the eye to be treated aligned under the operating microscope. Your other eye will be covered during the procedure. You will see a red flashing target light as you look up. It is this light upon which you fix your gaze during the laser treatment. With LASIK treatment a small instrument called a microkeratome will be placed on the surface of the eye to create a small hinged flap.

This flap is then lifted and a small amount of cornea is vaporised (ablated) with the laser. The flap is then replaced in its original position and remains in place without stitches.The actual treatment by the laser, on average, lasts only 30 seconds during which time you must look at the green fixation light. The whole procedure on average takes only 15 minutes. You will not feel any pain from the laser.