Melbourne Excimer Laser Group - Options for correction


About Excimer Laser	Current technology	Vision correction options	Who is MELG?	Where to find us

How the eye functions I Vision problems I Options for correction I When is surgery indicated? I Who is suitable? I Results I Consultation and surgery I After surgery I Freq. asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I have to be admitted to hospital?
A: No. The procedure is performed on a walk in walk out basis.

Q: How long does the procedure take?
A: The laser treatment itself usually takes less than a minute. Preparation takes a little longer and you will be in the treatment room for 15-20 minutes. Most people are ready to leave the treatment centre 1-2 hours after the appointed arrival time.

Q: Do I have an anaesthetic?
A: You will be awake during the procedure but the eye is completely numbed by local anaesthetic eyedrops so that you do not feel any discomfort.

Q: Does it hurt?
A: PRK: The procedure itself is almost completely painless. After the anaesthetic wears off the eye can be sore for a day or two. The degree of discomfort varies from patient to patient.
A: LASIK: An instrument called a speculum is used to hold your eyelids open and this may cause slight stretching sensation. During the procedure you may feel a sense of pressure on the eye as the suction ring is applied. You may have a blacking out of vision for a short time. It is uncommon for a patient to have more than mild discomfort or grittiness during the first 24 hours post op.

Q: How accurate is the laser?
A: The excimer laser is an extremely precise surgical tool. It can remove corneal tissue with an accuracy of within a fraction of a micron (a thousandth of a millimetre). The laser is checked for its accuracy before each treatment session.

Q: How successful is PRK?
A: PRK is one of the most successful treatments for the correction of shortsightedness and astigmatism. It is extremely successful for low and moderate degrees of shortsightedness.

Q: Is the effect of laser treatment permanent?
A: Once vision has stabilized, the effect of the treatment is likely to be permanent. However, excimer laser surgery will not prevent the natural changes in eyesight that take place over a lifetime.

Q: Will I need glasses afterwards?
A: This depends on the severity of your shortsightedness. Some may prefer to wear weak glasses for selected activities. e.g. driving, going to the theatre. It is important that you understa .hat patients in their mid 40's and older will almost certainly need glasses for reading , like most normally sighted people of that age.

Q: How soon will I be able to see afterwards?
A: PRK - It is likely that your unaided vision will noticeably be better within one week of the treatment. However, it may take several months to achieve the final result depending on the degree of your shortsightedness.
A: LASIK - It is likely that your unaided vision will be substantially better the day after your treatment. Many patients are able to drive within a day or two.

Q: How long do I have to wait between eyes?
A: PRK - We prefer to wait until you are happy with the result with the first eye and you feel that you could manage most activities relying on this eye while the second is recovering. Most patients take between one to four weeks.
A: LASIK - 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.

Q: Are there any long term side effects?
A: PRK - has been performed since 1987, so the longest human eyes have been followed after treatment is 10 years. There have been no serious late complications reported, nor any expected.
A: LASIK - There have been some late complications described after LASIK. Growth of epithelial cells (the skin of the cornea) under the flap. This is usually evident within a few months of surgery and can be treated by lifting the flap and removing the cells. Late dislocation (or even loss) of the flap. This is quite rare and generally only occurs with significant trauma to the eye. Keraectasia, or bulging of the cornea is a rare complication which can occur if not detected before surgery. During your assessment you will screened for a predisposition to this disorder, which would exclude you from having LASIK.

Q: Is there a rebate from Medicare or Health Insurance?
A: No. There is no rebate for refractive surgery.

Q: Is LASIK better than PRK?
A: LASIK certainly has some advantages over PRK in that it is usually less painful, vision recovers more rapidly and there is little or no corneal haze following surgery. However LASIK has some disadvantages. The procedure is slightly longer and more complex than PRK, and there are complications relating to the flap that do not apply to the PRK treatment. You need to fully discuss the pros and cons with your surgeon.