1) Initial consultation: £175 refunded with surgery
2) Lasik and Lasek Wavefront Laser: £1895/eye 12 months interest free credit available
3) Lensectomy: £2800/eye
4) Phakic intraocular lens: £3000/eye
Financing may be available – please call my office
The vast majority of patients can look forward to either freedom from distance glasses or contact lenses, or at least greatly reduced dependence on them. If your objectives are not met by the first procedure, a second or enhancement procedure can often be performed to provide additional correction. Most people do not need an enhancement but it may be necessary, especially if you have a large prescription.
If you are having Lasik or a lens implant you may choose to have either one eye corrected at a time or both eyes simultaneously. There are advantages and disadvantages of both approaches which I will discuss with you during the consultation. Lasek is usually done one eye at a time as vision is slower to recover than with the other technologies.
The time is takes for your vision to return to normal depends mostly on the type of treatment you have had although some patients are quicker than others. Lasik and lens implants recover very quickly – your sight may be excellent within a day or so although there is often ongoing improvement for weeks or even months after the treatment. Lasek recovers more slowly than either technologies, typically requiring 2 – 4 weeks.
This depends on your treatment, for example after Lasik there is a review during the first week and again about a month later.
The vast majority of patients do not experience any complications. However as with any form of surgery there are possible risks and side effects that you must take into account before deciding to proceed. I will discuss this subject with you in detail when you have your assessment. You will be asked to read and sign a consent form before your surgery. I am always prepared to answer your questions and to discuss any anxieties you may have.
Refractive surgery procedures are painless although you may briefly feel a little pressure. You may have a scratchy feeling for a while afterwards. The exception is Lasek which may be uncomfortable for 1 – 3 days afterwards although I provide anaesthetic eyedrops which are very effective.
Lasik and Lasek are always done with anaesthetic eyedrops whilst you are awake. No injections or general (sleeping) anaesthetics are needed. Lens implants may be done either local or general anaesthetic.
No.
Yes. Once your eyes have healed the correction is permanent. Remember that your glasses or contact lens prescription should be stable before vision correction. If the prescription is changing it means your eye is still growing and some change in the focus of your eye may occur after the treatment because of this.
The range of Lasik is up to about 10 dioptres of combined short sight and astigmatism and 6 dioptres of combined long sight and astigmatism, so it treats most people. Read how the eye works for more information. Check your glasses prescription – add the amount of ‘sphere’ to the amount of ‘cyl’: if these two numbers add up to more than Lasik will treat, you will need a lens implant.
If you have a small glasses prescription you may choose Lasek which is less ‘surgical’ or ‘interventional’ than Lasik. However Lasik and lens implants are in other respects just as effective for treating small glasses prescriptions.
Lasik corrects up to about 6 dioptres of combined long sight and astigmatism, lens implants an unlimited amount. Read How your Eyes Work for more information.
Lasik and Lasek correct astigmatism very well up to about 3 dioptres. Lens implants correct almost any amount. Read ‘How your Eyes Work‘ for more information.
It is possible to correct presbyopia with refractive surgery. The best technology is usually lensectomy. Lasik and Lasek work in a some of cases. Presbyopia after cataract surgery is also correctible.
It is important that you do not wear contact lenses before your treatment. This is because contact lenses often cause subtle changes in the shape of your cornea.
Soft Contact Lenses 1 Week
Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses 2 Weeks
Hard (PMMA) Contact Lenses 3 Weeks
I ask ladies not to wear eye make-up or perfume as these may interfere with the laser. I will explain the procedure beforehand so that you know what to expect. Your eye(s) will be anaesthetised with drops (no injections are involved) and you will be awake during the procedure. You will lie on a comfortable couch and will be asked to look at an aiming light from the laser. This is all you need to do. Do not worry about blinking accidentally – a small eyelid prop will prevent this from happening. The procedure takes about ten minutes. You will not feel any pain although there may be a brief feeling of pressure.
If you have Lasek, I will put a contact lens on your eye after the treatment. Please leave it in place – it is an extended wear soft contact lens that does not need to be changed or cleaned on a daily basis. We will remove it for you a few days later. Lasik does not require a contact lens afterwards.
You may relax in a chair before leaving. You will not be able to drive home so please bring someone with you or alternatively we will arrange a taxi. You will be given eyedrops with instructions on how to use them and a follow-up appointment.
Your vision will be blurred for a while. Lasik recovers in about a day, Lasek takes longer. Lasik may feel scratchy and your eye(s) may water for a day or so, Lasek is usually uncomfortable for 1 – 3 days: you will be given anaesthetic eyedrops to help.
You should rest as much as possible for a day or so and try to take a few days off work. I recommend that you avoid reading, using the computer or watching the TV for a day after Lasik.
You may shower and wash your face as normal. When drying off, try to pat around the eye. If you do get soap in your eye, do not rub it! Just keep it closed until the stinging stops.
The arrangements are different if you are having a lens implant.
Laser works well for most people, but there are exceptions. It does not work for very strong glasses and may not be ideal if your main problem is dependence on reading glasses. Some eye disorders or general health problems preclude laser and in a few cases the cornea of the eye is too thin.
If you are not suitable for laser, lens implants may help you. There are two lens implant technologies – lensectomy and phakic intraocular lenses.
Laser works well for most people, but there are exceptions. It does not work for very strong glasses and may not be ideal if your main problem is dependence on reading glasses. Some eye disorders or general health problems preclude laser and in a few cases the cornea of the eye is too thin.
If you are not suitable for laser, other refractive surgery technologies may help you. I am a Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in refractive surgery and have the expertise necessary to offer effective alternatives to laser, such as lens implants.
You are welcome to contact my office if you would like to speak to one of my patients who has had refractive surgery after your initial cosultation.
Laser or lens implant – choosing the technology that’s best for you
I am a Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in refractive surgery and provide a comprehensive range of treatments so that treatment is customised to your personal needs.
It is possible to treat any prescription no matter how large for short sight, long sight, astigmatism and presbyopia (reading glasses). The technology best for you depends on factors such as your age, strength of your prescription, whether you use reading glasses, your lifestyle and the particular characteristics of your eyes.
At you initial consultation, I examine your eyes myself and there is an extremely thorough examination with the most sophisticated diagnostic instruments available. I will then discuss the technology best for you.
As an approximate guide -
Laser - Wavefront all-Laser Lasik: younger patients or older patients who do not mind reading glasses afterward. Prescription +4.0 to -9.0 dioptres hyperopia or myopia and 3.0 dioptres astigmatism.
Lasek - Wavefront Lasek: Same age considerations as Lasik, prescription +3.0 to -6.0 hyperopia or myopia and 3.0 dioptres of astigmatism. Lasek is appropriate for people with smaller prescriptions or whose inclination is to have a less ‘interventional’ procedure and accept the slower recovery time of Lasek.
Lens Implants - Phakic Intraocular Lenses: Age less than about 45, prescription outside the Lasik range eg: myopia more than -10 dioptres. Almost any myopic or astigmatic prescription may be treated and some hyperopic patients are also suitable.
Lens Implants - Lensectomy: Age about 50 or more especially if freedom from reading glasses is required or if the prescription is outside the Lasik range. Almost any prescription may be treated by lensectomy.
Many patients are dependent on glasses after cataract surgery, especially reading glasses. Two technologies may be helpful. Firstly an additional artificial focusing lens may be placed inside the eye: the new lens rests on top of the lens that was originally inserted during cataract surgery. A ‘monofocal’ lens is inserted to reduce dependence on distance glasses or if freedom from reading glasses is required a high-tech ‘multifocal’ lens implant is used. Alternatively, if the problem is dependence on distance glasses, Lasik or Lasek laser may be the solution.
