The excimer laser is remarkably precise – here it has etched a human hair
Lasik laser eye surgery
In all-laser Wavefront Lasik a thin flap is made on the surface of the cornea with a femtosecond laser by focusing thousands of tiny laser spots inside the cornea, the spots joining to create a perfect continuous cut. The flap is lifted and the cornea tissue underneath reshaped with an excimer laser. This laser emits short wavelength ultraviolet light that has the property of breaking the bonds between the molecules of the cornea. The excimer laser reshapes the cornea, altering its focusing power to correct the eye’s refractive error. For example in short sight the cornea is flattened to reduce its power. Lasik is quick and visual recovery painless and rapid. It treats short and long sight, astigmatism and wavefront abnormalities and sometimes reading glasses.
In Lasik a flap is made (left). Laser reshapes the cornea under the flap. The flap is replaced and adopts the new shape (right).
Lasek/PRK laser eye surgery
Wavefront Lasek is an advanced surface laser treatment. No flap is created. Instead the fine surface layer of the cornea is loosened and folded back. Excimer laser is applied to the cornea underneath to reshape it and the surface layer is then replaced. Lasek is simpler than Lasik as no initial flap is required. It is ideal for smaller prescriptions and people with thinner corneas, although the eye is uncomfortable for a few days afterward and visual recovery is slower than with Lasik. Lasek treats short and long sight, astigmatism and wavefront abnormalities and sometimes reading glasses.
In Lasek laser is applied to the surface of the cornea to reshape it. The fine surface layer (dark area) is then repositioned
My patients’ story
This lady was very short sighted with some astigmatism. Her glasses prescription was right eye: -7.00/- 1.00×10 and left eye: -6.50/-0.50×150. She had bilateral all-laser Lasik customised using the Wavefront Optimised platform for maximum quality of vision ...
'I was first referred to Simon Levy by my Opticians whom I hold in very high esteem. They told me they wouldn't refer me to anyone but him, as he was the best in the business! I was suffering from an awful eye infection which was contact lens related. Initially, it was thought by my optician that I had a foreign body in my eye which would need to be surgically removed. Simon Levy established that this wasn't the case and that it was just a chronic eye infection. I asked Simon about the possibility of me having laser eye surgery after he had treated and cured my eye infection. He explained to me very clearly in layman terms, the pros and cons and was very honest about the process that would be carried out.
With a prescription of -6 and -6.5, I was extremely short sighted and without my lenses could see very little. I hated wearing glasses and had been pondering over having corrective eye surgery for some time. I had deliberated as I felt it hadn't been around long enough to judge the long term effects. Simon put me at ease regarding this, explaining how long it actually had been around and how it had improved over the years.
My experience at Guildford was amazing. The actual surgery was over within about 15 minutes. There was (as he told me there would be) some pain from the actual laser — it was extreme pressure being applied and this was very uncomfortable for about 20 seconds per eye. During this time, Simon was extremely kind, reassuring and considerate to me, reassuring me that everything was fine. And it was. Five minutes after the surgery, I went into the consulting room where I read the entire letter board including the bottom line! I was declared as having 20:20 vision! Unbelievable!
It is undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made. I still can't believe that I don't have to wear my lenses anymore, that I drive at night without any visual aid, and my long distance sight is now better than my kids!
I do need to wear magnifiers for close up reading, but that is exactly what Simon said I would need. I love the fact that I can pop in to Vision Express and for £10 pick up a pair of +1 ready readers!
I'd have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Simon Levy'.
