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.