We have put together some common questions asked about laser eye surgery by our patients in our ‘laser eye surgery FAQ’. If you do have any further queries please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert clinical and administrative team.

 

Does it work?

Laser eye surgery is a safe and highly effective treatment for short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism. The vast majority of patients achieve unaided binocular vision* of 6/6 (also known as 20/20 vision) with 100% of patients with myopia up to -6.00D (medium to high) achieving the minimum UK driving test standard of 6/12 (20/40). *both eyes together, without spectacles or contact lenses.

 

Does it hurt?

No. We use local anaesthetic eye drops so that the procedure is painless, although you may experience a little discomfort. Most patients are amazed at how quick the procedure is and say it’s much easier than a trip to the dentist! You may experience a stinging or prickling sensation as the anaesthetic eye drops wear off, and your eyes may feel gritty and water for a few hours after IntraLASIK. With LASEK, this may continue for the first few days.

 

Do you treat both eyes at the same time?
Yes, as it is safe and more convenient for the patient.

 

What happens if I move?
Thanks to sophisticated scanning technology, the eye is tracked much faster than the laser is applied. This means that each small movement is followed by the laser tracker, ensuring each pulse of the laser is delivered to exactly where it needs to be. If there happens to be a large movement, the laser will pause automatically. When the patient is ready, the laser can continue from exactly where it left off.

 

Where is the treatment carried out?
The treatment is carried out in the prestigious main building of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. The consultation and follow up appointments can be carried out at either Moorfields Eye Hospital or at The David Gartry Eye Clinic in the Harley Street medical district, whichever is more convenient for you.

 

Will I meet my surgeon before the day of treatment?
Unlike many providers of laser eye surgery, Professor Gartry has always insisted on seeing all of his patients at their initial consultation. In April 2016, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists published new standards for refractive surgery which advises that patients should meet their operating surgeon at least 1 week prior to their treatment day.

 

Is it safe?
Laser eye surgery is a safe and effective treatment for short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism. However, as with any surgical procedure, there are associated risks and complications. These are very rare and the vast majority resolve over time with no adverse effect on the eventual outcome. Further treatment, necessary only very rarely, can be expected to correct these residual problems.

 

Will I still need spectacles after treatment?
Laser eye surgery is highly effective at correcting distance vision. If indicated, a simple re-treatment procedure can be carried out (usually after 4 months) to eliminate any residual refractive error (a small amount of myopia for example). This applies to only 3 – 4% of our patients and is usually highly successful. Ninety six percent of patients therefore do very well after just one laser treatment. Extremely rarely, patients may be left with a small residual prescription that may require spectacles for the utmost clarity of vision. Clinics should always make this clear to you.

When we reach our mid to late 40s, we develop an age-related condition known as presbyopia, characterised by the need to wear reading glasses. It is very important to understand that presbyopia affects everyone, whether or not you have had laser eye surgery to correct your distance vision. Therefore, once you reach your mid-late 40s, it is highly likely that you WILL require reading glasses – even former RAF pilots, for example, will need reading glasses from their mid-40s onwards.

 

Could I go blind?
No. There have been an estimated 30 million procedures worldwide and no-one has ever gone blind as a direct result of their surgery.

 

Will I have to have it done again in a few years’ time?
In around 3 – 4% of cases we perform a re-treatment (enhancement) procedure to improve the end result, and this is usually only for patients who started off with a more complex or higher prescription. This takes place around 4 months after the initial surgery. It is extremely rare to have to repeat the surgery many years later.

 

Do you charge for re-treatments?
Re-treatments (if considered necessary) are free of charge within two years of the original surgery.

 

Why do you charge for consultations?
By charging for consultations we are able to offer a comprehensive service that few other providers can match. Our experienced optometrists will run a series of specialist eye tests, after which you will meet the consultant surgeon, David Gartry, who will explain the results of the tests. He will give you entirely objective advice about whether laser eye surgery is right for you and, if so, the most appropriate treatment option to meet your needs. We’ll then give you all the information you need, including the consent form and aftercare advice to help you make your own decision in your own time.

 

Does my prescription need to be stable?
We check the stability of your prescription at your consultation. We follow the guidelines issued by The Royal College of Ophthalmologists which advises that there should be no more than 0.50 dioptre change in prescription in one year. They also advise that the minimum age for refractive surgery is 21 as vision may still be changing until then.

 

What will I see during the procedure?
You won’t actually see very much. During the first stage when the first laser is applied to create the corneal flap, the vision usually fades for approximately 30 seconds. During the second stage of the procedure when the main laser is being applied patients have sometimes reported seeing a ‘light show’. Others have described it as a similar experience to seeing the Northern Lights.

To find out more contact one of our team today – we look forward to seeing you soon.