Would you like to see clearly and free yourself from corrective lenses? Laser vision correction can help you achieve this goal! Find out what the surgery looks like step by step.

Every year more can be heard about laser vision correction. Some people have already undergone the procedure and now live their lives to the fullest, others are on the verge of taking this decision, but there are also those who know too little about the surgery and wrongly imagine it to be a long, expensive and painful procedure. Our ignorance is sometimes the reason why deprive ourselves of comfort which we could easily benefit from. Isn’t life without a refractive error and without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses simply more comfortable?

What to begin with? Where can we find reliable information about laser vision correction? Details of the procedure are available on our website. If a number of articles coupled with most frequently asked questions and our doctors’ answers we provide on the website do not resolve all your doubts or if you do not have enough time to read them, call us to ask your question and talk to one of the doctors working in our clinic. Another solution is to submit a question using a special form under the ASK A DOCTOR tab on our website. Those who would instantly like to check whether their refractive error is possible to correct and their general health condition does not disqualify them from the surgery may fill in a preliminary qualification form online. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and the information you provide will allow a doctor to pre-assess whether laser vision correction is suitable for you. However, you should remember that submitting your answers in the form does not mean you do not need to undergo a preliminary qualifying examination.

Why is the preliminary qualifying examination so important?

 The qualifying examination includes a number of tests and measurements of the eyes coupled with a thorough medical history, on the basis of which an ophthalmic surgeon either qualifies us for or disqualifies us from the laser vision correction procedure. It is also the time when the most suitable correction method is chosen (SBK LASIK, LASEK, TransPRK). The choice of method depends on various factors, such as the severity of the refractive error, corneal thickness and curvature, as well as the lifestyle of the patient and the job they do. If we have a type of refractive error which can be corrected with any of the above methods, it is worth to take doctor’s advice into consideration, but the final choice is ours.

Our Centre offers to conduct the preliminary qualifying examination and the laser vision correction surgery on the same day in a so-called one-day-procedure mode (provided that we are qualified for the procedure in the first place). It is the most popular option among our patients. However, the surgery may be conducted on a different day than the qualifying examination as the results of the examination are valid for 3-6 months (the exact length of time depends on the patient’s age and the results themselves and the doctor decides what the deadline for the procedure is).

How to prepare for a laser vision correction procedure, including the one-day mode?

after being qualified for the procedure during the preliminary examination we receive a note with recommendations which we should become familiar with and follow prior to, during and after the procedure (in case of the one-day mode we receive the note earlier via e-mail). The note includes a list of necessary preparations before the surgery, potential restrictions and limitations. The total time of the procedure, including the preparation and a brief period of rest afterwards, is not longer than one and a half hours. On the day of the procedure it is advisable not to come to the Centre alone, but to be accompanied by a friend or member of family – the eyes do not require any dressing afterwards and there are no particular ailments that you are expected to suffer from; however, you will not be able to drive a car due to potential lacrimation and the fact that the tranquilisers have not completely worn off. 

What does a laser vision correction surgery look like?

Laser vision correction, regardless of the method, is a quick (the patient spends about 20 minutes in the surgery), safe and painless procedure. As part of the preparation a nurse applies local anaesthesia and antibiotic in the form of eye drops, as well as administers orally liquid tranquiliser and painkillers. The patient is usually operated on by the same ophthalmic surgeon who has conducted the preliminary qualifying examination. It is on the basis of the tests and measurements taken during the examination that the surgeon pre-sets the laser for correction of the refractive error of a particular patient. Laser ablation itself takes between a few and a dozen seconds (the exact time is determined by the severity of the refractive error). Following the procedure, the patient is accompanied to a chair where they rest for approximately half an hour. The last stage of the procedure includes checking the general condition of the patient and explaining the post-operative application of eye drops and everyday eye care to them. At the end, the patient receives a special information card with details of the treatment, a set of eye drops with an instruction regarding their correct application, eye shields and sunglasses (chosen before the surgery) which should be worn on our way home from the clinic.

Vision improvement after a laser vision correction procedure is gradual and depends on individual features of the corneal healing process and the severity of the refractive error. Therefore, further treatment should be supervised by an ophthalmologist. The final, stable result of the refractive surgery is achieved approximately six months after the procedure.

If the information included in this article has resolved your doubts and encouraged you to consider undergoing laser vision correction – you are more than welcome to contact our Centre to find out more about the surgery. Our specialists will be pleased to answer all your questions.

Remember that the best investment is the investment in your health!

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