Excimer Eye Laser
Eye Laser Surgery – Why Undergo It?
The Excimer Eye Laser Surgery is a procedure that works on correcting eye vision by reshaping the cornea. While this is not the case with all Eye Laser patients, most will find that, following treatment, they can do without their glasses or contact lenses for good. The Saint James Hospital Eye Clinic was established in 2001 as a totally dedicated specialised clinic within the Saint James Hospital Group. The professionalism of our nurses, surgeons, doctors and consultants, the high level of medical practices followed and the wide range of avant garde services offered ensure that our clients are well cared for before, during and after the procedure.
Pre-Laser Lecture & Screening
Whoever is interested in undergoing the Excimer Eye Laser is asked to attend one of our Eye Laser Lectures. These lectures will give you the opportunity to fully inform yourself about the Laser, how it is performed and what pre and post laser care is required. They will also provide you with the unmissable opportunity of airing doubts and tackling queries with the Eye Clinic’s professional staff. The pre-laser Lecture is free of charge.
Interested clients are then booked for a pre-laser screening with an optometrist who carries out a detailed eye examination that establishes suitability for the Laser treatment.
Suitable clients are then booked for Eye Laser Surgery – the LASEK.
Contraindications (conditions when eye Laser Surgery is not performed)
- Unstable refraction (1 year period)
- Diabetics
- Autoimmune disease such as A.I.D.S., Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple sclerosis
- Keratoconus
- Glaucoma
- Ocular herpes
- Retinal disease
- Pregnancy
- Nursing mothers
- Individuals with pacemakers
- Advanced dry eyes disease
What is the Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)
Laser epithelial keratomileusis or LASEK, is a technique where the epithelium (corneal skin cells) is loosened using a diluted alcohol solution to create a hinged skin-only flap. This flap of surface skin cells is gently slid upwards away from over the centre of the cornea and the laser is then used to re-shape the corneal surface. The flap is placed back over the treated corneal surface and covered with a contact lens for five days to keep it in place.
Published reports of LASEK have been extremely satisfactory. Refractive outcomes have proven excellent. Reported complications are minimal and comparative studies have indicated that the rare problems encountered with corneal haze are less frequent. The procedure does not disturb the deep corneal structure, so corneal complications are minimal and very rare.
Visual recovery is generally fast, with patients noticing significant improvements during the first week after surgery.
Eye Laser Technology
To provide the most advanced diagnostic and laser technology for our patients’ care, Saint James Hospital uses the latest diagnostic scanning systems for accurate data collection. This same data is then transferred to the Excimer Laser System via the internet. The system used is Technolas PV and we offer a variety of treatments, including Personalized Treatment, Aspheric Treatment and Tissue Saving Treatment. All these modes offer the ability to correct most ranges of refraction: myopia from -1.0D up to -10.0D, hyperopia from +1.0D up to +2.5D and astigmatism from -4.0D up to +2.5D.
Tailoring vision correction to your eyes, age and needs
During your pre-laser consultation, our specialised staff will discuss with you your lifestyle (hobbies and occupation), visual needs and visual capabilities so that any attempted correction can be optimised for your own particular way of life and visual requirements. It is important to remember that although long-term follow-up indicates good stability of Excimer laser corrections, the optics of your eye will change with the natural aging process. Excimer laser surgery only addresses the corneal refractive power. It does not correct for presbyopia, which is the inability, due to the hardening of the lens with age, to focus the lens to read. Such changes usually begin around the mid-forties and progress until about the age of seventy.
Refractive Surgery Consultation and Examination
The consultation will last between 30 and 45 minutes and will necessitate a full ophthalmic examination followed by a detailed discussion covering the risks and benefits of refractive surgery (eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses). Relatives and friends (space permitting) are more than welcome to attend.
Prior to the consultation, contact lenses should not be worn for 2 weeks for soft lenses or 4 weeks for gas permeable/hard contact lenses.
It is best not to drive after this pre-laser test as it will be necessary to dilate your pupils during the ophthalmic examination and this will blur your vision for 6 to 10 hours following the appointment.
Information for Patients booked for Eye Laser Surgery – click here
