Laser Eye Surgery: Laser Vision Correction, LASIK, PRK, Cost, Price, Risks, Recovery, UK

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Procedures

Surgical

Laser Eye Surgery

Laser techniques to rectify vision problems

Procedure Summary

Surgery Type:	Surgical	Procedure Duration:	20 minutes
Expected Results:	Corneal reshaping for vision correction	Recovery Duration:	3 - 4 days
First used:	Early 1990's, USA	Results Duration:	Permanent
Anaesthetic:	Local	Average UK Cost:	£1000 - £1500

If you suffer from any of these vision problems – short sight (myopia), long sight (hyperopia) and astigmatism (uneven focusing) – then laser eye surgery, or laser vision correction, could eliminate the need to wear glasses and contact lenses. With just a simple, straightforward procedure, you could have the same level of vision as a non-spectacle wearer.

Since the 1960s, surgeons have been able to perform corneal re-shaping. Thanks to technological advances, patients can now choose from a variety of laser eye surgery treatments to correct their particular problem. The early 1990's saw the first use of lasers for vision correction in the USA; but it was not until 1995 that it was officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What can laser eye surgery do for you?

Laser eye surgery is most effective at treating short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism, though it cannot treat age related vision problems such as presbyopia. However, the procedure is not for everyone. Patients undergoing the treatment should be healthy and have a reasonable level of vision in both eyes. The state of their eye condition should be stable, i.e. unchanged over the previous 12 months. Patients who are pregnant, have had Herpes of the cornea, are taking any medications which interfere with the healing process (such as drugs used during chemotherapy), suffer from a significant ocular abnormality/keratoconus, or experience severe dry eyes will not be able to undergo laser vision correction.

If you are suitable for receiving the treatment, being able to see without the aid of glasses or contact lenses will be a life-changing event. As one patient commented after her operation, “Suddenly I could play sports, go swimming and just go about my daily life without the constant hassle of lenses and specs.”

There is also a psychological advantage. After undergoing laser eye surgery, many patients feel a greater level of self-confidence as they can see unhindered and they no longer have to wear glasses or lenses.

Undergoing laser vision correction

Your particular suitability for surgery will be discussed during the initial consultation with the surgeon. If you are a suitable candidate, then the most appropriate form of surgery will be discussed. Once the go-ahead has been given to have laser eye surgery, contact lenses must not be worn one week (for soft lenses), four weeks (for gas permeable hard lenses), or six weeks (for conventional hard lenses) before surgery because the lenses can slightly alter the shape of the cornea making accurate assessment difficult.

Basically, the three most common conditions involve the following treatments. Myopic (short sighted): Laser eye surgery will be used to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the centre of the cornea, to thin and flatten it and move the focus closer to, or onto the retina. Hyperopic (long sighted): Laser eye surgery will be used to remove microscopic tissue from the edge of the cornea. Astigmatisms (difficulty focussing): A special oval-shaped laser is used to reshape the cornea.

At present, LASIK surgery is the most popular procedure. LASIK surgery lasts around 20 minutes and is performed as an out-patient procedure. The patient remains awake and in a reclined position. The eye is numbed with local anaesthetic drops and a small, hinged flap is cut into the cornea to expose the middle section. The laser reshapes the cornea then the flap is replaced. Within a few hours, the surface of the cornea begins to heal over the cut, without requiring stitches.

An alternative approach, the PRK technique, involves the surface skin of the eye being removed before the laser is used to reshape the cornea. Both eyes can be treated on the same day with LASIK, but there should be at least a week’s gap between surgery with PRK.

The LASIK technique is relatively pain-free, causing only minor discomfort within the first few hours after surgery. Your vision will improve quickly and settle down within 3 or 4 days. Medicated eye drops are used for the first few weeks to aid the healing process and minimise any short-term discomfort and a night shield should be worn for the first week to stop any rubbing of the eyes while asleep. Most patients can return to office jobs the day after surgery. Playing sports (non-contact) is safe after one week, and patients can fly within a few days but swimming is not advisable for one month after the procedure.

The PRK technique is a little more uncomfortable, with some pain lasting for 3 to 4 days, though medicated eye drops can moderate this. A special contact lens will be placed on the eye for several days to allow the surface to heal.

Sunglasses are advisable immediately after surgery, so take a pair with you; and you will not be able to drive, so arrange a lift or a taxi home. Take care to keep water and soap out of the eyes and avoid eye make-up for the first few days.

Possible side effects

Some patients experience dry eyes for a few months following surgery, though this can be remedied by artificial tear supplements. When the degree of eyesight correction has been high, patients sometimes experience extra glare when driving at night. This problem usually rectifies itself within a year after surgery. Other possible side effects include drooping eyelids, blurred vision, light sensitivity and, in very rare cases, corneal ectasia, where fluid pressure builds up on the eye.

“For the first week or so after the procedure I felt a bit uneasy with my sight,” said one patient, “although this may have been because I was simply not used to seeing properly without glasses.”

As with all cosmetic surgery, it is essential to follow the advice of your practitioner after the procedure. This will ensure that the outcome is as successful as possible and reduce the risk of complications

Who should carry out laser eye surgery?

Private treatment usually costs £1000-1500 per eye and is available at some NHS hospitals. When shopping around for a suitable surgeon to carry out your laser vision correction, it is wise to consider the experience of the surgeon, the technology available to them and their level of success with previous patients.

If laser eye surgery is something that you are considering, you can discuss all of the issues mentioned here in greater depth during a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon.

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