Our most popular posts of 2016

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2016 was dominated by what’s been called “a political earthquake”. And when looking back, an earthquake is a fitting metaphor to describe the year as a whole.

Brexit, chaotic weather, exploding smartphones, the Zika virus, explosions in airports, the death of stars and political legends, and, not forgetting, surprise reality star presidents. Many things happened in 2016 that shook the world to its core. But aside from the tragedies and political upsets, there was also a seismic wave of incredible achievements, technological advancements, and scientific discoveries:

Andy Murray and Wimbledon, CRISPR, Pokemon Go, the Olympics, Tim Peake returning from space, baby goats in sweaters, giant leaps in discoveries in the origin of the solar system, to name a few.

A Laser Eye Surgery blog may not be the first place you’d look to for an annual summary, but our round-up of 2016’s most popular posts does well to encapsulate just what a crazy year it was. Some reflect our mindset of fearing the worst, some show signs of the increasingly connected age we life in, some point to our diminishing faith in the system, and some simply underline our love of getting inebriated. I suppose if it came down to a few words, keep calm and have a drink would pretty much do it.

And on that note, let’s kick off the most popular posts of 2016 with a look at the policy around alcohol after Laser Eye Surgery.

How Soon After Laser Eye Surgery Can I Consume Alcohol?

From helping us celebrate special occasions and relax after a hard days work to controlling our hair and making us smell good, alcohol plays a huge role in our lives. This makes having a dry period a bit trickier than you first might expect.

When preparing for your typical surgery, most people expect they’ll have to abstain from alcohol for several weeks if not months. But Laser Eye Surgery is far from your typical surgical procedure, and because of this, it has different rules on how soon you can have a drink afterwards.

Find out how soon you can consume alcohol after the procedure here.

Scar Tissue And Laser Eye Surgery

Each year Laser Eye Surgery continues to grow in popularity, with more and more people benefiting from its life-changing effects. But with more patients, inevitably comes more problems.

One of the issues surgeons are seeing more patients come in with is scar tissue. It’s still relatively uncommon, however, if you do have scar tissue, it can disqualify you from treatment. Fortunately, advancements in laser technology mean this is less often the case, with many patients qualifying and going on to experience major improvements.

Read the article on Laser Eye Surgery and scar tissue here.

The best and worst times to have Laser Eye Surgery

An old Chinese proverb says “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.” It speaks to our tendency to let opportunities pass us by, and suggests we should stop stalling things and just do them.

But for some things, there are better times than others. And so, sometimes all we can do is wait a little longer. When planning for Laser Eye Surgery, this can be the case for several reasons. It pays to know what these are so you don’t suddenly make the decision and discover you have to wait another nine months to get rid of your glasses.

Find out about pregnancy and other times that can temporarily affect your eligibility for Laser Eye Surgery.

Post-LASIK patients risk of halos and starbursts around bright lights at night

In the year of information overload and fake news, it’s easy for the facts to get drowned out by marketing hype, misinformation, scare stories, and out of date opinions.

And it’s fair to say when it comes to Laser Eye Surgery, there’s a lot of such rhetoric around the procedure and its side effects. But as time goes on people are also becoming more tech savvy. They’re no longer putting up with faulty data and unreliable sources and are now seeking out the word of experts, such as Prof Dan Reinstein, for their information.

In this article, Prof Reinstein talks about the side effects of Laser Eye Surgery and sets some facts straight on the topic of night glare.

Can Laser Eye Surgery ruin your eyesight?

On a similar note, if you trust all the tales and propaganda you read online, you’d be quick to believe that Laser Eye Surgery can ruin your eyesight.

If you’re thinking about undergoing treatment on your eyes, you want to be 100 percent sure it’s safe and effective. And even the slightest hint that it isn’t can arise doubts and affect your decision to do it.

In this popular post, we address some of the most common concerns surrounding Laser Eye Surgery, such as ‘Can you go blind from the procedure?’, and put to bed your biggest fears with cold hard facts.

Can Laser Eye Surgery Give Me ‘Supersight’?

Interest in this post may be a sign of our desire to possess superhuman abilities, as shown by the barrage of superhero films released in 2016, but we think it’s more a sign people are beginning to see that the benefits of Laser Eye Surgery far outweigh any risks or downsides.

‘Supersight’ may sound an overblown prospect, but once you read the post, you’ll see why it really isn’t an understatement. The article explores things like how Laser Eye Surgery has increased the performance of people like Tiger Woods and how it can transform the health of contact wearers.

How soon can I be back on my iPhone/iPad?

If there’s one topic of concern regarding Laser Eye Surgery that trumps them all in 2016, it’s how soon we can get back to our devices.

Traditional surgery doesn’t fit into today’s fast-paced lifestyle of live streaming, instant messaging, and gym selfies. But just as our smartphones and devices have been advancing, Laser Eye Surgery has been advancing too. So much so that you’ll be back on your iPhone, iPad, laptop, or any other device before you know it.

Read the article to find out the exactly when you can be back using your devices.

What are the long-term effects of Laser Eye Surgery?

First introduced over a quarter of a decade ago, Laser Eye Surgery is reaching a point where we say for sure what its effects are over the long term. And with roughly around 30 million people having had the procedure, there’s no shortage of evidence.

But considering the long term effects of Laser Eye Surgery tends to lead to more questions like ‘Are the effects permanent?’ and, ‘What about presbyopia?’ In this short article, we address such queries, pulling together data from various studies and making a critical assessment of its safety and effectiveness.

Read, “What are the long-term effects of Laser Eye Surgery?” here.

Harley Street vs High Street

In the age of transparency and social media, shoppers are becoming more and more savvy about the products and services they buy and who they buy them from.

Companies such as consumer watchdog Which? and other online media houses are exposing  why we should think twice about opting for bargain basement prices, time-limited deals, and so-called special offers.

In this timeless piece from earlier in the year, we explore some of the reasons this advice is so important in the laser eye industry and look at how it relates to the success of Harley Street.

What happens if I move my eyes during Laser Eye Surgery?

Technology has advanced Laser Eye Surgery so much that it barely resembles the first instances of the procedure. However, even though the surgery has moved on tremendously, many of the same beliefs and worries continue to stick around.

Here we look at how Laser Eye Surgery has gone from a scalpal-based procedure that relies on human hands, to a bladeless one that uses high-precision lasers and safety systems like eye-tracking technology. We also look at how — no matter how hard you try — there’s virtually nothing you can do to disrupt the outcome of the treatment.

Read the post and find out what happens if you move your eyes, sneeze, cough, or fall out the chair during Laser Eye Surgery.

Is 2017 the year you decide to have Laser Eye Surgery? Visit our blog to find our more or speak with one of our Patient Care Coordinators to get your journey underway.