The Story Behind Corrective Laser Eye Surgery
Refractive errors that require correction with either glasses or contact lenses are extremely prevalent around the world, including here in the UK. But while Laser Eye Surgery is on the rise, few people are aware of the full story behind this impressive corrective procedure. So, let’s take a look at some facts and figures that you should be aware of if you or a loved one is considering Laser Eye Surgery.
The Prevalence of Glasses and Contact Lenses
According to a recent survey, 69% of people in the UK rely on glasses to correct their refractive error, while 13% opt to wear contact lenses. Women are more likely to wear both glasses and contact lenses compared to men (72% vs 66% and 16% vs 11%, respectively).
This trend is seen throughout the world and has been attributed to several socioeconomic factors and the unique health problems experienced by women.
Other research notes that the majority of those people think that getting rid of their visual aids would be life-changing. In fact, 62% of British adults who wear glasses reportedly claimed that their lives would significantly improve if they could ditch the specs for good.
And yet, while uptake of Laser Eye Surgery has been consistently on the rise in recent years (3% of respondents surveyed have had the procedure), many people still don’t consider it to be a real option.
They can be put off for several reasons: because they believe they are too old (42%), that their prescription is too strong (38%), or because they think the procedure is not safe enough (13%).
Professor Dan Reinstein, from The London Vision Clinic, points out: “Over 100,000 people have Laser Eye Surgery every year in the UK and it is now one of the safest and most popular procedures available. Even if you think you’re too old or that your prescription’s too strong, you’re probably wrong.”
So, What is Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser Eye Surgery is a common refractive procedure that involves reshaping the cornea to adjust the way light is reflected into the eye. The treatment has now been in use for almost four decades, benefiting over 30 million people worldwide. There are several types of Laser Eye Surgery, but all use the same basic principles.
How Does it Work?
As mentioned above, Laser Eye Surgery works by adjusting the way light is directed into the eye. To achieve this, the surgeon must first access and remove the corneal tissue. This is done slightly differently depending on the procedure you have:
- PRK/LASEK – A portion of the corneal epithelium is removed completely, exposing the tissue beneath.
- LASIK – A flap is created in the cornea that can be closed again once the corneal tissue has been removed.
- ReLEx SMILE – A “keyhole” incision is created in the cornea, creating a tunnel through which tissue can be removed.
Removing corneal tissue from the eye allows the surgeon to reduce or increase the steepness of the cornea, allowing light to be more effectively focused on the retina. This technique can be used to correct myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia (ageing eyes).
How Safe is it?
As with any kind of surgical procedure, Laser Eye Surgery is not without its risks. However, advances in technology, surgeon expertise, and aftercare procedures have helped to make Laser Eye Surgery one of the safest elective procedures in the world. In fact, many opticians advise that Laser Eye Surgery is safer than long-term contact lens wear.
What Can Go Wrong?
While Laser Eye Surgery is generally considered a very low-risk procedure (especially when performed by an expert surgeon), it is important to be aware of the potential complications.
The most common problems after Laser Eye Surgery include under- and over-correction. This occurs when too much or too little corneal tissue is removed from the eye. As a result, the patient may not immediately achieve the optimum levels of visual acuity; however, this can usually be corrected with an enhancement procedure (which we offer free of charge).
Other side effects that you may experience after Laser Eye Surgery are dry eyes, fluctuating vision, and glare around light sources. These symptoms are a normal part of the eye’s healing process and usually clear up within a few months.
How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost?
Laser Eye Surgery is not a cheap procedure – and nor should it be. However, the cost of treatment can vary depending on a number of factors, including the procedure you require, the experience of your surgeon, and the level of screening and aftercare.
Treatments start at less than £1,000 per eye; however, such low prices are typically only available for a small number of patients with simple prescriptions. Generally, the more complicated the prescription or the greater the eye needs, the more expensive the treatment, with some procedures exceeding £5,000. This is due to the need for more comprehensive screening and follow-up care.
While Laser Eye Surgery can be provided through the NHS, this is only the case when the procedure is considered medically necessary. For example, it may be considered when it may prevent blindness.
Cost is understandably an important consideration when choosing a Laser Eye Surgery provider. It is important to conduct thorough research to ensure you choose a provider that best suits your needs.
Laser Eye Surgery Myth-Busters
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a look at some common myths about Laser Eye Surgery.
Laser Eye Surgery is only for short-sighted people
Indeed, Laser Eye Surgery was first developed to treat short-sightedness (myopia) – likely because it is the most common refractive error. However, a lot has changed since the introduction of this innovative treatment. Nowadays, Laser Eye Surgery can also be used to effectively correct long-sightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and even presbyopia!
You can be too old for Laser Eye Surgery
Technically, there is no upper age limit for Laser Eye Surgery. As long as the eye is healthy and your prescription has been stable for a minimum of 12-24 months, you can be considered for treatment.
You have to have injections in your eye
The thought of having a laser pointed at your eye can be a scary prospect, so throwing needle injections into the mix might be enough to put you off the treatment altogether. Thankfully, no injections are required for Laser Eye Surgery! We use anaesthetic drops to numb the treatment area for the duration of your procedure, so you don’t have to worry about any nasty needles!
You can go blind
While it is technically possible that Laser Eye Surgery can cause blindness, this risk is exceedingly small. In fact, it is lower than the risk of blindness when wearing monthly contact lenses for a year! To date, there have been no recorded cases of blindness caused by Laser Eye Surgery.
If you blink or sneeze, you could mess up the surgery
Laser Eye Surgery is an extremely high-tech procedure. Not only will your eyes be held open throughout your treatment, but we also use eye-tracking technology to detect any movements that may affect the delivery of treatment. If any such movements are detected, the treatment is automatically paused.
The results don’t last that long
The changes to the eye that are made during your treatment are permanent. As a result, many patients are able to ditch their glasses and contact lenses for years to come.
However, the eye is a living organ that naturally changes over time. For some, this can result in a small deterioration in vision as you get older. In some cases, an enhancement procedure may be required to achieve optimum uncorrected visual acuity again. Furthermore, as presbyopia sets in in middle age, you will likely begin to notice a deterioration in your near vision. Thankfully, the innovative PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision procedure can help to reduce and even eliminate your dependence on reading glasses!
If you’d like to learn more about Laser Eye Surgery and the treatments offered at our Harley Street clinic, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today.
