The best and worst times to have Laser Eye Surgery
Many of us will choose to put off the important decisions in life because it isn’t the right time. Moving house, changing careers, having a child – all of these decisions require a lot of thought and weighing up all the information in order to determine whether it is the right time. And deciding to upgrade to better vision can be a similar undertaking.
The reality is, with all of these decisions, there will be good times to take the plunge, as well as bad times. This can be down to a variety of factors – and the same is true of Laser Eye Surgery.
Ageing, disease, hormones, and genes can all affect us differently and wreak havoc with our plans, making finding the ideal time to make the change to your eyesight challenging, to say the least.
While you may have made up your mind that it is the perfect time to ditch the glasses and upgrade your vision, your body may have a completely different idea. When it comes to Laser Eye Surgery, this is often the case without our patients even knowing it.
There are a number of factors that can affect a person’s suitability for Laser Eye Surgery. So, instead of getting you all psyched up thinking about your new vision, we’re going to give you a head’s up on some of the best and worst times to have Laser Eye Surgery.
The bad times
During Pregnancy
Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy are more commonly associated with morning sickness and mood swings. But they also have a significant — albeit not so disruptive — effect on your vision.
During pregnancy, many women experience a reduction in their visual acuteness, tipping their prescriptions off balance. This often comes in the form of myopia or short-sightedness, causing blurry vision over a distance. But it can also be a shift to hyperopia or long-sightedness.
As if an unprecedented change to your vision wasn’t enough to deal with, hormone imbalances have also been known to cause dry eyes. All of this means that Laser Eye Surgery is pretty much off the cards until at least a few months after nursing when vision is once again stable.
When your eyes are still changing
While we might feel like adults when we reach 18, the fact is that our bodies often continue to develop into our teens and early twenties – and our eyes continue to grow and change along with them. Again, this means that your prescription and quality of vision can continue to fluctuate – courtesy of your beloved hormones.
One of the main prerequisites for Laser Eye Surgery is having a stable prescription. And so if you are of an age in which these changes are still happening, you will typically be unsuitable for treatment — at least temporarily.
Luckily, our hormones and body do balance out over time. So, if you’re over 18 and your vision has been stable for over a year, you should have no problem with having the procedure. Simply bring your current glasses or contact lens prescription along to a consultation to confirm you’re ready for treatment.
If you have a dry eye condition
Dry eye syndrome is becoming increasingly common – likely accelerated by our fast-paced digital lifestyles. Unfortunately, as Laser Eye Surgery has a tendency to cause a little post-op dry eye, people with the condition can often be deemed unsuitable for treatment.
Post-operative dry eye is caused by disruption to the nerves on the outer surface of the eye. This can result in a period of decreased sensitivity and reduced tear production. While this means that LASIK and older procedures are usually off the cards for patients with dry eyes, the latest innovations in Laser Eye Surgery mean that all is not lost.
ReLEx SMILE has been revolutionary in making post-op dry eye a thing of the past. This minimally-invasive ‘key-hole’ procedure can be completed in a fraction of the time of LASIK and has an equally impressive recovery time.
SMILE, therefore, makes Laser Eye Surgery a suitable option for many who thought they were unsuitable: including those with dry eyes, thinner corneas, and very high prescriptions.
The good times
When you’re at the end of your tether
Maybe you’re just getting over an infection caused by your contact lenses; maybe you’ve lost your second pair of glasses in the space of a month; or maybe, you’ve finally got around to booking that scuba diving holiday! Whatever it is, there often comes a point when glasses and contact lenses have outlived their use.
Glasses and contact lenses have, of course, improved the lives of millions over the years. But the fact is, they are only a temporary form of vision correction.
You may have dismissed Laser Eye Surgery in the past due to cost or fear. But, if you’re at the end of your tether, it might finally be time to reconsider and do some proper research on the treatment. The chances are, you’ll find it is a lot less costly and intimidating than you once thought.
Now!
There is never a better time to have Laser Eye Surgery than now. The sooner you have the surgery, the more years you have to enjoy the unique benefits it has to offer.
Just like the rest of our bodies, our eyes tend to heal and stabilise a lot faster the younger we are. That means the potential of mild side effects is even less of a concern, and the body is more effective at adapting to your new and improved vision.
Remember, though: even if you decide you are ready for Laser Eye Surgery and you think you’re an ideal candidate – just like moving house – this isn’t a decision you should rush into.
First of all, you need to find the right clinic for you. We recommend that you do your homework and book several consultations with highly-rated clinics. This can help you to scope out their credentials and experience in the particular procedure you are interested in.
You’re only given one pair of eyes, so make sure you take your time when selecting the best Laser Eye Surgery and avoid being seduced by deceptive marketing campaigns.
If you would like to find out if now is a good time for you to have Laser Eye Surgery, Book a Consultation with us. Our specialists can walk you through your options and answer any questions you have.
Alternatively, give us a call on 020 7224 1005.
View Comments (25)
Hi,
I wanted to have my eyes do a lasik surgery, but Now I'm actually confused if any of PRK or lasek would be a better choice to get the myopia of my eyes corrected?!!! The degree of the myopia is 1D.
Thank you!
Hi Aralia,
Everyone's eyes are different. At London Vision Clinic our aim is to get you the best possible results and that means assessing your eyes for 3.5 hours initially to determine what the best treatment plan for you would be. Unfortunately, just knowing your prescription doesn't give us enough information. We would need to assess your suitability fully and ascertain whether the PRK, Lasik or ReLEx SMILE treatment would be the best option. Please let us know if you need any other information by getting in contact on 0207 224 1005 or via info@londonvisionclinic.com
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi again,
First, THANKS for the quick reply! I had already asked similar question with even more explanation in another medical website and they paid NO attention to it!!
Well, I had actually another quest in which if infections caused by sinusitis could harm eyes any ways, esp after getting eyes done a surgery which means they will get much more sensitive?_I been suffering from a chronic sinusitis too for ages now (sometime it gets kind of infected even if I use anti bioethics for it).
Thanks.
Hi Aralia,
Thank you for your comment. The sinusitis infections you are experiencing will not affect surgery. We would obviously want to make sure you had no signs of infection at the time of surgery. Any sinusitis infection you got after surgery would affect your eyes in the same way. It certainly wouldn't preclude you from surgery. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
I am 18 years old my number iswas -10.5 and -2.5 cylindrical since past 4 years . Suddenly this year it increased by 1 and now it is -11.5 . Is laser eye surgery possible for me
Hi Jessica,
We do treat patients as young as 18, however, to confirm if you would be suitable we would need to see you for a consultation. We would need as many previous prescriptions as you can get. It is certainly possible but we would need to make sure that it was the best option for you at this stage. Please let us know if you have any further questions or call the clinic to speak to one of our Patient Care Coordinators on 0207 224 1005.
Thanks
London Vision Clinic
Hi. I am 49 and generally fit and healthy. My vision has deteriorated over the last few years and I am now struggling with my 3rd pair of varifocals. Would laser eye surgery be suitable for someone like me whose prescription seems to be changing at a (what seems to me) fairly rapid pace?
Hi Lucy,
Thank you for your comment. It sounds like presbyopia has set in for you. This is the natural ageing of the eye and unfortunately means we all need to pop on the reading glasses at some point. Laser Blended Vision, a treatment pioneered at the London Vision Clinic can treat patients with presbyopia. Please follow this link for more information. If you would like to discuss more, please call the clinic on 0207 224 1005.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
I want to have Lasik Eye Surgery because I am sick and tired of lens I want a permanent solution but on the other hand I am very scared of eye laser surgery. Would laser eye surgery be suitable for me? Is it secure? Should I go for it?
Hi John, Laser eye surgery is a very safe medical procedure in terms in comparison. I am unable to say whether it is suitable for you without any information, you may want to call the clinic and get more information about your eyes on 0207 224 1005. One of our Patient Care Coordinators will be happy to go through any questions for you.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi, i am Karnvir from India .recently my eyes have got the problem of anterior uveitis . my treatment is goig on and before this i never wore spectacles but now i have to of -1.5 cylindrical. can u please tell that should i do an eye surgery to get rid of the spectacles . will it be safe for me .
Hi Karnvir,
Unfortunately, we are unable to determine your suitability with this information alone. You would certainly not be able to proceed while the uveitis was active. We would need to see you first for a consultation and most likely require blood tests to fully determine your suitability for laser eye surgery. Please call the clinic on 020 7224 1005 for more information.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
hello
actually i am in india and cannot come to london for blood tests and various other tests.
if i get rid of uveitis then can i have the treatment for eyes .actually i want to get rid of the spectacles as early as possible but safely. i am 17 yrs of age so please guide me as i dont know about these things much
thank you
Hi Karnvir, We would be unable to advise if you would be suitable following Uveitis without assessing your eyes for a thorough examination. I would advise that you seek specialist help closer to home. However, as you are under 18 you should wait until proceeding with surgery.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi
I am 30 years old. I also have a issue with my eyes that I wake up with itchy wet red eye. it is painful. I get a burning sensation. It only happens maybe one a month or in two months.
Is eye surgery suitable for me?
Thank you
Hi Hassan,
We would need to assess your eyes and determine the issue you are having, from the information you have given, it is possible you could be suitable for laser eye surgery. As I said, you would need to have a full assessment to determine your suitability.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi, I am considering laser eye surgery within the next month or so. I have never worn glasses, my eyesight is not terrible. Do I need to wear prescription glasses for a certain period of time prior to laser surgery so that you get an accurate/stable prescription?..Or can laser eye surgery go ahead without the need of a prior prescription?
Many Thanks
Wayne
Hi Wayne, thanks for your comment.
We normally ask for the previous few years worth of prescriptions as a way to track how your prescription has changed, and see it stabilising.
If you do not need glasses, you should not start wearing them. Laser eye surgery aims to eliminate or reduce someones need for glasses, so we would need to find out more about your and your eyes in this instance.
If you would like to discuss further with one of our Patient Care Coordinators, call us on 020 7224 1005.
Kind Regards,
London Vision Clinic
I had laser eye surgery somewhere like 1995, approx 23 years ago (45 years old now) , and now i am back on glasses and contacts. can i have second laser eye surgery. or should i go for lens replacement or if there is any other kind of eye technology which i can use.
kind regards
jughead
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it is normal for someone to need a top-up procedure, to tweak the results many years later. We have a treatment called Laser Blended Vision, which addresses the need for reading glasses. You can read more about it here - https://www.londonvisionclinic.com/how-long-will-the-effects-of-laser-blended-vision-last-video/ This treatment compared to lens replacement is less invasive, lower risk, and can often be much cheaper. If you would like to know more, please give us a call on 020 7224 1005.
Kind Regards,
London Vision Clinic
Hello,
I am in my early 60's and, like most people I have had to wear glasses since my 40's due to natural aging of the eyes. My prescription has been fairly stable for the last couple of years and so I have been giving some thought to laser surgery. However, I have been advised by my GP that my eyes will continue to change as I move through the next couple of decades and should I reach my 80's or later, there is a much enhanced risk of cataracts, surgery on which would cause a need for further laser treatment. Added to this he pointed out that due to the continued aging, I would probably still need to wear reading glasses.
In that case I might as well continue to wear varifocals and get the best lenses that I can afford.
Is my GP scaremongering or is laser surgery not ideal for the over 60's for the reasons he stated?
Hi Graham, thank you for your comment.
Presbyopia is a gradual change once you get into your forties, yes, although it is completely unique to each individual in terms of the progression and degree to which it may alter your vision. Should you have laser eye surgery, there is no link to causing cataract formation. I would recommend calling us to have a chat with our Patient Care Coordinators to discuss the various options you have on 020 7224 1005.
Kind Regards,
London Vision Clinic
I am in my early 70 s I have myopia presbyopia and have dry right eye. Am I a suitable candidate for eye correction surgery. Thankyou.
Hi Helen, we have treated patients of similar prescriptions before but we would need you to come in for a full eye health examination to determine your individual suitability. To find out more, you can call to speak with one of our Patient Care Coordinators on 020 7224 1005.
Many thanks,
Chloe at London Vision Clinic