Are you suitable for Laser Eye Treatment?
Treatment Range
The table below offers
an approximate guide to patients suitability for laser eye
treatment.
LASIK: Combined surgical and laser procedure. A thin flap
is cut on the surface of the eye (cornea) and the exposed
tissue is lasered before replacing the flap (est 1994).
Suitable for mild to severe short sight, mild long sight
and astigmatism.
LASEK: Combination of PRK (est 1988) and Epiflap
(1997). The surface of the eye is lasered (cornea) without
the need of surgery to the eye. Suitable for mild to moderate
short sight and astigmatism.
Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL's). Lens placed surgically
inside the eye just behind the cornea, (est 1987). Suitable
for very severe short sight, long sight and astigmatism.
|
Treatment
|
Prescription
|
Procedure
|
|
|
|
LASIK
|
Sphere:
-0.75 to –10
+1 to +3
Astigmatism (cyl)
+/–0.5 to +/-4
|
Surgical
Painless
|
2 days
Painfree / minimal discomfort
|
24 hours
|
|
LASEK
|
Sphere:
-1 to –4*
Astigmatism (cyl)
+/–0.5 to +/-4
|
Surface based
Painless
|
Up to one week
Usually mild to moderate pain
|
1-4 weeks
|
|
Implantable
Contact Lenses
(ICL’s)
|
Sphere
+12 to –23
Cylinder
+ or – 7
|
Surgical
Painless
|
Up to one week
Usually very mild pain
|
2-4 weeks
|
|
*LASEK can be chosen up to - 6
|
Suitability For Laser Eye Treatment
All levels of glasses prescriptions are now treatable.
With the exception of cases of eye diseases, most people
will now be suitable for treatment with ICL's.
If you have previously been refused, you may be suitable
for Implantable contact lenses if you have severe short
sight, long sight and astigmatism.
You should be suitable for laser eye treatment if you are
healthy and over 21 years old.
Laser eye treatment is not normally recommend for very
low levels of eyesight correction, i.e. -0.75 dioptre
or
unless combined with astigmatism.
Your eyesight should not have changed significantly within
the last year, as your eye sight problem may still be getting
worse.
There is no upper age limit, although older patients with
low levels of short sight will need reading glasses and
laser eye treatment may not be desirable
Diabetics who are well controlled and do not
have damaged retinas (retinopathy) can be treated.
The following are not normally suitable for treatment:
People with a lazy eye, the partially sighted or those
who are blind in one eye.
It may be possible for those with Kerataconus to have ICL's,
but a perfect result is unlikely, only improved vision.
Severe epileptics or people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis,
or collagen diseases.
Pregnant women & mothers who are breast feeding.
Persons with a depressive disorder, obsessive problems
or a perfectionist nature are not good candidates for laser
eye treatment.
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