Laser Eye Surgery FAQ
Here are some of the Laser Eye Surgery FAQ
World wide 16 million people are estimated to have had laser eye surgery done. Statistics show that laser eye surgery complications are few and far between, Lasik eye surgery is an extremely safe and effective procedure, but as with any type of medical procedure, complications may occur. Most of the complications that could occur are treatable and in many cases resolve themselves.
Most Suitable Candidate
18 years of age or older and have had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for atleast the past two years.
You are affected by one of the common types of refractive error such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or astigmatism.
You do not suffer from any disease, ocular or general, that may affect the effectiveness of the surgery, or the ability to heal properly and quickly. general good health.
You are informed about the benefits and risks of the procedure, as well as any suitable alternatives. These include non-surgical solutions, such as glasses, contact lenses, or orthokeratology (ortho-K), and other surgical procedures, such as radial keratotomy (RK), conductive keratoplasty (CK), lens implant, or lensectomy with intra-ocular lens implants.
You have realistic expectations, and understand that the surgery should reduce your dependency on glasses and contact lenses, but may not completely eliminate them.
Less Suitable Candidate
Dr Sutton may still be able to perform the surgery safely in some cases, provided you and the surgeon have discussed the risks, benefits and expected results.
You have certain eye problems or a history of eye problems, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (muscle imbalance), severe dry eyes, previous eye surgery or injury, or any recurrent, residual or active eye conditions which may affect healing. Other conditions that you should tell your doctor include keloid scarring with previous surgical healing, back problems, claustrophobia or other psychological problems, which may affect the surgery or recovery.
You are undergoing treatment with medications such as steroids and immuno-suppressants. Any medication that renders you immuno-compromised can adversely affect the healing process.
You are suffering from conditions or diseases that slow healing (e.g. auto-immune or collagen-vascular disorders, uncontrolled diabetes), or certain eye viruses including herpes simplex and herpes zoster.
You have significant scarring of the cornea.
What is the Chance of Developing a Complication?
Serious complications are very infrequent, and the risk of incidence or significant loss of vision from LASIK is extremely rare. Complications could result in a delayed recovery of the eyes for several weeks or months, but it is highly unlikely they will result in serious or permanent loss of vision.
Less than 1% of patients encounter serious complications that have the potential to significantly harm their vision.
How do I find a Ophthalmologist?
Selecting a laser clinic and a ophthalmic surgeon is a very important decision!
If you are concerned about the risks involved or need help making that big decision, please feel free to contact eye surgeon Dr Sutton via laser eye surgery in Sydney on 1300 065 766
