LASIK Eye Surgery | Procedure, Cost and Safety

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK laser eye surgery is the most commonly performed treatment at OCL Vision. LASIK is an acronym that stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis.

Your eyes see by allowing light to enter through the cornea (the front part of the eye) and focus on the retina. The information is then communicated to the brain via the optic nerve.

Most people with poor eyesight have eyeballs that are either too long or too short in relation to the size of the cornea. Eyeballs which are relatively long mean that images focus in front of the retina, making you short-sighted. Eyeballs that are relatively short mean that images focus behind the retina, making you long-sighted.

Laser eye surgery reshapes your corneas with precision accuracy so that light will focus directly on your retinas. The result is that you will be able to see clearly without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

eye examination at the ophthalmologists for lasik eye surgery

What is the process of LASIK eye surgery?

1 Consultation

We’ll take you through the process step by step and explain the potential complications to help you to weigh up the risks and benefits in order to make an informed decision regarding laser eye surgery.

2 Procedure

LASIK eye surgery is completely painless and the whole procedure typically takes around 10-15 minutes from start to finish. Anaesthetic drops are used to completely numb the surface of each eye. A femtosecond laser creates an ultra-thin flap in the cornea, and the surgeon will gently reflect the flap so that the second laser (the excimer laser) can reshape the cornea. A state-of-the-art pupil tracking device ensures accuracy and safety. If the eye moves during surgery the laser will follow the eye or automatically stop if necessary. The surgeon will then reposition the flap before moving on to the other eye.

3 Aftercare

Some patients experience dryness of their eyes, reduced night vision, glare and infection after LASIK eye surgery. These symptoms are usually temporary.

4 Recovery

If you are about to have or have just had LASIK eye surgery you’ll want to know how to look after your eyes immediately after surgery to get the best results from your investment. We will let you know what to do, for example avoiding rubbing your eyes, contact with water, staying away from dirt and dust and wearing sunglasses.

The majority of patients have fully recovered and can go about their usual day to day activities just 24-48 hours after surgery. There are certain things, such as swimming, that you’ll need to avoid for a little longer. Read more about exercise after laser eye surgery here.

What are the 5 steps of LASIK?

OCL Vision theatre technician Becky talks through the 5 steps of LASIK eye surgery. First the patient’s eyes are cleaned, then anaesthetic eye drops are applied. Next a laser is used to create a corneal flap followed by a second laser used to reshape the cornea. Finally, the flap is replaced. All done in about 5 minutes per eye!

What technology do we use for LASIK eye surgery?

Faster lasers are more accurate. As well as making laser eye surgery even safer, this also means that more eye tissue can be conserved. So, OCL Vision use the fastest lasers available, for all LASIK procedures. LASIK eye treatment is a totally bladeless, wavefront-optimised guided procedure that is carried out using the world’s fastest and most accurate laser combination:

The Swiss-engineered Ziemer Z-8 low energy Femtosecond Laser is used for flap creation.
The German-made Schwind Amaris 1050RS Excimer Laser is used to shape the cornea. This laser will remove 50% less tissue than most other lasers currently in use and does it in less than half the time.

How safe is LASIK eye surgery?

Millions of LASIK procedures have now been safely carried out worldwide. In fact, LASIK eye surgery is now the most common elective procedure for adults to undergo in the western world. The latest LASIK technology means that problems from surgery are very rare indeed. As with any operation, however, there is a small element of risk. The skill and training of the surgeon are therefore critical to ensure that things go smoothly.

Our world-class surgeons use the very best technology and are able to safely treat prescriptions and conditions that most other laser vision surgeons cannot.

Why choose LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK could save you money. Why not check out our vision correction calculator to find out how much you could save by giving up contacts and glasses?

LASIK gets results. Provided you have a common prescription with no other visual complications, your chances of 20/20 vision following LASIK are very high. There is now almost 20 years of research data showing that in the right hands LASIK is both safe and effective. In fact 100% of OCL Vision patients see 20/20 or better with both eyes.

LASIK offers patients satisfaction. If you’re worried about how you will feel following the procedure, this research is reassuring. It shows that LASIK has a much higher satisfaction rate than contact lenses.

LASIK can treat unusual prescriptions. If your prescription is very high or if you suffer from presbyopia, LASIK can offer a solution. For many patients, LASIK vision correction provides results they never thought possible. Astigmatism, a common condition caused by the shape of a person’s cornea, can also be corrected with laser eye surgery.

LASIK vs LASEK

At OCL Vision we offer several types of laser eye surgery, including LASIK and LASEK. Over 90% of patients are suitable for LASIK, making it our most common type of laser surgery.

LASEK is an option for patients who have thinner corneas. This procedure doesn’t involve a flap being created, meaning that reshaping takes places on the surface and recovery time is a little longer. The risk of serious complications following surgery (less than 1 in 1000) is the same for both LASIK and LASEK.

At your consultation, your surgeon will discuss with you which option is likely to suit you best based on your eye health and personal preferences.

Laser blended vision

Laser blended vision is a unique and pioneering treatment for patients with presbyopia, who would otherwise need reading glasses. For this treatment, LASIK eye surgery is used to adjust each eye differently, so one eye will be used for distance and the other targeted for close-up viewing.The brain usually adapts to each eye, focusing at a different distance within six to eight weeks.

Bioptics

For patients with extremely high prescriptions, LASIK eye surgery can be part of a combined treatment known as bioptics. This technique corrects the majority of the refractive error with a refractive lens exchange or implantable contact lens. Following surgery, any small residual refractive error can be refined with advanced Z-LASIK.

Bioptics is a rare procedure that can only be carried out by highly-trained refractive surgeons, since it involves highly skilled surgery in more than one field. The consultants at OCL Vision possess experience in both lens implant surgery and laser eye surgery, making them the few surgeons offering this option in the UK.

How much does it cost?

LASIK, LASEK, PRK

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments
15 year aftercare guarantee

From

£1,995

per eye

Indicative Finance From

£37 p/m

per eye

See finance options Get a quote

SmartSight

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments
15 year aftercare guarantee

From

£2,200

per eye

Indicative Finance From

£40 p/m

per eye

See finance options Get a quote

LASER
Blended Vision

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments

From

£2,500

per eye

Indicative Finance From

£71 p/m

both eyes

See finance options Get a quote

LASER
Presbymax

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments

From

£2,850

per eye

Indicative Finance From

£52 p/m

per eye

See finance options Get a quote

What makes our LASIK eye surgery unique?

Treatment tailored for you

You are always at the centre of everything we do. We do not offer a one size fits all approach but rather customise every single treatment to your individual visual needs, so you’ll always get the best procedure for your eyes and your vision

The choice for healthcare professionals

Our surgeons are known the world over and are some of the best in the country, with over 30,000 completed surgeries between them. We treat many surgeons, doctors and anaesthetists who also refer their friends and family to us as they know they will be in safe hands with our expert surgeons.

State of the art technology

We have spared no expense. Eye surgery requires perfect precision, that’s why we have invested in only the latest and most advanced technology. We are not tied into any particular company or manufacturer which means we have complete freedom to chose the best from the many options
available.

Experts you can trust

Patients need to be able to trust us with their eyes. We are honest with our approach and offer the very best evidence-based treatment with your best interests always at heart. We pride ourselves on recruiting and retaining the best staff in the business to ensure that you are supported throughout every step of your journey.

The history of LASIK eye surgery

Laser eye surgery was first approved in 1995, but the procedure has developed considerably since then. The 1995 procedure was called Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK. During PRK, the outer surface of the cornea is removed and the laser works directly on the corneal tissue to change its shape and improve vision. PRK has longer recovery time and a higher risk of infection than other laser eye procedures. Despite this, PRK is still available and in some cases is the most suitable option. LASEK is a variation on PRK.

LASIK eye surgery has been available since 1999, overcoming the issues associated with earlier forms of laser eye surgery. Using lasers for both the incision under the cornea and the change to its curvature means that it’s easy to control, has predictable results, it’s relatively painless and comes with very short recovery time.