Am I suitable for laser vision correction?

Here at the St Paul’s Laser Vision, we have access to some of the most advanced technology and techniques. This means we are able to literally treat any range of glasses prescription. The majority of patients are suitable for laser vision correction, but our consultant ophthalmologist will have a detailed discussion with you to recommend the most appropriate treatment that best suits your lifestyle. In a small number of patients, this may be other forms of treatment, such as lens replacement surgery or ICL implants, an implantable contact lens inside the eye.

Am I suitable for laser eye surgery?

You have to be at least 18 years old .

Your glasses prescription need to be stable in the last two years. This is normally defined as no change greater than 0.5 units (0.5D).

Your glasses prescription should be:

Up to -10.00D of myopia or short sight
Up to +4.00D of hyperopia or long sight
Up to ±6.00D of astigmatism

You may not be suitable for laser vision correction if you have other problems with your eyes such as cataract or suffer from certain medical conditions. Your consultant will carefully assess for this on your first consultation.

Alternative surgeries such as refractive lens exchange or ICL implant will be discussed.

How long does laser eye surgery take?

The actual laser will be active only for a few seconds. The full procedure will be finished within minutes.

What is the age limit for surgery?

There is no real upper limit for laser eye surgery as long as your eyes are healthy. However, older people (especially over 60 years old) can get naturally occurring cataract and therefore may be more suitable for Lens Replacement Surgery.

Does it hurt?

You should not feel any pain during the procedure as your eye will be numbed with an eye drop. Most people report feeling some pressure on the eye which can be a strange sensation. This will last only for a few seconds.

When can I go back to work/drive?

It is important recognise that the healing process can vary from person to person and from eye to eye. Therefore, below table only give a guidance of expected average recovery time and time off work.
Returning to work depends on your occupation. Our consultant surgeon will be able to give you a more personalised advice during the consultation as required
You will be advised when it is safe for you to drive but as a general rule, it is safe to drive one day after LASIK and 3-5 days after PRK as long as you can see the number plate from 20.5 metres and your level of vision is 6/12 or better.

	LASIK	PRK/TransPRKLens surgery	Lens surgery
Expected visual recovery	1 day	3-5 days	1 day
Recommended time off work	1 day	3-5 days	1 day

Can I do sport after my surgery?

Avoid any rigorous activity for about one month.

Below table gives some recommendations on resuming different activities but your consultant surgeon may give you personalised advice depending on your individual circumstances.

Activities	LASIK	PRK/TransPRK	Lens surgery
Jogging, aerobic excursive, Yoga and pilates	1 week	1 week	1 month
Weight lifting	2 weeks	2 weeks	1 month
Swimming, sauna, steam room and football	1 month	1 month	1 month
Skiing, snowboarding, tennis, squash and cricket	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
Rugby and Martial Arts	3 months	6 weeks	6 weeks
Deep scuba diving	3 months	3 months	3 months

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