For many people laser eye surgery is a modern miracle.
But is it right for everyone? Laura Hewson looks at what you
need to know before going under the laser.
What is laser eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a refractive surgery that reshapes the
cornea to change the focusing power of the eye.
The most common kind in New Zealand is Laser in-situ
keratomilensis (Lasik), which can treat myopia
(near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and
astigmatism - where the cornea is more oval than round.
It is a permanent procedure but does not stop presbyopia,
which is the natural ageing of the eye.
Where do I start?
If you are thinking seriously about the procedure you should
start by talking to your optometrist.
They can discuss some of the pros and cons with you and some
can also carry out a pre-operative assessment to tell you if
you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.
They can also point you towards your nearest clinic.
Both Laservision Eye Clinic and Fendalton Eye Clinic in
Christchurch make regular trips to other centres to carry out
pre-operative assessments so it's worth calling to see if
they will be in your area at some point.
If you are considering having the surgery overseas, check the
reputation of the clinic and the qualifications of the person
performing the surgery (it might not always be an
ophthalmologist as in New Zealand).
Who can have laser eye surgery?
Clinics will not do the procedure on people who have
conditions that could prevent a successful result or lead to
damage of the eye.
These include people who:
• Are pregnant or breast feeding
• Are under 21 years old
• Have had a change in glasses or lens prescription in the
past two years
• Have a corneal disease or an eye condition such as glaucoma
or cataracts
Ultimately, the decision whether to go ahead with the
procedure lies with the surgeon.
Every patient has an examination with an ophthalmologist
before surgery is approved to see if they are suitable.
"New Zealand is a small place. A surgeon is not going to risk
his reputation or the health of the patients' eyes for
$4750," says Laservision marketing manager Vicky Coates.
"Ninety-nine percent is about the health of the person's
eyes. If the pre-op [examination] is OK the likelihood of
anything going wrong is minimal."
In this examination, the surgeon will check the thickness of
the cornea, the contours of the eye and discuss what you can
expect from the surgery.
For example, your corneas may be thick enough for one
procedure but not for any enhancements later on if the eyes
have been under-or over-corrected.
You will also be told of all the potential risks no matter
how small the chances of them occurring.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.