Laser eye surgery is the common name for LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). Performed by an ophthalmologist, it corrects myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism as well as other eye problems.

Why laser eye surgery?

Around half of Australians wear glasses or contact lenses. But there are many drawbacks to wearing spectacles or contact lenses – they can be lost or damaged or they can be uncomfortable to wear. 

But if you’re over 18 years old, have had a stable optometrist prescription for at least two years, and you’re in general good health, you may be eligible for laser vision correction.

How much will my vision improve with laser surgery?

Everyone is different, so the degree of improvement after laser eye surgery varies. Although perfect vision may be unobtainable, most patients with mild to moderate prescriptions do achieve 20/20 vision or better. If you achieve 20/20 vision you’ll no longer need glasses or contact lenses to drive, play sport, watch films or TV.

But how how well your vision improves depends on the severity of your prescription, as well as how your eyes heal after surgery. Your opthalmologist will be able to determine the probable outcome of surgery based on your particular prescription.

What happens during laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is pretty straightforward. You walk in and walk out – you are not given any anaesthetic and no sutures are required. You can resume most of your activities the following day.

An instrument called a microkeratome is used in LASIK eye surgery to create a thin, circular flap in the cornea (this can be done with a laser, too). The surgeon folds the flap back out of the way, then removes some corneal tissue underneath using a laser.

This removes bits of the cornea to make it the right shape for you to see more clearly.

When the cornea is reshaped, the flap is laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed.

What types of vision impairment are correctable?

• Astigmatism: a refractive error of the eye, which can cause blurred vision because the eye cannot focus clearly on a point;
• Cataracts: clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, which can cause blurred vision and limit clarity of both near and far vision;
• Hyperopia: (long-sightedness) when the eye has difficulty focusing on near objects, but can still see distant ones;
• Myopia: (short sightedness) occurs when the eye has too much focusing power.

Who can get laser eye surgery?

There are health and age restrictions on some of the procedures, so laser eye surgery is not possible for everyone. Ask your optician if you are a suitable candidate. Also keep in mind that Medicare does not cover the cost of laser eye surgery in most circumstances. Make an appointment with your optometrist to find out if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery.