Laser eye surgery is a procedure which corrects poor vision. To better understand how the operation works, it’s helpful to understand why vision is poor in the first place.
What causes poor vision?
When vision is perfect, light rays travel through the eye and sit on the retina. However, bumps and an uneven cornea causes light to bend and either sit before or beyond the retina, causing poor vision. Vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea) and presbyopia (hardening of the lens in the eye due to natural ageing) are the most common.
How does laser eye surgery correct poor vision? What does laser eye surgery do?
So, what does laser eye surgery do to correct poor vision? How does laser eye surgery work? A cool beam advanced laser makes subtle adjustments to the shape of the surface of your eye (the cornea), correcting its tiny imperfections and making your vision clearer and sharper.
It’s a relatively quick procedure (patients are often in and out of the theatre in under 30 minutes) and improvements to vision can often be experienced the very next day.
Does laser eye surgery hurt? What happens during laser eye surgery?
Due to the anaesthetic drops which are applied before the procedure, laser eye surgery itself is generally pain-free, but following the treatment, patients may feel some discomfort in the early stages of healing. The level of discomfort you experience depends upon the type of surgery you've undergone, but any pain will be short-lived, and you'll be able to enjoy the benefits of improved vision within a matter of days.
Am I suitable for laser eye surgery?
The good news is, the majority of people are. However, the best way to confirm your suitability for laser eye surgery is to attend a free consultation with one of our expert optometrists. They’ll carry out a thorough assessment of your eyes and make a recommendation based on what’s truly right for you. Here, you will also have the opportunity to ask more in depth questions about how laser eye surgery works.
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