Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a problem or question not answered on this page, please contact us.

Procedure

Is the procedure painful?
The majority of our patients feel no pain; however there is a slight discomfort. A sedative tablet is given to relax the nerves in additions to anaesthetic eye drops to numb the area. A fine guard is used to help keep the eye open during the procedure and pressure is felt over the eye when the microkeratome glides over the cornea, making a flap. This takes no more than 20-30 seconds.
What if I move my eye during the procedure?
Our new VISX Star S4TM IR system is the only one of its kind in Australia to track your eye movements during the procedure in three dimensions as well as torsional movement. Your eye can only move at a maximum rate of 15 – 20 times per second, however our new VISX Star S4TM technology tracks your eye at a far greater speed.
The effect of tracking the eye to improve safety depends not only on the frequency of tracking but the speed with which the laser adjusts to the movement of you eye. Our VISX system at Perfect Vision Laser Correction is the most widely used brand of laser in America and the only one of its kind employed in Australia. To find out more visit www.visx.com.
Will I be awake during the procedure?
Yes, local anaesthetic drops are used and the iLasik procedure takes only minutes. You will be offered some minimally sedating medication by mouth before the procedure to further relieve any anxiety you may have. The procedure is virtually painless and your eyelids are kept open for only a short period of time each.
How long will the procedure take?
You will be at the clinic for approximately 3 hours on the day of the procedure. This time includes pre operative preparations, the procedure and post operative requirements. The procedure itself is approximately 20 minutes with actual laser time only around 7 minutes per eye.

After the procedure

When can I go back to work?
The healing process will vary from person to person and depending on the degree of visual error you had corrected and the type of work you do. Each eye can also heal at different stages.
Most patients can see well enough to drive a car the next day and usually patients go back to work the day after that. We recommend you take the next day off work especially if you work in a dusty or smoky environment.
When can I go on holidays?
We generally ask that you wait at least 1 week before flying domestically and 2 weeks flying internationally. The air conditioning used in aeroplanes can lead to dry and irritated eyes, causing discomfort. When you do fly, use lubricating eye drops to retain moisture in the eyes.
There are no pressure related issues from scuba diving; however you must wait 10 days before going in the water.
What will my vision be like immediately after the procedure?
Although your vision will not be crystal clear, you will be able to see well enough to be able to go home and carry on with most activities of daily living. Generally, you will be able to see better than before the surgery without your glasses. You should not drive, however, until you have been examined by our staff the following day.
Will my eyes be covered after the procedure?
No, not totally. Sun glasses are worn after the procedure to reduce glare as you will be light sensitive. Clear shields are to be worn over your eyes overnight for the first 2 days after the procedure.
Is there a risk of losing my sight entirely?
This risk is extremely remote. No one in Australia has lost their sight from a laser procedure. LASIK is a surface procedure and the risk of complications is lower than that of internal eye surgeries such as cataracts or retinal surgery.
Post Operative eye drops and instructions must be stringently adhered to during the healing process or else the chances of permanent side effects may be increased.
When will I be able to drive again?
This will vary with the type of procedure you are having and the degree of vision error you had corrected. The majority of our LASIK patients see well enough to drive a car the next day, without the need to wear their contacts or glasses. However, for patients having the Lasek or PRK procedure, they will not be able to drive a car until after the contact lenses have been removed and they feel confident to do so.
What restrictions are there after the procedure?
  • No swimming for 10 days
  • No eye make up for 10 days
  • You will need to use medicated eye drops for 10 days
  • Avoid rubbing or squeezing your eyes for 2 weeks
  • Gentle blinking only

Results

What are the short term effects of this type of procedure?
Short terms effects include dry eyes, glare, haloes at night and the ghosting of images. In the majority of cases these effects will correct themselves within 3 months of the procedure. However if a patient experiences these conditions prior to the procedure they may be exacerbated post operatively.
What are the long-term effects of this type of procedure?
To date, after more than 17 years of use there is no evidence of any long-term adverse effects on vision due to laser assisted refractive vision correction. If the cornea is thinned excessively by the laser treatment there is a remote risk of inducing the problem of corneal ectasia. This forward bulging of the cornea may occur up to two years after the procedure and is the only adverse effect taking so long to become obvious. It is correctable with further procedures.
Refractive vision correction has been performed since the 1960’s, although the method traditionally required the use of surgical instruments to cut and change the surface shape of the cornea. Over the last 17 years, however, lasers have been used to increase procedural accuracy and success rates.
How long will my new 'vision' last for and is it guaranteed?
This is highly dependant on personal differences and will be variable according to your particular eye condition and your age. Laser assisted vision correction will not and cannot stop the natural ageing process of the eyes. The average person whether they wear glasses or not, will most likely need reading glasses by the age of 45 or older. LASIK has no effect, positively or negatively, on the possibility of this occurring to you, but can be used to overcome the problem in some people.
If, however, your vision after LASIK should slightly regress in the direction of its pre-operative state, Perfect Vision Laser Correction will arrange to perform an additional corrective procedure free of charge, as long as it is safe to do so and no matter how long after the original procedure. Approximately 2% of patients will require an enhancement procedure.

Technology

How does Surface Ablation differ from LASIK?
Surface Ablation is used to treat the same conditions as LASIK however; it is used for people with corneas too thin to undergo a safe LASIK procedure. No flap is created and the laser is applied directly to the surface of the cornea. For this reason the procedure can also be called 'surface ablation'. A contact lens is worn for 3-5 days to assist with the healing process.
Clinical studies show no difference in visual outcomes between the two procedures. Recovery time is longer and a slightly greater degree of discomfort can be expected following the procedure when compared to LASIK. Due to the greater recovery time patients may opt to have one eye treated at a time so as not to impede on their daily lives.
What is Custom Treatment?
Customised treatment is an element of laser correction that specifically targets the subtle aspects of your own personal prescription. Custom treatment initially employs Wavefront technology which uses light rays to measure the optical irregularities and defects to produce a detailed map of the eye. This is individual to each person, much like a fingerprint. This is then used as a guiding template to treat the eye’s optical error. The new level of measurement provides 25-times more precision than measurements using standard methods for glasses and contact lenses.
Customised treatments give a more accurate and precise result and are best used in conjunction with the Iris Registration feature of the VISX Laser.
What is IR technology?
IR technology refers to the Iris Registration feature of the VISX Laser. This technology is used in conjunction with customised treatments. During the Wavefront capture for customised treatments, a picture is taken of the iris landmarks whilst the patient is in the upright position. This data is then transferred to the laser for the treatment phase. The IR data is then used on the supine patient during their procedure to identify the patient and compensate for the eye’s tendency to rotate during treatment. It is also highly effective in establishing precise centration of the laser during treatment.