INFORMATION CENTRE

LASIK [lay-sik] Guidelines

You are going to Sandton Eye Clinic soon to have a life-changing procedure. If you know what to expect the journey to visual freedom can be stress-free.

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Lasik guidelines in Theatre by Doctor

Theatre Management Team

The theatre management team will contact you about two days before your procedure date to confirm the procedure time. Please be patient and allow the team to confirm times and send your prescription within the given time frame.

What to do

prepare for lasik

The healing process starts even before the surgery is performed. By following a few pre-procedure instructions, your recovery may be smoother and complication free.

LASIK GUIDLINES: PRE-OPERATIVE

We understand that living without your contact lenses may be a challenge. Wearing contact lenses change the shape of your cornea. Lasik is a very precise surgery that reshapes of your cornea, and it is important for the cornea to be in its natural state. Your eye surgeon will give you instructions on when to stop wearing your contact lenses. It may be anything from 1 week (for soft contact lenses) to 6 weeks (for hard contact lenses).

Alcohol dehydrates your eyes. For optimal healing, it is advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and 48 hours after surgery.

Drink enough water for the few days before and weeks after LASIK. This will keep your eyes hydrated during the healing process.

Do your house cleaning before your procedure. You will have to avoid dust in the days after your procedure. On the day of your procedure, you will have to arrange transport to and from Sandton Eye Clinic.

We know that having a procedure is daunting. Most of our patients are surprised at how quick the procedure is with minimal discomfort. Try to get a good night’s rest the evening before. Wear loose comfortable clothing. It is best to wear lint free clothing and avoid fabrics like wool. Although any lint in the surgical field can simply be washed away it is best to avoid it. Do not use any perfume or make-up.

Ready to Book for LASIK

What to

Expect during LASIK

LASIK is the safest, most effective, life changing procedure in modern medicine. To be prepared, it is often easier to know exactly what will be happening during your 15 minute per eye procedure.

LASIK GUIDELINES: OPERATIVE

Your ophthalmologist will check the thickness of your cornea and take a detailed scan of the cornea’s surface. Your eye surgeon uses these measurements to program the computer-based laser used during surgery. During the procedure your eye will be numbed with eye drops. Your eye surgeon will place an eyelid holder on your eye to keep you from blinking.

Your eye surgeon will place a suction ring on your eye to keep it from moving. You will feel pressure like a finger pressing firmly on your eyelid. At this point, your vision will go dim or black. Blade-less Lasik involves a femto-second laser that creates millions of micron-sized bubbles at pre-determined positions inside the cornea that gently separate the layers of corneal tissue.

After the laser has fashioned the flap with the desired depth, size, orientation and position, the eye surgeon lifts and folds the flap back, like opening a book.

You will be asked to stare at a light. Accurately targeted excimer laser pulses permanently reshape the exposed area. Complex mathematical algorithms guide the laser to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue at pre-determined positions on the cornea to correct its overall curvature, and in turn correct the refractive error.

After reshaping the cornea, your ophthalmologist folds the flap back down into position and smoothens the edges. The flap attaches on its own in minutes, where it will heal in place. The ophthalmologist will place a see-through shield over your eye. You should plan to go home and take a nap or just relax after the surgery. For a few hours, your eyes may feel scratchy or feel like they are burning. You will be given special eye drops.

Statistically about 9 out of 10 people (90%) who have Lasik end up with vision between 20/20 and 20/40-without glasses or contact lenses. It is important to know that Lasik cannot prevent presbyopia. This is the normal, age-related loss of close-up vision. With or without refractive surgery, almost everyone who has excellent distance vision will need reading glasses after around age 40. There are refractive surgery options for presbyopia at that stage.

What to

Expect After LASIK

The best results not only come from your surgeon’s expertise, but also how you take care of your eyes after the procedure.

LASIK GUIDELINES: RECOVERY

  1. Most patients have clear vision within 24 hours after their procedure. This may vary from person to person.
  2. Your eye will be numb for about 30 minutes after surgery. Remember to blink!
  3. Common and expected side effects include:
  • Mild discomfort and teary eyes for about 2 hours
  • Blurred vision clearing about 6 hours after the procedure
  • Glares & halos at night
  • Dry eyes
  • Light sensitivity

These should improve through the night. The next morning your vision should be at about 95% of what it will settle to be.

  1. IMPORTANT: Do not rub or bump your eyes
  2. Eye drops can be taken 2 hours after your procedure. Gently lift the eye shield and replace after administering your drops. Then continue as prescribed.
  3. Use your lubricant drops regularly for dry eyes
  4. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and wind for 2 weeks
  5. Take your pain medication to alleviate discomfort as needed
  6. Wear eye shields while you sleep for the first week
  7. Avoid dusty environments for 2 weeks
  8. Avoid getting soap and water in your eyes when showering for 1 week.
  9. Do not apply makeup until after your one-day follow-up exam
  10. No swimming or other activities in the ocean/ rivers for a month
  1. You will be booked off for the day of the procedure and the day after
  2. Many patients can return to work the day after the procedure
Lasik Guidelines in rooms

Didn't Find What You Need?

Contact us on our Whatsapp Line for any questions if you are uncertain about your pre- or aftercare for the LASIK procedure. 

During our consultations we have to be as thorough as possible. With Laser Vision Correction our aim is perfection which means that we may have to do many scans and tests. Your consultation may take up to 2.5 hours. Your pupils may have to be dilated to clearly visualise the back of your eye to exclude any other diseases that may influence your results. Dilation can cause you to have blurry vision. It is advisable that you have someone drive for you after your consultation.

Immediately after surgery, you should plan to rest your eyes for 6-12 hours. Consider taking a nap. The day after surgery most patients will see clearly, others may take 2- 5 days to recover. You will have follow-up appointments at one week and six weeks with your ophthalmologist to assess your vision and healing. Complete recovery takes about 3 to 6 months, within this period your vision might fluctuate a bit. You may also experience dryness that should improve. Healing is different for each patient. There is no set timeline for recovery.

LASIK is a Laser Vision Correction procedure that treats refractive errors permanently. When the surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon using a careful screening process, the rate of success is very high.

In some cases, years after LASIK, your vision might not be as sharp as the first few years after the procedure. This is called regression and even though it can happen, it is unlikely. Each year after LASIK there is a slightly increased chance of needing a retreatment. It is common for refractive surgeons to offer an enhancement free of charge in the first year after LASIK if needed. Similar to wearing glasses, LASIK does not prevent your eyes from changing as a result of other diseases or aging. Around the age of 45 you will start wearing reading glasses. This can be corrected again with a laser procedure called PresbyLASIK. Later, old age is likely to give rise to cataracts or macular degeneration which would need a whole different treatment approach.

Before we do LASIK/PRK, preparation is key to success. An advanced ocular examination takes about 2 – 3 hours. Not only will these tests determine candidacy for laser vision correction but also screen for other eye diseases. It’s important to note that you might need a driver. Your eyes may be dilated to examine the back of your eye, this leads to light sensitivity and blurry vision.

The procedure itself takes about 15 minutes per eye. By the next morning, you will already see much clearer. For PRK Patients the vision will fluctuate for up to two weeks after the procedure.

You should not wear contact lenses for two weeks before having LASIK. 

Unfortunately, most medical aids do not cover LASIK as it is seen as lifestyle surgery. Medical aids may, however, refund the planning-tests from your day-to-day benefits if you have funds available. Some medical aid options do include a refractive benefit. This often only partially covers the procedure. After surgery, patients are welcome to claim back from their medical aid if they do have a refractive benefit in their plan, but the full costs of the procedure remain the patient’s responsibility.

 

We offer Mediwallet, payment options to make LASIK payments easy.  

We are partnered with @MediWalletSA!

Apply for MediWallet and pay in 3, interest free!

 It takes the stress out of paying out of pocket or to cover those costs your medical aid does not cover.

You will also be able to select a more affordable repayment term of up to 18 months.

For pre-approval, SMS your SA ID Number*Gross Monthly Income to 45105.

For more info, visit www.mediwallet.co.za

SMS costs R1.50. Ts&Cs apply. 

Fortunately, most patients agree that it is a pain-free procedure. You may experience some discomfort like someone is pressing on your eye.
Numbing eye drops are used to keep your eyes comfortable and pain-free during LASIK. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes to numb both eyes. During the first half of the procedure, it feels like someone is pressing on your eyelid, with the creation of the corneal flap. Thereafter you will be asked to stare at a light as the laser reshapes the cornea. If you are anxious before your procedure, your surgeon can give you a mild sedative to help you relax.
Afterward, you might find that your eyes will be light sensitive and a bit uncomfortable for about 6- 8hours, use your drops and pain medication as prescribed to ensure minimum discomfort. 

How do I know if I am a candidate for Laser Vision Correction?

If you are interested in spectacle freedom but you are not sure if you are a candidate, you can take our online self-tests: 

18-45 years old: LASIK self-test 

https://sandtoneyeclinic.co.za/lasik-self-test/ 

45-60 years old: PresbyLASIK self-test

Presby-LASIK Self-Test

60+ years old: Refractive Cataract Surgery and lens options self-test

https://sandtoneyeclinic.co.za/cataract-self-test/ ‎

This self-test should not be considered medical advice or a diagnosis. A complete examination is necessary to determine candidacy. You can also book a complimentary Laser Vision Correction consultation to determine if you are an eligible candidate.

LASIK is the safest, most effective, life changing outpatient surgical procedure of any kind. You should look at the risks as compared to your current vision correction choice. Although both contact lenses and LASIK are considered safe, studies show that contact lens wearers are 10 times more likely to experience significant vision loss or blindness from wearing contact lenses compared with having LASIK eye surgery. When the surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon using a careful screening process, the rate of success is very high. Complications from contact lenses accumulate over years, while those from LASIK eye surgery occur over a brief time. Although there are certain situations when losing your glasses might not only be inconvenient but even dangerous, statistically glasses are the safest option.
LASIK is one of the most researched medical procedures. The evidence supporting LASIK is overwhelming, with over 6 300 studies and reports as of July 2019. A recent review of the best studies found them to be free of industry bias and in support of a better than 99% success rate. 
Refractive surgeons themselves have LASIK and similar surgeries 4 times more frequently than the general population, and they routinely recommend it to friends and family members.
Every surgical procedure, even LASIK, has risks and all patients do not have the same chance of success. You and your ophthalmologist must look at the advantages and disadvantages of Laser Vision Correction considering your lifestyle and your specific situation.

The long term visual outcomes of LASIK and PRK are similar. LASIK is, however, much more convenient than PRK from a recovery perspective. With LASIK you will likely be able to return to your normal daily routine as soon as the day after surgery because you should have clear vision and minimal discomfort. With PRK initial recovery is about 1 week during which you will experience a scratchy, gritty feeling. Although you will be able to return to work after the first week, complete visual recovery may take 6 weeks to 3 months. During this time your vision may fluctuate.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. The best time for laser vision correction is when you are 18, but if you want clear, effortless vision and you are considered a perfect candidate, the next best time is right now. Laser vision correction can be life-changing at various stages of life, allowing people to do what they love without the inconvenience of glasses and contact lenses.

LASIK does not wear off, it’s a one-time procedure. LASIK permanently changes the shape of your cornea. It is an extremely accurate, virtually painless, a fifteen-minute outpatient procedure with a short recovery period to normal activities. Rarely an enhancement may be necessary within the first year due to unique differences between patients and their recovery leading to over or under correction. Sandton Eye Clinic offers an enhancement  free of charge in this period.

Like the rest of our body, our eyes will age as well. When we reach age 45 our lens will change leading to the need for readers. This is the same weather you had LASIK or not. At this stage a slightly different procedure PresbyLASIK can get rid of readers as well.

Around 65 you will once again start developing cataracts like everyone else that did not have LASIK. Cataract surgery with multifocal lenses will give you spectacle independence that will last until old age.

There are vision correction surgical options at all ages over 18. LASIK corrects vision from age 18 to about 40. After 40 PresbyLASIK should be considered to ensure you do not need reading glasses in the near future. At around 60 you might start to develop cataracts which means that a lens exchange or cataract surgery with multifocal lenses should keep you spectacle free until old age.

LASIK complication rate is extremely low. It is important to understand that after surgery you might have some temporary side effects that clear up in a few weeks to months. You did have surgery. These include dry eyes, halo’s and glare.

Complications are more serious and are not expected but can be addressed with medication or additional procedures. The LASIK complication rate is less than 0.3%. The most common complication is infection. Rarely there may be under or over correction that will be corrected at no additional charge at Sandton Eye Clinic during an enhancement.

Over 20 Million LASIK procedures have been performed with a better than 99% success rate. Vision correction surgeons themselves have LASIK 4 times more frequently than the general public. It is important to remember that every surgical procedure, even LASIK, has risks. All eyes are not the same. If you are considering LASIK discuss your risk profile with your surgeon. If your risk is higher your surgeon may suggest a different procedure.

Every patient experiences healing slightly different. Most agree that LASIK is virtually pain free. For about two hours after your procedure your eyes will tear and scratch a bit like when your contacts start to bother you. You should plan to go home and take a nap. Normal pain killers may be used if needed. Most patients are only left with light sensitivity the next morning and possibly a bit of scratchiness. You must not rub your eyes. You should already have about 90% of the vision you will achieve the day after surgery. Many patients already return to normal activities the day after surgery. Your vision should improve even more in the next 4-6 weeks. You should wait at least 1 month before swimming again.
Pregnancy does not cause permanent changes to your cornea, and it does not reverse LASIK. Hormones during pregnancy causes temporary changes in the cornea which may influence your vision weather you had LASIK or not. A few months after delivering you baby your vision should return to normal. You can have LASIK before you get pregnant and a few months after pregnancy and breastfeeding but not during pregnancy.

LASIK does not wear off, it’s a one-time procedure. LASIK permanently changes the shape of your cornea. It is an extremely accurate, virtually painless, a fifteen-minute outpatient procedure with a short recovery period to normal activities. Rarely an enhancement may be necessary within the first year due to unique differences between patients and their recovery leading to over or under correction. Sandton Eye Clinic offers an enhancement  free of charge in this period.

Like the rest of our body, our eyes will age as well. When we reach age 45 our lens will change leading to the need for readers. This is the same weather you had LASIK or not. At this stage a slightly different procedure PresbyLASIK can get rid of readers as well.

Around 65 you will once again start developing cataracts like everyone else that did not have LASIK. Cataract surgery with multifocal lenses will give you spectacle independence that will last until old age.

You are indeed fully conscious as this is quick,15 minute per eye, procedure is virtually pain free. Sandton Eye Clinic offers patients medication to calm the nerves and local anesthetic drops. Most patients are surprised at how quick and painless the procedure is. Patients report that it feels like someone is pressing on your closed eyelid and the most bothersome thing is the light that shines in your eye for a few minutes.

LASIK is considered a lifestyle procedure and not offered at public hospitals. Public hospitals do prescribe glasses to correct refractive errors.

Most patients do not need follow up surgery. Rarely you may need an enhancement in the first year which Sandton Eye Clinic offers free of charge. This is due to small difference in healing that may lead to under correction in a few patients. This is seen more often in people with very high prescriptions. When you need reading glasses later in life like all your ageing friends you may need PresbyLASIK. You will also still develop cataracts like everyone that did not have LASIK.
Use your eye drops as prescribed. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and wind for at least 2 weeks. Take your pain medication to alleviate discomfort as needed. Wear eye shields while you sleep for the first week. Avoid getting soap and water in your eyes when showering for 1 week. Do not apply makeup until after your one-day follow-up exam. No swimming or other activities in the ocean/ rivers for a month.
 

Returning to work: You will be booked off for the day of the procedure and the day after. Many patients can return to work the day after the procedure

Computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain is a group of eye problems that result from staring at your screen for too long. Your eye muscles must continuously focus nearby. Try looking at something about 6 meters aways every 20 minutes for 20 seconds to rest your eye muscles. Remember to blink while looking at your screen. LASIK does not prevent computer vision syndrome but may make relaxing in front of the TV more comfortable, especially if you like to lie on the couch while watching TV and your glasses get in the way.