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Types of Laser Eye Surgery

To have clear vision you need all the optical planets aligned, which for a lot of us doesn’t happen.

If light rays entering the eye are not precisely focused by both the cornea and the lens and then processed by the retina, you end up with blurred vision.

There are several different types of laser eye surgery available to improve your vision. At Lions Laser Vision, we offer the safest, most effective options to help you ditch glasses for good.

LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

LASIK surgery is the most common type of laser eye surgery. It has a very high success rate, with few complications, easy recovery, and most patients experiencing 20/20 vision almost immediately after surgery. LASIK can be used to treat eye problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

SmartSight Laser Eye Surgery

SmartSight is the latest laser eye surgery procedure available today.  It is safe, gentle and precise, giving you the best possible vision in the least amount of time. Visual recovery and comfort after the procedure are excellent and it is less invasive than other forms of laser eye surgery.

PRK Laser Eye Surgery

PRK is another type of laser eye surgery used to help improve eyesight. PRK has been around for longer than LASIK and also has a high success rate. It is recommended for patients that have problems with the surface and thickness of their cornea, which means they cannot get LASIK or SmartSight.

Both treatment options are highly effective, although PRK does have a longer recovery time than LASIK. PRK can also be referred to as ASLA (advanced laser surface ablation) or TEMLA (Transepithelial Minimal Laser Ablation).

Treatment Options for Common Eye Problems

The preferred type of laser eye surgery – whether it’s LASIK, SmartSight, PRK or an alternative – depends on your eye condition and the thickness of your cornea. While there is usually a recommended treatment for common eye problems such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, your surgeon will discuss the best option for your particular case when you visit Lions Laser Vision.

Nearsightedness / Short-sightedness (Myopia)

If the cornea and lens are too strong, or if the eye is too long, then light will be focused in front of the retina. Objects in the distance are blurred but those closer are in focus.

Nearly 25% of people in Australia are myopic. This usually develops while the eye is still growing during childhood or adolescence and stabilises when full growth is reached.

No-one knows exactly what causes myopia but it is likely that both inherited and environmental factors play a role.

The treatment:

We would recommend LASIK, SmartSight or PRK laser eye surgery to reshape the cornea and allow light rays to focus correctly on the retina.

Farsightedness / Long-sightedness (Hyperopia)

With hyperopia, objects in the distance are seen more clearly than those up close. This type of problem occurs if the cornea and lens are not strong enough, or the eye is too short, and light is focused behind the retina.

Younger people usually have enough power to see in the distance and up close, but as we get older glasses become necessary to see near objects and then later to see in the distance as well.

The treatment:

In the case of farsightedness, Lions Laser Vision would steepen the cornea’s shape using LASIK or PRK laser eye surgery. This causes the focusing point in the eye to move forward and match up with the surface area of the retina.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism refers to the condition where the cornea has different curvature. It does not have equally rounded curves like the side of a basketball, but has unequal curves, more like a football.

This makes focusing uneven or distorted, therefore objects are not seen clearly without glasses whether they are up close or in the distance. Many people with myopia or hyperopia have some astigmatism as well.

The treatment:

It is common to see astigmatism associated with both nearsightedness and farsightedness. In the cases of astigmatism, Lions Laser Vision would correct the far/nearsightedness as well as reshaping the cornea into a more spherical shape using LASIK, SmartSight or PRK laser eye surgery. This causes the focusing point in the eye to coincide with the surface of the retina.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia refers to the gradual inability to focus on near objects as we get older.

This problem is often confused with hyperopia (long-sightedness), however it is just part of the normal ageing process and occurs when the lens inside the eye gradually loses its ability to bring objects up close into focus. The effects can usually start between 40 and 50 years of age.

The treatment:

Unfortunately presbyopia cannot be corrected with laser eye surgery.

Other Refractive Problems

Other conditions such as keratoconus or corneal scars can affect the focusing of the eye but may not be able to be treated by LASIK or SmartSight, although other treatments may be available.

Reasons to Consider Corrective Eye Surgery

When it comes to using their sight on a daily basis, people have different needs and preferences. Individuals may consider electing for laser eye correction for cosmetic reasons, if they’re unable to wear contact lenses, or glasses are too much of an inconvenience due to their active lifestyle.

Possible Risks of the Procedure

The surgeons and staff and Lions Laser Vision are dedicated to ensuring a safe experience for patients by providing them with utmost care and precision. Even though our surgeons try to minimise any risks, refractive surgery is no different to other surgeries and always carries some risks. For your laser eye procedure, the risks will be discussed with you by your surgeon.

Find Out if You're Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery

Are you ready to live freely without glasses and contact lenses? Take our suitability test to find out if you’re eligible for laser eye surgery. Book a consultation appointment at one of our clinics and speak to a highly-trained laser eye surgery specialist today by calling us on (08) 9381 0758 or contact us online.

Contact Lions Laser Vision

Please call us at Lions Laser Vision and speak with one of our clinical coordinators who will be able to answer your questions and schedule an initial consultation with one of our refractive surgeons.

Alternatively, complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

PHONE: 08 9381 0758
FAX: 08 9381 0700

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Lions Eye Institute

Lions Laser Vision
1st Floor,
2 Verdun Street
Nedlands WA 6009

St John of God Murdoch
Murdoch Medical Centre

Suite 4B,
Ground Floor,
100 Murdoch Dr
Murdoch WA 6150