How reliable is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser Eye Surgery continues to be one of the most popular elective procedures being performed in Northern Ireland, which can be attributed in part to its incredible success rate.

In the last decade, great strides have been made in the field of Laser Eye Surgery thanks to innovative technological advances and previously unknown information about the human eye being incorporated into refractive surgery.

These new developments extend to all facets of the Laser Eye Surgery journey at Optilase, making it possible to deliver a safe, reliable, and minimally invasive procedure to reverse any refractive error.

What about lasers? Are they safe to use on the eye?

At our Optilase clinic’s in Belfast, Newry or Derry/Londonderry, a Femtosecond Laser and an Excimer Laser are used to first create a corneal flap, and secondly to vaporize tiny amounts of tissue from the cornea and allow for accurate refraction.

The Femtosecond Laser and Excimer Laser are both computer-controlled and fitted with eye-tracking software to act as an extra safety feature for patients nervous about any involuntary eye movements.

Femtosecond Laser

Femtosecond Lasers have an excellent safety record and are able to make minuscule, yet extremely precise incisions at a predetermined depth using gentle pulses of light.

The Femtosecond Laser is the most advanced method for creating a corneal flap during Laser Eye Surgery.

Excimer Laser

The Excimer Laser established a new level of safety and accuracy in refractive surgery when it was first used on human eyes over 25 years ago.

A cool ultraviolet beam of light measuring 193nm is projected onto a specific area of the cornea which is absorbed by the cells causing them to be destroyed, without causing any damage to adjacent tissue.

What are the possible risks of Laser Eye Surgery?

With every surgery there are inherent risks, and for Laser Eye Surgery the most severe risks despite their low incidence are infection, scarring and corneal abnormalities that could affect long-term vision quality.

Other irregular side effects include dry eyes, glare and haloes forming around lights and poor night vision.

Continued advancements in laser technology and a greater understanding of both the procedure and anatomy of the eye all contribute towards a lessening in developing any of these side effects.

To find out more about Laser Eye Surgery, call 08000 121 565 or visit www.optilase.co.uk to book a free consultation.