Laser Eye Surgery is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular elective procedures, and at Optilase thousands of patients have already undergone the minimally invasive procedure and now enjoy waking up with perfect clear vision every day.
At Optilase, we understand the importance of eyesight and the significance Laser Eye Surgery can have on a person’s daily life, which is we offer a free, no-obligation consultation to take you through the process step-by-step.
Each person’s eyes are unique and at our clinics in Belfast, Newry and Derry/Londonderry we offer customized WaveFront Laser Eye Surgery to best serve your vision needs.
Choosing the perfect Laser Eye Surgery for my prescription
Depending on your individual refractive error, your glasses or contact lens prescription will read either plus or minus.
A plus prescription relates to hyperopia or long sightedness, which affects near vision, whereas a minus prescription records myopia or short sightedness which affects distance vision.
Your glasses or contact lens prescription is measured in diopters and increase in 0.25D increments, which can result in a prescription over or under compensating your eyesight.
Advanced CustomVue WaveFront at Optilase Northern Ireland offers patients a totally tailored prescription reading and a 100% customized Laser Eye Surgery treatment to exactly match your eyesight error.
How Advanced CustomVue WaveFront works
This type of Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland allows for very predictable outcomes in eyes with refractive errors.
A patient’s refractive error is measured by transmitted a ray(s) of light into each eye, which is then reflected off the retina located at the back of the eye.
This returned light is captured and analyzed using WaveScan technology to generate a 3-D map of each eye and their totally unique visual irregularities.
This complex 3-D map is programmed into the laser which proceeds to precisely replicate it in the cornea to one billionth of an inch, making Advanced CustomVue WaveFront the most accurate of Laser Eye Surgery procedures.
To find out more about Advanced CustomVue WaveFront at Optilase Northern Ireland, schedule a free consultation in Belfast, Newry or Londonderry/Derry on 08000 121 565.
If you can see perfectly well at both near and far distances, you’re lucky enough to enjoy normal vision. However, many people have trouble seeing either up close or far away, and it’s usually as a result of a refractive error due to the shape of the cornea at the front of the eye.
These people can get by using corrective eyewear, but the moment they take off their glasses they are vulnerable and have blurred vision. Glasses can be an added inconvenience for those who have a high refractive error, especially in cases of myopia or short sightedness.
Because myopia affects distance vision, it is virtually impossible to carry out simple daily tasks without wearing glasses.
Hyperopia or long sightedness affects near vision so it normally becomes a problem when it comes to reading or deciphering small text at close range. With hyperopia, glasses need only be worn in certain instances.
How bad is my eyesight?
Understanding your prescription is important to evaluate how advanced your refractive error is and whether it has stabilized.
The refractive power of each eye is measured in diopters (D) and if you are short sighted, your prescription will begin with a minus, e.g. -1.50D, while long sightedness prescriptions begin with a plus, e.g. +1.50D.
In cases of astigmatism, the error is measured in cylinders because the amount of distance is not the same in all directions since astigmatism is caused by an irregular shaped cornea.
A person who is short sighted and needs a -1.00D lens has low or mild myopia and may not need to wear glasses constantly, while a prescription above -1.50 is considered moderate myopia and a person would rely heavily on glasses.
How does my prescription reflect how well I can see?
A diopter represents the inverse of a person’s focal length in metres, so that if a short sightedness person with a -2.00D prescription was to experience their “normal vision”, he/she would only be able to see objects up to ½ metre in front of them.
Oppositely, a long sighted person who needs +1.00D reading glasses can see objects at 1metre in focus, but anything closer is blurred.
Correcting vision without glasses
Laser Eye Surgery can correct a person’s refractive error by using a cool beam of laser energy to remove a precise amount of tissue from the cornea to match their prescription so that clear vision can be experienced from any distance.
To find out more about correcting your refractive error with Laser Eye Surgery, book your free consultation at Optilase Northern Ireland today on 08000 121 565.
Rapid eye movements are often barely discernible to the naked eye, but these tiny and often involuntary movements are now thought to be an indicator of how the brain evaluates time.
If you have ever found yourself quickly deciding to switch to an alternative checkout in a supermarket with a seemingly shorter queue, this may be because of a split second impulse decision that stems from a rapid eye movement.
In Maryland, USA, researchers from John Hopkins University have recently published data to suggest that impatient people are more likely to experience rapid eye movements.
These findings could be symptomatic of how the nervous system evaluates time and reward by controlling movements and making decisions.
What happens if my eye moves during Laser Eye Surgery?
Involuntary eye movements or ‘saccades’ are the fast movements in the body, often lasting only milliseconds.
Saccades in the eye switch focus between objects but because these eye movements are often carried out automatically by the brain, patients who are considering Laser Eye Surgery often worry whether these saccades will affect the outcome of refractive surgery.
Eye tracking technology is now standard safety element that is incorporated into any laser device that is used during Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland.
Because Laser Eye Surgery is 100% computer-controlled, the eye tracking software is capable of reacting immediately to any fast or unpredictable eye movement during the procedure.
Will Laser Eye Surgery take longer if my eye moves a lot?
Eye tracking software enables the laser to instantly readjust to any movements in the eye during treatment, so even if your eye moves a number of times during Laser Eye Surgery, it will not affect the duration of the procedure.
Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland is carried out on both eyes on the same day and usually takes less than half an hour.
An Excimer Laser projects a cool beam of ultraviolet light onto the cornea to ablate a pre-determined amount of cells from its surface.
Laser Eye Surgery effectively reshapes the cornea to correct short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism to create permanent clear vision at any distance.
If you are interested in Laser Eye Surgery, schedule a free consultation at one of our clinics in Belfast, Newry or Derry/Londonderry by calling 08000 121 565 or visit www.optilase.co.uk/book-your-free-consultation/
Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase has been successfully performed on over 40,000 patients and thanks to advances in laser technology used during the procedure, a tailored prescription correction can be administered so that patients can enjoy vision clarity without glasses or contact lenses.
The procedure itself will take approximately 30 minutes with a permanent change being made to the shape of the cornea at the front of the eye.
Immediately after Laser Eye Surgery, a patient will be able to see without the need for glasses but in the hours and days after treatment, vision can appear blurred at random intervals as the eye heals and begins to adjust to its new focusing power.
Don’t worry, as this vision blurriness will resolve once your eyes get used to the surgical adjustment made to the cornea. You’ll need someone to take you home on the day of surgery and shouldn’t try to do anything that will strain your eyes – Optilase will provide comprehensive instructions on what to do after your procedure.
Enjoy a Lifetime Care Guarantee
The day after Laser Eye Surgery at one of our clinics in Belfast, Newry or Derry/Londonderry, all patients will have a follow-up consultation to make certain that the cornea is healing correctly and that 20/20 vision or better has been created.
Any patient who undergoes Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland will also enjoy a Lifetime Care Guarantee on their procedure.
If your eyesight deteriorates after Laser Eye Surgery because of an original refractive error or if you need further correction after the initial procedure, the treatment will be provided free of charge.
How accurate are Laser Eye Surgery results?
The type of laser used during refractive surgery allows for incredibly accurate vision correction.
The Excimer Laser uses short, rapid and extremely precise pulses of a 193nm beam of ultraviolet light to rupture a targeted amount of cells on the cornea.
Capable of removing as little as 0.25 micrometers of tissue, the Excimer Laser is ideal for Laser Eye Surgery.
Advantages of using the Excimer Laser
- Bladeless method of correcting a refractive error
- Extremely accurate (1/1000mm)
- A cool UV light is used so adjacent tissue is unaffected
- Built-in eye tracking software to react to any involuntary eye movements
To find out more about Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland,
book your free consultation on 08000 121 565.
Whether it’s the latest smartphone or must-have app, if you are a fan of fiddling with the newest technology but are being held back by old fashioned glasses, then perhaps it’s time you considered Laser Eye Surgery with IntraLase technology at Optilase.
IntraLase is one of the latest and most advanced versions of Laser Eye Surgery that has made the concept of “going under the knife” completely redundant as it is a 100% bladeless procedure.
Thousands of Optilase patients from all over Northern Ireland have already embraced this new procedure to rediscover life without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
What kind of technology is used during an IntraLase procedure?
Most Laser Eye Surgery procedures begin with a Femtosecond Laser to create a corneal flap on the surface of the eye and expose the inner cornea.
An Excimer Laser is then used to remove tiny amounts of corneal tissue to allow for clear vision at any distance without prescription lenses.
IntraLase differs from traditional Laser Eye Surgery by way of how the Femtosecond Laser is used to create the all-important corneal flap.
The computer-controlled Femtosecond Laser injects air into the cornea to produce a layer of microscopic air bubbles at a predetermined depth (usually 105 microns) to separate the outer epithelial layer from the inner stromal layer.
This painless and bladeless incision only takes 15 seconds per eye and can even be performed on patients with thinner-than-average corneas.
The corneal flap is then lifted aside to allow for the corneal correction to take place as normal using the Excimer Laser, before being reapplied to complete the Laser Eye Surgery procedure.
Reasons to consider IntraLase for your refractive error
IntraLase is suitable for treating any of the most common refractive errors found in patients across Northern Ireland, such as short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism.
Additionally, IntraLase offers added benefits to traditional Laser Eye Surgery practices:
- Significantly lower risk of corneal flap complications or infections
- Suitable for patients with thin corneas
- Allows for greater surgical precision
- Greater patient comfort and safety
- Corneal flap creation can be tailored to suit your natural eye shape
Book your free IntraLase consultation on 08000 121 565.
Anyone who needs to wear glasses to correct a refractive error will often have two different prescription readings in for each eye. This is completely normal, as it is very rare to have the exact same refractive error in both eyes.
A refractive error is present in the eye and related to either the length of the eye or the curve of the cornea.
Refractive errors caused such by anatomical defects in the eye which prevent incoming light from bending correctly so that when light lands on the retina, it either overshoots or focuses in front of it, causing objects to appear blurry.
Treating common refractive errors
Myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness) and astigmatism are the three most common refractive errors in Northern Ireland and in some cases of myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism can be also present in the eye.
Treating refractive errors involved prescribing a convex or concave lens to be worn in front of the eye in order to correct the original error.
Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland is also a safe and effective procedure that reshapes the cornea at the front of the eye to eliminate your refractive error and the need to wear glasses.
Choosing Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase
In the last decade, Laser Eye Surgery has become the treatment of choice for over 40,000 Optilase patients who have traded in their glasses for uncompromised 20/20 vision.
Laser Eye Surgery works by projecting a computer-controlled laser beam onto a precise area of the cornea to remove a certain amount of cells either from its centre of its periphery, depending on a person’s individual refractive error.
The amount of corneal tissue removed during Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland is designed to match your prescription needs, so that if you have a -3.00D reading, then a correction to negate this deficit will be carried out during treatment.
By doing so, the shape of the cornea is permanently changed so that any incoming light is refracted accurately on the retina at the back of the eye so that objects appear in focus at any distance.
Schedule your free Laser Eye Surgery consultation at any Optilase clinic across Northern Ireland by calling 08000 121 565.
Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD is the primary cause of irreversible blindness in those over the age of 60 and is unique in that it exhibits no noticeable symptoms until the condition is already at an advanced stage.
This progressive eye disease damages the macula, which is the centre-most point of the retina at the back of the eye where light is projected so that you can see images in fine detail.
A healthy macula is vital for vision clarity so that you can read, write, recognize faces and drive with ease.
Who gets AMD?
There is no definitive cause of macular degeneration from one person to another, but if there is a history of the disease in your family, you will have a greater chance of developing the condition.
Awareness about AMD is the best course of action, especially since there are little or no initial early-onset symptoms to look out for.
A thorough eye examination that involves an in-depth look into the back of the eye is the best course of action to diagnose AMD.
At Optilase Northern Ireland, you can avail of a free consultation that will be able to detect any abnormalities in the macula which could signal the beginnings of AMD.
The risk of developing AMD increases with age, which is why it is important to schedule your free eye consultation if you are over 60 and have noticed changes in your vision.
AMD can also present in younger eyes, so it is important to get your eyes checked for any changes in the back of the eye.
Types of macular degeneration
Dry AMD: This more common version of AMD is characterized by the formation of yellow or white deposits in the macula, known as drusen. As the drusen grow in size it results in the breakdown of the macula which results in the gradual loss of clear vision.
Wet AMD: This form of AMD results in the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina which leak blood and fluid into the macula while will eventually lead to impaired eyesight.
Symptoms of AMD
Unfortunately there are no warning signs of AMD developing until the disease is already at an advanced stage, which is why it is vital to have the health of your eyes checked regularly, especially in the lead up to retirement age.
At Optilase Northern Ireland, you can avail of an eye consultation to put your mind if you are concerned about the disease developing, especially if you have been experiencing blurred vision, blind spots and difficulty focusing on detail.
Book your free eye consultation at Optilase today on 08000 121 565.
If you always opt to wear contact lenses instead of glasses, you will be all too-familiar with the discomfort and hassle that goes hand-in-hand with them, whether it’s a split lens in the eye or accidentally falling asleep with your lenses in.
While contact lenses are incredibly handy for anyone with a refractive error, they are not always user friendly and can also leave your eyes feeling dry and irritated.
Laser Eye Surgery is a practical solution for those who prefer to wear lenses instead of heavy frames on their face, but find that the restrictions that lenses place on their routine rather inconvenient.
Laser Eye Surgery vs. Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are a temporary solution to poor eyesight whereas Laser Eye Surgery is a once-off procedure that guarantees long term clear vision unaided by lenses.
Price is always going to be a factor with contact lenses when you take into account the fact that most opticians insist that contact lens eye tests are carried out separate to your routine eye exam.
Also, contact lenses themselves are also quite expensive and over time you could find yourself spending thousands of pounds on what is essentially a short term fix for your eyesight.
Laser Eye Surgery is more affordable than ever before, and at Optilase Northern Ireland there are 0% finance packages now available so that the procedure is more accessible and budget friendly.
A clear pricing structure can be found on our website at www.optilase.co.uk/laser-eye-surgery-pricing/
Preparing for Laser Eye Surgery if you wear contacts
For at least two weeks before your Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland you cannot wear contact lenses, and for patients who use hard lenses this timeframe will be significantly longer.
Contact lenses are thin films of plastic that sit on the cornea which can result in it losing its natural shape and become flattened from continual wearing of contact lenses.
As the cornea is the part of the eye that receives corrective surgery, it must return to its original shape prior to undergoing Laser Eye Surgery.
For daily contact lens wearers it can be difficult to adjust to wearing glasses for the time leading up to their Laser Eye Surgery, but it is vital that the cornea is in its natural condition on the day of surgery.
If you are interested in Laser Eye Surgery as an alternative to contact lenses, schedule a free consultation at Optilase Northern Ireland by calling 08000 121 565.
There are certain days when you will despise having to wear glasses more than usual – perhaps they continually slip down your nose or maybe the pressure sores on your ears caused by the heavy frames are especially tender...
Either way, on those days, wearing glasses can seem like the harshest life sentence that you never asked for.
But instead of putting up with the inconvenience of glasses, why not take control of your eyesight and your life with fast and effective Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland?
Upgrade to a new set of eyes with Laser Eye Surgery
Laser Eye Surgery essentially changes the way your eye processes incoming light so that objects at any distance appear sharp and in focus.
If you require corrective lenses it is because light that enters the eye does not land precisely on the retina, therefore vision is blurred.
This innate error can be attributed to a cornea that is incorrectly curved or an eyeball that is either too long or too short.
Laser Eye Surgery reshapes the cornea using tiny pulses of laser energy to adjust the landing spot of incoming light so that your eyesight is permanently corrected.
What type of laser is used during Laser Eye Surgery?
At Optilase Northern Ireland, two very specific lasers are used during Laser Eye Surgery – a Femtosecond Laser to create a corneal flap (provided that you are a suitable candidate for a corneal flap) and an Excimer Laser to reshape the cornea.
A corneal flap is created on the surface of the eye before any correction takes place in order, but in some instances patients may not be suitable for this procedure and will receive treatment from only one laser.
Patients who are unable to use a corneal flap will instead undergo PRK Laser Eye Surgery which uses Ethanol drops to loosen the outer layer of the cornea which can be moved aside while laser correction takes place.
Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase clinics in Belfast, Newry and Derry/Londonderry is carried out on both eyes on the same day and the entire procedure usually takes less than half an hour.
To find out more about Laser Eye Surgery at Optilase Northern Ireland, call 08000 121 565 or fill out our free consultation form.
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.
