Laser Eye Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
At the Australian Institute of Eye Surgery our approach is to help you make an informed decision about laser vision correction and your eyes. Our objective is to ensure that you know as much about the procedure as possible.
Our surgeons are very careful in deciding which potential patients are good candidates for laser vision correction and they will discuss with you your expectations from the procedure.
Our surgeons and staff have changed the lives of thousands of patients since introducing the LASIK procedure.
You may be a perfect candidate for LASIK. However, you may be told as with more than 1/3 of our potential patients that your eyes are not suitable.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural crystalline lens.
As this naturally clear lens becomes cloudy, light cannot focus clearly at the back of the eye called the retina.
As a result the images you see become blurred or out of focus.
This blurring may occur gradually or occasionally rapidly.
Most commonly cataracts affect adults over the age of 60.It is part of the natural ageing process.
Some of the symptoms cataracts cause are:
- Blurred or dim vision
- Worsening Night Vision
- Increased sensitivity to bright light and glare
- Haloes around lights at night
- The need for brighter light to comfortably read
- A change in glasses prescription that doesn't really help
- Constantly cleaning your glasses to clear your vision
The most common cause of cataracts is due to the natural ageing of the eye.
Other causes include
- A family history of cataracts
- Medical issues such as Diabetes
- Medications such as steroids
- Chronic exposure to unprotected sunlight
- Previous injury to your eye
No. Unless your prescribing physician advises you otherwise.
No. This idea is from a previous era of large incision, manual, cataract surgery.This older procedure requiring significant stitching to close the eye, resulting in a slow visual recovery.
Modern small incision cataract surgery works best when the cataract is not ripe or mature.
There is less trauma to the surrounding intraocular structures and a faster visual recovery.
Cataract Surgery should be considered when the cataracts cause sufficient loss of functional vision to interfere with your daily activities.
Based on your symptoms, age, visual needs and the stage of your cataracts you and your cataract surgeon will decide together when it is most appropriate for you to have surgery
No. Once the cataract has been completely removed it cannot return.
However, the original lens capsule which is not removed and is required to support the new artificial intraocular lens can become slightly opaque over time, this can sometimes mimic the symptoms of a cataract returning.
This clouding of the lens capsule is easily treated with an outpatient procedure known as a YAG Laser Capsulotomy.
The laser in a few minutes removes the cloudy part of the capsule restoring clear vision
Yes. You almost always need a new prescription, New glasses will be prescribed by your Optometrist about a month after you have Cataract Surgery.In the meantime you may be able to use over the counter readers for help with reading if your old glasses are not suitable.
You can either take out the spectacle lens from the side which had the surgery, keep wearing your glasses as they are or simply not wear them at all; whichever feels most comfortable for you.
During surgery you will be lying down on a bed.
Most patients report little or no discomfort at all during or after surgery due to the combination of anaesthetic eye drops and intravenous sedation.
You may see a bright light or coloured lights and feel water running across your eye. Most patients will not require a patch to cover their eye after surgery.
Immediately after your surgery you will sit in a recliner until the nurse has done a post operative check.
You will then walk out of recovery and be provided with something to drink and eat and then be able to go home.
No. This is quite common after the surgery and is due to a combination of factors.
Healing of the incision site, irritation from the antiseptic and drops used during surgery and dry eye after the procedure.
Often the use of artificial tears will help.
Yes. Every eye is different in both the stage of the cataract and the health of the inside of the eye.Both the surgery and recovery will be individual.
Some eyes will have more swelling after surgery, which may last days or weeks and this will delay visual recovery.
Only two.
- Don't rub your eye for the first week after surgery.
- Don't submerge your head in swimming pools or hot tubs for the first week after surgery
You may shower normally and resume bending and lifting the next day.
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What is cataract surgery?
Why cataract surgery works.
What to expect on the day.
