FAQ's

What is the success rate of Eye Laser Surgery?

LASIK leads to a change in lifestyle and success or failure should be measured by the procedure's ability to meet the persons expections or needs. Overall, at Eye Laser Ireland more than 99% of patients do not need visual aids after being treated. These patients are able to drive, play sports and watch TV without the hassle of corrective lenes.

How long has LASIK been performed?

LASIK has been performed throughout the world for over fourteen years. In 1991, Dr. Ionas Pallikaris was the first physican to create a thin corneal flap and then apply the laser to reshape the internal cornea.

What are the risks of LASIK Treatment?

LASIK is considered by many leading opththalmologists worldwide to be a safe procedure. In clinical studies the risk of complications that could reduce vision was less than 1%. In good surgical hands at a reputable centre, the chances are considerably lower. Still, like any medical procedure, there are always some risks. These will be explained to you in detail during your consultation at Eye Laser Ireland.

How important is experience?

One of the most important factors in successful laser and refractive procedures is the surgeon's training and experience. The procedure began in 1991 and has since evolved quickly to become a safe and effective method to correct several eye conditions.

I'm over 40. Will LASIK work for me? Will I still need reading glasses?

Yes, the LASIK procedure can correct your shortsightedness or longsightedness with astigmatism. However, you will still need reading glasses to see up close from 40 years of age onwards. Alternatively, some patients may prefer to have monovision where LASIK can be performed to under-correct one eye leaving it slightly myopic, giving the patient the ability to use one eye for near vision and the other eye for distance vision. In order to help you decide if this option suits you, a simulation using contact lenses will be done. This enables you to experience the outcome before embarking on the LASIK procedure itself.

Is the LASIK procedure painful?

The LASIK procedure is generally painless or associated with little discomfort. Only anesthetic drops are used with no injections or needles. Patients will generally have irritation for several hours after the procedure and feel no discomfort the day following the procedure.

How much time do I need to take off from work?

Usually 2 days, 1 day for the LASIK procedure and the next day for the first day follow up check up.

When will I be able to see?

Virtually all of our patients have functional driving vision the next day. Many patients report an immediate improvement within the first day. Since an individual's situation, healing powers and tissues are unique, not everyone can expect to achieve full vision correction immediately. For instance, people with extremely strong glasses may end up with significant correction but may still need mild strength glasses occasionally for some activities like night driving.

Safety, in fact is the main reason for choosing LASIK. With millions of cases performed worldwide, LASIK in the hands of skilled surgeons, coupled with the state-of-the-art Intralase Femtosecond and the Visx Star S4 IR Laser systems has less than a remote risk of complication. Based on decades of studies on lasers and a century of study on corneal healing, there is no evidence of any long term complications.