Eye Treatments

Tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses.?
If you are considering eye surgery then here is a break down of some of the treatments available.

LASIK eye surgery
Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is the most popular from of laser eye surgery with 8,000 LASIK treatments performed every week in the UK.

LASEK eye surgery
Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK), an improved form of the established PRK treatment with reduced recovery time and discomfort.

PRK eye surgery
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is an established treatment that has been performed for over 15 years, now replaced by LASEK eye surgery.

Implantable Contact Lenses( ICL's)
Implanted lenses are used for the correction of more severe levels of shortsight, longsight and astigmatism. Benefits include; painfree treatment with rapid visual recovery and very good visual acuity results.

LASIK Wavefront
Also known as Custom LASIK, Wavefront is designed for people suffering corneal aberrations (unusually shaped eyes).

Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision. Nine out of 10 people who have cataract surgery regain very good vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40.

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Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
LASIK eye surgery involves lasering under the surface of the cornea. A very thin superficial layer of the cornea (approximately the thickness of a human hair and a quarter of the cornea's thickness) is cut and lifted.

After the exposed tissue is lasered the flap is repositioned and remains in place by natural suction. The flap remains joined to the cornea, like a hinge, enabling it to be replaced in exactly the same position, minimising the healing process.

The benefits of LASIK vision correction include a pain free recovery, quick restoration of eyesight and better results for severe short sight. The inner eye is not pierced and stitches are not required.

Click here for more information on LASIK laser eye surgery

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)
With LASEK eye surgery, also known as Epiflap LASEK, is similar to LASIK, except that the surgeon cuts a flap in the epithelium only.

Because the LASEK technique preserves most of the epithelium, recovery time is much improved over standard PRK (where the epithelium is removed) and discomfort is greatly reduced.

Click here for more information on LASEK laser eye surgery

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK is a treatment for shortsight, mild to moderate longsight and astigmatism. The surgeon uses an excimer laser to remove tissue from the surface of the cornea. This removal (or ablation) results in a new shape, thus reducing the vision problem. PRK usually takes less than one minute per eye.

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LASIK Wavefront
Also known as Custom LASIK, Wavefront is designed for people suffering corneal aberrations (unusually shaped eyes). These people, who would not achieve a satisfactory result with current lasers may therefore benefit from this method, with its ability to reduce abnormal spherical aberrations.

It is important to understand that Wavefront is relatively new and therefore experimental. Its clinical significance and associated benefits over standard methods remain unconfirmed.

Most people with normal eyes and standard prescriptions would not benefit from this experimental treatment and there is no data to support the belief that Wavefront achieves superior satisfaction levels or functional performance.

Click here for more information on Wavefront LASIK eye surgery

Implantable Contact Lenses( ICL's)
Implanted lenses are used for the correction of more severe levels of short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism. They are similar to a small 'contact lens' which is placed inside the eye instead of sitting on the surface. Benefits include; painfree treatment with rapid visual recovery and very good visual acuity results. The success rate is approximately 95%.

I mplanted lenses are now used to treat patients with prescriptions from between -23d to +12d with (+/-)7d of astigmatism.
The treatment is also available for patients who are unsuitable for laser treatment due to corneal thickness or after cataract removal.

The treatment is not suitable for people over 60 years of age or anyone developing cataracts. People with high glaucoma, recurrent eye infections and other eye diseases may not be suitable.

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Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery continues to be one of the most common and successful surgical procedures with high expectations from patients.

With advances in technology, small incision surgery has been developed and rehabilitation times have been reduced. Cataracts can now be operated on safely under local anaesthetic in a day care or short stay setting.

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