Laser diopter correction
Can this intervention be performed on a child?
The person must be of legal age to perform this intervention. Not recommended for children under 18, as the eye is still developing and the diopter is changing. The eye grows and develops as humans develop. We are born with an eye of 16 millimeters. By the age of three, the eye grows to 23 millimeters and during puberty, when eye growth is complete, the eyeball normally reaches a length of 24 millimeters.
Why can't I do laser diopter correction if I am 45 years old?
After the age of forty, presbyopia or senior far sightedness develops, which is part of the natural aging process of the eye. If you had good eyesight until then or are far-sighted, suddenly your near vision begins to weaken, i.e. “Your arms are getting shorter.” Consequently, the far sighted vision begins to weaken. Due to this process, laser correction is not an appropriate solution, because an initial cataract can occur. In these patients there is another solution – implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses (you can read more about them in the section on age diopters).
If I have my cycle, can I have the intervention?
You can, menstruation is not an obstacle.
Can I exercise after the intervention?
After the intervention for two to three weeks, you can start with light exercises such as a treadmill, riding a stationary bike, but still, care should be taken not to let sweat get into your eyes. After a month you can swim in the sea or pool. Harder physical exercise, such as gym or contact sports, can be started one month after the intervention.
How long should I not wash my hair after laser surgery?
During the first few days after the intervention (preferably 5 days), rinsing and contact with tap water should be avoided, as there are microorganisms in it that pose a potential risk of causing infection to the newly operated eye.
Why soft contact lenses are removed 3 days before the laser correction examination, and hard or semi-hard lenses 7 days?
Because we perform detailed corneal imaging and the relevance of corneal topography takes at least 3 days (for soft) or 7 days (for hard lenses) to remove the lens to allow the cornea to recover. Until then, wear your glasses and you can come to the examination with them.
How long after the examination can I do the intervention?
You arrange the day of the intervention together with your ophthalmologist.
If I have high intraocular pressure, can I have the intervention?
The answer to this question can not be generalized. It is individual and depends on how high the intraocular pressure is in each patient. Glaucoma is a disease that should be monitored constantly. If the condition is stable and there is no progression, it is not a contraindication to the intervention. Depending on the condition of the visual field and the optic nerve, your ophthalmologist will recommend the best solution.
If I have keratoconus, can I have the intervention?
Do I need to wear sunglasses at home after laser surgery?
Wear sunglasses only when you leave the hospital after the intervention until you get home. After that, there is no need. The reason for this is the sensitivity of the eye to daylight after the intervention.
If I have diabetes, can I have the intervention?
Yes, if the eye background is healthy, it is not a contraindication.
Do I need to have my artificial eyelashes removed for examination or intervention?
There is no need for the examination, while for the intervention it is necessary.
How long after the intervention should I not wear make-up?
Mascara and eyeliner should be avoided for 3 weeks after the intervention.
If my menstrual cycle stabilizes and I am still breastfeeding, can I do laser diopter correction?
No. Laser correction is not recommended during breastfeeding and until the postpartum menstrual cycle stabilizes.
How long after the intervention should I avoid smoky and dusty rooms?
It is advisable to avoid smoky rooms 2-3 weeks after the intervention.
Can laser diopter correction be done more than once?
Yes. In a very small number of patients (less than 1%) it is possible for the diopter to return and depending on the condition of the eye, re-intervention may be performed.
What if I am not a real candidate for laser diopter correction?
If due to certain indications (e.g. diopters above -10 or +6 and ± 6 cylinders (astigmatism), insufficient thickness or structural changes in the cornea), you are not a candidate for laser vision correction, it is possible to perform another type of surgery for diopter removal involving implantation of lenses.
If after the age of 40, you have blurring of the natural lens of the eye (cataract or curtain) and / or you want to get rid of diopters for near and far, the solution is to implant multifocal lenses or lenses with a wide range of vision.
Can the cylinder (astigmatism) be removed with the procedure?
Yes, the laser removes up to +6 cylinders. The cost of the intervention is the same regardless of whether the person has a spherical diopter or a cylinder or a combination of both.
Is laser diopter correction permanent?
The results of laser correction are permanent in 98% of cases. In extremely high diopters, in less than 2% of cases, the return of far lower diopters than before laser correction has been recorded. However, even for these people, if they did the intervention 10 years ago, with today’s technology it is possible to repeat the intervention without additional risk to the eyes. The return of diopters is not the result of a poorly performed procedure, but due to personal, genetic and environmental factors of each patient separately (further increase in diopters due to genetic factors, irregular healing processes and long-term close work).
Can I go blind during the intervention?
The diopter removal procedure itself is performed on the surface of the eye (the cornea), and all centers of vision are located in the back of the eye, so there is no possibility of the laser causing blindness. The laser works on the principle of cold light emission that cannot damage the surrounding tissue or penetrate deeper into the eye than necessary.
What if I blink during the procedure or move my eye?
The eyelid holder prevents the blinking of the eyes, and because anesthesia is dripped before the procedure and lasts only a few minutes, the feeling of discomfort is very minimal. The laser is equipped with a system that monitors the micro-movements of the eye that responds in milliseconds. If the patient moves the eye, the laser automatically stops working. The laser is programmed to emit air only to a specific location.
Does laser diopter correction hurt?
The intervention is completely painless, because prior to the procedure, the patient is given local anesthesia with drops.
I have diopter -13, can you help me?
If you have a diopter greater than -10 or +6, there is a possibility of implanting phakic lenses in the eye. Phakic lenses are mounted on top of natural lenses and completely solve the diopter problem. It is important to do a detailed examination for laser diopter correction with all tests to see which lenses would be the best solution.
How much does laser diopter correction cost?
You can see more details about the prices on our Price List.
Can pregnant women do laser diopter correction?
During pregnancy, a woman’s body, including her eyes, undergoes many hormonal changes. Laser diopter correction is considered part of cosmetic surgery (at the patient’s choice) and is recommended not to be performed during pregnancy and lactation. Optimal intervention planning for women that plan to get pregnant will be 2-3 months before pregnancy or after stabilizing the menstrual cycle after childbirth.
Is the dryness of the eye permanent after the intervention?
After laser correction, there is increased dryness of the eye for at least 6 weeks and therefore artificial tears should be used. According to the latest studies, it has been determined that 6 weeks after the intervention there is a complete healing of the eye and 99% of the patients have no symptoms. Slightly stronger symptoms of dry eye, which can last longer than 6 weeks, occur in people who have been wearing contact lenses for a long time (especially soft ones). The cause of prolonged dryness of the eye in such persons is the primary disorder of the cells of the mucous membrane of the eye caused by contact lenses. When you wear contact lenses (especially soft ones), the lenses rest on the mucous membrane of the eye and the cells rub against the lens due to movement and blinking of the eyes. Therefore, it is extremely important for people who wear lenses to drip artificial tears over the lenses to at least partially alleviate the damage to these cells and reduce eye dryness (lenses absorb tears to retain moisture). Excessively dry eye is a major reason to stop wearing contact lenses. If symptoms are severe, dry eye should be treated before laser correction.
