LASIK eye surgery is the most frequently performed laser vision correction procedure globally with more than 40,000,000 performed to date to reduce or eliminate the need for contact lenses or spectacles.
The Visumax® femtosecond laser painlessly creates a thin layer at the front of the cornea in under 20 seconds which is gently lifted so that the shape of the cornea can be changed microscopically using the Mel® 90 excimer laser correcting the refractive error.
The flap is floated back into position like a manhole cover so that it is securely held in place without the need for stitches. LASIK can be used to correct myopia (short-sight), hyperopia (long-sight), astigmatism and presbyopia, the age-related requirement for reading spectacles within certain limits of correction.
5 - 10 Minutes per eye
Local anaesthetic (numbing drops)
1 - 2 Days
2 Days recommended
2 - 3 Days
Permanent
David Anderson is senior cataract, refractive and corneal surgeon at UHS NHS FT with nearly 30 years’ experience of intraocular surgery and more than 80 publications and medical contributions – ResearchGate. He is also on the General Medical Council Specialist register. David administers all consultation, treatments and procedures at Anderson Eye Care.
Anderson Eye Care is the south’s premier cataract, laser eye & lens replacement surgery clinic. Mr. David Anderson, founder and medical director, is one of the UK’s leading eye surgeons and personally performs all procedures & consultations.
Combining the latest state-of-the-art technology with David’s years of experience, we’re able to provide a full-range of eye care procedures which allows us to recommend the best treatment for your situation.
As one of the UK’s leading Ophthalmologists, David is regularly asked to give presentations. He’s currently a member of:
On the day you come into the Anderson Eye Care clinic for laser vision correction, we will run through the procedure again with you so that you will be reassured about the steps. Allow 2-3 hours to be at the hospital so that you have plenty of time. Like SMILE® and LASEK, LASIK is not painful and takes around 5-10 minutes per eye for a laser eye surgeon to complete. You will be in the laser room itself for around 20-30 minutes and will have a nurse with you throughout.
We will apply drops to numb your eyes and cover the eye that is not being treated. A small device is used to prevent the eye being treated from blinking although it will feel to you as if you are blinking normally.
The Visumax® femtosecond laser will dock and you will feel gentle pressure but no pain because the Visumax® uses a curved surface to mirror the shape of your cornea. For this reason, it is the gentlest of all femtosecond lasers and you will be able to see a green flashing light during treatment to hold your gaze.
Creation of the LASIK flap takes less than 10 seconds, this will be checked and the procedure repeated to the second eye if both eyes are to be treated. The couch will glide across to the Mel® 90 excimer laser so that the flap can be gently lifted and treatment completed.
Most prescriptions will require much less than a minute to correct and you will be unable to feel the laser although you will hear a sound during treatment. Once completed, the flap is floated back into position and checked before eyedrops are applied.
After LASIK surgery, you will rest for a short period and be provided with refreshments before going home. Your eyes will feel slightly gritty and will be sensitive to light so we recommend that you bring (non-prescription) sunglasses with you.
We will provide you with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops to use as well as a reminder of your does and don’t instructions and also some comfortable eye protection to wear overnight. We ask you to be careful not to rub or touch your eyes and to avoid showering or getting tap water into your eyes for the next few days.
You will be able to see immediately after treatment is completed and you sit up although your vision will be blurry. You can then expect to see continual improvement in your vision over the first day or two although your vision will fluctuate which is normal. Your vision will then continue to improve and stabilize over the next weeks.
We suggest that you arrange transport home from the hospital. You may experience mild discomfort but there should be no pain. After this point you should notice your vision improve quickly and can get back to your normal routine.
We will ask you to start using your eyedrops later on the day of your procedure. If your eyes feel dry or gritty we advise you to use plenty of the artificial tears we will provide you with to keep them well lubricated, particularly if you are using screens.
We will invite you back for a check-up within the next 48 hours and then again at intervals thereafter, typically 1-2 weeks then at 3 months and 1 year. You can return to normal activities such as exercise and swimming after a week but we can advise you specifically about any activity you wish to resume.
No. Numbing eye drops are used so you should not feel pain during LASIK, although you may notice some pressure at certain points and mild grittiness afterwards.
The laser treatment usually takes seconds to a minute per eye. You are typically in the laser room for around 20–30 minutes and at the clinic for about 2–3 hours in total.
Many patients notice much clearer vision within 24–48 hours. Vision then continues to refine over the following days and weeks as the cornea settles and any dryness improves.
You can drive once your vision meets the legal driving standard and your surgeon has confirmed this at a post‑operative check. For many people, this is within a few days, but it varies.
Suitability depends on your prescription, corneal measurements, eye health and general medical history. A free LASIK screening with detailed eye tests is the best way to find out.
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