Lasik: All your questions answered

Having bad eyesight has become much less of an obstacle since the advent of contact lenses, but even those remain a daily reminder of the simple fact that your eyesight just isn't up to scratch. Lasik, however, promises to leave you with perfect eyesight virtually immediately after surgery. Can it really be that easy? What are the risks? Read on to get the answers to all your questions.

What is Lasik?

Lasik stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, a refractive surgery procedure that reshapes the cornea. It is used to treat near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism. During the procedure a small flap is cut in the top of the cornea, and underlying corneal tissue is removed using a laser. The flap is then put back in place.

Who can have Lasik and who can't?

Dr Edmondo Borasio, consultant ophthalmic surgeon (specialist in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery) of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (04-4297888), says, “People unsuitable for Lasik include those with eye diseases and those with severe dry eyes or excessively thin or weak corneas. Otherwise anybody over 18 years of age can be checked for suitability.''

What are the success rates?

Dr Farooq Ashraf of Atlanta Vision Clinic (04-3486233) says the success rate is approximately 98 per cent.

Will I be able to throw my glasses and contacts away for good?

“It is very likely that you will never need glasses for distance anymore,'' says Dr Borasio. “The accuracy is normally within +/- 0.25 to 0.50 D. The eyes however start ageing after around age 42 and therefore (unless a special treatment is done, which is called Monovision), reading glasses become necessary after that age. The distance vision however remains unchanged.''

How do I choose a trustworthy surgeon?

“Do your homework, look at the surgeon's education, training, and experience. Also look for a surgeon who does many of these procedures not one who performs a handful of surgeries each month,'' says Dr Ashraf.

Does it hurt?

“Not at all,'' says Dr Borasio. “The operation is done under local anaesthesia using special anaesthetic eye drops. Following the operation the eyes can feel scratchy for six to eight hours.''

Will I be able to see everything that's going on during the operation?

“You may be able to see the hands of the surgeon, but everything will be very fuzzy and takes place so quickly,'' says Dr Borasio. “Some patients prefer having the other eye patched so that they cannot see anything.''

How long does the procedure take?

“If you're having both eyes corrected, you will be at the surgical suite for about 15 minutes. The laser treatment is usually performed in less than a minute, but the entire procedure takes a little longer,'' says Dr Ashraf.

What if I blink or move during the operation?

“The laser will stop firing automatically,'' says Dr Borasio.

How long will it be before I can see properly?

Dr Ashraf says, “You can see properly straight after the surgery, however, full results become apparent the next day.''

What can go wrong?

“In a very small percentage of patients, actually less than three per cent, a second procedure may be needed to get the vision perfect,'' says Dr Ashraf.

If something goes wrong, like under or over-correction, can it be fixed later?

“Often it can be fixed with a simple laser enhancement, although we have to wait until the eyes heal completely and this may take up to three months,'' says Dr Borasio. “More severe complications, which are very rare, may need more complex surgery but the results are normally very good.''

Can patients suffer from dry eyes, light-sensitivity and floaters after surgery?


“Most patients will have dry eyes after surgery, but this tends to be a transient problem and patients normally recover after a few weeks,'' says Dr Borasio. “Lubrication is necessary for several weeks following the operation. Light sensitivity is common in the first few days and we advise using sunglasses in the early phases. Floaters are not a problem.''

Are there special rules and procedures to follow before and after the surgery?

“Before surgery, none,'' says Dr Ashraf. “After surgery requires common sense, which means: don't rub or squeeze eyes, avoid getting anything in the eyes, no eyeliner and no swimming for one to two weeks afterwards.''

What happens if my sight deteriorates after a couple of years?

Dr Borasio says: “If the vision deteriorates due to a regression (which happens in some cases) and the rest of the cornea is healthy, it may be possible to re-treat the eye.''

Can teenagers have Lasik?

And what's the upper age limit? “No, we have to wait until the refraction stops deteriorating, which typically happens after age 21,'' says Dr Ashraf. “The legal minimum age is 18 years. There is no upper age limit, but elderly people may have other problems such as cataracts which make the operation not the best indication for them.''

How much does it cost and is it covered by medical insurance?

Dr Edmondo says, “The procedure costs around Dhs14,000 and is not covered by insurance. However options for financing are available.''

“The surgery was worth every fil''

Mother and grandmother Sheelagh Cox, 64, was short-sighted and had Lasik surgery last year

“One day at work a colleague found a brief article in Aquarius about Lasik treatment and showed it to me as she knew I was interested. I phoned the clinic immediately and got an appointment straight after work. I was so impressed that I booked the procedure there and then, and was absolutely delighted with the actual operation and the after-care.

“The surgery itself took only four minutes per eye. I can honestly say the only slight discomfort I felt was the apparatus being put into place to hold my eye open to make sure I didn't blink. The doctor told me to look at the red light; I just stared wherever he told me, and did not move at all. You see something coming towards you, but you feel absolutely nothing at all. After it was over, I looked at my watch and I could see clearly straight away.

“They explained to me that after the surgery everything would be very bright and I would need to wear sunglasses for a couple of weeks when I was outside. I also needed to put drops in every hour for a few days and another lot of drops once or twice a day for a few months. The doctor also suggested that for a week I wear plastic glasses at night when I went to sleep so that I did not put pressure on my eyes at all. For me that was the worst part, but only because they made me sweat. I did everything I was told and it was a total success. I still put blink drops in twice a day as the doctor told me that excessive dry eyes could undo all the good which has been done, but I think this is a very small price to pay to keep the superb work of the surgeon going. The surgery cost me Dh10,000 which, to me, was worth every fil.

“The after-care was excellent. I was asked to go back at regular intervals to check that everything was fine, and I had one year of free treatment if I needed to go back to ask any questions or get any advice.''

“It was the scariest thing I've ever been through''

Writer Inga-Marie Barnett had Lasik to correct her short-sightedness just before her 26th birthday in May this year

“I have had to wear glasses or contact lenses since I was a teenager, but I found them annoying. I was always sleeping in my contacts or running out of them, and sometimes they'd get scratched. Plus, in this climate, my eyes were drying out more and contacts felt generally uncomfortable. Lasik seemed the prefect way out.

“I found my clinic on the internet, through an advert on Facebook. During my first consultation they did loads of tests. I felt like they were very thorough with the pre-surgery tests, but not very good at communication. I also felt like I was in a used car showroom with the pressure of ‘buying' Lasik - the price kept changing and they kept offering various ‘deals'.

“No matter how many questions I asked about the risks linked to the surgery, they were quite dismissive. Immediately after the tests I had problems with my eyes — they reacted badly to the drops they'd used. When I sought advice from the clinic, they gave me contradicting advice.

“This is when I should have changed clinics, but I didn't. Instead, I decided to go ahead with the surgery there. During the actual Lasik procedure I was terrified. There was nothing securing my head, and I was worried that if I flinched or moved I'd do myself permanent damage. At one stage during the operation I suddenly couldn't see anything — everything went black and there were little white dots swimming in front of my eyes. I hadn't been warned this could happen and thought I had been blinded.

“A friend came to fetch me after the surgery — it was dark outside and I had to wear sunglasses. We were driving home, and everything was just a blur of streaking lights. I had been told it would take two weeks for my eyes to settle, so I thought this was normal.

“When I woke up the next morning I realised something was wrong. I spent the next two weeks feeling utterly depressed — my vision was blurry and I was convinced I had messed up my eyes forever. Despite repeated trips to my surgeon, things didn't seem to be improving. About three weeks on though, my day vision improved, but I still have problems seeing at night and have virtually had to stop driving after dark.

“I don't completely regret the surgery, but I wish I had been more forewarned about the consequences. I have since found out that I have abnormally dry eyes which doesn't make me an ideal candidate for Lasik, and also means the healing process takes longer. I wish I had been told this. Also, I have since been told that I am now more prone to cataracts and general damage to my eyes and must wear sunglasses whenever I'm outdoors for the rest of my life.

“I really urge people to have a strong support network if they have the surgery and to find out as much as they can beforehand. It's not as minor as everyone makes out. In fact, it was the scariest thing I have ever been through and probably ever will. You're awake for the whole operation, you smell burning and you're aware that your eyeball is being sliced.

“I advise people to do their research before choosing a clinic, but I do recommend Lasik. However, communication and reassurance are key, and the cost should never be an issue.''