6 Things to Consider Before Getting Laser Vision Correction

For many, blurry vision and eye strain are a part of daily life. These uncomfortable symptoms often accompany vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Essentially, your eye is failing to refract light correctly, which causes problems.

The cornea and lens are the parts of the eye responsible for focusing light, allowing you to see clearly. When there is a problem with how the cornea or lens bends light, it’s called a refractive error.

Laser vision correction surgery improves your vision by changing how your eyes focus light. However, there are many different types of vision correction procedures, and laser treatments all work by reshaping the cornea. As the name suggests, these procedures involve using a laser to alter the cornea in order to correct or resolve refractive errors. It’s extremely effective, safe, and growing in popularity.

In this blog, we cover the key factors you should consider before deciding on eye correction surgery. The more you know, the easier it will be to make informed decisions. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact Clearview Vision Institute.

1. Understanding the different types of laser vision correction

LASIK, LASEK, PRK, ReLEX SMILE, PRESBEYOND, and RLE are the most common laser vision correction procedures.

• LASIK: This is the most popular laser eye treatment. A laser creates a thin flap in the cornea’s outer layer so that the cornea can be reshaped. It corrects myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Custom Bladeless LASIK from Clearview Vision Institute is highly effective, has a significantly lower risk of complications than other procedures, and offers full recovery in just three months.
• LASEK: This procedure is similar to LASIK. An alcohol solution creates the flap and a laser reshapes the cornea. It’s beneficial for those with a naturally thin cornea.
• PRK: This is the original laser eye surgery and is still used to correct mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, only the top surface of the cornea is affected. It’s best suited for individuals with large pupils, thin or structurally unique corneas, and those who are active and participate in contact sports.
• ReLEX SMILE: SMILE is the latest advancement in laser vision correction technology, highly effective for individuals with myopia or astigmatism. It involves creating a tiny incision with a femtosecond laser to reshape the cornea for faster healing without any risk of flap-related complications.
• PRESBEYOND: Laser-blended vision laser surgery (PRESBEYOND) corrects presbyopia with extremely high success rates. It’s safer and less invasive than traditional treatment options for presbyopia.
• RLE: RLE (also called PRELEX, CLE, and RLR) is the same as cataract surgery. A laser is used to make a small cut at the edge of your cornea to remove your natural lens and replace it with a plastic lens implant. It corrects extreme farsightedness or nearsightedness. It’s also a viable solution for those with thin corneas, dry eyes, or other minor corneal problems.

Common Benefits of LASIK and Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye correction corrects your blurry vision, allowing you to see clearly and sharply at all distances. For most patients, improved vision means an improved quality of life. You don’t have to rely on wearing prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to navigate the world. The majority of patients are no longer dependent on corrective lenses after surgery.

Possible Risks and Side Effects

LASIK and other laser vision corrections are extremely safe with very little risk. That being said, complications do occur in a very small percentage of cases. Dry eyes, discomfort, light sensitivity, glare, and halos are the most common side effects. These potential complications, however, usually improve as the cornea heals.

In some cases, additional surgery may be required to address more serious (but rare) complications.

Long-Term Considerations for Vision Correction

Laser eye surgery is a permanent procedure and rarely requires follow-up touch-up procedures. For example, only 1–2 percent of patients may benefit from a touch-up after LASIK.

Your vision may change as you age, in which case, re-treatment may be needed. These vision changes are often unrelated to the cornea.

2. Evaluating if you’re a good candidate for laser eye correction surgery

The majority of patients are approved for LASIK eye correction. During your consultation at Clearview Vision Institute, we review your vision health, medical history, and goals to determine if laser vision correction is the right option for you. We take a close look at the following factors when assessing your eligibility for the procedure:

• Age: Depending on the procedure, you need to be at least 18 or 21 years old. There is no upper age limit.
• Vision stability: Your vision must be stable, which is why many younger patients are not good candidates. It’s best if your prescription hasn’t changed in at least one or two years.
• Eye health: Good eye health is needed to have LASIK. Certain eye conditions can disqualify you from the procedure, including severe dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and insufficient corneal thickness.
• Eye conditions: Laser eye correction surgeries can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Extremely high prescriptions, however, cannot often be treated with LASIK.

3. The importance of pre-surgery consultations

Pre-surgery consultations are an essential step in the eye correction process. LASIK eye consultations offer a valuable opportunity to discuss your situation and assess your candidacy for surgery. Your medical history, lifestyle, and eye health are all crucial factors that need to be carefully considered. In some cases, you may be asked to make certain lifestyle adjustments to ensure a safe and effective surgery.

During your preoperative consultation, your eyes are closely examined. Your optometrist may conduct refractive error measurements, corneal mapping, and/or tear film evaluation. The information gathered from these tests helps your surgeon determine the appropriate laser treatment.

Your eye specialist also takes the time to describe the procedure’s benefits, recovery time, and potential risks. At Clearview Vision Institute, we want you to be as informed as possible so you can make the best decision for your vision and long-term health. We are firm believers in the value of these pre-surgery consultations.

4. Weighing the risks and benefits of laser eye correction

It’s always important to weigh the risks and benefits of any surgery. The better informed you are about the pros and cons of eye correction surgery, the easier it will be to make the right decision for you. Your vision health team at Clearview Vision Institute is here to answer any questions you may have and carefully explain the details of your laser eye correction.

The benefits of LASIK and other laser eye surgeries are obvious: your vision will be significantly improved, and you will have reduced dependency on glasses or contacts. For many, this change would be truly transformative.

Modern laser vision correction procedures are extremely safe and effective. There is a very low risk of experiencing persistent dry eyes, light sensitivity, halos, or discomfort. These side effects are typically temporary during the early stages of healing, if they occur at all. Additional surgery is rarely required, but may be needed to correct more serious complications.

LASIK

LASIK is the most popular option for correcting various vision issues, including astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. It has very high success rates, delivering permanent solutions to refractive errors.

Custom Bladeless LASIK from Clearview Vision Institute utilizes a femtosecond laser to create a thinner corneal flap compared to traditional LASIK. This allows us to customize the flap size for a more personalized approach. It also reduces the risk of flap-related complications. As a result, individuals with severe refractive errors who were previously not candidates for traditional LASIK can now qualify for Custom Bladeless.

PRK

Although PRK is used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, it is particularly well-suited to those with myopia. It’s also suitable for those with thin corneas, structurally unique corneas, or large pupils. Even if you are not a candidate for LASIK or SMILE, you may be a good fit for Custom PRK from Clearview Vision Institute.

It can take up to three months to fully recover from PRK eye surgery. In most cases, your vision is still functional during the healing process.

Advanced Laser Eye Treatment Options

Clearview Vision Institute is a global pioneer in advanced laser surgery procedures. We have a history of introducing revolutionary treatments to Canada, including ReLEx SMILE, Laser Blended Vision PRESBYOND, PiXL™ vision correction, and Laser Light Transepithelial Cross-Linking. These surgeries are even more effective and safer than traditional laser eye correction methods.

5. Recovery time and post-surgery care

With many laser eye surgeries, you can experience almost immediate improvements to your vision. LASIK, for instance, is renowned for quick visual recovery. Many patients experience significant improvements within the first 24 to 48 hours post-surgery. The same is true with ReLEX SMILE, with patients frequently reporting improved vision after only one or two days. PRK, on the other hand, has slightly longer recovery periods. It may take a few days to notice any improvements in your vision.

Regardless of which surgery you choose, post-operative care is crucial. Your surgeon will provide detailed instructions to make sure your eyes heal properly. This includes avoiding activities that can cause eye injuries, such as keeping water out of your eyes, refraining from swimming, not wearing eye makeup or applying lotion near your eyes, and avoiding all contact sports.

Most people don’t feel pain after LASIK and other laser eye surgeries, but some discomfort is not uncommon. It’s also perfectly normal to experience some light sensitivity, burning sensations, and hazy vision in the first few hours after the procedure. Dry eyes can persist for several weeks or months.

6. Cost and financing options for laser vision correction

The cost of laser eye treatments varies depending on the procedure. Typically, you should expect to pay between $1,800 and $4,600 per eye for surgery in Ontario, Canada. LASIK ranges from $2,000 to $3,500 per eye, PRK costs between $1,800 and $3,000 per eye, and ReLEX SMILE costs between $2,300 and $4,600 per eye.

We understand that this is a considerable upfront investment, but it’s essential to consider the impact on your quality of life and your financial situation. Laser eye surgery offers permanent vision correction for a single payment.

Conversely, glasses, contact lenses, and their associated products are frequent expenses that can add up to thousands of dollars over decades.

Financing options are available to help. Just ask about our payment plans during your LASIK eye consultation at Clearview Vision Institute. We’re happy to explore options for financing your personalized vision plan!

Contact Clearview Vision Institute for Your Eye Correction Surgery

Laser vision correction surgery is the secret to better vision for life. These procedures are trusted for their safety and effectiveness at treating a variety of vision issues, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Before deciding on a treatment, it’s helpful—and necessary—to meet with a knowledgeable eye specialist to discuss your options. During this consultation, you’ll have a chance to discuss your eye health, lifestyle factors, and the type of refractive error with a trained specialist.

At Clearview Vision Institute, we offer a range of advanced treatment options for mild to severe vision issues, including specialized procedures for astigmatism, farsightedness, and presbyopia. Furthermore, we have a proven track record of introducing transformative treatments to Canada, helping more people permanently improve their vision.

To learn more about our services and talented team, please visit the Clearview Vision Institute website or book a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing how eye correction surgery can improve your life. Schedule a LASIK eye consultation today!

To request more information on laser surgery, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.