• What is Laser Eye Surgery?
• Are you suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?
• What if you are not suitable?
• How does the eye work?
• Are you Farsighted? (Hyperopia)
• Are you Short-sighted? (Myopia)
• Do you have Astigmatism?
• Do you need Reading Glasses?
• Do you have Cataracts?

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser Eye Surgery is the use of an Eximer Laser to alter the shape of the cornea so that light is accurately focused on the retina, improving your eyesight.

The Eximer Laser is so precise that it can actually cut pieces out of human hair and works through vaporisation of the tissue (cornea).

In Myopia or Short-Sightedness, a steep cornea results in light focusing in front of the retina. The Eximer Laser is used to flatten the cornea so light is focused on the retina resulting in a clear image.

Likewise in Hyperopia or Long-Sightedness, a cornea that is too flat, focuses light behind the retina. The Eximer Laser is used to steepen this angle and improve your vision.

There are a number of techniques available to reshape the cornea in Refractive Surgery. These include: PKK, LASIK, LASEK, and the most recent development called "NU-LASE Epilift" which is a new development using the best features of LASIK and LASEK.

At the Northern Laser Vision Centre we use NU-LASE Epilift , an Advanced Surface Ablation (Lasek). We no longer use Lasik, as we believe the long term benefits of NU-LASE Epilift are far superior.

Are you suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?

Spectacles and contact lenses have been the answer to most eyesight problems but they have their disadvantages. They can be uncomfortable, very inconvenient and they need continual care and cleaning. They seem to always be lost whenever you need them and are expensive to replace if you have to.

It is usually one or more of these annoying things that prompt most people to consider Laser Eye Surgery.

There are a few basic guidelines listed below for suitability for Laser Eye Surgery due to clinical reasons.

If you think you meet these guidelines, register online for a free consultation at the Northern Laser Vision Centre so that we can be absolutely sure.

Patients who are suitable for surgery need to meet the following criteria:

• A refraction in the range of +4.50 to -9.50 Dioptres.
• Levels of Astigmatism up to 6 Dioptres.
• Over 18 years old.
• Not pregnant or breastfeeding.
• A refraction stable for two years.
• You should have healthy corneas - your opthalmologist will advise you of this.

What if you are not suitable for Laser Vision Surgery?

If you are not suitable for Laser Vision Correction with the Excimer Laser there are a number of options available to get the visual outcome you desire. We have a many happy patients who have undergone any one of the following procedures

• Implantable Contact Lenses: Know as a Phackic Intra Ocular Lens, this type of surgery provides a solution for those with prescriptions too high for NU-LASE Epilift. This type of lens implant is called an ARTISAN or VERISYSE lens implant. This procedure is suitable for younger people with refractive errors outside the treatable range of Excimer Laser Vision Correction.
• Refractive Lens Exchange: This type of surgery can be likened to early cataract surgery. Most suited to those over the age of 50, it gives independence from spectacles for distance vision. It is used for those people with very high refractive errors or anyone with signs of cataract.
• Incision Keratotomy: This is a procedure predominantly used to reduce astigmatism. Often used in conjunction with other types of surgery, Incisional Keratotomy fine tunes results for optimal outcomes.
• Future Concepts: We are currently researching the treatment of Presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) using Customised Wavefront Programs delivered using the Excimer Laser.

No matter how unusual your prescription, the staff and the Northern Laser Vision Centre will endeavor to provide a solution to your visual problems. Please don’t hesitate to call for advice on how to get independence from you spectacles.

How does the eye work?

Like a camera, the eye works by focusing light. When you cannot focus light properly you need glasses or contact lenses to assist you. Light enters the eye through the clear layer called the cornea which acts like a lens by focusing the light. The light then travels through the natural lens of the eye and finally focuses on the retina at the back of the eye. The retina then transmits information to the brain via the optic nerve where sight is then perceived.

Common Refractive Errors:

Are you Farsighted? (Hyperopia)

You can see things in the distance but have trouble up close. In most cases, this problem can be corrected with Eximer Laser in our surgery.

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, occurs when the eye is too short in relation to the curvature of the cornea. This causes far objects to be seen better than those nearer to the eye. Light rays do not focus on the retina, but instead focus behind it.

Are you Short-sighted? (Myopia)

Close up objects are clear, but long distance objects become blurry without using spectacles or contact lenses. This problem can be corrected with Eximer Laser in our surgery.

Shortsightedness, or myopia, affects thousands of people in Australia. The eye of nearsighted people is too long in relation to the curvature of the cornea causing near objects to be seen much better than those far away. This occurs because light rays do not focus on the retina but instead in front of the retina.

Do you have Astigmatism?

The astigmatic eye is where your cornea is irregular in shape. A person with astigmatism generally sees all objects in a blur or with distortion. This can be corrected with the Eximer Laser in our surgery.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea has an irregular shape. This creates a distorted or uneven image because of the unequal bending of light rays entering the eye. Thus, people with this condition see both near and far objects as being out of focus. Astigmatism can accompany farsightedness or nearsightedness.

Do you need Reading Glasses?

PRESBYOPIA is a normal condition which happens in the mid 40‘s age group when the eye loses the function of focusing for reading. This happens as the crystalline lens inside the eye naturally increases in size and also becomes more rigid. The lens cannot change shape as easily to focus.

Presbyopia is corrected by the use of reading, bi-focal or multi-focal spectacles and contact lenses. Unfortunately at this stage Presbyopia cannot be treated with Excimer Laser. For some people Monovision may be an alternative.

MONOVISION is an alternative for some people who have Presbyopia combined with astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia.

It must be remembered that Excimer Laser treatment can only correct one vision (single vision), either close vision or distance vision for each eye. People who need to wear bifocals to read can have one eye corrected for close vision and the other eye for distance vision (i.e. monovision) to allow both close and distance vision simultaneously.

For people who do not want to wear reading spectacles, monovision can be considered as an option.

Not everybody is actually suitable for this method of treatment. For this reason, your suitability can be assessed at our clinic using contact lenses. This allows you to do your normal activities (e.g. work, driving, sports etc.) and decide whether this is a suitable form of treatment for you.

Do you have Cataracts?

When the lens behind the pupil in your eye becomes cloudy, this is called a Cataract. Normally the lens sits behind the pupil in your eye and looks like a "Smartie" or ”M&M”. It focuses light on the back of your eye so that you can see clearly – much like a camera lens.

A Cataract is not a “film over the eye” or a growth. It is not painful but it can cause objects to appear blurred. You may also notice you are sensitive to glare – especially at night, have trouble seeing at dusk or in rapidly changing light, or that reading or watching TV is becoming difficult.

Age is the most common cause. Both prolonged exposure to sunlight and smoking can increase your risk of cataract development. Injury, some eye diseases and some medical conditions may also cause Cataracts. Some babies are born with Cataracts.

You DO NOT get Cataracts from reading too much or from eyestrain.

Cataracts do not need to be removed just because they are there. If you are not noticing any deterioration in your vision then your Cataract can be left alone. A change of glasses may help in the short term. The decision to have Cataract surgery depends on how much vision you have lost and how it is affecting your lifestyle. For treatment information click here .