Preliminary examination

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Everything you need to know

Laser eye surgery - life without glasses

Think of ocular procedures and you think of laser eye surgery. Justifiably. It is by far the most commonly applied "no more glasses or lenses" procedure. Laser eye surgery accurately corrects near- or farsightedness. Which technique is appropriate for you depends on your age, lifestyle and the condition of your eye.

Essential first step

The preliminary examination

The first, essential step to identifying exactly what’s happening with your eyes. Treatment will not be possible without a preliminary examination. The preliminary examination is always free of charge and without obligation. It includes eye tests, your consultation with the eye specialist who will also perform the treatment on you and a tailor-made treatment recommendation. Even if you decide not to have any treatment. Or if your eyes can't be treated because of contraindications.

Is a particular treatment right for you?

  • This will depend on:
  • the size of your pupil
  • the thickness of your cornea
  • how you use your eyes in your daily life
Laser eye surgery intake
Explained in ophthalmological terms

What is laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery involves the use of a high-tech laser to correct the curvature of your eye. The greater the strength, the more the shape of your eye will need to be adjusted. Your eye may be too long, too short or not perfectly round. This stops light falling squarely on your retina. Because of which you won’t see the world around you clearly.

To summarise

Eye laser surgery to-the-point

  • For deviations in strength between -12 and + 4.5
  • For astigmatism up to -6
  • In-depth treatments: ReLEx SMILE and IntraLasik
  • Surface treatments: TransPRK and Lasek
  • For clients aged 18 to 45
  • Laser eye surgery not possible or advisable? Your alternative is an implanted lens: ExtraLenses, ReplaceLenses or a Readon ReplaceLens-treatment for someone who has difficulty reading
Laser eye surgery treatment

To summarise

Laser eye surgery
  • For deviations in strength between -12 and + 4.5
  • For astigmatism up to -6
  • In-depth treatments: ReLEx SMILE and IntraLasik
  • Surface treatments: TransPRK and Lasek
  • For clients aged 18 to 45
  • Laser eye surgery not possible or advisable? Your alternative is an implanted lens: ExtraLenses, ReplaceLenses or a Readon ReplaceLens-treatment for someone who has difficulty reading
The advantages summarized

The advantages of laser eye surgery

  • No need for glasses or contact lenses anymore
  • A one-off investment
  • Safer than wearing contact lenses all your life
  • The long-term effects of laser eye surgery are known and positive

Side-effects or complications

No operation is without risk. This includes eye laser surgery. Although the risk is very small, complications can occur.

Possible complications of laser eye surgery

  • Undercorrection or overcorrection
  • Haze/cloudy vision
  • A slight injury to the cornea
  • Infection
  • Excessive eye-lid squinting
  • Flap complication - only with IntraLasik
    • Flap has not been flipped over fully
    • Epithelial cell ingrowth
    • Flap dislocation
    • Melted flap

Possible side effects of laser eye surgery

  • Residual strength
  • Dry eyes
  • Starbursts and haloes
  • Sensitivity to light

Can laser eye surgery make you go blind?

There is just a very small risk of going blind after a treatment. To date, there have been no actual cases of blindness caused by laser eye surgery at FYEO. Like any other medical intervention, the treatments provided by FYEO involve some degree of risk. In theory, a complication (which often happens if someone doesn’t follow medical advice or is careless with instructions and medication) can lead to blindness. The chance of this happening is extremely small if you carefully follow all the instructions provided. Also, the complications described above are often easy to treat.

Cliënt laser eye treatment
Customisation

Types of eye laser surgery

Laser eye surgery techniques are developing rapidly. Each laser eye treatment has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of recovery, suitability, pain and price tag. The right solution for every eye.

In-depth Treatment

ReLEx SMILE

The most eye-friendly eye laser technique ever. With the ReLEx SMILE procedure it's a small step towards visual freedom.

The treatment

The cornea at the front of your eye is the area of treatment. It takes less than 30 seconds to loosen the lenticule with a laser. The lenticle is a disc-shaped piece of tissue. This minor adjustment is enough to correct the eyeball. The eye specialist removes the lenticule through a tiny opening. Your eye will recover quickly and you will see clearly again after a few days.

To summarise

  • In-depth treatment
  • Only for strengths between -2 and -12
  • The maximum strengths are not always possible
  • Not for farsightedness
  • Eye-friendly treatment
  • No damage is done to the cornea
  • Comfortable, quick recovery
  • For clients between the ages of 18 and 45

Key criteria
Not suitable for ReLEx SMILE

  • A strength lower than -2 or higher than -12
  • Cornea too thin
  • A high astigmatism
  • Pupil too big
  • Scar on the cornea
In-depth Treatment

IntraLasik

The comfortable IntraLasik technique is known as the flap procedure. An innovative technique which keeps the epithelium intact. The outer layer of the cornea is not removed but folded back. This is less painful for your eyes and contributes to your recovery process.

The treatment

The procedure is carried out by two different lasers. A high-tech laser gives off light pulses in the cornea, creating tiny air bubbles. This air pressure loosens the layer of the cornea on one side. The eye specialist can then fold this flap black so that the laser can then correct the eyesight.

To summarise
In-depth treatment

  • Flap technology
  • For strengths between -10 and +4.5
  • The maximum strengths are not always possible
  • For astigmatism up to -6
  • Quick recovery and painless
  • Clients between the ages of 18 and 45

Key criteria
Not suitable for IntraLasik

  • A strength higher than -10 or +4.5
  • Clients who play contact sports or have extreme professions
  • Dry eyes
  • Cornea too thin
  • If there is a scar on the cornea
Surface treatment

TransPRK

In the TransPRK procedure, your eyes are not touched at all. This explains the name: no-touch method. The procedure is fully automated. Based on a 3D model of your eye. The results are therefore stable and can be predicted with very high accuracy.

The treatment

In this procedure, the upper layer of the cornea is removed using a laser. Once this layer is removed, the correction can be carried out with a laser.

To summarise

  • Surface treatment
  • No-touch method
  • For strengths between -8 to +4
  • The maximum strengths are not always possible
  • For astigmatism up to -4
  • Suitable for clients with an active lifestyle
  • Painless treatment
  • Recovery 3-5 days; sensitive to painful
  • For clients between the ages of 18 and 45

Key criteria
Suitable for TransPRK

  • For strengths between -8 and +4
  • For astigmatism up to -4
  • For clients who play contact sports or have extreme professions
  • If you are not eligible for a ReLEx SMILE or IntraLasik treatment
Surface treatment

Lasek

Cutting-edge 1st generation laser eye surgery procedure. Surpassed by new technologies but still worthwhile if you have notable defects, engage in physical sports, do risky contact work or if you want to have laser eye surgery done on your eyes on a limited budget.

The treatment

As with all surface treatments, the cornea's outer layer is removed first. In the Lasek procedure this is done with alcohol. Once this layer has been removed, laser eye surgery can be performed on the eye. The procedure is painless.

To summarise

  • Surface treatment
  • For strengths between -8 and +4
  • These maximum strengths are not always possible
  • For astigmatism up to -4
  • Suitable for clients with an active lifestyle
  • Painless treatment
  • Recovery 3-5 days; sensitive to painful
  • For clients between the ages of 18 and 45
  • The least expensive type of laser eye surgery

Key criteria
Suitable for Lasek

  • Strengths between -8 and +4
  • For astigmatism up to -4
  • For clients who play contact sports or have extreme professions
  • For a thinner cornea
  • For dry eyes
  • If your cornea is damaged and/or scarred
  • If other laser eye treatments are not possible
Customised laser eye treatment

Customised

We will always advise you to opt for a customised Lasek, TransPRK or IntraLasik laser eye surgery to achieve the best results. They take the specific, unique shape of your cornea into consideration, which helps you achieve an optimal quality of vision in both eyes.

Renewed vision

Recovery after laser eye surgery

The aftercare necessary after laser eye surgery is quite simple: time, rest, check-ups and eye medication. How you recover varies from one treatment to another. The sensitivity you experience in the first few days after your treatment will depend on the technique used and the amount of damage to your cornea.

The quality of vision you have immediately after your treatment will vary too. The quality of vision you have after a TransPRK or Lasek surface treatment will be more limited than it would be after a ReLEx SMILE or IntraLasik in-depth treatment.

Your responsibility

Instructions to follow after laser eye surgery

It is important that you carefully follow the instructions your eye specialist gives you at all times. This will help prevent complications and promote your recovery. Several general tips:

  • If you are up to it, you can resume your normal daily activities the day after the treatment. Avoid exerting yourself too much for a week after the treatment;
  • Be careful if playing contact and ball sports. We recommend that you avoid contact and balls sports for 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the type of laser eye surgery you have had;
  • The golden rule is to keep water out of your eyes for 2 weeks after your treatment;
  • Touch your eyes as little as possible during the first month. Don’t rub your eyes in the first 4 weeks;
  • You can start wearing eye make-up again 2 weeks after the treatment. Wait 4 weeks before wearing eye make-up again after an IntraLasik treatment.
Saskia about her Laser eye treatment
Right for almost everyone

Is laser eye surgery right for me?

The decision to have laser eye surgery is a first important step, but is it right for you? There’s a big chance it is. About 80% of people can have laser eye surgery. Which technique is appropriate for you will depend on your age, eye health, lifestyle and budget.

Checklist to determine suitability for laser eye surgery

  • Client between the ages of 18 and 50
  • Deviation in strength between -12 and +4.5
  • BMI lower than 35
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding

If you do not meet the deviation in strength or age conditions, a lens implantation could be the solution for you. These treatments are a perfect alternative for anyone who has (just started to have) difficulty reading or an eye condition.