What are the most common questions asked by people who want to correct their refractive errors with a laser?

Laser vision correction is the most frequently performed operation at the request of patients, and in three decades, millions of people have permanently gotten rid of glasses or contact lenses in this way, which speaks volumes about how safe and effective this operation is.

We have selected some of the most common questions asked by our patients in order to dispel some prejudices and fears, said Dr. Branka Ivošević, Chief Executive Officer of the Pefect Vision Laser Eye Surgery Center.

1. Does laser vision correction by the PRK method (photoreactive keratectomy) correct the refractive error permanently?
In most cases, the refractive error is corrected permanently, in a small percentage, a smaller part of the dioptre may return over time, which can be easily corrected with retreatment.

2. Can astigmatism be removed with a laser?
Apart from plus and minus diopters, i.e. farsightedness and shortsightedness, the laser can also remove astigmatism – the irregular curvature of the cornea up to +/-5.0 diopters.

3. Is the PRK method of laser vision correction safe?
By using modern lasers that have an eye tracking system for tracking the eye, the laser emits UV rays, according to a predefined schedule at a speed of 2.5 seconds per dioptre without the possibility of any error, corrects the given dioptre.

4. Can I correct refractive errors with a laser if I do not have stereo (spatial) vision?
People who are visually impaired have proportionally reduced stereo vision, and after laser vision correction in some cases stereo vision can be improved to a lesser extent, but just as low vision is not treated with a laser, the same applies to stereo vision.

5. What tests and imaging do I need to do in preparation for laser vision correction?
The examination begins with an anamnesis – a conversation with the patient during which we learn the necessary details about the dioptre, whether the patient wears glasses or contact lenses, whether he suffers or has suffered from any eye diseases or other diseases, whether he has had previous eye injuries and surgeries. After that, we record diopters on narrow and wide pupils, perform topography (mapping of the cornea) and imaging of the fundus (optical coherence tomography).

6. Is the examination for laser vision correction painful and how long does it take?
This examination is completely safe and painless and lasts about 2.5 hours.

7. How long are the results of the examination valid?
We advise patients if the operation is prolonged by more than 6 months compared to the date of the examination, to perform the examination again.

8. For this type of surgery, it is necessary that the diopter is stable, what should I do if my diopter varies?
It is necessary for the diopter to be stable for one year before the operation.

9. What eye and eye diseases and conditions might make me not a suitable candidate for this surgery?
Some of the contraindications for laser vision correction surgery are a thin cornea, corneal diseases such as keratoconus, corneal inflammation (keratitis), corneal scars, extremely dry eyes, clouded lens (cataract), diseases of the fundus and connective tissue diseases called collagenosis.

10. Can I perform laser vision correction surgery after strabismus surgery and vice versa?
Laser vision correction surgery can be performed after complete recovery from strabismus surgery and also after laser vision correction when vision and condition of the cornea are completely stabilized, i.e. after at least 4 months, strabismus surgery can be planned.

11. Can a laser surgery to correct refractive errors be performed in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Well-controlled Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is not an absolute contraindication for laser vision correction.

12. Can this operation be performed in the summer months when temperatures are high and UV radiation is high?
This type of operation is performed throughout the year, but it is necessary to wear glasses with the maximum degree of protection against UV radiation after the operation.

13. Can people who have keratoconus (a corneal disease of unknown cause) undergo laser surgery to remove diopria?
Opinions are divided as to whether these individuals are suitable candidates for this operation. According to some CXL-cross linking treatment, the cornea is strengthened immediately before or a few months before the laser vision correction and the refractive error is corrected, but the results in terms of the regularization of the affected cornea and the improvement of vision are often unpredictable, so the opinion of many ophthalmologists is that laser vision correction is not performed in the case of keratoconus, but the diopter is corrected with techniques that do not additionally thin the cornea, such as corneal rings (which are implanted in the cornea), fake intraocular lenses that are implanted in front of or behind the iris or implantation of affective intraocular lenses.

Achieving good vision after laser vision correction requires an evaluation of the patient, a detailed discussion of the patient’s wishes and needs, an insight into the health of the eyes and the body as a whole, taking into account the strict criteria that refractive errors can be corrected by laser, carrying out numerous diagnostic procedures, informing the patient well about the preparation, surgery and recovery so that the patient gets what he expects, crystal clear vision without glasses and contact lenses.