Perth Laser Eye Surgery FAQ

There are three main types of laser eye surgery: LASIK, PRK and SMILE.

LASIK is the most common type of laser eye surgery. It involves creating a small flap on the surface of the eye, which is lifted up to expose the underlying surface. This area is then lasered to change the curvature. The eye flap is then replaced and moulds to the eye’s new shape, instantly changing your vision.

PRK is a surface-based laser treatment that lasers the surface of the eye directly into the new shape. Unfortunately, this surgery takes a little longer to heal and the results are more variable.

The final type of laser eye surgery is called SMILE. This involves cutting the corneal tissue under the eye’s surface. A small section of tissue is then manually removed. This moulds the surface of the eye to the desired new shape. SMILE heals in a similar way to LASIK.

The choice of which type of laser eye surgery to have is typically made by your surgeon. The choice is based on the characteristics of your eye and your refractive error. LASIK is the best option for most refractive errors and a full range of long-sightedness, myopia and astigmatism. PRK is mainly used for low levels of refractive error or if you have other problems such as thin corneas. SMILE is only available for moderate or severe short-sightedness. It’s not recommended for other eye conditions as the results can be varied.

Unfortunately, laser eye surgery is not covered by Medicare as it is considered lifestyle surgery. It is covered to a variable extent by some private health insurances, including Bupa, Medibank, AHM, Defence Health, Navy Health and HBF. We also provide finance options.

Yes, patients are awake during the LASIK procedure. They are given a light sedative pre-operatively and local anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye surface. LASIK is a minor procedure, meaning you don’t need to be admitted to the hospital and can go home immediately after surgery.

Most people can return to normal work duties two days after laser eye surgery. This includes the day of the surgery and and next day after review. However, returning to work depends on the type of work you do. If you are engaged in manual labour or in a dusty environment, it may be advised to take a few extra days off following surgery. You may require sunglasses for a when working outside because of light sensitivity.

A medical certificate can be arranged by LASIK staff.

There is no age limit for laser eye surgery. However, older individuals often have other eye conditions that prevent clear vision such as cataracts. Often these older patients can achieve clear vision through cataract removal and lens implant surgery. If they’ve had this surgery already, but are still unhappy with their quality of vision then laser vision correction can be performed on top of their lens implant.

Other eye conditions such as macular degeneration aren’t able to be fixed with laser eye surgery. Laser vision correction changes the eye’s focus to enable people to see as well or better without glasses. If you can’t see well with glasses their might be other problems with your eyes.

A referral from a GP or an Optometrist is requested to provide full Medicare benefits for consultations before and after surgery. It is not required for the cataract procedure but is recommended.

Whether cataracts can be treated depends on the severity. Your cataracts will need to be assessed by Dr McGeorge at your appointment.

The cost of cataract surgery depends on whether you have private health insurance and if cataracts are covered under your policy.

Please contact your private health fund to find out how much your cataract surgery will cost.

Medicare does rebate a small portion if you pay out of pocket for cataract surgery and are not covered by a private health fund. We also offer a pension discount on the price of cataract surgery for persons who have an Age Pension card.

No, a refferal is not needed for the laser eye surgery procedure. However, a referral is recommended for the initial consultation to maximise benefits from Medicare.

Generally, laser eye surgery procedures are considered permanent. The surgery creates a permanent change to the curvature of the surface of the eye to match the abnormality measured. Lifestyle changes may be required to prevent future changes in focus and age related changes do still occur. Dr McGeorge will discuss this with you further at your appointment.

Our waiting time to receive laser eye surgery ranges from 2-3 weeks after your initial assessment and finding out you are eligible for surgery. This waiting period may change depending on how many clients we have at the time.

Be sure to check on our current waiting period with Dr Phil McGeorge when having your consultation.

After LASIK surgery you will need to rest for the remainder of the day. You will likely be feeling back to normal by the following day. Clear plastic shields will be placed over the eyes until your post-operative visit the following day. You will not be able to drive until our clinical staff have removed these shields and your vision has been checked.

For LASIK surgery we normally recommend taking two days off work. This covers the day of the surgery as well as your post-operative appointment the following day. If you work in a dusty/dirty environment we suggest extending this to 1 week. We are happy to provide a medical certificate if needed.

Once home from LASIK surgery your eyes will be sore and will not want to open. We recommend keeping the eyes closed for roughly 5-6 hours. If the eyes are still sore after this time we recommend keeping them closed until comfortable enough to open. After this time you are welcome to watch TV as normal.

LASIK surgery has been around for many years and is considered as one of the safest elective procedures available today. As with any surgery there is the possibility of complications, however these are very low. Dr McGeorge will discuss these with your at your initial consultation.

When you get home after surgery you will notice that your eyes can be quite watery for the remainder of the day. This is a normal healing reaction of the eyes and is nothing to worry about.

It only takes a few hours after surgery for most patients to be pain-free. The surface of the eye heals quite rapidly. However, there is still some discomfort and healing that can occur for up to a month. We advise patients to avoid rubbing their eyes and wear sunglasses while outdoors during this healing period.

No, you won’t feel any pain during the surgery. You will only feel minor levels of pressure sensation during the operation. Patients are given a light sedative pre-operatively and local anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye surface.

Local anaesthetic drops are administered to numb the eyes before the procedure. You may experience some discomfort and eye watering up to 5-6 hours after the procedure when the anaesthetic drops have worn off. It’s best to rest at home after surgery and use pain medication to help with any discomfort.

Laser eye surgery is life-changing. Many patients wish they had had their laser surgery earlier in their life. For many, the decision to have the surgery can take years from thinking about surgery to actually booking an appointment. The cost of laser surgery can be quite daunting for some but the benefits of clear vision are priceless. Additionally, when you add up the amount of money spent on prescription glasses or contact lenses over the years, laser surgery may not seem so out of reach. We also have a range of interest-free finance options available, making laser surgery even more affordable for everyone.

Laser surgery can correct myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism and in some cases presbyopia. Generally, most adults are suitable for laser eye surgery. If younger than 25 years of age your script needs to have been stable for at least two years. Thin corneas and high refractive errors can also reduce your suitability for laser surgery. If this is the case Dr McGeorge can discuss other surgical options with you.

LASIK is an acronym for Laser In-situ Keratomileusis. Kerato means the cornea, and simileusis is Greek for carving or sculpting. It is called in-situ because surgeons work with the cornea while it is part of the eye.

The first surgeon to perform this surgery was Professor Iaonnis Pallikoris from Greece in 1990, so it is not a new procedure. Dr Phil McGeorge has performed more laser eye surgery at Perth Laser Vision than anyone in Australia.

LASIK is a procedure designed to correct the refractive error of patients who are short-sighted, long-sighted or astigmatic by reshaping the corneal surface of the eye. The cornea is the transparent window at the front of the eye.

The operation is performed under local anaesthetic eye drops to numb the surface of the eye. No needles are required. LASIK is a 2-part procedure to create a very thin layer (or flap since it remains attached) on the surface of the cornea, which is folded back, exposing the raw area beneath.

A second laser is then used to re-shape the exposed surface and the flap is repositioned over that raw surface. The flap bonds rapidly with the cornea without requiring any sutures. The flap acts like a natural Band-Aid, allowing for rapid healing, and minimising post-operative discomfort and any risk of infection. Most people are able to return to their normal activities within 24 hours.

As every eye is unique, the extent of your surgery requirements will determine your exact costs. After an assessment to determine your needs, we will provide you with a quote for your surgery.

An initial assessment and consultation costs $180.

A referral is not necessary but Medicare will provide a higher rebate of around half of this fee ($84.15) if you obtain a referral from your GP or an optometrist. If no written referral is provided, Medicare will only provide a rebate of around $21.00 on your initial specialist consultation.

At Perth Laser Vision, laser eye surgery generally costs between $6,800 for both eyes and $4,400 for one eye depending on your requirements.

Most private health funds do not cover laser eye surgery. It’s best to check directly with your health fund.

You will need an assessment appointment to find out if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK. It is usual to get a referral letter from either an Optometrist or your GP to see the surgeon. This is not essential, but it will help to reduce the Medicare gap payable for the initial consult. Soft contact lenses must be left out for seven days prior to your consultation and hard contact lens for one month. This is because the lenses change the natural shape of your eye and may give inaccurate results during testing.

LASIK takes around 8-10 minutes per eye with less than 10 seconds of actual laser treatment time usually.

You could expect to be at the Perth Laser Vision for about 1 hour on the day.

We ask that you have a restful day after your procedure, and recommend that you sleep or rest with the eyes closed to assist the healing process.

Our eyes are never completely still, even when we focus on a small target. Small movements of drift and minute darting about called micro-saccades occur.

With the first step used to make the corneal flap, the eye is held in place with a plastic ring (fixation device) positioned over the white of the eye, with suction holding it in place, minimising your ability to move during this delicate part of the procedure.

The Wavelight EX500 Excimer laser uses iris recognition and an infrared eye-tracker which checks the eye position over 1000 times per second. It is capable of following any small micro-saccades and actively adjusting the laser beam to a new position as those small movements are detected. This provides excellent safety and computer control.

If excessive movement occurs, the laser stops and can be restarted once you find the fixation target light again.

Yes, they are more than welcome. If they wish to watch your procedure a viewing room is provided.

You will need a driver for the day of your LASIK eye surgery and for your after surgery visit the next day.

Vision change is immediate. You will be able to see your surroundings instantly following your LASIK eye surgery.

Plastic shields cover and protect your eyes for 24 hours after the procedure and may fog initially and blur your vision.

Within 5-6 hours after surgery, any discomfort and watering usually settles and your vision is typically quite clear.

No, you cannot drive home.  A mild sedative (Temazepam) is given and driving is forbidden under the influence.  You will usually feel a little sleepy after surgery, your eyes will water and will want to close.

You can not drive until you have been seen by the surgeon the day after your procedure and had the plastic shields removed.

Returning to work depends on the type of work that you do.

The recovery time is rapid, but reading the computer screen (or reading in general) may be difficult for the first two weeks while the tissue is healing.

Minor visual clarity changes are also common within the first 10 – 14 days post-operatively. If you work in a dusty or aquatic environment it may be advised to take a short period of leave following surgery, perhaps a few days.  Otherwise normal safety glasses precautions may be sufficient.

A medical certificate can be arranged by LASIK staff.

Perth Laser Vision was first established in 1997. Over 30,000 LASIK procedures have been performed at Perth Laser Vision since then.

Yes, you should have 20/20 vision following your laser eye surgery. If necessary, we can fine tune your vision after surgery to make sure you achieve clear vision. Other eye diseases may still provide some limits to the surgery if they prevented you from seeing normal 20/20 vision with your glasses.

96% of individuals with Myopia or short sightedness less than -10D, can achieve 20/20 vision following LASIK.

Nine out of ten of those with high levels of astigmatism (up to 6D) and myopia can also expect to achieve 20/20 vision.

For those individuals with hyperopia or long-sightedness the results are similar, those with low to moderate levels of hyperopia up to 94% achieving 20/20 or better.

We do have a testimonial brochure that is provided to patients on their initial consult. Most patients attending our clinics are more than happy to share their experience. Some of our staff members have had Lasik surgery and are happy to take the time to chat with you.

LASIK is the most common type of refractive surgery today and is used to correct long-sightedness, short-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Diseases such as Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma cannot be treated with this type of laser. These conditions may be treated using other types of lasers but this depends on the extent of the condition, and you would be best advised by your specialist.

Dr McGeorge also provides laser treatment for other medical conditions.

Perth Laser Vision has established a spectacle collection service with CBM Australia through their Second Chance Medical Equipment Program (SCME). This worldwide organisation is dedicated to the prevention and curing of blindness as well as education and rehabilitation of people who are blind or have other disabilities. We collect the glasses at our centre and then send them to CBM Australia in Victoria. At the Victoria branch they are sorted, cleaned and graded. From here they are distributed to developing countries such as East Timor, Nigeria, Cambodia and Burma.

Go to CBM’s website –> www.cbm.org.au

We advise that you avoid swimming and contact sports for one month after surgery. Visiting the gym is fine, as is cycling, jogging etc.

LASIK is not suitable for Boxing or other sport where eye injury is possible or expected. PRK is more suitable for these sports.