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Also referred to as refractive surgery, the term vision correction surgery is used to describe two types of procedures: laser eye and lens replacement surgery. This specific type of eye surgery has one main goal, which is to permanently correct eyesight problems such as far or short sightedness and astigmatism, essentially helping patients reduce the need for glasses and contact lenses.

At Optegra we offer a wide range of treatments, including laser eye surgery, lens replacement and cataract surgery. For laser eye surgery we offer a range of procedures: LASEK, which is suitable for those unsuitable for LASIK or SMILE, LASIK which is the most common type and ReLEX SMILE which uses the most advanced technology.

Lens replacement, a development of cataract surgery, is used to replace the natural lens of the eye permanently with an artificial intraocular lens to correct eyesight.

Generally, laser eye surgery is not painful for most patients. Before the surgery, the surgeon applies eye drops with mild anaesthetic to prevent discomfort. The eyes themselves stay open with the use of a sterile speculum, which might feel a little strange, but does not cause any pain. The surgery itself takes approximately eight minutes per eye.

The reason why laser vision correction is so popular is because it is a permanent solution to eyesight problems. During the procedure, the ophthalmic surgeon makes a permanent alteration to the cornea with a high precision laser. The treatment only lasts for a few minutes and after the procedure, in most cases patients won’t need glasses and contact lenses.

The cost of laser eye surgery in the UK depends on several factors. While at Optegra, our prices are fixed single price packages that include consultation, surgery, aftercare, and top up treatments where necessary, the cost itself will vary based on the type of technology used for the surgery, whether its LASIK, LASEK or ReLEx SMILE, which is determined by each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.

It should only take two days after LASIK or SMILE eye surgery to be able to return to work, but you may need longer after LASEK surgery. The full recovery will then take generally between 1-3 months, during which Optegra offers a variety of aftercare appointments to ensure the healing is going according to plan.

The number one reason that disqualifies patients from laser eye surgery is age. Since patients are required to have a stable prescription before surgery, anyone who is under 18 is hard to qualify as their very eyes are still changing. For older people, as the cornea evolves with age it can be difficult to opt for this treatment, in which case lens replacement surgery is a better option.

There are also other medical reasons that can disqualify patients from surgery, such as the presence of ocular diseases like glaucoma, biological ocular variances such as severe dry eyes, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The overall success rate for laser eye surgeries in general are high, however it can vary depending on the pre-conditions of the eye. For example, success rates for both LASIK and LASEK are in general around 90%, dependent on how strong the patient’s prescription is, with the lower prescriptions having a much higher success rate than those who have high prescription.

At Optegra, we understand the difficulty to get an initial appointment especially during the pandemic, which is why we offer a virtual consultation free of charge. To book your first consultation or request a call back, please leave your details on our contact page, and we will get in touch shortly.