Laser vision correction surgery

Who is a candidate for laser vision correction?

A candidate for laser vision correction is preferably over the age of 21 and has had a stable distance prescription for the previous year. The person must be in good general and eye health. The range of prescriptions that can be corrected with an excimer laser includes short-sightedness, or myopia, up to -10 dioptres, long-sightedness, or hyperopia, up to +4 dioptres, and astigmatism up to 5 dioptres.

Which methods are used for this surgery?

LASIK and PRK are the methods most commonly used to correct distance vision. LASIK has a broader range of indications, while PRK is generally reserved for thinner corneas. Before surgery, every patient undergoes a detailed eye examination. Imaging the structure and thickness of the cornea is particularly important. These findings are used to assess whether the person is a suitable candidate for this type of surgery and which method, LASIK or PRK, is most appropriate for that individual. All of these methods use an excimer laser, which acts on the cornea by removing a precise amount of tissue and changing its curvature. This corrects the existing refractive error.

Can a laser correct near vision, including reading vision?

Until recently, laser vision correction was performed only to correct distance vision. In recent years, both internationally and at our eye hospital, near vision correction has also been performed. The method is called Supracor, and candidates are people over the age of 45 who have developed a need for reading glasses. The rules determining who may undergo the procedure are the same as those for distance vision correction. As with other refractive correction methods, this operation is performed under local anaesthesia using eye drops and an excimer laser. The procedure takes several minutes per eye and is performed as outpatient surgery, which means that the patient goes home immediately afterwards with both eyes open.

What are the contraindications for laser vision correction?

As part of the preoperative examination, each person's general and ophthalmic medical history must be considered carefully, followed by a detailed eye examination. This preoperative assessment determines who may safely undergo the surgery. The prescription must be reviewed to ensure that it does not exceed the range that can be treated. The structure and thickness of the cornea must also be assessed to ensure that the existing refractive error can be corrected safely. In addition, it is essential to exclude keratoconus, a corneal disease that is the main ophthalmic contraindication. Other contraindications include the presence of other eye diseases, such as glaucoma or uveitis, systemic autoimmune diseases and diabetes.

What are the risks of laser vision correction surgery?

When a thorough preoperative assessment confirms that surgery can be performed safely, and when the procedure is carried out with appropriate surgical skill, the risks are minimal. One possible unwanted outcome is a return of part of the prescription. If this occurs, retreatment can be performed successfully in suitable cases.

Does vision return fully after surgery?

The expected result is that a person should see without glasses after surgery as clearly as they could see with glasses before surgery. With the Supracor method, the effect of near vision correction is immediate. As soon as the patient gets up from the operating table, they can read even very small print clearly without glasses.

VIDAR-ORASIS SWISS Eye Hospital offers three laser vision correction methods

1. TransPRK

• The procedure costs RSD 48,000 per eye.
• The price includes three postoperative follow-up examinations, after 1 day, after 7 to 10 days and after 1 month.
• The preoperative examination costs RSD 5,000.
• The cost of the preoperative examination is included in the price of surgery.
• The patient receives the eye drops used as therapy from the clinic.

2. LASIK using a femtosecond laser

• The procedure costs RSD 60,000 per eye.
• The price includes three postoperative follow-up examinations, after 1 day, after 7 to 10 days and after 1 month.
• The preoperative examination costs RSD 5,000.
• The cost of the preoperative examination is included in the price of surgery.
• The patient receives the eye drops used as therapy from the clinic.

3. PresbyLASIK Supracor using a femtosecond laser

• The procedure costs RSD 198,000 per eye.
• The price includes five postoperative follow-up examinations, after 1 day, after 7 to 10 days, after 1 month, after 3 months and after 6 months.
• The preoperative examination costs RSD 5,000.
• The cost of the preoperative examination is included in the price of surgery.
• The patient receives the eye drops used as therapy from the clinic.