Faqs

Answers

Will one treatment invariably be enough to achieve the desired result?

In 5% of cases an additional minor correction may be required following the initial laser treatment. This additional correction is performed some two months later and is included in the price. Any costs for additional treatments during the first year following the initial therapy are included in the fees you have paid. All patients will be able to get rid of their long-distance glasses for good.

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Does the treatment produce lasting results?

LASIK treatments have been performed since 1989 and patients are checked annually. Dr De Wilde has been performing these procedures since 1997 (well over 2000 LASIK procedures in total) and in only 0.1% of cases additional treatment was required after more than one year. If you are over 45 years of age, you will more than likely still need to wear reading glasses if you were suffering from short-sightedness. We have found however that half of the patients who were originally suffering from long-sightedness don’t need to wear glasses anymore to see things at close range.

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Which are the most common complications?

Complications are extremely rare and are on the one hand linked to the surgeon’s level of experience and on the other hand to the equipment being used. Risk of infection is about 1/3000, and is caused by a germ having become trapped underneath the little flap. This can be solved with an intensive course of antibiotic drops or by rinsing underneath the flap. You will know you have contracted an infection as your sight will suddenly deteriorate and the infected eye will be red. In that case you must consult your ophthalmologist as a matter of priority. Patients may sometimes contract a sterile flap inflammation which can be resolved by means of special eye drops. Another complication may be flap problems.
The flap may be incomplete/irregular (0.05%), the flap may have a little hole (0.05%) or the keratome can come to a halt while the cut is being made as a result of which the procedure will have to be postponed for three months. These complications do not lead to reduced eyesight. The flap may also display tiny creases. Nowadays, this is prevented by inserting a contact lens into the eye for 24 hours when a > -6 Dioptre corrective procedure is performed. One final side effect is the ingrowth of epithelial cells underneath the flap, though this only occurs following a second procedure in about 10% of cases and does not affect sight. These epithelial cells can be removed.

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From and up to what age can I avail of this treatment?

From the age of 18 years, on condition that your correction has been stable during the previous year and that your eyes are healthy. After all, your eyes must be fully developed first. Laser corrections can be performed up to the age of 70 provided your own lens is still clear. Many people over the age of 65 suffer from a cloudy lens (cf. section on cataract) and in these patients it is indicated to replace the lens with an artificial one so that the patient no longer has to wear any spectacles.

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Is this a painful procedure?

No, it is completely pain free. You will be given anaesthetic drops in the eyes and all you will feel is slight pressure when the eyelid retractor keratome is put in place. You won’t feel anything from the laser treatment and when the eye wakes up again you may feel a slight tingling which may be accompanied by tears during the first 24 hours. Your eye will be covered with a transparent shield to stop you from rubbing your eyes. You will need to wear this shield following the laser treatment and during the first night. If you have undergone LASEK/PRK treatment your eye may be slightly sore for the first few days. We always place a contact lens on the eye to prevent this but, sometimes, you may suffer some pain and the eye may tear for a number of days.

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When will I regain optimum vision?

Even within a few hours of the LASIK treatment you will notice an improvement in your sight. Initially you may experience a burning sensation accompanied by tears but this only lasts for about 12 hours. If you were short-sighted originally, sight will return quickly, and you will be able to watch television wearing protective glasses that very evening. Optimum sight in patients who were suffering from long-sightedness will take a little longer to return. First of all you will notice enhanced visual acuity when looking at things close by and after a week you will notice a progressive improvement in your long-distance vision. Vision recovery in patients who have undergone a LASEK/PRK procedure will take several days.

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Is there a risk of blindness or deterioration in visual acuity associated with this procedure?

Blindness following a LASIK procedure has been written about but it is extremely rare. The only incidences that were reported were the result of the procedure not being performed under sterile conditions. It has never occurred at the BOLC because we observe stringent rules on sterility. It is possible however that you’ll see less clearly following the procedure than you did when you were wearing your optimum prescription glasses. Patients suffering from severe myopia or hypermetropia may for instance lose one vision line, but, on the other hand, this is in the main outweighed by the tremendous comfort of being able to see clearly without any aids following the laser procedure. If you need higher corrections, your ophthalmologist will advise you to go for Zyoptix which produces better visual-acuity results.

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Are both eyes treated during the same session?

Yes, normally speaking they are. However, if you prefer, we can also treat your eyes on separate occasions.

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When can I get back to work?

Following a LASIK procedure you can resume your activities the next day. You will need to adhere to a strict schedule in terms of applying your eye drops. Following PRK and LASEK you will have to wear a contact lens (bandage lens) on the eye and you will have to wait a week before you can resume your professional activities.

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How much does it cost?

Please give us a call and we shall be happy to give you a price.

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Is laser surgery covered by health insurance?

Kindly contact your health-insurance provider to find out whether you are covered.

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What does the price include?

The fees paid include all follow-up visits for three months and a corrective treatment within two years, if necessary. You are charged separately for the preliminary examination which remains valid for six months.

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How many follow-up visits are involved?

The day after your LASIK procedure you will need to come to the clinic for a check-up. If your eye tests are favourable, we will only need to see you for a second check-up one month later. Your third follow-up visit will take place six months later and after that we only need to see you once a year. Following LASEK/PRK you will need to come back after three days to have the contact lens removed and again one week later so that we can monitor the epithelium.

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What are the results?

All patients are eventually able to get rid of their glasses. In 8% of cases, an adjustment is required. This is generally performed 2 to 3 months after the initial laser treatment. This additional treatment is less taxing as the flap has already been created and we only have to lift it under drop anaesthesia. If following laser treatment your vision has improved from -8 Dioptre to -1 Dioptre, further improvements can be made. We can also make an additional correction if you end up with + 1 Dioptre or if a cylinder remains.

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