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10) Can both eyes be treated at the same time?
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Yes. Research data have shown that bilateral Lasik is safe and convenient. This practice is in fact now routine in many centres around the world. In fact, bilateral surgery is preferred by many patients and surgical centres for the following reasons:
- half the emotional stress of going through the procedure.
- half the amount of time off from work and for the recuperation process.
- no problem with double vision and vision intolerance from anisometropia during the interval between the first and second treatment. Anisometropia describes the condition of imbalance vision resulting from grossly differing refractive powers between the two eyes.
Some surgical centres and patients may elect to have the eyes treated separately for the following reasons:
- fear of having both eyes operated on at the same time.
- concerns about bilateral eye infection. The serious eye infection rate is about
one in five thousand eyes.
- reduced risk of bilateral overcorrection. |
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| 11) What precautions must I take before surgery? |
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All contact lens wear must be stopped well before the day of surgery. RGP, semi-hard or hard contact lens users should stop wearing them at least two weeks before the procedure. Soft contacts users should stop one week before. This is because contact lenses are worn on the cornea and will temporarily change the shape of the cornea slightly, but significantly enough to affect the results of the surgery.
Make-up, perfume or hair-care products must not be worn or used on the day of surgery. The vapours emitted by these may interfere with the sensitive laser. Also, have someone follow you on the day of surgery. You should not drive immediately after the procedure as vision will be slightly blurry.
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12) Is LASIK painful?
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No. The whole procedure is done under local "eye drops" anaesthesia and is painless. No injections are given. You may experience a sensation of pressure when the lid speculum, used to keep the eye open, is inserted and when the cornea flap is made. For anxious patients, your doctor may prescribe a mild sedative to be taken before the procedure.
After the procedure, some scratchy irritation, light sensitivity and tearing is common. These after-effects usually last for about six hours and can be relieved by instilling lubricating artificial tears eyedrops and wearing sunglasses.
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