Laser Vision Surgery
If you’re tired of wearing contact lenses or spectacles for short sight, long sight and/or astigmatism, laser eye surgery could be the solution. First performed over 30-40 years ago, laser eye surgery has evolved to become the most technologically advanced, popular and safe forms of elective eye surgery.
Technological advances in imaging and evaluating the cornea and the eye have made it possible to discern with unprecedented precision between suitable and unsuitable patients for laser vision correction, thus minimising the risks of surgery. These advances, combined with the progress made in laser ablation capabilities, are the main factors that make laser surgery safer and more predictable than ever. To date, an estimated more than 30 million people worldwide have benefited from laser vision correction surgery.
Whilst laser eye surgery is now safer than ever, it is also important to understand that it is not without risks and that it is not for everyone. However, If you are unsuitable, other alternative treatments such as Visian ICL or Refractive Lens Exchange with premium lenses implantation can be a better option.
About Laser Vision Correction
Laser vision correction surgery, also known as laser refractive surgery, offers patients the freedom of naturally clear vision and can eliminate dependence on spectacles or contact lenses.
The benefits of laser refractive surgery are primarily functional and not just cosmetic. Not being dependent upon glasses and contact lenses greatly simplifies daily routines, particularly for people with busy and active lifestyles. Patients are from all types of professions and lifestyles, including teachers, working parents, sports enthusiasts like skiers and recreational/pro tennis players, military personnel as well as nurses and surgeons from the medical profession have benefitted from laser vision correction under the care of Vincenzo Maurino.
To enjoy life without limits contact us to book your Laser Consultation today.
Femto LASIK is the most commonly performed laser vision correction surgery in UK.
The greatest advantage of Femto-LASIK is its quick visual recovery and minimal discomfort after surgery together with excellent visual results, using a combination of two state-of-the-art lasers in a quick and painless procedure. LASIK was first performed in the early nineties and has become the most common type of laser eye surgery performed.
During Femto-LASIK surgery we use two lasers, the first laser (Femtolaser) is used to create a thin flap of tissue on the cornea at the front of the eye; this flap is then lifted to expose the inside cornea. The second laser (excimer laser) is then applied to re-shape the cornea and to eliminate the refractive error.
No touch LASEK (also know as Trans-PRK): The main advantage of No Touch LASEK laser eye surgery is that less of the cornea is disturbed/removed during the surgery. As a result, No Touch LASEK can be used in patients who have thinner corneas, higher prescription, or certain corneal abnormalities such as a mild form of keratoconus. Patients who practice full contact sports or are in the police or the army, might be better suited to No Touch LASEK because of the absence of a flap that could otherwise be disturbed following a trauma to the face.
Both Femto-LASIK and No Touch LASEK procedures are safe and highly effective, with over 99% of patients able to achieve driving standard of vision or better without glasses or contact lenses after treatment. Most patients are able to return to work within 24-48 hours of treatment after Femto-LASIK; whilst with No Touch LASEK it may take longer for the vision to stabilise. Whilst visual recovery following No Touch LASEK laser eye surgery is slower than after Femto-LASIK laser eye surgery, patients enjoy the same excellent level of vision once the eye has fully healed.
Final Results are identical for Femto-LASIK and No touch LASEK and the choice between the two is determined by the patients preference and the risk to the health of the eye for the single patient.
- Bring a record of all your spectacle prescriptions over the last 2 years if possible. Laser eye surgery is normally postponed until the spectacle prescription is stable. Small variations in your prescription are normal, but if there has been a significant change over the last 2 years, we would normally wait 12 months before proceeding with surgery to ensure that there is no progressive change. Learn more about understanding your prescription.
- If you wear contact lens, please remember to leave your contact lenses out prior to consultation for at least 2 weeks if you use gas permeable or hard lenses. If you use soft lenses, remember to leave your contact lenses out at least 3-4 days prior to consultation. Since continuous contact lens wear can lead to temporary changes in the shape of your cornea, it is important to leave contact lenses out prior to the consultation to ensure that the eye tests we perform are accurate. After the consultation there is no harm is using the contact lenses again until 1-2 days before surgery.
- You should allow maximum two hours for your full consultation.
- Be aware that your pupils will be dilated at consultation and this will adversely affect your vision for few hours and will make driving not advisable.
To be considered for laser eye surgery you must be over 18 years of age and have not had any significant change in your spectacle prescription within the last 2 years. Stability of prescription will be one of the many factors determined at your initial assessment.
The only way to establish whether laser eye surgery is appropriate for you is at consultation, where we perform a series of comprehensive eye tests to assess suitability for treatment. We check that your eyes are healthy and advise you on the benefits and risks of the laser eye procedures and your options. Laser eye surgery is safest and most accurate in treating a defined range of refractive errors (which may vary):
- Short sight (myopia) (-1.00 to -9.00D)
- Long sight (hypermetropia) (+1.00 to +4.00D)
- Astigmatism (up to ±5.00D)
We may recommend Femto-LASIK or No Touch LASEK laser eye surgery. However, if your eyes are not suitable for laser eye surgery, we will advise the most suitable non-laser eye treatment. Mr. Maurino is highly experienced and qualified to provide a comprehensive range of laser and implant solutions designed to minimise or eliminate dependence on spectacles. Book a consultation to find the best procedure for your eye treatment.
At your consultation we will perform several diagnostic tests including:
- Comprehensive eye test (known as refraction)
- Detailed scanning of the eye, using state-of-the-art equipment specifically designed to capture precise measurements that will be used to programme the laser with data that’s unique to you
- Full ophthalmic assessment, including an eye pressure check and examination of the back of the eye (the retina)
Mr. Maurino’s team members will carry out the diagnostic tests, but you will always be seen by Mr. Maurino who will explain the results of the eye tests and discuss which range of treatments the most appropriate for you. Mr. Maurino will perform all surgical procedures.
If you are not suitable for laser vision correction, other excellent options can be possible. Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) surgery is an excellent option for myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. ICL surgery is quick and painless and entails inserting a new artificial lens ICL – implantable contact lens , ideal for the young patients. in presbyopic patients (usually over 50) , an operation identical to modern cataract surgery but called refractive lens exchange (RLE), also known as presbyopic lens exchange, can be performed. If you fall in any of the above categories it will be explained to you why laser surgery is not recommended and what alternatives will serve you best.
Realistic expectations are important. Laser eye surgery is highly effective in eliminating spectacle dependence. Over 99% of patients in the range treated by us are able to see to driving standard or better without glasses after treatment. Results are similar for both LASIK and No touch LASEK patients. For higher prescriptions, where implant surgery such as ICL and RLE is performed according to age, our results are equally good. Common side effects, such as mild dryness or light scatter during night driving, normally resolve within 6-9 months of treatment. Altought Mr Vincenzo Maurino has not had any patient with sight loss after laser vision correction, it is important to understand the risk to your eyesight and we will provide with all the information needed. We ask you to read the below print to your clinical appointment and you laser vision correction surgery
- Our laser vision correction brochure
- Royal College of Ophthalmology laser vision information
Whilst laser vision correction can eliminate your dependence on spectacles or contact lenses, your risk for developing other eye problems will not however change. Natural variations in distance vision can occur at any age, even after age 21, but these are usually small. Changes can be large enough to warrant further treatment in less than 2% of patients in their first 5 years after primary treatment. We offer a free refinement treatment up to few years from the original surgery and will be able to advise at the time of consultation on this aspect.
Laser refractive surgery is not an effective treatment for presbyopia, which commonly starts to occur around age 45. As we age, the eyes naturally develop an increasing reliance on reading glasses for near vision. This is normal for anyone with good distance vision. However, using blended vision strategies (spreading mildly the depth of focus between the two eyes) can be used to minimise the need for reading glasses in the presbyopic patients.
Most complications occur within 1 month of Femto-LASIK or No Touch LASEK.
Laser Vision Correction is a surgical procedure and like any type of surgery there is a small risk of complications. The overall complication rate for IntraLASIK and No touch LASEK is very small. Most problems are minor, and almost all complications can be corrected safely without affecting the final visual result. Additional consultations and treatments may be required.
There is no charge for any additional treatment required for the correction of complications.
Laser vision correction (LVC), like any surgery, carries a small risk of infection. However, infection after LVC is rare. All our procedures are carried out in the world famous Eye Hospital: Moorfields Private. At Moorfields Laser Vision Correction Centre the sterility and its rigorous control is paramount, thus minimising risks of infection. The risk of a severe corneal infection after LVC is thought to be no more than the cumulative risk of infection after wearing soft contact lenses for a few years.
The risk of long-term loss of corneal shape stability (keratectasia) after LVC has recently been estimated at less than 1 in 1000 in a systematic review of the medical literature commissioned by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). Current patient selection strategies further reduce this risk. The risk for keratectasia after No Touch LASEK is even less than Femto-LASIK. Keratectasia can be successfully stopped/corrected in most cases.
Some patients experience dryness of their eyes, reduced night vision, glare and grittiness after surgery. These symptoms are usually temporary. During initial consultation Mr Maurino will be able to explain the specific risks in each patient including the risk of dry eyes and its treatment.
The risk of losing the sight due to laser eye surgery is extremely low.
Accurate pre-operative screening and examination of your eyes will reduce the risk of potential complications. Choosing an experienced and specialist corneal trained consultant eye surgeon who is also fellowship trained in laser vision correction minimise the serious risks of vision correction surgery. At your consultation the risks of laser eye surgery and the viable alternatives must and will be discussed with you.
Please let us know if you have any immunological condition and especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes since those conditions can increase your risk level.
Laser Vision Surgery Day
The surgery itself is relatively brief (under 20 minutes for Femto-LASIK and a few minutes for No Touch LASEK are required to treat both eyes), but some waiting time prior to surgery is to be expected, and further time is required for postoperative checks and to go through your aftercare instructions. Most patients spend 1 and 1/2 hours in the Moorfields Private Laser Suite.
The surgery itself is not painful. You will feel touching around the eye, cold fluid on the eye’s surface, and gentle pressure on the eye at various stages during the surgery, but anaesthetic drops administered prior to surgery are highly effective in minimising any unlikely discomfort.
If you are a contact lens wearer, leave your contact lenses out prior to your treatment day for 3-4 days if soft and two weeks if gas permeable. Remember it is at the time of your first assessment that you need to remove them not at the time of surgery.
Please do remove completely all traces of eye make-up, perfume and aftershave prior to attending the surgery. You will not be allowed to wear eye make-up for few days afterwards – you can, however, have your eyelashes tinted before surgery if you wish.
- Office-based work is usually, but not always, no problem from 48 hours after Femto LASIK.
- After No Touch LASEK, work can normally be resumed after one week or a bit longer.
- However, the visual recovery after No Touch LASEK is slower than after Femto LASIK.
Please note the final visual outcome of Femto-LASIK and No Touch LASEK is the same.
In some instances such as young age (more elastic cornea), dry eyes, thinner than average cornea and abnormally shaped cornea to mention few, No Touch LASEK is by far the best and safest option.
We will talk you through the procedure.
Most patients comment that it is surprisingly easy – much easier than a trip to the dentist’s, for example.
LASIK can cause more pressure around the eyes at the time of the Femto laser Flap making but the rest is simple. No Touch LASEK involves minimal touching the eyes and takes just a few minutes in total.
“The procedure itself was painless & took under 10 minutes. The next morning, I woke up able to see; at my first visit I already had 20/20 vision. Within 48 hours I was back at work on a night shift.”
Orthopaedic Surgeon –LASIK patient.
Blinking is not a problem. Adhesive drapes are used to tape the eyelashes out of the way and a gentle eyelid retainer is used to keep the lids open. At the appropriate times, you will be asked to look up at a green flashing fixation light – as if you are staring at a star on the horizon. The eye we are not operating on will be covered. You simply need to look up at the fixation light with both eyes open.
You can help the surgery to proceed quickly and accurately by gazing directly up at the flashing fixation light throughout the procedure, but involuntary eye movement is not a problem. The wavefront optimised excimer laser systems we use incorporate sophisticated eye-tracking mechanisms that follow eye movements during treatment. Any movement outside the safe range will cause the laser to stop automatically. Mr Maurino will be looking at your eyes through an operating microscope throughout and can override the laser’s automatic cut-out to stop and start the treatment as often as necessary.
After Laser Vision Surgery
After the surgery, patients experience soft focus and as though they are looking through fog. You will be able to see enough to walk around without assistance, but vision will not be clear.
Relatively clear vision normally returns within just one-two days after Femto LASIK treatment and after one week or two after no touch LASEK .
Remember to follow the comprehensive instructions for aftercare given by Mr. Maurino. These are normally provided to you when you scheduled your surgery.
- AFTER CARE Brochures
Patients are normally reviewed:
- For Femto LASIK, approximately at day 1, week 2 and month 3-4 after surgery
- For No Touch LASEK, approximately at week 1, week 3 and month 4-6 months after surgery
Additional review appointments will be scheduled as required. Liaison with a referring ophthalmologist/optometrist is usually possible for overseas patients or patients living far from London. For patients coming for treatment from overseas, the minimum advisable time to stay in the UK is 1-2 weeks.
Please note that after surgery you will be given telephone numbers for easy access to advise and emergency care. Please do get in touch even in case of the smallest of doubts.
Safety
The outcomes of laser eye surgery correction are incredibly good. However, just as advancements in technology are important, so is choosing an experienced surgeon who is able to ensure you vision is safe throughout your laser vision correction surgery and deal with any unexpected problems and best advise you on alternative options if this treatment is not suitable for you.
Vincenzo Maurino has been a Consultant Eye Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital since 2003 and has a wealth of expertise and experience in laser vision correction. He is one of the few UK eye surgeons to be fellowship trained in Laser Vision Correction and to hold the Royal College of Ophthalmology of England Certificate of Completion of Training in Laser Vision Correction (Cert LRS RCOpth). He has performed more than thirty thousand eye operations in his career and his results are second to none.
Mr Maurino is a Consultant with specialist expertise in cornea, lens and laser eye surgery. His expertise goes above and beyond laser eye surgery, also being a well-known expert of Visian implantable contact lens surgery, presbyopia lens exchange with premium lenses, cataract surgery with the latest technology, keratoconus treatment and lamellar manual and laser corneal transplant. Due to his experience and expertise he is able to offer the best choice of customised treatments to serve his patients.
The Most Advanced Technology
Our laser vision correction surgery is performed at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital Private Unit, an international centre of excellence. We have access to state-of-the-art technology including the latest Schwind Amaris 1050s excimer laser, the latest iFS IntraLase 150 femtosecond laser, the VISX StarS4-IR excimer laser and more. No other laser vision correction centre in UK has access to such vast technology.
At Moorfields Private Laser Suite Mr Maurino performs Femto-LASIK and also No touch LASEK. Learn more about Femto LASIK and No Touch LASEK
The only way to discover whether laser eye surgery is an appropriate solution for your short sight, long sight and/or astigmatism is to come to us for a consultation at our clinics, located at Moorfields Eye Hospital. The consultation will last around 1½ hours, and Mr Maurino’s team will perform a series of comprehensive eye tests specific to the laser eye surgery assessment process.
We think it’s important that all of our patients have the chance to meet their surgeon at the consultation, not just on the day of treatment. Mr Maurino will go through the results of your eye tests with you and will advise you as to the treatment most appropriate for you. It’s your chance to ask questions so that you have all the information you need to make the decision to go ahead. It’s entirely up to you – there’s never any pressure from us.
