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Transform your vision with fast, precise and painless laser eye surgery treatment expertly delivered by our experienced surgeons.
Laser eye surgery, or laser refractive surgery, is a popular procedure for vision correction. The treatment uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea – that’s the transparent layer covering the front of your eye. Two types of treatment are available – Lasek or Lasik eye surgery.
Each year, approximately 15,000 procedures are carried out in the UK, and the treatment is growing in popularity every year. Most people have laser eye surgery for short-sightedness, but the technique is equally safe and effective for long-sightedness and mild astigmatism.
If you want to get rid of your glasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery could be the ideal option for you. To find out if you’re suitable, contact us today to book your consultation appointment.
Lasek vs Lasik eye surgery
There are two different types of laser eye surgery – LASIK and LASEK. At your consultation, we’ll be able to let you know which type best suits your eyes.
LASEK is a safer procedure than LASIK eye surgery, but is associated with more discomfort in the first few days after treatment. Since it’s a safer procedure, we tend to recommend LASEK laser eye surgery in most cases.
Here is a little more information about LASIK vs LASEK:
Lasik eye surgery
There are two different types of laser eye surgery. LASEK and LASIK eye surgery. At your consultation, we’ll be able to let you know which type best suits your eyes.
Precise surgery
The Lasik eye surgery procedure is performed on the surface of the eye and involves the creation of a very precise corneal flap, under which the surface is gently reshaped to correct your vision, before replacing the flap.
Fast recovery
Recovery from LASIK eye surgery is quite fast and with minimal discomfort. More than 15 million LASIK procedures have now been carried out over a 30-year period. LASIK is suitable for most ages and results are long lasting. Typically patients are young adults between 20 and 40 years who are short sighted.
How much does laser eye surgery cost?
The cost of laser eye surgery depends on if you are getting one or both eyes treated. You can get an idea of how much laser eye surgery costs on our pricing page, or to discuss your treatment options further book a consultation with us.
Lasek eye surgery
LASEK – or laser assisted epithelial keratomileusis. Laser eye surgery is the safest of all the laser vision correction procedures.
Suitable treatment
It is suitable for treating mild to moderate levels of short sight, and mild levels of long sight. During LASEK an excimer laser is used to gently reshape the surface of your cornea without the need to create a flap. It’s a one-step procedure with the laser itself lasting typically between 5 and 20 seconds.
Safe procedure
While LASEK is safer than LASIK eye surgery, during the first week the eyes tend to be more uncomfortable and the vision slightly more blurred during healing.
What to expect in laser eye surgery
Here is what you can expect when you have laser eye surgery with Laser Vision Scotland, from your initial consultation, to the procedure and aftercare.
Your consultation
Consultation
At your initial consultation, we’ll carry out extensive tests and let you know if you’re suitable for laser eye treatment and whether LASIK or LASEK would suit you best.
Question time
Your consultation is a time to meet your surgeon, ask any questions you have and even visit the laser suite to see where you’ll be having treatment. We can also book your treatment date.
Implantable lens
If you’re found to be unsuitable for laser eye surgery, remember implantable lens surgery could be an option for you. This alternative treatment is often recommended for correcting reading prescriptions, high prescriptions and for some older patients who may get better results from lens replacement surgery.
Consultation
At your initial consultation, we’ll carry out extensive tests and let you know if you’re suitable for laser eye treatment and whether LASIK or LASEK would suit you best.
Question time
Your consultation is a time to meet your surgeon, ask any questions you have and even visit the laser suite to see where you’ll be having treatment. We can also book your treatment date.
Implantable lens
If you’re found to be unsuitable for laser eye surgery, remember implantable lens surgery could be an option for you. This alternative treatment is often recommended for correcting reading prescriptions, high prescriptions and for some older patients who may get better results from lens replacement surgery.
The procedure
Treatment
Prior to treatment we’ll give you antibiotic eye drops to use, and ask that you do not use any contact lenses for a set period of time before the treatment. It’s also essential that you don’t use any makeup, facial products, perfume or aftershave on the day of your laser surgery.
Procedure
On the day of treatment, we’ll ask you to sign some forms and your consultant will meet you prior to your procedure for some final checks and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. A member of our clinical support team will take you down to our state of the art laser suite and will stay with you throughout your treatment.
Time
Laser treatment takes around 10-15 minutes per eye, with the laser procedure itself lasting 10 seconds. During treatment, you will see bright colours in front of your eyes. It’s a painless procedure and most of our patients are surprised by how quickly the treatment is done.
Treatment
Prior to treatment we’ll give you antibiotic eye drops to use, and ask that you do not use any contact lenses for a set period of time before the treatment. It’s also essential that you don’t use any makeup, facial products, perfume or aftershave on the day of your laser surgery.
Procedure
On the day of treatment, we’ll ask you to sign some forms and your consultant will meet you prior to your procedure for some final checks and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. A member of our clinical support team will take you down to our state of the art laser suite and will stay with you throughout your treatment.
Time
Laser treatment takes around 10-15 minutes per eye, with the laser procedure itself lasting 10 seconds. During treatment, you will see bright colours in front of your eyes. It’s a painless procedure and most of our patients are surprised by how quickly the treatment is done.
Aftercare
Vision
Following treatment you’ll be able to see better straight away, although your vision will be blurred to some extent. Most people get to head home within 30 minutes of having treatment.
Lasek
If you’ve had LASEK, you’ll have contact lenses in each eye and these will be kept in full time for a few days then removed by us. These contact lenses keep the eyes more comfortable, and you should expect some discomfort in the first 24-48 hours. Your eyes will be light sensitive, slightly red and watery during the first few days of healing. During the first week vision can markedly fluctuate while new cells grow across the eye surface.
Information
We’ll give you plenty of information about what type of activities you should avoid while your eyes are healing, as well as the contact details of your surgeon in case you have any questions or concerns.
Vision
Following treatment you’ll be able to see better straight away, although your vision will be blurred to some extent. Most people get to head home within 30 minutes of having treatment.
Lasek
If you’ve had LASEK, you’ll have contact lenses in each eye and these will be kept in full time for a few days then removed by us. These contact lenses keep the eyes more comfortable, and you should expect some discomfort in the first 24-48 hours. Your eyes will be light sensitive, slightly red and watery during the first few days of healing. During the first week vision can markedly fluctuate while new cells grow across the eye surface.
Information
We’ll give you plenty of information about what type of activities you should avoid while your eyes are healing, as well as the contact details of your surgeon in case you have any questions or concerns.
FAQs
Laser eye surgery, like any surgery should be given due consideration. Research your options for vision correction, always use a reputable surgeon who is happy to share their past results and number of procedures carried out each year. Use a clinic that offers a broad range of vision correction options to ensure you’re receiving the treatment best for you rather than the treatment they can offer. Make sure you feel confident in the thoroughness of the diagnostic testing used to determine the best treatment for you. Always ask about aftercare, this should include access to your consultant and their team should you need them for any reason after surgery.
Laser eye surgery is carried out in a state of the art theatre. The whole procedure takes around ten minutes. Prior to entering the laser room you will have been given anaesthetic drops to numb your eye, once the eye is completely numb, you’ll be chaperoned to the laser room where you lie down on a bed. A small device is used to keep the eye open while the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the surface of the cornea. The use of the laser usually lasts between 5 and 20 seconds. Once surgery is complete, you will be given a protective contact lens to maintain better comfort of the eye while it recovers.
There are two types of laser eye surgery – LASIK and LASEK. LASIK involves creating a flap in the cornea, then moving it out of the way while the corrective laser treatment takes place. This flap is then replaced once the laser is complete. In LASEK, the cornea is reshaped without creating a flap. LASEK usually has a longer initial recovery time but it is the safer of the two procedures. Laser Vision Scotland surgeons usually opt to carry out LASEK as it is the safer of the two.
Before treatment, you will undergo an in-depth diagnostic consultation with an optometrist. These non-invasive tests will tell the consultant ophthalmologist whether laser eye surgery is the right treatment for you. It may be that implantable contact lenses or lens replacement surgery are better options..If this is the case, then these procedures can also be carried out. If laser eye surgery is the optimal procedure for your eyes and if you feel it is right for your lifestyle, then yes!
There are a number of factors that should be considered when choosing where to have laser eye surgery. We would always recommend choosing a reputable clinic with good reviews from previous patients. We recommend checking TrustPilot and taking a good look through the reviews.
Range of procedures is also an important consideration. Always select a clinic that offers a broad range of vision correction options. This makes it more likely that you will be offered the procedure best for you rather than the one on offer.
It is suitable for people with long or short sight and can also be used to treat people with astigmatism. It is best suited to people with a stable prescription who are between 21 and 45 years of age.
Yes. Laser eye surgery is very safe with over a 99% success rate. At Laser Vision Scotland, we achieve 20/20 vision or better in over 95% of patients.
Laser eye surgery is £1450 per eye. 0% finance options are available which allow you to pay monthly. Be wary of high street deals with low introductory prices. These usually apply for very low prescriptions, with final prices often being much higher.
Laser eye surgery is very safe. Approximately 15,000 procedures are carried out each year in the UK, most people choose to have laser eye surgery for short or long-sightedness but it is also effective in mild astigmatism. LASEK laser eye surgery is a safer procedure than LASIK surgery. Like any medical procedure, there are risks, but in comparison to other types of procedures the risks in laser eye surgery are relatively low. Alternatives such as wearing contact lenses also carry their own risks.
LASIK eye laser surgery at Laser Vision Scotland is £1450 per eye. This is a package price that covers your procedure, time in hospital and all of your aftercare.
LASIK eye laser surgery at Laser Vision Scotland is £1450 per eye. This is a package price that covers your procedure, time in hospital and all of your aftercare.
Not only does it give you freedom from glasses, it can also save you the on-going costs associated with glasses or contact lenses. We have a simple calculator that will show you the cost savings per month, as well as the cost savings over an entire lifetime when you make the move from contact lenses to eye laser surgery.
Not only does it give you freedom from glasses, it can also save you the on-going costs associated with glasses or contact lenses. We have a simple calculator that will show you the cost savings per month, as well as the cost savings over an entire lifetime when you make the move from contact lenses to eye laser surgery.
In most cases the improved vision laser surgery provides is permanent. But in a limited number of cases — usually due to changes that can occur in the lens inside the eye, with or without Laser surgery — some nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism can return over time, causing blurry vision.
During laser eye surgery, we you see a series of flashing lights. See our video of laser eye surgery to experience the effect (without the vision correction unfortunately).
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, it is a type of refractive surgery to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
No, laser eye surgery doesn’t hurt. It can feel a bit uncomfortable but there shouldn’t be any pain.
Yes, you can have laser eye surgery more than once.
The time is the laser eye suite is around 20 minutes. The time when the eye is undergoing laser surgery is around five to twenty seconds.
Unfortunately not. If laser eye surgery is for vision correction then it is unlikely that the NHS would pay for it.
Laser eye surgery dates back to 1896 when Dr Lendeer Jans Lans published a theoretical paper into the idea of laser eye surgery. Spanish Ophthalmologist, Dr Jose Barraquer’s (1916-1988) original pioneering investigations on corneal transplant and corneal refraction led to him being given the name ‘Father of modern refractive surgery’. His work led the way for laser reshaping of the cornea.
Laser eye surgery dates back to 1896 when Dr Lendeer Jans Lans published a theoretical paper into the idea of laser eye surgery. Spanish Ophthalmologist, Dr Jose Barraquer’s (1916-1988) original pioneering investigations on corneal transplant and corneal refraction led to him being given the name ‘Father of modern refractive surgery’. His work led the way for laser reshaping of the cornea. Laser eye surgery was first introduced on the 1980’s by John Marshall, Frost Professor of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology. Prof Marshall patented the idea of using excimer laser to reshape the cornea. In 1988 Dr Stephen Trokel was the first doctor to use an excimer laser on the cornea, he also introduced Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). Gholam A. Peyman is the ophthalmologist best known for inventing LASIK eye surgery in 1989.
Yes, as with any medical procedure there are risks associated with laser eye surgery.
Yes, as long as the astigmatism is mild it is possible to have laser eye surgery. If astigmatism is severe, it maybe advisable to use a different vision correct treatment such as implantable lenses or lens replacement.
Laser eye surgery does not require a general anaesthetic. If you are very anxious about the procedure, your ophthalmologist can prescribe you a sedative to take before your procedure.
LASIK is not painful. Some find the procedure uncomfortable but most people report that it was better than they thought it would be.
You are usually in the laser suite for around ten minutes but the actual time that laser is used is around five to twenty seconds.
No, Laser eyes surgery is a day case procedure. This means you come into the hospital in the morning and leave around 3 – 4 hours later.
No, you don’t need a referral from a GP. If you have regular contact with an optician or optometrist then your background medical information is always useful but it isn’t compulsory.
Laser Vision Scotland has a customer care team on 0800 8202080 who are always available to talk. Alternatively, you can reach them via our Facebook page.
Call us on 08008202080 or fill in our ‘make an appointment’ form.
Call us on 08008202080 or fill in our ‘make an appointment’ form.
The consultant ophthalmologist will ask about your reasons for wanting surgery, your lifestyle (as this can often impact the best treatment for you), whether you have to drive a lot, your hobbies / activities, what you hope to get out of treatment.
- How safe is laser eye surgery?
- How many procedures has the consultant carried out to date?
- What is the consultants success rate in laser eye surgery?
- What happens if I need help after surgery?
- Can I bring a friend of family member with me?
- Am I able to drive after surgery?
Do you have recommendations from past patients that I could see?
We recommend bringing along a list of questions or concerns that you have. You will be given lots of time to go through your list. No question is silly.
LASIK can cause difficulties for driving at night. Common night vision problems include halos, starbursts and glare which can make driving difficult. We would expect this to reduce once the eyes are fully recovered from surgery.
You will have one follow up appointment to check your surgery is completely successful. If your doctor is happy then you will be discharged from their care. You are always welcome to make a further follow up if you have any concerns.
If you wear rigid, gas permeable contact lenses then we recommend you stop wearing them at least three weeks prior to surgery. For soft contact lenses you should discontinue use at least two weeks before eye laser surgery.
Aftercare
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists strongly recommends all doctors carrying out laser eye surgery should be registered ophthalmologists and have additional specialist training in laser refractive surgery. At Laser Vision Scotland, your laser eye surgery will always be carried out by an experienced Consultant Ophthalmologist. Find out more about our surgeons.