Who is suitable for laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is a procedure that permanently corrects refractive errors. After the surgery, it is no longer necessary to wear prescription glasses or contact lenses.

It is suitable for adults who have had a stable prescription for at least one year and are experiencing the following visual acuity defects:

Nearsightedness (myopia)
Farsightedness (hyperopia)
Astigmatism
Age-related farsightedness

What is laser eye surgery and how does it help to improve my vision?

Laser eye surgery involves reshaping the surface and thickness of the cornea. After surgery, the corneal refractive power is altered and becomes proportional to the length of the eyeball, which causes image formation in the yellow spot (macula). The laser permanently reshapes the cornea. The image becomes clear again without the use of glasses or contact lenses.

1
ReLEx SMILE

A revolutionary, state-of-the-art method developed by Zeiss and performed with the top notch Femto laser – Visumax. The procedure is short, painless and allows for greater refraction stability and fast recovery within 3 days.

2
PRK

This is the oldest laser eye surgery method, where the Excimer laser is used to reshape the surface of the cornea.

3
FEMTO - LASIK

The method is performed in 2 steps. First, the Femto laser is used to create a corneal flap, then with the help of the Excimer laser the lower part of the cornea is reshaped and removed.

4
PRESBYOND - ZEISS

A modern unique corneal reshaping technique, used for solving age-related farsightedness, will ensure you never have to use reading glasses again.

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How do we make a diagnosis?

Before the procedure itself, a very detailed in-depth vision examination is performed, which includes a complete diagnosis of the eyes, such as: fundus examination, intraocular pressure measurement and corneal topography.

Before the procedure itself, a very detailed in-depth vision examination is performed, which includes a complete diagnosis of the eyes, such as: fundus examination, intraocular pressure measurement and corneal topography.

The eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) needs the measurements to be as accurate as possible. The candidate should therefore not wear soft contact lenses for 5 days prior to the examination, and rigid, semi-rigid contact lenses for 2 to 3 weeks prior to the examination. During this time, prescription glasses should be used.

It is not advisable to drive immediately after the examination, which is why you should come accompanied. This happens due to the use of eye drops, which are used to help dilate the pupils to provide an accurate measurement, and cause blurry vision for a few hours after use.

1
Determining the appropriate optical power
2
Corneal topography test and anterior segment analysis (Pentacam)
3
Laser analysis of individual parts of the eye (wavefront analysis - iTrace)
4
Laser measurement of axial length and WTW distance (IOL master 700)
5
Corneal analysis (Specular microscope - KONAN)
6
Fundus examination with OCT laser scan
7
Doctor consultation and selection of the most appropriate method according to previous measurements

In addition to high-quality equipment and facilities, the most important thing is to choose an experienced doctor who will understand your wishes as well as play an active role in the planning process of your eye surgery, advising you on which method is the safest choice for you.

Which method is right for me?

Since there are several standardized surgical techniques and methods available for laser eye surgery, a thorough consultation with the surgeon is done after the examination. The surgeon assesses whether an individual is a suitable candidate for laser vision correction and which laser method is the most appropriate. Different laser methods and surgical techniques can be used to tailor the procedure to the individual.

1
Safety

The procedure is completely safe, painless and takes about 5 to 10 minutes per eye (preparation included). It is performed in the supine position using topical anesthesia.

2
Permanence

Vision correction is permanent. In cases where vision correction is not fully achieved with the first surgery, additional correction is possible.

3
Recovery after surgery

Recovery depends on the method used to perform surgery on the individual. The SMILE and FEMTO-LASIK methods take the shortest time to recover (1 to 3 days), while PRK methods take one week to one month for a full vision recovery.

4
Follow-up examination

After the surgery, regular check-ups and following precise instructions given by the surgeon are obligatory.

There is no maximum age limit in lens replacement surgery, provided the eye is healthy and all other criteria for safe surgery are being met.

Director and head of medical staff Boštjan Drev

 

 

Price list

For information on the prices of our services, contact us at +386 (0) 59 230 961 or write to us at info@vidim.si.

FAQ

“Your eyesight is your decision, let us make it our concern.”

1.

How do I know if I am suitable for laser eye surgery or surgical vision correction?

Anyone who is bothered by wearing glasses or contact lenses and meets the following criteria is eligible for laser vision correction:

– you are at least 20 years old,
– you have a stable prescription for at least one year, or an optical power that has not changed by more than 0.25 D (diopters) per year,
– your prescription is not higher than -10 diopters, and your prescription for astigmatism is not higher than 5,
– you have generally healthy eyes, with an appropriate corneal shape and thickness.

In our experience, 95% of all applicants are eligible

2.

What are the most common signs that you should have laser eye surgery?

The most common signs are poor visual acuity, visual disturbance, headaches, problems with myopia and astigmatism, dissatisfaction with wearing glasses, insomnia, non-functionality of glasses – for example when playing sports -, expensive contact lenses and glasses, a long-standing desire to see clearly without glasses.

3.

Can I figure out if I should have laser eye surgery on my own (without seeing a doctor)?

To be absolutely sure, you should first have a thorough pre-operative ophthalmological examination. This examination confirms whether you are a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery. We also determine which of the methods is best for you, as well as what you can expect after surgery.

4.

Can you describe how the whole process actually works - the initial examination, the consultation, the eye surgery, the follow-ups... How does it all work and how long does it take on average?

The first partial pre-operative ophthalmological examination takes about 1 hour. This is followed by a discussion with your ophthalmologist of choice, who will give you an expert opinion on your eligibility for the procedure, which method is most suitable for you, and what results you can expect, based on your measurements.

If the doctor thinks you are eligible for surgery, you will need to go through extended measurements for the specific method of vision correction, which again takes about 1 hour.

5.

Are there any complications after surgery?

Complications such as dryness and glare/halo effects are possible with older methods (PRK, LASIK). With LASIK, there is also a possibility of corneal flap displacement. With the SMILE method, the chance of complications is minimal.

6.

How long does the ReLEx SMILE method surgery take (for both eyes)?

The pre-operative preparation takes about 45 minutes and the procedure itself takes about 15-20 minutes for both eyes.

7.

As far as I know, there are 3 methods of vision correction (PRK, Lasik and ReLEx SMILE). How do I know which one is suitable for me?

All 3 methods of laser vision correction differ in the surgical technique used to prepare the corneal surface. The first two methods (PRK and LASIK) are almost 30 and 25 years old respectively.

The most modern and technologically advanced is the revolutionary ReLEx SMILE method, which is less invasive for your eyes. This means that the surface of the cornea, as well as the fibers of the eye, remain preserved, as the top layer of the cornea does not have to be open at all. It gives you perfect vision without a lengthy recovery and side effects.