Personalised Laser Eye Surgery
Harley Street, London. Freephone 0800 652 4878Order Your Free Information Pack
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question isn't answered here, why not Ask The Surgeon ?
1, How successful is the treatment?
2, How will I know whether I am suitable?
5, I have always had good distance vision, but now I need glasses for reading. Can you help me?
6, How much does the treatment cost?
7, What is the difference between Wavefront LASIK ,Standard LASIK and LASEK?
9, Are there any long-term complications?
10, Should I wait longer before making the decision?
11, Why is Advance VisionCare more expensive than some other Laser clinics?
12, Will I see my surgeon at my consultation?
13, Can I speak to someone who has had laser treatment before I decide whether to go ahead?
14, Will my doctor be informed?
15, Is there an age limit for treatment?
16, Will I need a general anaesthetic?
17, Will I need to take time off work after treatment?
18, How quickly will I be able to exercise after treatment?
How successful is the treatment?
At Advance VisionCare we pride ourselves on our personalised approach at all stages of care. This includes one individual surgeon who is highly experienced in refractive surgery and is at hand at all stages of treatment. The majority of our treatments are Wavefront based, and the Zyoptix platform used by Advance VisionCare has just achieved sought after FDA approval, with the following results:
- After surgery with the Zyoptix system:
- 91.5% of patients had unaided 20/20 vision or better (The 'gold standard' of Uncorrected vision);
- 70.3% of patients had unaided 20/16 vision.( Better than the 'gold standard').
- More than 94% of subjects maintained or improved from their best-corrected vision six months post-operatively.
- Six months after surgery with the Zyoptix system:
- 99.0% of subjects reported that they were satisfied with the results;
- 99.7% indicated improvement in quality of vision, of which more than 40% reported improvement in night vision while driving.
No patients reported dissatisfaction with their outcomes.
Our results are currently being independently analysed by Bausch and Lomb, and match favourably to this data.
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How will I know whether I am suitable?
You can call 0845 051 64 64 , where you will be able to speak to one of our skilled advisors. If you have your prescription details at hand, they will be able to give some indication of suitability , and book you a consultation appointment. Remember, if you are over forty and require glasses for reading only, you are unlikely to be suitable.
An initial consultation can also be booked at one of the centres listed on this site local to you. This will enable you to know broadly whether you are suitable. You will then be referred to Harley St for detailed assessment. This will enable us to decide which specific treatment is best suited to you as an individual.
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Do the results last?
In the majority of cases, one treatment only is required, and it is permanent. A small percentage, approximately 2% may require retreatment, or may still require spectacles for critical vision. This is dependant on prescription and other ocular factors. If you are over forty it is likely that you will still require glasses for close work.
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Is it painful?
The procedures themselves are painless, as local anaesthetic drops are used prior to treatment. However some patients experience discomfort within the 48 hour period after the procedure. This tends to be more with the LASEK rather than the LASIK Procedure. At Advance VisionCare, all patients are given a bandage contact lens to aid comfort after the first night.
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I have always had good distance vision, but now I need glasses for reading. Can you help me?
At the age of 40+, all our eyes start to undergo a natural change in focusing ability, which means that we require glasses for reading. This is called presbyopia, and is an independent change from hyperopia (long sightedness) or myopia (short sightedness). At present there is no laser treatment available which can fully correct this problem, principally because the changes are ongoing.
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How much does the treatment cost?
For more imformation or see our cost of treatment page
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What is the difference between Wavefront LASIK ,Standard LASIK and LASEK?
At Advance VisionCare all of these are available, and this is part of our commitment to offer a truly personalised approach. You will be offered the most suited treatment plan to cater for your individual needs , and this may include a choice. Wavefront LASIK offers the very latest in Laser technology, delivering treatment tailored to the individual defects of the eye, beyond spectacle prescription. We offer this as our first choice treatment, however not everyone is suited to this, and may benefit from standard LASIK. Alternatively you may be offered LASEK, for example if your corneas are thin.
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How do I choose a surgeon?
The choice of surgeon is arguably the most important decision to make when deciding whether and where to have refractive surgery. Some questions that should be considered are:
- What is his/her track record?
- What are his/her qualifications?
- What is his/her complication rate?
- Will he/she be easily available after the procedure?
- Will I meet him/her before the day of surgery?
Advance VisionCare is proud to be able to answer all of these questions and more, positively and confidently. Mr Pillai FRCOphth is one of the UK's most experienced and qualified surgeons, and because he is exclusive to Advance VisionCare, you will always meet him in advance, and he will always be at hand post surgery.
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Are there any long-term complications?
With 99.4% of patients having a level of unaided vision suitable for driving post -op, the complications are minimal, especially in the hands of an experienced surgeon and clinical team. However, no surgical procedure is risk free, and there is a tiny chance of complications, most of which can be resolved within the first few months. The most common complication is dry eye, which in the vast majority of patients resolves after the first few months. At Advance VisionCare it is our policy to advise our patients fully of all risks involved; these will be explained to you when you attend for consultation. You will be able to make an informed, unbiased decision based on this information.
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Should I wait longer before making the decision?
Laser eye surgery has been around for over ten years now, and the results in this time frame are extremely positive. However, as technology constantly evolves, the prediction for the future can only be based loosely on those results. You could consider waiting for another ten years; but due to this rapid evolution, we would still not be able to accurately compare those future outcomes with today's! There may of course be circumstances where you are asked by the clinic to wait a while, for example due to an unstable prescription. Advance VisionCare always holds the best interests of the patient foremost in any clinical decision.
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Why is Advance VisionCare more expensive than some other Laser clinics?
This is a question we are often asked when people see the prices that are quoted in several other clinics. Please be aware that these clinics prices are often a 'from' price. Advance VisionCare has a transparent pricing policy- the price does not vary dependent on your prescription. It costs no more to treat a -1.50D prescription than it does to treat -8.75 with astigmatism, therefore we will not charge patients different prices for the same procedure. The price for Wavefront technology Laser Correction is £1600 per eye irrespective of your prescription. Our prices are all inclusive and include assessment with Mr Pillai, aftercare, medication and one night accommodation in a central London hotel (for patients from outside the M25)
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Will I see my surgeon at my consultation?
At advance VisionCare we have one surgeon, our Medical Director, Mr Pillai. All Advance VisionCare patients will meet Mr Pillai and be able to discuss your treatment with him. This allows you the chance to ask the important questions to the surgeon and not to an optometrist like in many other clinics.
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Can I speak to someone who has had laser treatment before I decide whether to go ahead?
Yes. Many of our treated patients are delighted to talk to our prospective patients about their experiences of laser eye treatment. You can email many of our patients from the links on the testimonial page. If you would like to speak to a patient with a similar prescription to you then call Lela on 0800 652 4878 with your prescription and she will be able to put you in touch.
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Will my doctor be informed?
We ask all patients for their GP's details so that we can keep them informed of the details of your assessment and any decisions taken regarding the treatment. We will only contact your GP if you are happy for us to do so.
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Is there an age limit for treatment?
Our lower age limit for laser eye treatment is usually 21 because the prescription needs to stabilise before treatment occurs otherwise your prescription may change after treatment which would defeat the object of the procedure. The most important aspect is to have an eyesight prescription has been stable for a minimum of 2 years. There is no upper age limit but medical conditions may affect the ability to be treated over the age of 70.
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Will I need a general anaesthetic?
No. We only use a local anaesthetic- these eye drops are administered prior to treatment, which make the procedure painless, though you may feel a little discomfort.
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Will I need to take time off work after treatment?
Most patients are able to return to work within 48 hours of LASIK treatment for short-sight. For patients who were long-sighted and those who have LASEK treatment, it can take longer for your vision to settle and therefore a few more days away from work are may be likely to be necessary. Mr Pillai will explain how much time off may be necessary.
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How quickly will I be able to exercise after treatment?
You will be able to perform gentle exercise for the first 2 weeks after treatment. After this you will be able to resume more strenuous activity, such as going to the gym. We advise that you avoid contact sports for 3 months prior to treatment. We advise that you avoid swimming for 4 weeks after surgery (especially if it is in the sea).
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Get in touch
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Advance VisionCare | 77 Harley Street | London | W1G 8QN
Tel: 0800 652 4878