Laser Eye Consultation Road Test

Posted on 12 May, 2016

After many years of glasses, contacts and squinting, laser eye surgery has always sounded like an appealing option.

The idea that after one quick procedure you may never need another pair of glasses or contacts again is almost too good to be true.

As I’ve hinted before, my less than sub-par eyesight has become a running joke with family and friends, so I was more than eager to head to Canberra Eye Laser for a consultation to find out if I was eligible for the surgery.

This 45-minute consultation is free for all patients, and is the best way of determining eligibility for the surgery.

For my appointment I met with optometrist Hong Nguyen at the Canberra Eye Laser clinic in Phillip, where all operations and post-operative appointments are also conducted.

To start the consultation, Ms Nguyen asked me a series of questions, including when my eyes were last tested and whether my script had changed at my last appointment.

Laura with her trusty glasses.

She then took me through slides to determine my current eyesight (for the fellow ‘four eyes’ out there, I’m a -4 on my left eye and -3.50 on the right eye, which  she says is quite standard for those seeking the procedure).

Next we moved to a room next door where my eyes were scanned to measure the thickness of the cornea and general eye health. This test is considered the “make or break” in terms of eligibility – if the cornea isn’t thick enough, the surgery can’t be performed.

After the scan, the optometrist told me that I would be eligible for the surgery (yippee!) and as I was shortsighted and had astigmatism, the SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) surgery would be the most suitable option.

The most fascinating (yet squirmish) part of this appointment came when she took me through the three options for surgery and how each is performed.

These options include PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and the previously mentioned SMILE.

PRK is one of the older procedures, where the cornea’s entire outer layer is removed to expose the area and no “flap” in the cornea is created, meaning it is less invasive by being more superficial but there is a longer recovery time.

LASIK surgery works by using the laser to remove tissue from underneath a flap in the cornea in a precise way, while the SMILE is where the eye flap is only partly opened, without having to lift the flap. It is keyhole surgery for LASIK (or no flap LASIK) and leaves the cornea stronger as the incision is much smaller, so there is less downtime or discomfort (though you still have to wear a very attractive pair of goggles for a few hours after the procedure to avoid scratching your eyes).

If I opted for SMILE, the laser would determine the amount of tissue that would need to be removed to correct my specific prescription. The layer of tissue would then be removed through a small incision.

Hearing this was a surreal experience – the only thing between my eyes and good eyesight, was that tiny piece of tissue!

Now for what is probably the most important topic – the cost. I was informed that at $7,000, SMILE surgery is the most expensive option, however the clinic offers monthly payment plans, where a payment of $4,000 is made on the day of the surgery, and payments of $500 are then made once a month for the preceding six months, with no interest charged. This amount includes all preliminary and post-operative appointments required for the surgery. (However the other options are slightly less expensive than the SMILE option.)

Once a patient is approved for surgery, the operation can be booked as early as the following week up until about three weeks depending on availability, and in most cases they can be back at work the Monday following their appointment – no glasses or squinting required.

the essentials

What: Laser eye surgery
Where: Canberra Eye Laser, 16 Wilbow Street, Phillip
How much: Prices for the surgery vary, but the initial consultation is free
Web: canberraeyelaser.com.au

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