Your treatment plan
Initial assessment
Canberra Eye Laser offers an assessment of your condition to establish your suitability for any of the treatment options. This initial assessment is free of charge and obligation.
Generally the consultation takes half an hour. During the session we will typically conduct some diagnostic tests which are required to determine if your eyes are suitable for treatment. Once suitability has been established, treatment options and costs will be discussed.
Pre-operative requirements
If you wear contact lenses these must be removed prior to laser surgery as they can affect the surface shape of your eye.
- Soft contact lenses must be left out for 1 week prior to surgery.
- Hard/gas permeable contact lenses must be left out for 3 weeks prior to surgery.
Usually, any medications you are already taking can be continued as normal, however, you should let your doctor know what medications you are using.
The procedure
You will be required at Canberra Eye Laser for approximately 2 hours on the day of your procedure. This enables us to complete pre and postoperative assessments. You will be in the treatment room for about 20-30 minutes, but the procedure itself only takes a few minutes per eye and is painless under local anaesthetic eye drops.
You should dress comfortably and bring a companion on the day of the surgery. You must not drive yourself home immediately after the procedure.
During the procedure you will be asked to lie on a bed and look up into the laser's centering light. A small lid speculum prevents the eyelids from blinking. The laser and the surgeon will ensure that your eye is centred during the procedure. The laser can be stopped and restarted at any time during the treatment.
You are required to have someone to accompany you home following the laser surgery. Your companion is welcome to watch the procedure if you wish.
Please do not wear eye make-up or strong perfume to the laser centre.
Postoperative drops and detailed instructions for use will be provided following the procedure.
You will be advised not to drive for at least 24 hours and to take 1 or 2 days off work to recuperate.
Follow-up
You will be required to attend a certain number of post-op appointments depending on the treatment you have undergone. These appointments are typically brief (no more than one hour) and will involve an examination of your eyes to assess their healing.
