Treatments and costs /

Corrective Surgery Consultation

What happens at your laser eye treatment consultation?
Your pre-operative evaluation is a comprehensive eye health check-up. Even if you don't go ahead with treatment, you will have the reassurance that your eyes have been screened for more than 40 different eye and health problems. During this in-depth health screening, you will receive 20 different tests and scans on your eyes. The cost of this thorough eye health screen is comparable to the glasses check you would normally get at your local optician.

When you first arrive at the clinic, you will be asked to fill out a patient information sheet. Please allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the complete pre-operative evaluation.

There are two parts to the pre-operative examination at FOCUS Laser Vision. The first part consists of diagnostic testing which will be taken by one of our ophthalmic assistants. Secondly, you will than meet with one of our specialist optometrists who will measure your refraction and perform several computerized tests on your eyes to ensure they are healthy and that you are a suitable candidate for surgery.

Please arrange for alternative transportation as after the testing, your vision may be blurred and you might have difficulty reading and driving. Because your eyes will probably be dilated for 2 to 4 hours, remember to bring a pair of sunglasses with you.

For reading vision candidates, we will use lenses to show you the level of vision normally expected after the treatment. With these lenses, you should comfortably be able to see 20/20 in the distance, and read newspaper sized print, or even smaller. Some patients will be given contact lenses for a brief period, so that they can "test drive" how their vision will be. With these contact lenses, you will be able to see both distance and near without glasses.
If you have never worn contact lenses before, don’t worry, after a very short while you won’t even notice they are there!

You will have every opportunity to discuss how the general points of laser correction apply in your specific case. Every patient is different and this unique discussion is essential to your safe outcome.

In consideration of others and to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible, please do not bring children with you to the clinic. The duration of your visit will be approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can warp the corneal surface, which changes the corneal curvature and could lead to an incorrect refraction measurement. In order to properly calculate the treatment to correct your refractive error, you will have to stop wearing contact lenses at some stage prior to surgery. The time interval that you must go without wearing contact lenses depends on the type of lens that you use and the length of time you have used them.

• Soft contact lenses may not be worn for at least one week prior to the consultation.
  
  
• Soft toric lenses may not be worn for at least one week prior to the consultation.
  
  
• Gas permeable lenses may not be worn for at least four weeks prior to the consultation (or 8 weeks if you have worn them for more than 20 years, or 12 weeks if you have worn them for more than 30 years).
  
  
• True hard lenses (PMMA) may not be worn for at least twelve (12) weeks prior to the consultation.
  

Following this advice will decrease the risk of complications and also increase the effectiveness of the procedure.