About this procedure
Laser eye surgery is refractive surgery for short-sight (myopia), long-sight (hyperopia), and astigmatism. For suitable eyes, the aim is to reduce or remove the need for glasses and contact lenses.
Dr Joseph plans the treatment around your age, your prescription, and how you use your eyes. Under 40, both eyes are often set for distance. From the mid-forties, near vision has to be planned for as well. Some people are better suited to a lens procedure than to laser.
Who it is for
- You rely on glasses or contact lenses and want an honest answer on whether laser is realistic.
- You have short-sight, long-sight, or astigmatism, and your eyes are healthy enough for treatment.
- You are over 45 and need a plan that respects both distance and reading.
What to expect
- A consultation and scans at the Advanced Health Surgical Centre in Knysna, including a dry-eye check before any recommendation.
- A clear explanation of whether LASIK, a surface treatment such as PRK or Streamlight, or a lens procedure fits your eyes.
- If laser goes ahead, treatment on a WaveLight refractive suite. The clinic has one of two full suites in South Africa, and LASIK here is bladeless.
Recovery
Recovery depends on the procedure. After LASIK, vision is often hazy for the first day and usually settles over the first few days to a week. Surface treatments take longer to heal. You go home the same day.
Questions
Is laser eye surgery painful?
LASIK is done with numbing drops. Most people describe pressure rather than pain, then a sandy feeling for a short time afterwards.
Can astigmatism be treated?
Many healthy forms of astigmatism can be treated. That decision comes from your scans, not from the glasses prescription alone.
What if I am not a candidate for LASIK?
A thin or unstable cornea may rule out a flap. Surface ablation, or a lens procedure, may still be an option after the assessment.