Laser eye surgery, also known as refractive surgery, is a medical procedure used to correct common vision problems like shortsightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. The need for glasses or contact lenses occurs when there are imperfections on your cornea, preventing the eye from focusing effectively. Laser eye surgery aims to smooth out these irregularities, leaving you with perfect vision.
We offer two types of laser eye surgery, LASIK and LASEK.The same lasers are used for each procedure and both produce outstanding results. Our optometrists and eye surgeons will recommend the best treatment option for you. They will consider your lifestyle and prescription to recommend your most suited procedure.
At Optimax, we also use Wavefront technology, which obtains a unique map of each eye and together with other tests we tailor the treatment accordingly. Wavefront and IntraLase treatment are combined to create the Gold Standard for laser eye surgery.
Our laser eye surgery procedures can be used to correct a number of issues, so if you rely on glasses or contact lenses in order to see clearly, you could be eligible for treatment. Patients tend to be more suitable for laser eye treatment if they are under 45, but please note that you must be at least 18 years of age to be classed as eligible.
Which prescriptions can laser eye treatment correct?
After your treatment we will provide you with drops to keep your eyes hydrated, reduce discomfort, and help with the healing process. You will be then offered a Lifetime Aftercare guarantee which provides you with one free laser retreatment for distance vision correction, should it be deemed clinically necessary by our optometrists.
Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive. We are constantly keeping track of what information our patients are interested in and aim to provide it in the simplest form possible. If you cannot find the answers you are looking for within this section, please don't hesitate to get in touch with one of our advisors who are on standby to discuss your visual requirements and respond to your queries.
Depending on the laser eye treatment deemed suitable, a thin layer is gently lifted away from the surface of the eye so the laser can access the layer below and correct the prescription with pinpoint accuracy.
The layer is then carefully set back in place, and sometimes protected with a clear bandage contact lens for 3-5 days while the eye naturally heals. All this is carried out using bladeless laser technology to eliminate potential complications and improve the results for every patient we treat.
We offer two types of laser eye surgery, LASIK and LASEK. The same lasers are used for each procedure and both produce outstanding results. Our optometrists and surgeons will recommend the best treatment option for you. They will consider your lifestyle and prescription to recommend your most suited procedure.
Both eyes will be treated on the same day, unless you need or want only one eye to be treated, and the surgeon will place an eyelid holder on your eye throughout the surgery, which prevents you from blinking. If you look away, the laser will turn off automatically as it will only work on an eye that remains still. But don’t worry, most of our patients find it easier than expected to keep their eyes still during the surgery.
We insert anaesthetic eye drops into your eye before treatment, meaning that you won’t feel the laser during the procedure. Some patients report feeling a slight pressure in their eye during the process, but many say they feel nothing at all. We provide you with eye drops after treatment to keep your eyes hydrated, reduce discomfort, and help with the healing process.
Laser eye surgery has become one of the most frequently performed procedures in the UK and as such is also one of the safest. Your health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to us here at Optimax, which is why if we think you’re not suitable for laser eye treatment then we will not proceed with the surgery. Research in 2017 from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists found that 95% of patients were satisfied with the results of their laser eye correction, and we are proud to report that 99% of our customers achieve the minimum driving standard vision or better.
We only use the best laser machines available on the market, which are Schwind and Nidek.
All laser manufacturers use world-class technology, providing high-quality outcomes, and are involved in ongoing research to bring safer, more accurate lasers to market.
The laser will only be on each of your eyes for a few seconds, although it’s likely that you will be in the treatment room for approximately 20 minutes. Overall, you should expect to be at the clinic for around four hours on the day of your laser eye procedure, as you will talk with our optometrists and advisors as well as discuss post-surgery medication.
In most cases, laser eye correction is permanent. It will not, however, eliminate age-related changes – the majority of people are likely to need reading glasses from their 40s onwards, and cataracts can still form in later life.
If you want to know more about laser vision correction with Optimax, you can request a free info pack, book a consultation or request a callback. The consultation is extremely in-depth and we only ask that you pay a fully refundable £10 deposit (for a weekday, £30 for weekend).
Should you wish to go ahead with your laser eye surgery procedure, you will undergo an assessment a week before the operation, just to make sure the surgeon is still happy to proceed. The turnaround between an initial enquiry and receiving laser eye surgery tends to be around one month and, with our 19 clinics spread around the UK, including Glasgow, Cardiff, London and Manchester, you can be sure that we’ll have a location that’s convenient for you.