Laser Eye Surgery FAQ's

Am I a candidate for laser eye surgery? What steps do I take?

The general guidelines for being a candidate for laser eye surgery and other vision correction options are listed on our laser eye surgery homepage http://www.calgaryoptometry.com/LaserEyeSurgery.htm. The next step involves eye testing at two levels. First, your Calgary Optometry Centre optometrist will do tests during your vision and eye health examination to make sure that there are no results that disqualify you. Then you will be referred to a laser eye surgery clinic for further testing to make sure you are a good candidate and the best procedure will be recommended for you.

Which procedure would be best for me?

The laser eye surgery and other vision correction options are outlined on our website. The results of your testing procedures by your optometrist and the laser eye surgery clinic will determine which procedure will be recommended to you to get the best vision and eye health result.

Does the surgery hurt?

The surgery does not hurt. Depending on the type of procedure, there may be some eye discomfort after the surgery. Eye medication drops will be given after the procedure to limit the discomfort and help with eye healing.

Does surgery permanently fix my vision? Will I still need glasses or contact lenses?

The usual goal of surgery is to correct your distance vision to a normal 20/20 level, so there would be no need for glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that it will be 100% accurate-mainly due to the level of prescription that needs to be corrected (the higher the power, the less likely you will get a perfect result) and imperfect eye health healing. This means you may have a slight prescription that requires glasses or contact lenses on a part time basis. It may be possible in some cases to do a second surgery to correct for small prescriptions left over from the first procedure.

The surgery usually does not prevent the need for reading glasses when all patients reach the early to late 40's age group. Even in a perfect distance vision result, reading glasses will be needed at some point.

What are the risks and side effects of vision correction surgery?

The main risks and side effects are:

Vision inaccuracy-as stated above, there is no 100% guarantee that you will be glasses or contact lens free. During the testing process, your optometrist will be able to give you probability percentages of achieving 20/20 vision based on your prescription level and test results. You can then decide if this falls into your expectations.
Change in sensitivity of the eyes. After surgery, all patients notice an enhanced sensitivity to dry eyes, lights (indoor or outdoor), wind, dust, smoke, etc. This may require the need for treatments such as artificial tears and sunglass use.
Night vision ghosting, haloes and/or star bursting-this is most noticeable around streetlamps and oncoming headlights.

It is important to note that these effects do vary from patient to patient and can range from very mild to severe. The side effects can be treated with eye medications and may also disappear over time.

Permanent complete or partial loss of vision is very rare.

What is the cost of the various vision correction procedures?

The costs can vary widely because the various procedures have different pricing and the competitive pricing between laser eye surgery centres. In general, the costs can range from $500 per eye to $3,500 per eye, depending on the procedure and the specific clinic.

Which laser eye surgery centre is recommended?

Calgary Optometry Centre optometrists have referred hundreds of patients for assessment and subsequent surgery over the last 20 years. We developed good working relationships with most of the major laser eye surgery clinics in Calgary. Our recommendation of a centre for you will be based mostly on your prescription type and testing results.

You have heard opinions about certain laser eye surgery clinics from family members, friends, or co-workers. Please ask your Calgary Optometry Centre optometrist for more information.