For some the thought of eye surgery can be a daunting one so we decided to take a closer look at what exactly it is all about.
And before we get into the nitty gritty, the first thing that should be noted is that if it is good enough for former Munster legend and ex-All Black, Doug Howlett, then it is good enough for us
The New Zealander who is blessed with not only skill and pace, but a great eye for the game hasn’t always had the best vision on the pitch but laser eye surgery at Optilase has made a huge difference both professionally and personally.
“I really can’t believe how this has changed my life, it was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made. I woke up the next day to a whole new world and was back at light training the following week – I just wish I had done it sooner,” he said.
Optilase seems to be the eye clinic of choice for Irish sportspeople, with Rugby star Denis Hurley and GAA star Donal Og Cusack both turning to Optilase for their laser eye surgery.
Doug Howlett says it was a life-changing decision
To get a better understanding of the surgery, Mr. Wayne Crewe-Brown, Surgeon and Medical Director at Optilase explains that one of the biggest fears surrounds the pain factor that many think the surgery will entail. The truth is somewhat different he assures us.
“The life changing results of laser eye surgery are evident almost immediately and the most common response from our patients is always “Why didn’t I do it years ago!” and to wonder at how pain-free the experience actually is,” he said.
JOE decided to dispel some of the myths and get the real facts about laser eye surgery.
Just what is laser eye surgery?
The cornea at the front of the eye holds the greatest focusing ability of the eye. In people who require glasses or contact lenses, the cornea can be reshaped to improve its focusing ability and remove the need for corrective eyewear. Laser eye surgery uses a cool beam “Excimer” laser to gently reshape the cornea with the entire procedure taking only a matter of minutes to complete.
Does it hurt?
The over-riding response from patients is awe and wonder at how painless the procedure actually is. It takes just a few moments per eye and Optilase uses only the most advanced, ‘blade-free’ IntraLase technology, so there really is nothing to be frightened of. Depending on the treatment type, there can be some discomfort in the days following treatment but this is temporary.
How long does it take?
The actual procedure takes about 10 minutes per eye and patients are usually required to rest for half an hour or so in the clinic afterwards and then go home to sleep for a few hours. On waking eyesight is sharper and improves with each day.
How common is the procedure?
As we’ve already mentioned, over 30 million people world-wide have had laser eye surgery. Can you imagine the likes of Tiger Woods, Courtney Cox or Brad Pitt wearing glasses or fiddling around with contact lenses? That’s because they have had laser eye surgery! Thousands of people across Ireland have benefitted from having laser eye surgery and are now enjoying life free of glasses and lenses.
Whether sporting, social, confidence or just general every day convenience, absolutely every one we have spoken to had the same response, “why on earth didn’t I do it sooner?”
For more information visit www.optilase.com
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