Am I Suitable
Suitability is the most important step in the whole laser eye treatment and vision correction process.
Not everyone wearing spectacles can have laser correction. We will do a FREE comprehensive eye examination to check your suitability. Should these tests indicate a good chance for Laser, a final consultation with Dr. van Aswegen will be arranged at a later date to suit you.
Your eyes are as individual as you are. Only after this in depth eye examination (that includes many additional test not conducted during a standard eye examination) can Dr. van Aswegen determine if you are a suitable candidate.
In most cases the following conditions are treatable with laser eye surgery.
Short Sightedness (Myopia)
If you need vision correction to see things clearly at a distance, you are short sighted. Without any spectacles or contact lenses your vision is blurred.
Far Sightedness (Hyperopia)
Hyperopia, also known as far sightedness, is a defect of vision caused by an imperfection in the eye, (often when the eyeball is too short or when the lens cannot become round enough), causing instability to focus on near objects, and in extreme cases causing a sufferer to be unable to focus on objects at any distance.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is most commonly where the cornea is oval like a rugby ball instead of spherical like a soccer ball. Most astigmatic corneas have two curves; a steeper curve and a flatter curve. This causes light to focus at more than one point in the eye resulting in blurred vision. Many long and short sighted people often have a degree of astigmatism.
Reading Spectacles (Presbyopia)
Presbyopia should not be confused with far-sightedness. Most people require reading spectacles on reaching their 40's and 50's (whether they have laser surgery or not) when the natural lens can no longer alter its focus from distance to near, even if they have never had to wear spectacles before. New research is being done to eliminate the problem of Presbyopia.
Before your appointment we need you to please:
- - Not wear your contact lenses at least 3 days before the appointment
- - We will arrange a Pentacam and Oculyzer scan at the Cape Eye Hospital
- - If you know your contact lens script, please bring it with you