Whether you are suitable for LASIK surgery, PRK (ASLA) or SMILE^® pro will depend on whether you meet certain criteria.

Generally, if you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible for laser eye surgery. We also offer a free, no-obligation assessment where we will comprehensively check your eyes and discuss your vision correction options.

• Age: Between 18 and 55 years old*
• Vision problem: Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and/or astigmatism
• Stable vision: Glasses prescription has remained the same for at least 12 months
• General eye health^†: Good
• General health: Good, not pregnant or breastfeeding

Note that laser eye surgery may not be recommended in people with very strong prescriptions.

*_{Patients over 55 may still be eligible for laser eye surgery. However, we recommend booking a comprehensive assessment to discuss other vision correction procedures that may better suit your needs.}
†_{Your ophthalmologist will consider the general health of your eyes, the strength of your glasses prescription (i.e. your degree of refractive error), if you have a history of eye problems (e.g. dry eye, scarring or thinning of the cornea) and if you have previously had a serious eye injury.}

During laser eye surgery such as LASIK, PRK (ASLA) and SMILE^® pro, the cornea is permanently reshaped to correct a refractive error. This can include nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. Although laser eye surgery is permanent, some people may require a follow-up procedure to enhance or improve their initial results.

It’s also important to be aware that people begin to develop presbyopia, which is an age-related reduction in the ability to focus on near objects, from about 40–50 years of age. This is why many older adults wear glasses for reading and other near activities.

Because presbyopia affects the lens of the eye, not the cornea, laser eye surgery cannot prevent the condition from developing. As a result, you may need reading glasses even if your vision has been previously corrected with LASIK, PRK or another type of laser eye surgery.

Fortunately, there are presbyopia treatment options available that can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses, including laser procedures and lens replacement surgery.

Whether laser eye surgery is worth it is subjective and dependent on your specific circumstances. If it’s important to you to be free from glasses or contact lenses, you may feel that laser vision correction is worthwhile. Many people who really dislike wearing glasses or contact lenses, or find that it intrudes on aspects of their daily life, enjoy having clearer vision after the procedure.

To help you decide whether laser eye surgery is worthwhile, we recommend finding out as much as you can about the procedure such as the different surgical approaches, benefits, risks and costs. Use your pre-surgical consultation to discuss any specific questions or concerns with the surgeon. Remember there is no obligation to proceed with surgery if you decide it isn’t the right option for you.

The minimum age for laser eye surgery is 18 years. However, your vision may not have stabilised at this age, which is why the best age group for LASIK surgery is usually 25–40 years.

If you are over 18 and your glasses or contact lens prescription has not changed for at least a year, you are eligible to be considered for laser eye surgery.

Between the ages of 40 and 50, the lenses in our eyes naturally lose their ability to focus on near objects. This condition is called presbyopia and is why many older adults wear glasses for reading and other near activities.

If you are already over 40 when you have laser eye surgery, the effects of laser eye surgery last for a shorter period than if you were 25. This is because you are closer to developing presbyopia, and laser eye surgery is performed on the cornea, rather than the lens.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to correct presbyopia without glasses. Treatments include laser procedures, refractive lens exchange (where the lens of your eye is replaced by an artificial lens) and implantable contact lenses.

If you are already over 45, other vision correction procedures may be more appropriate. Your ophthalmologist will advise you on which vision correction procedure is recommended for your specific situation and needs.

Laser eye surgery isn’t painful. Patients are given local anaesthetic drops to minimise discomfort and are typically offered a mild sedative to help them relax. Most people simply report feeling mild or slight pressure on their eye during surgery.

There may be some discomfort immediately following the surgery, usually itching or burning. Depending on the type of surgery you have had, discomfort can persist for up to a week. You will be given medications to help reduce your symptoms.

Some people may experience dry eyes for a few weeks or months following laser eye surgery. Dry eye can be managed with artificial tears and other treatments.

Your ophthalmologist will discuss what you can expect during the recovery period following surgery.

Your eyes will be more sensitive and easily strained than usual in the days following laser eye surgery. Eye strain may prolong your recovery time, so it’s important to minimise any activities that exacerbate eye strain. Additionally, it’s important to keep your eyes moist after surgery so that they can heal properly. Screen use contributes to dry eye by reducing your blink rate.

It can be tempting to watch TV to help pass the time while you recover from surgery. Your surgeon will advise when it is safe to resume watching TV, using your phone, tablet or computer, or even reading a book. When you do begin using screens again, it should be for a limited time only and include frequent breaks.

Excessive digital use or near work without adequate breaks can affect the results of your laser eye surgery. Your surgeon can advise you on appropriate screen use after surgery.

Laser eye surgery is considered extremely safe. In fact, it is one of the safest elective surgical procedures available today. However, it is not zero-risk. Around 1% of people experience minor side-effects (such as dry eye or some residual error)¹. Serious side-effects, such as infection, are incredibly rare (around 1 in 5000).

Laser eye surgery has been available for over 30 years now, so it is very well established. Ongoing research, increased surgeon expertise, advancements in technology, and refinements in the procedure itself continue to reduce the risk of side-effects or complications.

1. American Refractive Surgery Council. What Is the LASIK Success Rate?. United States: 2017. www.americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/laser-eye-surgery-lasik-success-rate/

Laser eye surgery has a 99% success rate. Research carried out in the United States suggests that 99% of LASIK patients achieve better than 6/12 (20/40) vision and more than 90% achieve 6/6 (20/20) vision or better. Additionally, 96% of patients report being perfectly satisfied with their results.¹

1. American Refractive Surgery Council. What Is the LASIK Success Rate?. United States: 2017. www.americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/laser-eye-surgery-lasik-success-rate/

We offer interest-free, flexible payment options for laser eye surgery in partnership with humm loan and Latitude Gem Visa (credit card). Read our laser eye surgery payment plans factsheet to learn more.