LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is FDA approved most technologically advanced method available today for correcting short-slightness, long-sightedness, astigmatism and age related long-sightedness.

• Permanent correction of refractive error.
• Non-invansive, safe outpatient procedure.
• Painless.
• Fast recovery.
• Quick return of functional vision.
• Minimal temporary side effects.
• No injections, no suture. Only numbing eye drops.

Why LASIK?

• Reduce your dependence on spetacles and contact lenses.
• Eliminate risks associated with long term contact lens usage.
• Increase convenience in everyday life.
• Improve your performance in many activities, especially water and outdoor sports.
• Improve your self-confidence.
• One of the most frequently performed elective surgical procedures – with millions of patients treated world wide.

Ideal candidate

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Stable vision for at least one year.
• Adequate thickness of the cornea.
• Healthy eyes.
• Not pregnant or nursing.

Possible side effect and risks

Although the risks of these side effects and complications are very small in LASIK, they have to be thoroughly understood and accepted by the patient before undergoing the procedure. Most of these are short terms and all are treatable.

These include

• dry eyes.
• difficulty with night driving.
• fluctuation of vision.
• glare sensitivity etc.

In our centre, you will be under the care of expert hands in the best surgical environment and set-up, so the risks will be very much reduced.

LASIK procedures

LASIK is performed on an outpatient basis under topical anesthesia (only anesthetic eye drops are used). The procedure will only takes approximately 10 minutes per eye.

     

Step 1 :	Creation of Flap - A flap is created on the cornea to prepare for Lasering.
Step 2 :	Lasering - Laser started to sculpt the cornea to treat the refractive errors.
Step 3 :	Flap replacement - Flap is replaced to its original position after lasering.
Step 4 :	You will be given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops after laser treatment which you must use as prescribed. A lubricant will also be prescribed to relieve any temporary dryness that you may experience. A follow-up examination will be carried out the day after laser treatment. Routine follow up eye checks will be fixed at regular intervals for up to 6 months.

Type of treatment

Treatment options in Sabah Medical Centre are:

• Tissue Saving LASIK
• Advanced Aspheric LASIK
• Wavefront or Customised LASIK

Tissue saving LASIK

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Tissue saving LASIK is recommended to those who have thin cornea.

Advanced Aspheric LASIK

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Advanced Aspheric LASIK is the key to providing the best results as it uses a specialized wavefront-guided ablation pattern in order to maintain the natural bell-shaped curve of your eye.

Advantages:

• Maintains natural corneal shape
• Increased quality of vision
• Reduced risk of night vision problems, such as glare and haloes

Wavefront / Customized LASIK

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With the advanced techonlogy of wavefront analyzer, we can analyse your eyes' unique combination of lower and higher aberrations to create a custom wavefront map. This unique wavefront map is transferred to the Excimer laser system to create a unique profile for the treatment. Your cornea is then precisely reshaped using this data profile from the wavefront map.

Advantages:

• Personalized treatment
• Improved treatment accuracy
• Increased quality of vision
• Reduced risk of night vision problems, such as glare and haloes

Technology

Features and Benefits

• Very Fast
• New Ultra-Fast Eye tracker
• Very Small Laser Spot (0.7mm)
• Improved software

If you are a contact lens wearer, the lenses must first be laid off for a certain period of time. For examination accuracy, the cornea has to be in its healthy and original state.

Soft lenses (Disposable / Daily)	Gas permeable / Hard Lenses
10 to 14 days	Min 3 to 4 weeks

Comprehensive eye examination

A series of tests taking a minimum of 3 hours will be carried out by our qualified Optometrist to determine your suitability:

• Automated Refraction and Keratometry
  To determine your refractive error.

• Refraction
  Your refractive error will be confirmed by our qualified optometrist.

• Slit Lamp Examination
  Your cornea and external eye will be examined with a microscope.

• Pupil size
  Pupil will be measured to determine the size in dim conditions.

• Tonometry
  To measure the intra-ocular eye pressures.

• Topography
  The contour of the cornea will be mapped.

• Pachymetry
  The corneal thickness will be measured.

• Fundus Examination
  The interior of the eye is examined to exclude the presence of any eye diseases.

• Cycloplegic Eye Examination
  Dilation of the pupil to aid internal eye examination and measurement of refractive error. (After these drops it may be difficult to drive for the rest of the day; as the vision may be very blurred and you may need sunglasses to reduce the glare.)

   

LASIK surgery and recommended post operative review

LASIK Surgery Day	1st Review	2nd Review	3rd Review	4th Review
2 days after the comprehensive eye examination	1st day post operation	1 week post op.	1 month post op.	3 months post op.

Before the LASIK procedure

At Home

• Eat light meal before the treatment.
• You need to arrange transport to go home after the treatment.
• Do shower, bathe or wash your hair before the procedure; so that you do not have to take bath / shower after the treatment, to avoid water getting into the eyes.
• Strictly, do not use any make up, hairspray, cologne, perfume or substances that contain alcohol on the treatment day.

During LASIK procedure

• Before you enter the treatment room, our staff will give you some tablets.
• Eye drops will be put into the operative eye.
• During the procedure, the doctor will give you clear instructions from time to time.

After LASIK procedure

You are required to rest in the recovery room for about 30 minutes after the surgery. Your eyes will be checked before going home.

Dos and Don'ts after the procedure

1 day after the procedure

• It is advisable to rest your eyes for a day.

1 day to 1 week after the procedure

• Don't rub, squeeze, press or massage your eyes.
• Avoid soap and water into your eyes.
• Don't apply any make up or eye cream around your eyes.
• Apply the eye drops as prescribed.
• If you need to clean your face, be extra careful by patting dry your face with facial cotton.
• Be wary of babies and small children's fingers.
• Put on eye shield when you go to sleep or nap.
• Avoid body contact sport or hazardous activities.
• Avoid going to dusty, smoky or dirty environment as this may expose you to infective agents.
• If you need to wash your hair, you may go to hair saloon.

1 day to 1 month after the procedure

• No swimming, diving or facial treatment within this period.
• Use sunglasses under the sun.

 
Related Link:

• Ophthalmology Services