Eye Laser Blogs

Fun facts about our laser machine – Amaris 1050RS

Brian M Logan — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 01:04:51 +0000

George St Eye Centre uses the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS. This is the fastest laser available and we were one of the first practices in Sydney to have it! Here are some fun facts about our laser:

It takes only 1.3 seconds to treat 1 dioptre of myopia, meaning it takes approximately one third of the time to treat your refraction compared with other lasers.

Our laser uses world-first eye tracking in 7 dimensions to offer the most precise, reliable and safe treatment possible. The SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS records all movements that the eye can make and actively compensates for them at 1050 times per second. It can even anticipate and compensate for eye movements before they actually occur, making its accuracy and reliability unmatched among other lasers.
AMARIS has earned many national and international awards because of this, so our patients can be rest assured that they are being treated with the highest level of precision and accuracy.

Our laser uses an intelligent thermal control system to prevent any damage to the surrounding corneal tissue and allows a more reliable healing process after the surgery. Through this technology, our laser is gentle on your eye, preserves corneal tissue and achieves an exceptionally smooth surface.
Our laser is fully integrated with 3D scanning technology (Peramis) which is used to map your personalised refractive signature from 45000 measured points at a resolution is 3 to 6 times higher than is usual on the market.

Come and visit us a George St Eye Centre to see the amazing technology at work!

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LASIK, PRK, SMILE – What’s the difference?

Brian M Logan — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 07:55:17 +0000

You might have heard about laser eye surgery but did you know that here at George St Eye Centre, there are 3 possible types of surgery you can have?

LASIK stands for Laser In Situ Keratomileusis and is probably the most well known type of laser vision correction. It involves two lasers with 3D mapping technology in one integrated procedure. The first femtosecond laser, called the IntraLase, creates a very thin, precisely measured flap of corneal tissue or “epithelium”. This flap is folded back, and your personalised LASIK procedure is performed with the excimer laser. This is a cold laser that uses short, intense pulses of light to alter the corneal shape to match your refraction. The flap is then carefully repositioned into its original position, where it adheres securely and grows back together with the rest of the epithelium.

Flap is prepared > Tissue is removed > Flap is placed back in its original position and adheres on its own

TransPRK stands for Photorefractive Keratectomy and is very similar to LASIK, except that it is 100% completed by the Excimer laser. Rather than creating a flap, the epithelium is precisely removed with the same laser used to treat your refraction (known as TransPRK). The excimer “cool” laser then, like as in LASIK, uses short, intense pulses of light to reshape the cornea to match your refraction. No instruments touch the eye in TransPRK and it is all performed in a single step. This substantially reduces total treatment time, but the recovery time is a slightly longer compared with LASIK to allow for the cornea to heal. Our laser at George St Eye Centre utilises the SmartSurf^ACE technology, which uses an innovated 3D model of your cornea to optimise pulse distribution of the laser. This creates create a smoother corneal surface which assists with faster healing. Since the epithelium is like a skin layer, it naturally heals on its own. To assist with healing and comfort, you will have a bandage contact lens placed on your eye at the end of surgery, which we will remove for you 5 days later.
SMILE is not just what you will be doing after you have had laser eye surgery! SMILE is actually also a type of surgery, referring to Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. It is a bladeless, single-step, “keyhole”-like procedure. The femtosecond laser creates a 3mm opening inside the cornea, and a precise amount of corneal tissue is removed to correct for your vision. Since it is minimally invasive, recovery is very quick as there is less epithelial healing required in comparison to PRK.In all types of surgery, the procedure only takes approximately 20 minutes from the time you step into the Laser suite. It is done in our rooms. You will have a regime of antibiotic drops to reduce risk of infection, an anti-inflammatory drop and lots of lubricants to help with the healing process.

George St Eye Centre offers free laser assessments that are able to tell you which procedure type you are suitable for. Contact the team today on (02) 9230 0010 to discuss your surgery options.

Request your free laser eye assessment here.

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Myth Busting – What isn’t true about laser eye surgery

Brian M Logan — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:13:31 +0000

Laser eye surgery is a relatively quick and inexpensive procedure with long-term benefits. Its popularity has been increasing over recent years, but with this has come myths that discourage patients from proceeding. Let’s take a look at the most common myths and bust them together…

I can go blind from laser eye surgery

FALSE! Risks and complications from laser eye surgery are extremely rare. As with all surgery, there is always risk involved, but worldwide, the incidence of serious haze is less than 1 in 2,000 and the incidence of infection is 1 in 5,000. In contrast, the Australian incidence of infection from contact lens wear is much higher, estimated to be 4.2 per 10,000 contact lens wearers per year![1]

It’s cheaper to keep using glasses and contact lenses compared with getting laser eye surgery

FALSE! It is estimated that in 30 years of buying new glasses, contact lenses and prescription sunglasses each year, we will spend approximately $54,000! This is almost 10 times more than the base cost of laser eye surgery for both eyes with George St Eye Centre.

Laser eye surgery wears off over time

FALSE! Laser eye surgery is permanent. All the specialized scans taken prior to surgery are to ensure your treatment is completely and permanently matched to your visual needs. In some cases, however, a characteristic called regression may occur. This is the individual tendency of your eye to heal in a way that brings your vision back to its original state prior to surgery. An enhancement procedure may be necessary to correct it, but this is all accounted for when planning your surgery. Similarly, undercorrection or overcorrection may occur as the cornea heals and stabilises after surgery, but again this can be rectified with enhancement if needed. The incidence of significant overcorrection is only 1-3% and undercorrection is only 2-3%.

Also, over time, we all undergo a natural aging process called presbyopia which impacts our near vision and may lead to reliance on glasses for reading. The good news is that we also offer other procedures which allow you to remain glasses and contact lens free with age.

Laser eye surgery is painful

FALSE! Laser eye surgery is quick and relatively painless. Prior to and during the surgery, local anaesthetic drops are instilled to ensure your eyes are numb and to reduce discomfort. Most patients report feeling a slight pressure during the procedure but there is no pain. In the day or two after surgery, you may experience some mild discomfort as you recover, but this can be managed effectively with lubricating eye drops and medication.

The laser used can burn my eye like in ‘Final Destination’

FALSE! Laser eye surgery uses one of two safe lasers (or both in LASIK):

The excimer laser: this is a cold laser. It uses short, intense pulses of cool ultraviolet light to ablate the corneal surface to correct your vision in PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) surgeries. The laser at George St Eye Centre, the Schwind AMARIS 1050RS, has Intelligent Thermal Effect Control, to ensure the laser temperature is regulated and to prevent any damage to the surrounding corneal tissue.
The femtosecond laser: this uses infrared light in ultra-short pulses to vaporise tiny areas of tissue, known as photodisruption. This process creates the flap in LASIK surgery and the lenticule in SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) surgery.

It won’t work if I move during surgery

FALSE! Our laser, the Schwind AMARIS 1050RS, has eye tracking in 7 dimensions and records all movements that the eye can make and actively compensates for them at 1050 times per second. It can even anticipate and compensate for eye movements before they actually occur, making its accuracy and reliability unmatched among other lasers. Also, your eyelids will be held open during the surgery with a device called an eye speculum, so that you don’t have to worry about blinking.

Laser eye surgery changes my eye colour

FALSE! The laser used only touches the cornea, the clear front window of your eye. Since your iris, the coloured part of your eye, is behind the cornea, it will not be affected. You can be rest assured that you will still look like you after the surgery – just glasses free!

George St Eye Centre offers free laser assessments. At this appointment, you will have the opportunity to discuss any questions you may have. Contact the team today on (02) 9230 0010 to discuss your treatment options.

Request your free laser eye assessment here.

[1] Stapleton F, Keay L, Edwards K et al. The incidence of contact lens-related microbial keratitis in Australia. Ophthalmology 2008; 115: 1655– 1662.

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Why are my eyes dry when I’m producing lots of tears?

Brian M Logan — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 06:19:58 +0000

“My eye is so watery why am I being diagnosed with Dry Eye Syndrome?!”

What is Dry Eye?

A common eye problem affecting an estimated 7.4% – 33.7% of the general population; characterized by a disruption of the front layer of the eye called the tear film. This layer provides the front of the eye a healthy buffer from air exposure and a significant amount of the focusing power for clear vision. For any eye procedures the tear film is one of the most important layers to regulate as it affects the outcome of laser and cataract surgeries; so, it may not be uncommon for the ophthalmologists to prescribe eyedrops before taking any measurements of your eye.

Dry Eye Syndrome can be commonly caused by excessive contact lens wear, exposure to extreme weather conditions, long periods of screen use, and hormonal changes to name a few. To understand your surface of the eye our doctors or (Dry eye Clinic) will ask thorough questions, observe blinking patterns, examine the front of the eye, then stain the ocular surface with fluorescein dye to evaluate stability of the tear film.

Tearing is a common side effect of dry eye syndrome as the brain is being stimulated to produce more tears to keep the eye moist. Other symptoms include:

Burning
Stinging
Itching
Sandy or gritty feeling
Scratchy or foreign-body sensation
Discharge
Frequent blinking
Crusting on eyelashes
Red eyes
Blurry or fluctuating vision especially worse when using electronics, driving or reading
Light sensitivity
Headaches
Heavy eye lids
Eye fatigue

The treatment and management of dry eye has become quite effective with new research being conducted every day on eyedrops and technology! It’s common to start off with the use of artificial tears and an eyelid hygiene regime. Ultimately, most people who keep up with the recommended regime provided by their doctor will control their progression of dry eye allowing them to function symptom-free or with minimal difficulty.

Find out if you’re experiencing dry eye symptoms with the questionnaire here!

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Can laser eye surgery fix astigmatism?

Brian M Logan — Sun, 01 May 2022 01:21:12 +0000

Do you have astigmatism? There is a common misconception that laser eye surgery cannot fix astigmatism. However, this is not true! All forms of laser eye surgery including LASIK and PRK have the potential to treat astigmatism.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is an imperfection of the eye where the front surface (cornea) is irregularly shaped. This causes light that enters the eye to focus in-front and/or behind the retina, resulting in blurry vision at all distances.

Astigmatism is a very common condition and occurs in about ⅓ of all individuals. It is extremely rare to find eyes which are perfectly regular in shape. Astigmatism can exist in conjunction with other forms of refractive error such as myopia (short sightedness) and hyperopia (long sightedness).

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

The key symptom of astigmatism is blurry vision at all distances. You may also experience eyestrain, headache and squinting.

How does laser eye surgery fix astigmatism?

The processes used to treat laser eye surgery are the same as those used to treat myopia and hyperopia. All treatment methods aim to reshape your cornea so that it is a more favourable shape. In the case of astigmatism, the treatment plan aims to reshape your cornea so as to even out the curvatures in all meridians. You can think of it as making your corneal surface more regular, i.e., more soccer ball shaped rather than football shaped.

There are slight differences between each type of laser eye surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) but all can be used to treat astigmatism. Depending on the degree of your astigmatism, certain types of laser laser may be more suitable for you than others. Read more about the different types of laser eye surgery and their processes here.

What if my astigmatism is really high? Am I still suitable for laser eye surgery?

Most people with astigmatism are able to be corrected with laser eye surgery. For those with very irregular corneas, PRK is generally recommended. However, in some cases, if your astigmatism is too irregular, you may be unsuitable to have the procedure. The only way to find out if you are eligible for laser eye surgery is by coming in for a comprehensive assessment at a specialised refractive clinic.

The consultation will involve detailed scans of your eye to measure its unique regularity and thickness. These scans form the basis of your personalised laser treatment plan. We offer free laser eye assessments to help you determine your suitability for laser eye surgery. Book in for an assessment here.

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What age is too late for LASIK?

Brian M Logan — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 05:16:25 +0000

Are you over 50 and considering laser eye surgery? Have people told you that you are too old for LASIK surgery and that you’ve missed the boat? An upper age limit to laser surgery is a very common misconception! There is no upper age limit to which you can get LASIK surgery! We have patients over 50 who have come in for laser surgery and now enjoy their crystal clear vision. It all comes down to choosing the best procedure for your individual lifestyle needs.

Where does the myth come from?

So, where does the myth come from? Although there is no upper age barrier to laser eye surgery, there are some grounds for the upper age limit myth. This is due to a natural age-based phenomenon called presbyopia.

Presbyopia is a completely normal change to your eye that eventually occurs in all individuals as you reach old age (>45). It involves the hardening/stiffening of the crystalline lens inside your eye. This hardening of the lens makes it more difficult for your lens to change shape and, as a result, see up close. You may have noticed this happening already if you need to hold your reading material further away to see clearly. You may also have already been prescribed reading glasses by your optometrist to use for close-up tasks. These are all signs of presbyopia.

This is why laser eye surgery is sometimes not recommended for presbyopic individuals. Laser eye surgery works by making changes to the front surface (cornea) of your eye to correct your short-sightedness (myopia) and long-sightedness (hyperopia). However, in presbyopia, these changes occur at the level of your lens. This means any laser correction done to get rid of your distance glasses will usually not help when you begin to need reading glasses for presbyopia.

I’m presbyopic, but I don’t want to wear reading glasses… What are my options?

Fortunately, there are options for presbyopic individuals in our modern age to keep your glasses-free for a lifetime! Such options include:

Refractive lens exchange (RLE)

Refractive lens exchange is a procedure that replaces your natural lens inside your eye with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). It is a similar procedure to cataract extraction, except, in this case, the lens that is being replaced is cloudy. RLE is great for those who are presbyopic because it can correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and presbyopia. There are various IOLs available to choose from, which gives you varying visual outcomes.

Learn more about the different types of IOLs and their effects at our blog post here.

Laser blended vision

Laser surgery can also correct presbyopia, done via a blended vision configuration. Blended vision is where one eye is corrected for clear vision at one distance (near), and the other eye is corrected at another distance (far). After a period of adaptation, your brain will automatically differentiate between near and far images and combine these two images to allow you to see at virtually all distances.

Which procedure is right for me?

A thorough examination of your lenses and discussing your lifestyle needs with a specialised refractive surgeon is the best way to determine which procedure is right for you. No hard or fast rule determines whether one is suitable for laser surgery. It all comes down to understanding your lifestyle needs and desired visual outcomes. Whether it be laser surgery or a lens-based option, a comprehensive assessment with your ophthalmologist is the first step in gathering your options to becoming glasses-free.

We understand that knowing which procedure is right for you may be confusing. If you would like to learn more about laser eye surgery and gather your tailored treatment options to remain glasses or contact lens free, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free laser vision assessment or book in now using our online booking platform.

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How much does LASIK cost?

Brian M Logan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 04:35:44 +0000

So you’ve been thinking about getting laser eye surgery… but how much does it cost? The last thing we want are issues of cost to cloud your journey towards visual freedom. Glasses and contact lenses may be cheaper initially, but laser eye surgery is a one-time investment into your vision with no ongoing costs. To help you out, we’ve created this blog post to break down all the costs regarding laser eye surgery. Have a read!

How much does laser eye surgery cost?

At George St Eye Centre, we offer laser eye surgeries as a package. Depending on the package and type of laser surgery that you choose and are suitable for, the price of surgery can range from between:

LASIK: $2,750.00 – $3,300.00 per eye
PRK: $2,500 -$3,150.00 per eye

What’s included in the package?

Surgery cost
Facility fee
Laser enhancement procedures
- Factors such as your age, degree of refractive error and eye health determine whether you need an enhancement procedure.
- Depending on the package you choose, any additional laser procedures are free of cost for up to 3 years.
One year of follow-up appointments
- Normally, specialist follow-up appointments cost between $80.00 to $150.00.
- The number of follow-up visits you need depends on the type of procedure you have and your recovery process. This is all free of cost for an entire year with our package.

Why does the price vary between clinics

Technology – George St Eye Centre houses one of the world’s highest performance laser machines – the Schwind Amaris 1050 Hz. It is the only one in Sydney. It uses 7-D eye tracking to guarantee exceptionally high-speed and high-precision results to give you unmatched vision.
Aftercare – Prices for laser eye surgery depend on factors such as additional procedures, post-operative care and diagnostic tests. When comparing prices between clinics, you must consider what is included in each package.
Surgeon’s experience – More highly experienced surgeons normally charge a higher fee to reflect their higher level of expertise.

Will Medicare or Health Funds cover anything?

Medicare

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the cost of laser eye surgery unless indicated for certain eye diseases.

Health Fund

Some health funds cover the cost of laser eye surgery if you are on their top, premium cover. Below are some health funds that we know cover the partial or full cost of laser eye surgery.

Bupa Ultimate
Medibank Private
AHM Lifestyle Extras & Super Extra

It is always best to contact your health fund directly to find out if you are covered.

Payment options

At George St Eye Centre, we offer ZipMoney as a payment option to help you fund your laser eye surgery. This allows you to pay the money later at your own pace, interest-free for up to 18 months. This is a great option if you cannot afford to pay for laser eye surgery in one lump sum.

Conclusion

We understand how important it is to be transparent and open about the costs involved in any procedure you get done, and we’re here to help. On the day of your laser consultation, a detailed and comprehensive quote will be provided to you by our friendly receptionists. Any questions you have will be answered.

Cost is important, but ultimately, clear vision and the safety of your eyes are the most important factors when considering laser eye surgery.

If you would like more information about costs, processes and aftercare involved in laser eye surgery, do not hesitate to contact our friendly team at (02) 9230 0010 and book in for a free laser eye assessment.

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Is LASIK surgery safe?

Brian M Logan — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 03:32:23 +0000

You might have been considering LASIK surgery for many years, or you might just be dipping your toe in the amazing world of laser eye surgery. Getting out of those pesky glasses or contact lenses seems like a dream- but how safe is it to do so? Almost all our patients have a concern is, “Is LASIK surgery safe?”

LASIK surgery is an incredibly safe procedure! It is one of the safest elective procedures performed worldwide. It was first performed in clinical practice in the 1980s, almost 30 years ago, and since then, the technology has evolved and improved to provide incredibly remarkable, predictable and safe outcomes. A recent study found that 95.4% of patients are incredibly satisfied after laser surgery.^[1] Out of the whopping 16.3 million people on which laser surgery is performed, these results affirm the overwhelming success of the procedure.

What happens during LASIK surgery?

It is important to understand how LASIK surgery is performed in grasping just how safe the procedure is. All the action happens on the front surface of your eye, called the cornea. First, a small flap is created on the cornea using a femtosecond laser. After this flap is created, a computer-controlled excimer laser is then used to reshape the corneal surface by shooting highly precise pulses of ultraviolet light. Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is repositioned over the newly reshaped cornea without the need for any sutures.

The innovation of the femtosecond laser in 1990 is just one of many key pivotal steps in establishing the safety and efficiency of LASIK surgery. The femtosecond laser is the key to blade-free laser surgery. This means lasers, rather than blades, are used to create the corneal flap, ensuring unmatched precision and safety.

What if I move my eyes?

Another concern is what happens if you move your eyes during laser surgery. There’s no issue whatsoever if you move your eyes! Modern-day laser machines are equipped with eye-tracking technology. This means the laser machine immediately picks up any micro movement that your eye makes with zero latency, ensuring the highest accuracy possible. The Schwind Amaris laser machine in our clinic utilises 7-D eye tracking. This means all 7 dimensions of your eye’s movements are tracked, including x, y, z, horizontal, vertical movements and cyclotorsion! Any sudden eye movements also trigger the laser machine to cease firing automatically.

All our patients undergo a thorough assessment of their eyes to determine their suitability before proceeding with laser eye surgery. Not all patients are suitable for laser surgery, unfortunately. On the day of your assessment, factors such as the below will be taken into consideration:

The thickness of your cornea
Your existing prescription
Any existing eye conditions

This means that when we find you suitable for laser surgery, this is with the knowledge that you are a 100% perfect candidate.

We would be delighted to address any questions or queries you may have about laser surgery. Book a free laser eye assessment or call us at (02) 9230 0010 to determine your suitability for laser surgery now.

^[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19344821/#:~:text=The%20overall%20patient%20satisfaction%20rate,(286%20of%20297%20subjects).

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Can you go blind from LASIK?

Brian M Logan — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:53:02 +0000

One of the most common questions we get from our patients is, “can you go blind from laser eye surgery?” For good reason – our eyes and vision are so precious; we don’t want to put ourselves at any risk of losing this extraordinary sense.

Fortunately, the answer is no. You cannot go blind from LASIK surgery. There have been no reported incidences of anyone going blind from laser eye surgery. LASIK surgery is one of the safest elective procedures and the success rate is extremely high. In fact, a recent study has shown that laser eye surgery actually has a lower risk of infection than for contact lens wear!^[1]

What happens if I move my eye during LASIK?

Another common question patients ask us is, “what happens if I move my eye during laser surgery?” A genuine concern, however, not to worry! The technology used for laser eye surgery in today’s age is so advanced meaning that any eye movement is automatically tracked for the laser to adjust. Any sudden eye movements will also cause the laser to automatically stop.

George St Eye Centre is also proud to house the most advanced laser in the Southern hemisphere – the Schwind Amaris. This laser machine compensates for eye movements in all 7 dimensions – X, Y, Z axis, horizontal, vertical movements and cyclotorsion. This ensures tracking to the utmost precision ensuring ultimate safety and precision for crystal clear vision!

What are the risks?

We now know that laser eye surgery is extremely safe. But that’s not to say that complications won’t occur, albeit extremely rare and temporary in its effect. These complications usually come from improper aftercare following the procedure, rather than from the procedure itself. This includes symptoms such as dry eyes, glare and halos from bright lights and infection.

The best way to maximise recovery and prevent any complications is to follow the appropriate aftercare procedures given by your doctor. This involves making sure to use the postoperative eye drops as prescribed, refraining from rubbing your eyes and avoiding aggressive contact sports for several weeks, amongst other considerations.

We’re here to guide you through any queries or concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us to book a free laser eye assessment and get all your LASIK questions answered.

^[1] Masters J, Kocak M & Waite A. Risk for microbial keratitis: Comparative metaanalysis of contact lens wearers and post-laser in situ keratomileusis patients. J Cataract Refract Surg 2017; 43: 67–73.

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What are the Different Types of Lenses for Cataract Surgery?

Brian M Logan — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 07:10:49 +0000

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision impairment worldwide; cataract surgery being the only effective means of treatment.

Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy cataract lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). There are many types of IOLs available; the choice of which can grant you varying visual outcomes after surgery!

This blog aims to explore the various types of IOLs available and their varying visual benefits to help you decide which lens is right for you.

What is an intraocular lens (IOL)?

An intraocular lens (IOL) is a tiny, artificial lens that replaces your natural cataract lens during cataract surgery. It is made from silicone, acrylic, or other plastic materials, and coated with a special material to protect your eyes from ultraviolet light.

Intraocular Lens (IOL)

What are the different types of IOLs?

1. Monofocal

Monofocal lenses allow for clear vision at a single distance. This can be at close distances (e.g. for reading), middle distances (e.g. for computer screens) or far distances (e.g. for driving or golf). If you attempt to look at distances nearer or farther than your set distance, your vision may be blurry and you may require additional glasses to see clearly for these tasks.

2. Multifocal

Multifocal lenses allow for clear vision at multiple distances. These lenses offer you the most visual freedom and are useful if you desire clear vision at both near, far and intermediate distances without the need for additional glasses. The lens is very different to the multifocal lenses in glasses and works by focusing light at multiple focal points in the eye.

However, this increase in focusing distances comes at a higher risk of side effects such as glare and halos around lights. Some patients are more sensitive to this than others; as such multifocal lenses are not tolerable by everyone.

3. Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF)

EDOF lenses are the latest advancement in IOLs, combining the benefits of both monofocal and multifocal lenses. It allows clear vision at both intermediate and far distances (i.e. from your computer screen to vision for driving). This lens works by creating a single, yet elongated focal point. As such, it reduces the risk of glare and halos that come with multifocal lenses.

4. Toric lenses

Monofocal and multifocal lenses can also come in toric forms. Toric lenses are able to correct astigmatism as well as short sightedness and long sightedness. Astigmatism is caused when the front surface of the eye (cornea) or less commonly, the lens inside your eye, is irregularly shaped. When the eye has an irregular curvature, this causes light that enters your eye to refract in different directions at multiple focal points, rather than at one singular focal point.

5. Other- Monovision

Monovision is not a type of IOL. Rather, it is a technique that allows for good vision at different distances. One eye has an IOL that allows for clear vision at one distance (near) and the other eye has an IOL that allows for clear vision at another distance (far). Out of one eye, you can see clearly at near distances, and from the other eye, you can see clearly at long distances such as for driving. Monovision may sound complicated, but most patients are able to adapt to this visual technique. After a period of adaptation, our brain is able to differentiate between near and far images automatically.

In saying that, not all patients are able to adapt to monovision, so you may need to trial this technique by using contact lens. Additionally, monovision may not be suitable for those who require good depth perception which is required for some occupations.

Which IOL should I choose?

Ultimately the IOL you choose is a highly personal choice, depending on your individual lifestyle factors and specific visual requirements.

Some questions to think about to help you in your decision include:

Do you mind wearing glasses?
What are your hobbies?
What do you do for a living?
Do you have any pre-existing eye conditions?

We understand that the choice of which IOL to use can be difficult and overwhelming at times.

Our team of highly qualified eye specialists at George Street Eye Centre are cataract specialists who are able to help you with your IOL choice. If you would like more information, please call us on (02) 9230 0010.

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