Enable visual freedom without glasses or contacts with LASIK in Adelaide

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is suitable for many people with common vision problems. You may be a candidate if your prescription falls within these ranges:

• Myopia (short-sightedness) up to -10.00 dioptres.
• Hyperopia (long-sightedness) up to +5.00 dioptres.
• Astigmatism (uneven corneal curvature) up to -5.00 dioptres.

If your prescription is outside these ranges, other vision correction procedures like TransPRK, SMILE Pro or ICL surgery may be considered. These options can be suitable for people with higher prescriptions or thinner corneas.

To be suitable for LASIK, you typically need to:

• Be over 18 years old.
• Have a stable prescription for at least 12 months.
• Be free from active eye diseases, infections or certain health conditions.
• Not be pregnant or breastfeeding, as hormonal changes can affect the eyes.

Start by taking our 2-minute self-test for an early understanding of your vision needs and lifestyle. If it indicates you are likely to be suitable, the next step is a free in-person assessment where we perform detailed scans and measurements, talk through your goals and concerns, and help you compare your options. Dr Gupta will explain the benefits, limitations and risks of each option, so you are fully informed before deciding. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a type of laser eye surgery that reshapes the surface of your eye (the cornea) to improve how light focuses on your retina. This helps reduce how much you rely on glasses or contact lenses.

During the procedure:

• A femtosecond laser creates a thin flap on the surface of your cornea.
• The flap is gently lifted.
• An excimer laser then reshapes the corneal tissue underneath.
• The flap is placed back down, where it heals naturally without stitches.

By changing the shape of the cornea, LASIK allows light to focus more accurately at the back of the eye, improving vision for people with short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism.

Possible advantages of LASIK, for suitable candidates:

• The procedure uses a laser to reshape the cornea, which allows the surgeon to work on specific areas of the eye.
• Some people explore LASIK because they prefer not to rely on glasses or contacts for certain tasks.
• People who wish to avoid frequent contact-lens wear sometimes consider LASIK as another option for managing their vision.

Disadvantages:

• A LASIK procedure involves creating a flap in the cornea, and this can carry risks such as flap-related complications, infection or epithelial ingrowth.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

LASIK is considered a low-risk procedure for suitable candidates, and complications are uncommon when performed by experienced surgeons. However, like all surgical or invasive procedures it does carry potential risks. Rare risks of LASIK include:

• Infection, which is uncommon and usually treatable with medication.
• Corneal ectasia, a condition where the cornea becomes weaker and thinner over time.
• Loss of best-corrected vision, meaning reduced vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Your surgeon will assess your eyes carefully to reduce these risks. LASIK is not recommended for patients with certain corneal conditions or unstable prescriptions.

Immediately after the surgery you may feel a gritty or sandy sensation in your eye, be slightly sensitive to light, or experience watering eyes for a few hours. Vision recovers quickly for most people. Before undergoing LASIK, your surgeon will explain all possible risks and benefits, and you should seek a second opinion if you are unsure.

If LASIK is not right for your eyes, other laser vision correction options may be considered. Which one suits you best is confirmed at your assessment.

• SMILE Pro is a flap-free eye laser surgery used to treat short-sightedness and astigmatism.
• TransPRK is a touch-free laser method and an advanced form of PRK, LASIK's predecessor. It is still used today for patients who do not qualify for LASIK or SMILE Pro surgery, and it can treat short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
• ICL surgery uses implantable contact lenses. Unlike laser eye surgery, this treatment is reversible, and it is used to treat severe short-sightedness, severe long-sightedness and severe astigmatism.

Step 1: Creating the flap. A thin flap is created on the surface of the cornea using the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser. This step takes just a few seconds. The flap is gently lifted and folded back to expose the inner corneal tissue.

Step 2: Reshaping the cornea. The MEL 90 laser is then used to reshape the cornea based on your specific prescription. For short-sightedness (myopia) the cornea is made flatter, for long-sightedness (hyperopia) it is made steeper, and for astigmatism it is smoothed to correct uneven curvature. Eye tracking follows small eye movements in real time to help deliver treatment accurately.

Step 3: Replacing the flap. Once the reshaping is complete, the flap is gently placed back into position. It stays in place naturally and begins healing immediately, without the need for stitches.

Some people describe noticing early changes in their vision during the first part of the recovery period. LASIK has been used for many years as a form of laser vision correction, and research continues to explore outcomes, experiences and long-term safety. It is common for vision to continue settling over several weeks as the eyes heal, and your clinician will explain the typical recovery process and any factors that may affect your experience.

Vision recovers quickly for most people. In the first few hours you may notice a gritty sensation, some light sensitivity or watering eyes, which usually settle soon after. Your clinician will explain the typical recovery process and any factors that may affect your experience.

Cost depends on the treatment that suits your eyes. You can see indicative pricing and payment-plan options on our pricing page, and your exact pricing is confirmed at your consultation once we know which option is right for you.