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Laser eye surgery Advertising Feature

Creating vision for clearer, brighter future‘I have had patients tell methey felt like a new person;felt somuch better.’Dr Michael Lawless

Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism can be treated usinglaser eye surgery. Inset: Dr Michael Lawless.

Laser eye surgery can significantly improveeyesight in suitable candidates and offersother life-changing benefits.Aswell as allowing patients to discard

their glasses or contact lenses (or reducedependence on them), the surgery has beenshown to boost self-confidence and enhanceperformance in areaswhere compromisedeyesightmay be holding a person back.‘‘I have had patients tellme they literally

felt like a newperson; felt somuch better andeven looked youngerwithout glasses,’’ saysDrMichael Lawless, one ofAustralia’smostexperienced refractive eye surgeons.‘‘This in turn gave themgreater self-

esteemwith all the positive impact that hason life in general.‘‘Where poor eyesight can impact

on a person’s ability to performatoptimal level – for example, incertain sports and in careerssuch as the defence forces –laser eye surgery opens awindow to a newworld.’’Based atVisionEye

Institute inChatswood,Dr Lawless has performedmore than 30,000 surgicalprocedures and is arecognised expert on laser eyesurgery. Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatismcan betreated by reshaping the cornea – the clearwindowon the front of the eye.These three types of laser eye surgery, all

performedbyDrLawless, are knownasLASIK (laser-assisted in situkeratomileusis); ASLA (advanced surfacelaser)/PRK (photorefractive keratectomy,the predecessor to LASIK), andSMILE

(small incision lenticuleextraction). LASIK,most

commonly performed inAustralia, uses afemtosecond laser to create a flap on thecornea, allowing a surgeon easy access toreshape the corneal bed.Recovery is typically fast and relatively

comfortable, Dr Lawless says.SMILE, the newest formof laser eye

surgery, is considered less invasive because

a flap in notmade in the cornea. Keyholesurgery is used. Recovery is slightly longerthanwith LASIK.DrLawless says the procedures are not

painful as anaesthetic drops are used.Helikens the sensation of the laser atwork asbeing a bit of pressure on the eyelids, then onthe eye itself.‘‘A device holds the lids open and the laser

can track the eyewhether itmoves up and

downor back to front or rotates,’’ he says.‘‘Themajority of peoplewill come outafterwards and say, ‘Was that it?’ ’’However, laser eye surgery is not for

everyone. ‘‘A surgeon experienced inrecommending themost appropriateprocedure for individual patients is critical,taking into account the patient’s refractiveerror, eye health, visual goals and lifestylefactors,’’ he says. ‘‘For somepatients, thismaymean recommending no surgery.’’It’s also important for a surgeon to

manage patients’ expectations and forpatients to be realistic.‘‘Depending on the individual, there are

limits towhat laser eye surgery can achieve,’’Dr Lawless says. ‘‘For instance, itmay not bepossible for a patient to stopwearing glassesaltogether. Theymayneed towear them forthings like driving at night.‘‘When laser eye surgery is not in a

patient’s best interests, a reputable surgeonwill always offer viable alternatives such asimplantable contact lenses.‘‘VisionEye Institute invests heavily in the

latest technology and has a dedicatedresearch unit to ensure optimal visualoutcomes, patient comfort and safety.’’

Any surgical or invasiveprocedure carries risk.Before proceeding, you should seek a secondopinion fromanappropriately qualifiedhealthpractitioner.

32 THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2019