VisuMax™ The most advanced laser vision correction technology on the planet.
Precision and safety with a more personalised and gentle treatment
Only available in New Zealand through the Eye Centre Group - serving central New Zealand
EASY PAYMENT PLAN | WHY CHOOSE US
Options for Vision correction
Making an informed decision about laser eye surgery
Several options apart from laser refractive surgery are available for the correction of refractive errors.
Options for vision correction include:
- Glasses
- Contact lenses
- Laser Vision Correction procedures
- femtoLASIK
- Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) procedures:
- ASA LASEK - Safer Blade Free and Flap Free
- PRK (Photorefractive keratechomy
- Non-Laser Vision Correction
- Phakic Intraocular lens
- Clear lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation (See Treating Extreme Myopia.)
Glasses
Glasses are the most common way of correcting refractive errors. They have the advantages of safety, easy maintenance, low cost and versatility. The disadvantages include: changes in cosmetic appearance, restriction of peripheral vision, interference with recreational sporting or work related activities, and continual dependence. Over time replacing glasses may not be a lowest cost option.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses are also commonly used to correct refractive errors. They have the advantages of good cosmetic appearance, increased peripheral vision and more freedom in recreational and work related activities.
Many people who have worn contact lenses for years find that they develop decreased tolerance of the lenses as time goes by and they are less able to wear contacts for extended periods of time. Infection of the cornea is more common with contact lens wear.
Laser Vision Correction Procedures
Wellington Eye Centre was first to perform LASIK Laser Eye Surgery in New Zealand in 1995, more than a year before any other refractive surgery, and first to introduce Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) Epi-LASIK in 2005 to overcome some of the short comings of LASIK. They are now first to introduce the VisuMax™ femto second laser to perform VisuMax femtoLASIK in 2009.
VisuMax is the most advanced laser technology on the planet, and only available in New Zealand through the Eye Centre Group - proudly continually at the forefront of laser refractive surgery in New Zealand.
femtoLASIK
(femtosecond Laser-Assisted Intrastromal Keratomileusis)
In femtoLASIK, the femtosecond laser is used to create a very thin circular flap of corneal tissue which is lifted out of the way to expose the underlying corneal tissue. This tissue is then reshaped with the MEL80 excimer laser to correct the refractive error. The corneal flap is then placed back into position, where it is held in place by natural tissue suction pressure.
The Wellington Eye Centre was the first laser clinic to perform LASIK in New Zealand in 1995, and first to replace LASIK with ASA procedures in November 2005.
WEC stopped doing LASIK because of rare but potentially serious concerns about the risk of complications associated with creating the LASIK corneal flap using a mechanical flap cutter. These risks include damage to the cornea during flap cutting, displacement of the flap after surgery, increased risk of dry eye symptoms, inflammation under the flap and long term poor healing of the flap in all LASIK cases.
With the introduction of the VisuMax femtosecond laser for flap creation, the Wellington Eye Centre has reintroduced LASIK surgery for its patients. The speed and precision of the VisuMax laser allows femtoLASIK to be performed with equal safety to ASA LASEK, but with the faster and more comfortable recovery associated with LASIK.
Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)
Personalised ASA LASEK
Wellington Eye Centre was the first to introduce ASA to New Zealand to overcome some of the potentials complications of LASIK. ASA procedures are capable of producing very high quality vision with very high levels of safety. Many surgeons prefer ASA LASEK because of its high safety levels. The disadvantage of ASA LASEK is that recovery is significantly slower and there is more postoperative discomfort compared to femtoLASIK.
In ASA LASEK a thin layer of corneal epithelium (skin), about 0.05mm thick is removed from the front of the cornea, after which the laser treatment is performed.
Because no flap of corneal tissue is cut with ASA procedures there is a low risk of major complications.
After an ASA procedure a soft contact lens is placed on the eye to protect the skin while it heals. The contact lens is removed after 6 days, at which time the skin has usually fully healed in place.
At one day after ASA vision correction, we expect 25% of patients to have 6/6 vision and almost all patients will have at least 6/12 vision. Therefore at one day post-op, vision is good enough to function almost normally. And by one month, 88% of patients will be seeing 6/6 and 100% will see 6/7.
ASA has had marvellous results with few instances of major complications worldwide. It has also made laser vision correction available to many people who were not good candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas. If you were not a candidate for LASIK you may be suitable for ASA LASEK.
Custom ASA LASEK with Wavefront optimised technology, as is performed with the MEL80 excimer laser, allows for the most reliable and most accurate laser eye surgery to be performed.
PRK
(Photorefractive Keratectomy)
PRK has been performed since the early 1980s and so far no long term complications have been reported. It was a successful procedure with excellent long term results. However, it has been superseded and is a method that is rarely used today.
* Note: Laser Refractive Surgery does not guarantee complete freedom from glasses or contact lenses. We will discuss the likely results regarding your eyes after a medical assessment. However, most patients do not need to wear glasses or contact lenses post-operatively.