Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about eye surgery at Optilase, from suitability and the procedures themselves to recovery, pricing and what to expect on the day.
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265 questions- Accessibility4 questions
- Aftercare and recovery30 questions
- Is blurred vision normal after Laser Eye Surgery?
- What should I expect after Cataract Surgery?
- Can I wear contact lenses after Cataract Surgery?
- Can I drink alcohol after Cataract Surgery?
- How soon can I fly after Cataract Surgery?
- Can I shower and wash my hair after Cataract Surgery?
- How soon can I drive after Cataract Surgery?
- How soon can I see after Cataract Surgery?
- What if I notice something wrong after my procedure?
- When can I exercise or swim again?
- What eye drops will I need after surgery?
- When can I drive again?
- When can I go back to work after my procedure?
- Do I need to attend my recommended aftercare appointments?
- How long will it take my eyes to heal?
- I had IOL surgery recently my vision is still blurry... is this normal?
- I had an accident and hurt my eye. Do I need to be seen?
- I am in a lot of pain after my IOL or LASIK surgery. Is this normal?
- When can I wear eye make up again?
- When can I return to my day to day activities?
- When can I fly after surgery?
- When do I start my drops I was given?
- Can I go home alone after surgery?
- I think my contact lens came out after surgery?
- One eye is sorer than the other is this normal?
- Can I get more drops if I run out?
- Can I get a work cert for being off work?
- How many post ops will I have?
- Do I have to be seen exactly 24 hours and 5 days after my surgery?
- Do I need to buy the drops for after surgery or are they provided?
- Astigmatism13 questions
- Can astigmatism get worse over time?
- Is astigmatism serious?
- Does astigmatism affect night driving?
- Can I wear normal contact lenses with astigmatism?
- What is the best eye surgery for astigmatism?
- Can LASIK cure astigmatism?
- Does laser eye surgery fix astigmatism?
- Can astigmatism be cured?
- Are you born with astigmatism?
- How common is astigmatism?
- What is the difference between astigmatism and normal vision?
- What does astigmatism look like?
- What does astigmatism mean?
- Clinic questions26 questions
- How should I choose a Laser Eye Surgery clinic?
- Is eye surgery safe?
- Are all clinics open on Saturdays?
- Do I need to visit a specific clinic for surgery?
- Are Optilase clinics wheelchair accessible?
- What are the opening hours for Optilase Londonderry?
- Is parking available near Optilase Londonderry?
- Can I have my eye surgery at the Londonderry clinic?
- Is Optilase Londonderry a standalone clinic?
- Where is Optilase Londonderry located?
- What are the opening hours for Optilase Newry?
- Is parking available near Optilase Newry?
- Can I have my eye surgery at the Newry clinic?
- Is Optilase Newry a standalone clinic?
- Where is Optilase Newry located?
- What are the opening hours for Optilase Belfast?
- Is parking available near Optilase Belfast?
- Can I have my consultation and surgery at Optilase Belfast?
- What treatments are available at Optilase Belfast?
- Where is Optilase Belfast located?
- What are the opening hours for Optilase Derry?
- Is parking available near Optilase Derry?
- Can I have my eye surgery at the Derry clinic?
- Is Optilase Derry a standalone clinic?
- Where is Optilase Derry located?
- Do I need to know which treatment I want before booking?
- Consultation14 questions
- Can I drive after my IOL preop?
- Can I drive after my Laser Eye Surgery preop?
- My eyes are still dilated hours after my consultation and even the next day? Is this normal?
- What happens at my intial assessment?
- Why do I have to have a separate appointment with the surgeon before my IOL surgery?
- How long is my consultation valid for?
- Why do I need an eye test before my consultation?
- Do I need to answer many question's in order to book in for a consultation?
- Can I wear contact lenses before my consultation?
- Can I drive after the consultation?
- Do I need to have an eye test done before my consultation?
- Do I need to meet my Surgeon ahead of having surgery?
- Who performs the consultation?
- How long does the consultation take?
- Eye conditions8 questions
- What should I do if my vision changes suddenly?
- Can all eye problems be corrected with surgery?
- What about eye conditions in children?
- Do eye conditions become more common as we get older?
- Are eye conditions genetic?
- What eye conditions are treated with laser?
- Can I have more than one eye condition at the same time?
- How do I know which eye condition I have?
- Hyperopia12 questions
- What if my hyperopia prescription is too high for laser eye surgery?
- Can hyperopia cause headaches?
- Can hyperopia be cured permanently?
- How do you fix farsightedness?
- Which is better for hyperopia: LASIK or PRK?
- Can laser eye surgery correct farsightedness?
- Am I suitable for hyperopia laser eye surgery?
- Does hyperopia get worse with age?
- Is hyperopia the same as presbyopia?
- How do I know if I am farsighted?
- What causes hyperopia?
- What does hyperopia mean?
- Laser eye surgery29 questions
- Can Laser Eye Surgery fix a lazy eye?
- Can you get Laser Eye Surgery with astigmatism?
- Can diabetics get Laser Eye Surgery?
- What age can you get Laser Eye Surgery?
- Can anyone get Laser Eye Surgery?
- What is corneal haze?
- Who is PRK for?
- Are PRK results comparable with LASIK?
- What are the benefits of PRK laser eye surgery?
- Can PRK cause dry eyes?
- Can astigmatism return after PRK surgery?
- Does PRK involve a corneal flap?
- Is PRK safe?
- How much does PRK laser eye surgery cost?
- How long does PRK recovery take?
- Is PRK more painful than LASIK?
- What happens during PRK eye surgery?
- Why would I need PRK instead of LASIK?
- What is the difference between PRK and LASEK?
- What is PRK eye surgery?
- What is the difference between laser eye surgery and reading vision correction?
- What is PRK?
- What is LASIK?
- Are there complications of having an Eye Surgery?
- Is Laser Eye Surgery safe?
- Is Laser Eye surgery painful?
- Will my eyes be bruised after Laser Eye Surgery?
- Im suitable for Lasik and PRK. Which is better to have?
- What technology do you use for the Laser Eye Surgery?
- Laser lifetime care guarantee6 questions
- Does every treatment come with a guarantee?
- Does the guarantee cover any changes to my sight in the future?
- Does the guarantee cover complications unrelated to my laser surgery?
- What's the difference between the lifetime care guarantee and standard care?
- Does the guarantee apply to Lens Replacement Surgery?
- What does the Optilase Laser Lifetime Care Guarantee include?
- Lens replacement surgery34 questions
- What is Cataract Surgery?
- How much does Phakic IOL Surgery cost?
- Can someone with a large pupil get a Phakic IOL?
- Can a Phakic IOL cause cataracts?
- Will I need check-ups after Phakic IOL Surgery?
- Is a Phakic IOL the same as Lens Replacement Surgery?
- What is the difference between Phakic IOL Surgery and laser eye surgery?
- Will I still need glasses after Phakic IOL Surgery?
- How long does Phakic IOL recovery take?
- What will my vision be like after Phakic IOL Surgery?
- Can a Phakic IOL be removed later?
- Is Phakic IOL Surgery safe?
- What is a Phakic IOL?
- Can monofocal or multifocal lenses correct astigmatism?
- Can I change my lens after surgery?
- Are the same lenses used for Cataract Surgery and Lens Replacement Surgery?
- Can I choose a multifocal lens for Cataract Surgery?
- Do multifocal lenses cause halos or glare?
- Will I definitely be glasses-free with a multifocal lens?
- Will I need glasses with a monofocal lens?
- Is a multifocal lens better than a monofocal lens?
- How much does Lens Replacement Surgery cost?
- Is Lens Replacement Surgery suitable if I am very short-sighted?
- Can Lens Replacement Surgery cause dry eyes?
- How long does recovery take after Lens Replacement Surgery?
- What is the difference between a monofocal and multifocal lens?
- Can Lens Replacement Surgery correct both near and distance vision?
- Is Lens Replacement Surgery permanent?
- Will I get cataracts after Lens Replacement Surgery?
- How is Lens Replacement Surgery different from cataract surgery?
- Is Lens Replacement Surgery safe?
- What is Lens Replacement Surgery?
- What is IOL surgery?
- Will I feel the IOL lens in my eye?
- Myopia11 questions
- Is laser eye surgery for myopia safe?
- What causes myopia to worsen?
- Can laser eye surgery correct high myopia?
- What is high myopia?
- Can myopia lead to blindness?
- Can LASIK cure myopia?
- Can myopia be cured?
- What is age-related myopia?
- Does myopia improve with age?
- Does reading cause myopia?
- Is myopia common?
- Preparing for surgery18 questions
- Does Laser Eye Surgery hurt?
- Can I be put to sleep for Cataract Surgery?
- Is Cataract Surgery painful?
- How long does eye surgery take?
- How experienced are Optilase's surgeons?
- Who will perform my procedure?
- What should I do to prepare on the day of my procedure?
- Can I tint my lashes before surgery?
- Can I eat/drink before surgery?
- Will I be in pain during the surgery?
- Will I be put to sleep during surgery?
- When do I need to stop wearing my contacts before surgery?
- Do you provide me with Valium for surgery?
- I feel unwell and I am due to have surgery. Do I need to postpone?
- Can both eyes be treated on the same day?
- How long does the surgery take?
- Do you do surgery every day?
- Who performs the Surgery?
- Presbyopia14 questions
- Can presbyopia come back after Lens Replacement Surgery?
- Will I still need reading glasses after Lens Replacement Surgery?
- Will everyone eventually develop presbyopia?
- What is the difference between hypermetropia and presbyopia?
- What should I consider before Lens Replacement Surgery?
- Am I suitable for Lens Replacement Surgery?
- Can LASIK correct presbyopia?
- Can laser surgery correct presbyopia?
- How do you correct presbyopia?
- Is presbyopia reversible?
- Can presbyopia be cured?
- Why do most people develop presbyopia as they age?
- What causes presbyopia?
- What does presbyopia mean?
- Results11 questions
- How successful is Laser Eye Surgery?
- Can Laser Eye Surgery be repeated?
- How long does Laser Eye Surgery last?
- Can a cataract come back after surgery?
- Does Cataract Surgery improve vision?
- Will I need reading glasses?
- Is Laser Eyer Surgery permanent?
- I feel my vision is worsening?
- Will my eyes look different after Laser Eye Surgery?
- I had Laser Eye Surgery years ago elsewhere and now I need glasses again.
- Will I have to wear glasses after my IOL surgery?
- Suitability31 questions
- When should I get Cataract Surgery?
- Can I have more than one type of treatment?
- How do I know which treatment I need?
- I have a history of Retinal Detachment. Can I have surgery?
- I have an active eye infection/Inflammation. Can I have surgery?
- I have an active Coldsore. Can I have surgery?
- I have moderate Dry Eye. Can I have surgery?
- I have cancer. Can I have surgery?
- I have depression/anxiety. Can I have surgery?
- I have a heart conditions. Can I have surgery?
- I am HIV Positive. Can I have surgery?
- I am pregnant or breasfteeding. Can I have surgery?
- I have Diabetes. Can I have surgery?
- I have Glaucoma. Can I have surgery?
- I have scarring on my cornea. Can I have surgery?
- I have an autoimmune condition. Can I have surgery?
- I am on roaccutane. Can I have surgery?
- I have Kerrataconnus. Can I have surgery?
- I have Epilepsy. Can I have surgery?
- I am on HRT. Can I have surgery?
- I am on Eltroxin. Can I have surgery?
- I have a Pacemaker. Can I have surgery?
- Why am I only suitable for PRK?
- I am on medication and due to have surgery. Is that okay?
- Am I suitable for Laser Eye Surgery?
- Am I suitable for surgery if I play sports?
- I know someone who had Laser Eye Surgery in their 50's. Can I do this?
- Can I still have surgery if I had a squintor patch as a child?
- Am I suitable for surgery if I have an astigmatism?
- What is the age limit for surgery?
- What is the highest prescription you can treat?