Laser Eye Surgery Blog

Essex Open Evening – March 1st…..

Posted by admin | February 1, 2012 | in News



We are delighted to announce our Essex open evening will take place at 7pm on MARCH 1st at The Oak Room, Theydon Bois Village Hall, Theydon Bois, Essex.

The object of the evening is to talk to you about all aspects of vision correction, and answer any questions you may have, whilst enjoying a glass of champagne and canapes with the AVC staff.

As usual there will be SPECIAL OFFERS on the evening for those who attend, so why not set this date aside and take the first tentative steps towards changing your life for the better.

Double vision! Husband and wife have Clear Lens Exchange treatment at AVC together, reports Bristol Evening Post

Posted by admin | January 27, 2012 | in AVC Press

Sometimes it can take a while for patients to decide to go ahead with vision correction treatment – but some people who know a good thing when they see it decide there’s no time like the present. That’s what happened when Sue Knapp accompanied her husband Chris to his consultation at our Harley Street clinic for CLE (Clear Lens Exchange) treatment.

She was so impressed by what she saw and heard that she decided she would take the leap too and finally get rid of her contact lenses at the same time as Chris chucked out his glasses. Like Chris, she had a thorough examination and they booked a date for their CLE treatment to take place on the same day. Click here to read the full story as reported in the Bristol Evening Post.

Chris and Sue, both 64, from Winterbourne, near Bristol, were referred to AVC by their optician, Mike Harbord, who is a member of our nationwide optometrist network. Because they could have their aftercare appointments close to home this meant they could benefit from the expertise of a Harley Street clinic but without having to make several expensive trips to London.

Even though their eyesight problems were completely different, the highly adaptable Clear Lens Exchange treatment was suitable for them both. CLE treatment is a very simple procedure that’s ideal for people of Chris and Sue’s age group who aren’t suitable for laser eye treatment. It involves inserting a miniature flexible contact lens into the eye to replace the natural lens. The new lens takes over the focusing mechanism to provide excellent vision at all distances. The procedure is quick and pain-free, using only anaesthetic drops to numb the eye, and has the added benefit of removing the likelihood of developing cataracts later in life. This was especially beneficial for Chris as he was told that he was in the early stages of developing cataracts and would have had to have surgery in the future anyway.

Both Chris and Sue are delighted with the new-found freedom that their CLE treatment has given them. “We couldn’t be happier with the results,” said Chris. “I play golf and Sue plays netball and the difference it makes to be unencumbered by glasses and contact lenses is amazing. We have turned the clock back – we feel half our age!”

5 Top Reasons for Having Laser Eye Surgery

Posted by admin | January 27, 2012 | in Laser Eye Care, Laser Treatments

Everyone has different reasons for having laser eye surgery. We bet if we asked 100 people why they were having the procedure, we’d get 100 slightly different answers. However, there are some reasons that are the same for most or all people who have laser eye surgery, so let’s take a look at some of the best.

Reason 1: To get better eyesight
It almost goes without saying, doesn’t it? It stands to reason that anyone who comes to AVC to have laser eye surgery is doing it because they want to improve their eyesight. It can be frustrating not being able to see properly, and always having to wear glasses or contact lenses. Most people simply want to be able to see without it always being such a challenge.

Which brings us on to the next reason…

Reason 2: Glasses get lost
As anyone who wears glasses will tell you, there is a permanent worry that they will get lost or broken and you’ll be left stuck in an unfortunate place unable to see properly. Anecdotal evidence suggests that going on holiday is a particularly stressful time for glasses wearers; at least if you lose your glasses while you’re in the UK, you should be able to get to an optician’s fairly quickly. If, however, you’re on a beach in Thailand/swimming in the Canary Islands/seeing the sights of Madeira, it’s a bit less likely you’ll be able to take care of it so quickly.

Plus, glasses can be expensive. With any luck, having laser eye surgery at a reputable provider such as AVC means you won’t have to worry about that particular expense any more.

Reason 3: Glasses are annoying
This point is sort of linked to the one above, but it also warrants its own entry: glasses can, quite frankly, be a pain. Take rainy weather, for instance. People who don’t wear glasses don’t quite get how annoying it is to end up with rain-streaked, smudgy glasses, or how much of a genuine problem it is when your glasses steam up every time you go inside after being out in the cold or the damp (such as getting on the bus, tube or train to go to work or walking into a pub to meet your friends). At best, it’s an annoyance. At worst, it’s properly debilitating until the steam finally clears.

Reason 4: Glasses aren’t always practical
For some people, glasses (or contact lenses) are ideal, particularly if they only have minor sight issues or only need to wear glasses for reading, for example. However, for some people they simply aren’t practical. For example, if you work in construction or play a lot of sports, glasses aren’t ideal.

Reason 5: To look better
Some people do feel that glasses don’t really suit them. Of course, on some people they look great, others look intellectual, but ultimately it can be confidence-building to be able to simply throw away your glasses.

Laser eye surgery might not be for everyone, but it can certainly help a lot of people who currently wear glasses. If you’d be interested in finding out if you’re suitable, simply contact us today, pop along and meet one of our world-renowned surgeons and they’ll be able to give you a full assessment on your suitability, the most appropriate treatment, and of course the fees.

Can I have laser eye surgery for astigmatism?

Posted by admin | January 20, 2012 | in AVC Advice, Urban Myths

At Advanced VisionCare, we are experienced at treating a whole range of sight conditions – and astigmatism is one of these. Laser eye treatment can often be used by people who have astigmatism in order to help correct the problem, but what is astigmatism and what causes it in the first place?

Astigmatism is generally caused by a cornea that is irregularly shaped. Ideally, it should be symmetrical and round, but people who suffer from astigmatism tend to have corneas that are shaped more like a rugby ball. This then has the effect of causing light to end up in multiple focus points on the retina, rather than the single focus point that is typically needed for clear vision.

This means that people with astigmatism in one or both of their eyes often experience blurred or distorted vision. If the condition is left untreated, it can cause you to strain your eyes and can lead to squinting and headaches. Corneal astigmatism, mentioned above, is the most common type of astigmatism, but there is also another type called lenticular astigmatism – this is when the shape of the eye’s lens is different to normal.

People with astigmatism can be either long sighted or short sighted and it is a fairly common condition; it is thought that about half of all people who wear glasses suffer from astigmatism to some degree. Usually the astigmatism is mild, and so the most common treatments to correct it are either glasses or contact lenses. There are also special astigmatism contact lenses that help to correct the shape of the eye and improve sight. Glasses for astigmatism patients typically have an extra component in them to take care of the added need.

However, some patients who have astigmatism – particularly those who have a more severe case of the condition – do opt to have laser eye treatment to correct the issue. Most commonly this will take the form of LASIK treatment, but if your cornea is not thick enough for this type of surgery then it is highly likely that you will be recommended to have LASEK treatment instead.

Typically, you can expect laser eye treatment for astigmatism to take around 20-30 minutes plus recovery time. Some people are wary of this kind of treatment, but here at AVC we use the latest techniques and procedures to make sure it’s as safe as possible. Plus, a recent study into using LASIK to treat astigmatism found that out of 137 eyes treated, not a single one experienced complications 6 months after the surgery.

If you have astigmatism and want to find out more about getting it corrected through laser eye treatment, please contact us today for a no-obligation assessment and consultation on your suitability.

What Causes Cataracts?

Posted by admin | January 13, 2012 | in AVC Explains

Here at AVC, we are experienced at carrying out cataract eye surgery procedures and cataracts are something we see on a regular basis. It is a well-known fact that many people develop cataracts as they get older, but what exactly causes them to occur?

Cataracts are when the lens of the eye, which is normally clear, becomes cloudy, making it more difficult to see. It typically results in cloudy vision because it is harder for light to pass through the eye and for images to be processed – this is something that can occur in one or both eyes.

It’s a condition that typically comes on slowly and it isn’t always obvious that a patient is suffering from cataracts at first. Some studies suggest that people further down the socioeconomic ladder are also more likely to suffer the effects of cataracts, often because they can find it harder to get access to care.

There are quite a few causes that can encourage cataracts to develop, including the age of a patient, whether they have another medical condition that is linked to a greater likelihood of cataracts (such as diabetes), or whether a patient has a family history of cataracts. Other reasons a person might develop cataracts include extensive exposure to bright sunlight, if a person has previously had any eye inflammation or eye injury.

There is also evidence to suggest that corticosteroids can increase risk of developing cataracts – this is something that can happen with people who suffer from asthma. One study from the University of Iceland also found that people who are exposed to cosmic radiation across a sustained period are also more likely to develop cataracts, which is why airline pilots are more likely to experience this in comparison to people who do not fly planes.

So, what are some of the key symptoms of cataracts? As mentioned above, cloudy vision is one of the main ones, but symptoms can also include spotty vision, greater difficulty seeing in dim light and the need to change your glasses frequently. In the first instance, some patients find that wearing glasses can help their eyesight. However, as the cataracts get worse, cataract eye surgery is often the only option.

This is something that will happen once the cataracts have been diagnosed and all other options have been eliminated. The aim of the surgery is to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear, artificial one so that the patient will be able to see more successfully. This is something we have a lot of experience with at AVC, so if you have cataracts and are considering surgery, please feel free to get in touch with us to find out more.

New Year’s Resolution: Have Laser Eye Surgery

Posted by admin | January 13, 2012 | in AVC Press, News

The festive season may now be over and any feelings of being bleary-eyed from over-indulgence should soon fade as normal routine is resumed. However, resolving to stick to eight glasses of water and five fruit & veg a day is commendable but it’s not going to change your life and the effects are only permanent if you work hard to keep it up. If you are one of the millions in the UK suffering with poor eyesight there is one resolution you can make that will not only permanently transform your life but requires no willpower at all: one of the latest laser eye treatments as explained in the Daily Mail Good Health feature, which quotes our own Mr CT Pillai.

Advanced Zyoptix Wavefront technology is just one of the highly advanced laser procedures that we offer at AVC. It’s a technique that Mr Pillai has perfected to give the gift of excellent natural vision to a long list of happy patients. This technology has not only been proven to be completely safe, it also produces exceptional results with virtually immediate effect and without pain or discomfort.

If you have been considering the idea of laser vision correction but are still wary, now is the time to think again. As the Daily Mail article explains, there is now a range of laser eye treatments that can help people with all kinds of vision problems – it really is no longer the case that if you have an astigmatism or thin or steep corneas then laser treatment is not for you.

Mr Pillai is also one of very few refractive surgeons in Europe to offer the highly innovative Supracor laser procedure that corrects both long and short sight for those with age-related sight loss, known as presbyopia. This revolutionary new treatment means that the over 45 age group, who previously could have treatment to correct short sight but still had to rely on reading glasses for close vision, can now enjoy the same benefits of laser treatment as someone half their age.

Over the past two decades more than a million people in the UK have thrown away their glasses and contact lenses thanks to laser eye surgery; by making that one decision they changed their life and put poor eyesight behind them. We hope that in this remarkable Olympic year you will take the leap and achieve the same goal for yourself. All it takes is a phone call to AVC and we’ll do the rest.

To book a no-obligation consultation with an AVC surgeon, one of the UK’s leading laser eye clinics, call us today on 0800 652 4878 (+44 207 935 7497).

Dealing with Dry Eye Syndrome

Posted by admin | January 6, 2012 | in AVC Explains

It’s a brand new year and we’re keen to get back to work following the annual festivities and inevitable excesses that occur around Christmas. This week, the blog looks at the issue of dry eyes – something that many people suffer from naturally, but which is also a potential side effect of Lasik eye surgery. As we believe it’s vital for our patients to be fully informed before they commit to laser eye surgery, read on for some more information on the dry eye condition and how it can be dealt with.

Firstly, what is dry eye syndrome? Essentially, it is what it sounds like – it’s when your eyes don’t produce enough tears in order to keep you comfortable. This can manifest itself through several common symptoms, such as a scratchy sensation or itchiness in your eye.

You might also experience more mucus than usual around your eyes and, even though it sounds like a contradiction, you could also end up with excessive tearing. This is because the symptoms of dry eyes can leave your eyes feeling irritated, which prompts the eye to create more tears to make up for it, sending you from one extreme to the other.

Patients who have Lasik eye surgery are more likely to experience dry eyes following the procedure if it was something that they suffered from before, although any Lasik patient can experience this side effect. One of the main reasons Lasik eye surgery can cause dry eye syndrome is because the process of the surgery involves creating flap in the cornea to correct the sight problem. This can have a temporary impact on the nerves that signal your eyes to produce tears.

This means that if you are already prone to dry eyes, your AVC surgeon might treat you for the condition prior to your Lasik eye surgery to give your eyes the best possible chance of coming through the procedure without an increase in your symptoms. Patients are generally required to use lubricating drops following the Lasik procedure as a matter of course, and this also helps your eyes to recover and keep any dry eye symptoms to a minimum.

Before your surgery, make sure you tell your AVC surgeon whether you are currently on any medication, as some medicines can make you more likely to experience dry eyes both before and after your surgery – this will allow any necessary arrangements to be made for you to limit the likelihood of further dry eye symptoms. Luckily, most patients find that any symptoms of dry eye syndrome clear up with a few months of their Lasik eye surgery – if you’re worried or have any questions about this before or after your procedure, don’t hesitate to ask.

The Halo Effect with Laser Eye Surgery

Posted by admin | December 23, 2011 | in AVC Explains

If you have LASIK eye surgery here at AVC, you can rest easy in the knowledge that your surgeon is highly skilled and that the quality of the work will be very high. However, there are a couple of common side effects that it pays to be aware of if you are going to be having any sort of laser eye surgery. For example, you might experience slightly dry eyes following the surgery – or something that is often known as the halo effect.

This is a side effect that one large study found to affect around 30% of patients who have had LASIK eye surgery, so while you might not have any issues with it yourself, it will certainly help to be aware of it before you have your surgery. The halo effect is essentially exactly what it sounds like: patients report seeing ‘halos’ around reflective objects or bright areas.

For example, this commonly affects people when they are driving at night following LASIK eye surgery: reflective road signs can appear to have a halo or starburst effect around them, which can be disconcerting. For most patients, the impact of this is likely to be minor and one common treatment to mitigate the halo effect is a pair of night driving glasses, which can help to reduce the glare and make it easier to make out signs and drive without difficulty.

However, for some patients, they might find that they are subsequently unable to drive at night due to the impact of the halo effect. There is no hard and fast rule to determine prior to LASIK eye surgery who will be effected by halos, but it is often an issue for people who have naturally large pupils – one of the reasons it can be difficult to drive at night is because your pupils tend to be larger in the dark.

Luckily, it is worth noting that for most people who have laser eye surgery and subsequently experience the halo effect, the symptoms will resolve themselves after a while. Some patients might also find that a special type of eye drops helps to keep the eye moisturised and lessens the effects of the halos. This is something that your AVC surgeon will be able to speak to you about, making sure you are aware of all the possible side effects before surgery and detailing any treatments that can help you if you do find yourself dealing with the halo effect.

Implantable Lenses – An Overview of the Main Types

Posted by admin | December 16, 2011 | in AVC Explains

There are a few different eye conditions that might require a patient to have implantable contact lenses. If you have lenses implanted here at AVC, your surgeon will make sure you know exactly what type of lenses will be best for you and why but for now, to give you an overview of what’s available, read on to find out more about the main types of implantable lenses.

Cataracts
One of the conditions commonly treated using a form of implanted lenses is cataracts. A big problem caused by cataracts is that the original lens of the eye becomes very cloudy, which means patients can experience significant disruption to their lifestyles.

Through cataract surgery, the natural lens (cataract) is first removed from the eye by breaking it up with ultrasound waves. Once it has been removed, a new, artificial lens can be implanted into the eye. There are a few different types of lenses available through cataract surgery, which can be chosen depending on a patient’s sight needs.

Clear Lens Exchange
This is a treatment that can also be used for cataracts but the procedure of a clear lens exchange is a little bit different to cataract surgery. However, they are similar in that they don’t require the patient to have any stitches.

Clear lens exchange is sometimes also called refractive lens exchange and it is also used on younger patients who are experiencing sight difficulties. It is typically used to treat patients who have got complicated prescriptions and who aren’t suitable for other treatments, such as laser correction or ordinary implantable lenses.

Through the procedure, the natural lens of the eye is removed and is replaced with a personalised foldable lens in order to correct the patient’s prescription.

Implantable Contact Lenses
Implantable contact lenses are typically used by most patients who are found to be unsuitable for laser surgery. They can be used to correct a wide range of prescriptions, including very strong prescriptions. The procedure involves injecting the lens into a specific location in the eye, where it then unfolds itself into the correct position.

This is widely regarded as a very safe procedure and, since the lenses are made out of collamer, there is no chance of a patient’s body rejecting it. The lenses are also invisible to the naked eye.

When you come for your AVC consultation, your surgeon will take you through all of the eye treatment options that are open to you; if you are recommended to have one of the above treatments, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re in good hands and that all of the procedures are tried, tested and highly successful.