Regular eyesight tests

We all know how important it is to get our eyes checked regularly by an optician, but many people leave it too long between appointments or fail to go and get things checked out when they notice something wrong. Most people should visit their optician once every two years, although some people might be advised to go more regularly.

Not only do eyesight checks study your vision, they also look at the health of your eyes, so they’re definitely an important part of caring for your eyes.

Healthy lifestyle

It can seem like the advice for everything these days is to live a healthy lifestyle, but it’s common advice for a good reason. Research suggests that taking part in exercise can limit the risk of sight loss that can occur in people who have conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Eating healthily and drinking only in moderation can also help improve your general health, which is certainly no bad thing for your eyes.

People who are obese can also have an increased risk of macular degeneration and, if you have a high BMI, this can affect your arteries – which can lead to other conditions that affect your eyesight such as glaucoma and diabetes. This helps to show just how important a healthy lifestyle is for your eyesight.

Also, people who smoke are more likely to suffer from eye conditions such as cataracts, which could lead to them needing cataract eye surgery in the future, so staying away from the nicotine is wise.

Sun protection

We all know it’s hard to see when we’re out in the sun and we often end up squinting. Making sure you take care of your eyes while you’re out in sunlight is vital; too much exposure could increase your risk of developing cataracts and looking at the sun directly can even make you go blind. Hats and sunglasses that shelter your eyes are really important. Make sure you go for good quality sunglasses with UV protection to offer your eyes as much protection from the light as possible.

Contact lenses

If you wear contact lenses, it is highly likely that you will not be able to wear them for a short time prior to your Lasik eye surgery. Your AVC consultant will be able to give you personalised advice as to how long before your surgery you should stop wearing your contact lenses, but commonly if you wear soft lenses, you’ll normally need to stop wearing them about three days before your eyes are evaluated. If you wear rigid lenses, this period is likely to be longer.

This is to make sure that when we assess your eyes, we are assessing them in their natural state and so we can get the most accurate view of your condition, which lenses can sometimes interfere with. However, it’s absolutely fine to carry on wearing your glasses in the run up to your consultation and surgery.

Financing

We do everything we can to help ensure Lasik eye treatment is affordable for our patients, and we have a range of payment options for you to make use of, so it’s worth having a chat with us about this prior to your surgery to make sure everything is sorted.

We can arrange for you to spread out the cost of your treatment so that you only have to pay £99 per month per eye. Please check out the pricing page of our website so you can find out more about our standard costs and the service you’ll get a part of the AVC package.

On the day

When it comes to the surgery, common sense prevails. For example, even though it sounds obvious, don’t wear eye makeup on the day of your surgery. You should also dress comfortably and refrain from having any big accessories in your hair, particularly towards the back of your head. This means you’ll be able to lie comfortably beneath the laser.

After the surgery

Following your Lasik eye treatment, you will need to use eye drops for a while to prevent dry eyes. Make sure you only use the drops that are prescribed for you. Also, even though the recovery time for Lasik is very quick, you might want to let your employer know what’s going on in case you find that you want a day or two at home to recover after the surgery.

If you carried out a survey on what people think is the most important thing to have before you get behind the wheel, they’d probably say a driving licence or insurance – essential, we agree, but without those, you’d only be breaking the law. What they are less likely to say is “driving standard eyesight” – but without that, you’ll not only be breaking the law but also risking potentially catastrophic consequences. Nevertheless, it’s still the case that millions of people are doing just that every day.

In advance of a new EU directive due to become UK law next year, the ‘Eyes on the Road’ campaign organised by the Eyecare Trust charity and backed by road safety campaigner MP Meg Munn, aims to encourage the UK’s 34 million motorists to ensure their vision meets the required standard for driving.

Considering the risks involved of driving with sub-standard eyesight, it’s astonishing that these laws have yet to be passed, so we at Advanced Vision Care are fully behind this campaign and keen to add our voice to raise awareness of its importance.

After passing your driving test, when you must be able to read a car registration plate from a distance of 20m, no subsequent checks are made. Even though it is illegal to drive with sub-standard eyesight, the onus is on the driver to self-diagnose and inform the DVLA – OK in theory but clearly completely unrealistic in practice.

Whilst some people may realise their vision has deteriorated and knowingly do nothing about it, some genuinely don’t notice the very gradual changes and are actually amazed when they discover just how far they have slipped. Sadly, they may not find this out until they have been involved in an accident.

When patients come to us at AVC to find out precisely how amazing their eyesight will be following vision correction treatment, the benchmark we give them is that they will achieve driving standard eyesight. This proves two things – that the visual results produced by both laser and non-laser procedures are exceptional and that driving is an activity that requires exceptionally good vision. This isn’t even as good as it gets though: 100% of our patients achieve driving standard eyesight after treatment but 95% of them go beyond that to achieve 20/20 vision.

Many of us in the UK deride what we view as unnecessary interference from the EU, taking away our right to run the microscopic health risk of buying Brazil nuts still in their shells for example, but this is one directive that we should welcome with open arms. It’s just as important as laws on drink driving and driving whilst using mobile phones, and everyone will benefit from the increased level of road safety that will follow.

Whether we wear glasses, contact lenses or go for the ultimate safety and long-term option of laser eye treatment, making sure every single driver on our roads is seeing clearly is a campaign we should all be backing.

Freedom of vision

Possibly the best reason of all to consider Lasik eye surgery is that it’ll give you back huge freedom of vision. If you’ve been wearing glasses or contact lenses for years, you might not realise just how much of a relief it is to be free of them until you don’t need them anymore.

It can also be hugely beneficial if you lead an active lifestyle and are into your sports, as glasses and contact lenses aren’t really that conducive to activities such as running, swimming or water sports. Having Lasik eye surgery will free you up to enjoy life much more.

Save on prescriptions

While it is important to note that your eyesight will continue to change as you grow older through a natural process and so we can’t rule out the possibility of you needing to wear glasses again to correct a sight issue, Lasik treatment can help you save money on your future prescriptions. After all, with any luck you won’t need to wear glasses or contact lenses any longer so you won’t need to buy any new ones – meaning that Lasik eye surgery can effectively pay for itself over time.

Great comfort

One thing that people who wear glasses or contact lenses have in common is knowing just how uncomfortable these things can be if they’re not quite right. All it takes is a bit of dust in your eye while you’re wearing your contact lenses or a slight knock to your glasses, and you’ll have uncomfortable eyes for the rest of the day. Once your eyes have completely healed from Lasik eye surgery, however, issues such as this shouldn’t be as much of a problem. Plus, you won’t have to worry about smudgy glasses anymore, which is definitely a benefit.

As you can see, there are quite a few really good reasons to consider having Lasik eye surgery. Feel free to get in touch with Advanced VisionCare for a chat about your requirements or more information, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

This is why we are always interested to see stories that hint at possible new treatments or developments that might one day be able to help the sight of patients who have eye diseases that we are currently unable to treat. For instance, you may already have seen this news story about how scientists have been able to restore the sight of blind mice as part of their study into ways of restoring the sight of patients with degenerative eye diseases.

As the scientists are still working on mice, the study is obviously in its early stages at the moment, but there is hope that the treatment will be able to develop as time goes by and eventually be trialled on humans. So far, the scientists have performed a sort of cell transplant on mice that were night-blind, using photoreceptor cells from healthy mice. These are the cells that are particularly important when it comes to seeing in the dark.

The study seems to have had good results; a few weeks after the transplants, around 1 in 6 of the transplanted cells had managed to make the connections to the brain, which are needed in order to see. The mice were tested against untreated mice to see how they performed following the transport and there were good signs that the mice that had received the transplants were able to pick up on visual clues in a way that the untreated mice weren’t.

So far, the work has focused on rod photoreceptors; if it is ever going to be of proper use for humans with degenerative eye conditions, much more work will need to be done, in particular in relation to cone photoreceptors, which are very important for human sight. It is expected that scientists will need to undertake quite a lot more research and testing on animals before they make the move to humans.

While this research clearly still has a long way to go, it is still an important breakthrough that shows just what modern medicine might be able to do in the future. So one day, all of those patients for whom laser eye surgery is out of the question might well be able to benefit from a transplant technique such as this.

Myth: there’s just one laser involved

In reality, there are a few different types of laser that can be used to treat patients. It’s important that we use the right one for each patient, and so your surgeon will give you an assessment to work out which Lasik eye treatment would be best for you. Typically, this will involve deciding whether the Intralase or microkeratome option would be more appropriate.

Myth: it’s not really surgery

Lasik eye treatment is certainly a lot less invasive than most other types of surgery, and the eye surgery itself has also become less invasive over the years, but never forget that it’s called ‘surgery’ for a reason. It requires a particular process and care procedures to be followed to ensure you are safe and are able to enjoy the best possible outcomes.

Myth: it’s the laser that matters, not the surgeon

While the choice of laser is undoubtedly important in Lasik eye treatment, your choice of surgeon is also vital. After all, it is the surgeon who operates the laser and who also creates the small flap in your eye that allows the treatment to be carried out. You should always go with a surgeon who is fully qualified and experienced, and who you trust. AVC is proud to work with some of the very best surgeons in the business, so you will always be assured of quality care when you use our services.

Myth: you’ll never need glasses again

For many patients, this may well be true, but whether or not a patient will need to wear glasses again depends on a couple of different factors. For example, the healing process and the prescription you previously had for your eyesight might affect whether you require glasses. Also, don’t forget that our eyesight changes naturally as we get older and so needing to wear reading or other glasses in later life is not uncommon.

Myth: everyone is suitable for Lasik

Our surgeons wouldn’t be doing their jobs properly if they performed surgery on anyone who wanted it. Patients need to be assessed to make sure they are suitable for Lasik eye treatment and, while many people will be able to have the surgery, for other people, a different type of treatment might be more suitable. Your consultant should be able to advise you on the best course of action for you.

Of course, it’s still a considerable financial commitment but when you compare the cost of treatment against a lifetime’s expense on contact lenses and glasses, the sums really do add up in favour of laser treatment.

Crucially though, your choice of clinic should never be based on the cheapest price, no matter how tempting it may be. There are many factors that should be considered when deciding who to trust your precious eyesight to, such as the proven skill of the surgeon, the range of treatments available (not everyone’s eyes are found to be suitable for laser), the level of aftercare and the reputation of the clinic.

If you Google “cheap laser eye surgery” you can easily find offers for as little as £395 per eye, a somewhat misleading marketing message that we’ve warned about before on these blog pages. The likelihood of anyone actually succeeding in having treatment for this price is pretty slim. It is an undisputable fact that only after a thorough consultation with a refractive surgeon can a decision be made as to what treatment is right for your eyes and consequently, the price too.

At the same time though, that doesn’t mean that you should go for the most expensive clinic. When it comes to refractive surgery, price is a pretty good indicator of quality but it’s certainly not definitive. At AVC we ensure that our prices are competitive whilst covering the full extent of what every patient deserves: the most highly trained refractive surgeons, the most advanced techniques and technology and a level of care before, during and after surgery that cannot be beaten.

Something that the Telegraph feature doesn’t mention is the additional cost involved of making all the necessary trips to your chosen clinic for aftercare appointments. The best medical care is to be found in Harley Street and that’s a factor that influences many patients’ decision when choosing a clinic, but if you live a long way away you’re going to have to make several expensive and time-consuming visits back to London for your aftercare. Over the year, this could add on several hundred pounds in travel costs, not to mention the inconvenience of having to take days off work or use up a precious Saturday.

AVC patients can avoid this altogether thanks to our unique nationwide network of optometrists, who are fully trained to be able to advise prospective patients on their suitability for vision correction before visiting us for a consultation, and then provide all aftercare. This makes for significant savings and should be factored in at the outset when working out affordability. Check our Optometrist Network page on this website for more details and see if your local optician is already a partner. If not, we would be happy to contact them directly on your behalf.

Now there is further evidence to suggest why this is the case. You may have seen in the news recently information about a study that was carried out in America. It was a relatively small study, but it has produced some interesting results that show how looking at someone’s eye can offer insights into other factors such as their brain function.

The study looked at 511 women for an entire decade, and had a special focus on retinopathy, which as we have seen before is a condition that is often linked to cases of diabetes. What was discovered was that people who had this eye condition, which can also be associated with high blood pressure, were more likely to score lower in terms of brain function. This included scores on tests to do with memory and reasoning.

One of the main reasons for this link is thought to be the fact that when the blood vessels in the eye experience problems, this can also be an indicator that there are problems with blood vessels in the brain, too. When the blood vessels in your brain are affected, this can start to cause cognitive issues. Scientists are hoping the new information will help them to investigate further into problems such as dementia in future studies.

This shows just how serious the issue is, but also just how useful information about the eye can be when it comes to diagnosing other issues that a person may be experiencing. It just goes to show why it is so important to get your eyes checked regularly so you can be aware of any issues as soon as possible and things can get picked up quickly.

It’s worth pointing out that the study discussed here only included a small sample of patients with retinopathy and so bigger studies are needed to investigate the findings further, but it’s still a very interesting set of results. It helps scientists to understand a bit more about how the health of different parts of our bodies links together and why it is so important that we go and get checked out if we are worried about something.

Keratoconus is a fairly rare condition but it still affects a significant number of people, and so we’re pleased that we’re able to offer high quality treatment to help them. Before we look at the treatment, though, let’s have a quick recap of what keratoconus is and some of its causes.

Introduction to keratoconus

Essentially, keratoconus is a condition that makes the eye’s cornea stretch until it resembles something like a cone. At its mildest, this condition can be managed using glasses and contact lenses to deal with the resulting sight issues, but if it gets worse then alternative treatments might be needed.

There is much debate as to what the causes of keratoconus actually are; nothing is for definite but there are certain conditions or actions that are known to correlate with the disease. For example, it’s possible that there’s a genetic connection as to whether a person might get the disease. It’s also been linked to excessive eye rubbing, eczema, asthma, hormonal influences and Down’s syndrome.

However, even though we may not be able to precisely identify the cause of your keratoconus, we can still offer you treatment to help deal with it.

Treatments for keratoconus

Until quite recently, rigid contact lenses were the main keratoconus treatment for people who had an advanced version of the condition. However, these could often be uncomfortable to wear and so it’s good news that we’re now able to offer alternative treatments.

For example, depending on your individual condition, we may be able to use something called corneal collagen cross-linking, which is aimed at strengthening the cornea. It involves using a photosensitiser and UV light in order to enhance chemical bonds, and helps to halt the progress of keratoconus.

Another form of keratoconus treatment is to use INTACS, which are a form of insert that the surgeon carefully positions under your cornea, with the intended effect of reshaping the cornea so that the keratoconus is less pronounced.

When you have your AVC consultation, we’ll discuss your treatment options with you to make sure you get the right course of action and ensure that your keratoconus has the best possible chance of being corrected as much as possible.

Diabetes is probably one of the most well-known medical conditions around, and it occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough – or even any – insulin, or where the body is unable to process the insulin it produces. This has an impact on your blood sugar, and many people who have the condition have to monitor both their blood sugar levels and diets very carefully. Around 2.9 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, so this is quite a common disease.

If you have diabetes then there is no guarantee that you eyesight will or will not be affected by the condition. However, if your eyesight is affected by diabetes then it is likely to be because the blood vessels that supply your retina with blood have been damaged. The most common eye condition associated with diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy.

For most people, this will manifest itself in a mild form, such as in very small haemorrhages of the blood vessels. Patients might not even be aware of the problem as eyesight is not always affected. For some people though, the condition can be more serious. This is why retinal screening tests can be so important for people who have got diabetes.

As well as this impact on your blood vessels in the eye, diabetes can also lead to other sight problems that it is important to be aware of. For example, something that typically affects patients who have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes is a condition where the lens of the eye leads to you having blurred vision at certain times of the day, depending on your blood sugar levels.

In the long term, it is also possible for diabetes to lead to cataracts, which is where the lens of the eye goes permanently cloudy. This typically needs to be treated with cataract eye surgery.

There are some things that diabetes patients can do to limit the effect their condition has on their sight. For instance, closely monitoring your blood sugar and blood pressure can help, as can keeping fit and having regular retinal screenings. You might find that you have no problems at all with your sight even if you have diabetes, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry so if you’re worried, get your vision checked.

The story is based on a study of astronauts who had been in space for 30 days or more, and it found that multiple participants had been affected by the time they had spent in space. Several of them ended up with eyeballs that were flatter than normal, while others found that the space around the optic nerve had been affected and others experienced a bulge in their optic nerve.

These symptoms are similar to those that are often found in people who suffer from intracranial hypertension, a fairly rare condition that usually tends to affect women more than men and that leads to a loss of sight in a percentage of the people who have the condition.

Interestingly, some of the astronauts who experienced a flattening of the back of their eyeball found that their eyesight actually improved, since the impact of the flattening is to make a person more long-sighted – which can help to reduce any short sightedness they may have previously experienced.

However, despite this accidental benefit for some, this study raises some concerns about the long term sight of the astronauts, and highlights some of the dangers that are associated with space travel. Of course, only a very small number of people ever go into space and so it’s not something our AVC patients need to worry about (unless you happen to be an astronaut), but it does raise questions as to the impact the growth of space tourism might have on the people who take the chance to go into orbit.

It also highlights the fact that our lives are always changing – and treatment for eye conditions needs to be constantly adapting and evolving to keep up with that. This is one of the main reasons the surgeons at AVC are so keen to keep on top of the latest research and techniques for correcting eye sight, because as the world evolves, so do the challenges we face. Even though the problems experienced by the astronauts might not be something we see every day, it serves as a good reminder that when it comes to issues of eyesight, we always need to be on the ball.

As you may already know, Lasik eye surgery is the result of more than a century’s worth of research into the best ways to treat sight conditions. However, we can arguably date the origins of the idea behind Lasik back to the 1950s, when a man called Jose Barraquer developed a process known as keratomileusis. This was a procedure that involved cutting flaps in the cornea to change the shape of it.

Some years later in 1968, a man called Mani Lal Bhaumik and a group of other scientists managed to create a carbon dioxide laser, which later became an extremely important invention in the world of laser eye surgery. This laser led to the development of the excimer laser; previously, a diamond knife was typically used in refractive surgery, and the medical world was keen to find out about the benefits of using a laser instead.

It was only in the early 1980s, however, that the technology was refined enough to really begin finding out about how lasers could be used to treat refractive errors, and an early laser system was used to treat a human eye in 1989. This was carried out by Dr Marguerite B. Macdonald.

1989 was also the year that the first Lasik patent was granted, although it didn’t really come into use until the 1990s. The overall technique was significantly impacted by Dr Pallikaris, who studied the effects of combining the technique used by Dr Barraquer in the 1950s with an earlier type of laser surgery called PRK. This led to the creation of the Lasik eye surgery we are familiar with today, which involves using a laser to cut a flap in the cornea and then change the shape of it to correct the refractive error.

Lasik eye surgery was a huge improvement on the treatments that had come before as it caused patients much less discomfort and it meant they could see results right away. Since the early 1990s, the technique has improved even further, with different types of Lasik and other forms of laser eye surgery being developed.

Overall, the invention of Lasik really changed what we are able to do to help people who suffer from sight problems, and Advanced Vision Care is proud to be a leading provider of the surgery.

They can correct a wide range of sight trouble
One of the big benefits of implantable contact lenses is that they are able to treat such a wide range of sight: they can treat between -25.00 (short-sighted) to +12.00 (long-sighted). This means that if your sight condition is too severe to be properly treated using laser eye treatment, implantable contact lenses could be a good option.

They are sometimes known as ‘refractive lens exchange’
If the lens of your eye is considered to be ‘faulty’, then implantable contact lenses are often known as a refractive lens exchange, because we first remove the faulty lens from your eye before replacing it with a new, synthetic one. For instance, if your natural lenses have become cloudy due to cataracts, this is the procedure that will often be followed.

They can be used if you have thin corneas
One of the reasons some people are unable to have laser eye treatment is because their corneas are too thin to handle the procedure. If this is the case with you, implantable contact lenses can sometimes be used instead.

There are a few restrictions
It is important to note that, just as with any other procedure, there are a few restrictions as to who can have implantable contact lenses. As well as having a qualifying sight condition, you will also need to have good eye health in order to undergo the procedure. This means that if you have glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, you may be unsuitable for implantable lenses or might require additional treatment first.

There are plenty of plus sides
One of the great things about implantable contact lenses is that they have a very good track record. For instance, while laser eye treatment is sometimes associated with dry eye following the procedure, this is much less of a risk with implantable lenses. The lens technology also means that you should be unable to feel it while you are wearing it and, while we pride ourselves on happy patients, the procedure is reversible, which can give some people peace of mind.

Implantable contact lenses can be used to treat astigmatism, long sight and short sight. To find out more or discuss your sight issues, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with AVC for a consultation.

As a result, some people who wear varifocals or who have multiple pairs of glasses might like to consider the laser eye surgery options that are open to them. This can help make the business of seeing where you are and where you’re going much easier – but which laser eye surgery should you get if you wear varifocals?

The answer is that this is likely to vary depending on your specific prescription and the condition of your eye. For example, we have seen in other articles how while Lasik treatment is suitable for more people having laser eye surgery, if your cornea is particularly thin, you might be recommended for Lasek instead.

There is also a third type of laser eye surgery that we are able to offer at Advanced Vision Care, which can be beneficial for people who have multiple sight conditions that need to be taken care of. This is called Supracor and it is a form of eye surgery that allows us to correct both long and short sightedness at the same time.

You may already know that previously when we corrected both of these at the same time, because of the technology available to us, we would have to correct one eye for long sight and one eye for short sight. This was a good solution and offered people much better vision than they had before, but it wasn’t always ideal. By contrast, Supracor allows us to treat both eyes for both conditions, which is a great bonus.

However, laser eye surgery is not the only option for people who wear varifocals. Some people might want to look at other options while others might not be suitable for laser surgery. If this is the case, then we might recommend a treatment such as a clear lens exchange, which is where the original lens of the cornea is removed and replaced with a new, multifocal lens to correct all aspects of your vision.

If you currently wear varifocal glasses and want to find out more about the treatment options available to you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with AVC today.

What is long sightedness?

In some ways, long sightedness is the opposite of short sightedness. While people with short sight typically find it hard to see things that are in the distance without help, people who have long sightedness tend to find things blurry when they are close up – their distance vision is generally fine.

This is due to the nature of the refractive error. You may have heard the name hyperopia used to describe long sightedness before; this is the ‘proper’ name for it, but they essentially mean the same thing.

What causes long sightedness?

There are several factors that have the potential to cause long sightedness. For many people, the condition begins in their childhood as an inherited trait. However, further research is needed in this area to see whether there actually are any genes that are directly linked to hyperopia.

Age is another common cause of long sightedness; as the eye changes with age, it can trigger the onset of the condition. This is due to the eye becoming less flexible, which means it also finds it harder to accommodate light rays – this then has the effect of causing near objects to come across as blurry. Most people will experience this age-related condition to some degree; when it is age related, it is usually called presbyopia and it is entirely normal.

Typically, long sightedness is characterised by a cornea that is not curved enough, an eyeball that is too short and/or a lens that is too thin.

What are the symptoms?

As you have probably guessed, one of the main symptoms of long sightedness is that you will have trouble seeing things when they are close to you. There are also a couple of other symptoms to look out for, such as the feeling you are straining your eyes or headaches that are caused by this straining. You might also find that when you are reading, you require brighter light than you are used to.

It’s important to treat this condition so that it can be managed properly. If glasses and contact lenses are not working out for you, corrective eye surgery with an experienced surgeon at AVC is one option that might be worth considering.

Age matters
While there is no official upper age limit for having laser eye treatment, there is a lower age limit. The surgery cannot be performed on anyone who is under the age of 18, so if you’re not yet an adult, we’re afraid you’ll have to wait a little while longer. One of the reasons under-18s cannot have laser eye treatment is due to the fact the treatment has not been approved for them; another reason is that young people are more likely to have refractive instability or large pupils, both of which can lead to unsuitability for treatment.

Stability of your eyesight
This is an important one: if your eyesight is currently unstable, meaning that your prescription is still changing regularly, you will probably not be suitable for laser eye treatment. As mentioned above, this can often be the case with young people.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also cause your vision to alter, as can some diseases such as diabetes. It is also worth noting that some medications can cause your vision to change, so AVC always asks our patients to let us know if they are currently taking any tablets as this could have implications for their treatment.

Other related conditions
There are also some other conditions that could mean laser eye treatment is not for you. For example, if you have an eye condition such as keratoconus, any eye inflammation, herpes that affects the eye area or glaucoma, your eyes might be too sensitive for laser surgery and so another treatment might be recommended instead. We are highly experienced at alternative keratoconus treatments, for instance.

If you have large pupils, you might also want to think whether laser eye treatment is right for you as this can sometimes exacerbate any side effects of the surgery, such as halos and glare. Also, if you have previously had laser eye treatment, we will need to assess you extra carefully to make sure you are okay to have it again.

We take your wellbeing very seriously, so AVC surgeons always assess patients thoroughly to make sure they are right for laser eye treatment before going ahead with the procedure.

What is it?
Short sightedness is known as myopia in medical terms, which is also known as a refractive error. One of the main symptoms of myopia is the ability to see things well when they are close up, but objects that are further away often seem blurry. Milder cases of short sightedness can usually be managed quite easily using contact lenses or glasses, but for more severe cases or for people who don’t want to wear glasses any longer, corrective eye surgery is another treatment option.

How does it happen?
Like all refractive errors, short sightedness occurs because the light entering the eye cannot be focused properly on the retina. Age is one of the most common causes of this deterioration of sight, but an irregularly shaped eyeball can also be the cause of myopia.

Typically, people who are short sighted have a cornea that is too curved. This means that light cannot reach the retina as it should normally be able to.

Who gets it?
As mentioned above, short sightedness can be caused by the deterioration of the eye due to old age. However, it is also a condition that runs in some families and so it is often present in children and teenagers as well as adults. Also, some medical conditions – such as diabetes – can make people more prone to short sightedness.

Generally speaking, the younger you are when myopia is discovered, the more severe it is likely to be by the time you reach adulthood. However, many adults find that their vision eventually stabilises and does not get any worse. Once a person’s prescription is stable, they are more likely to be a good candidate for corrective eye surgery.

What surgery could I have?
If you are short sighted and are considering corrective eye surgery then the most common form of surgery is LASIK. This is where the laser is used to remove a thin layer of the cornea, making it easier for light to reach the retina as it should do.

However, some people who are unsuitable for LASIK treatment might be able to have LASEK surgery instead. Implantable contact lenses are another surgical option that we are able to provide to suitable patients at AVC.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The excimer laser
Laser eye surgery was first made possible by the development of the excimer laser. This is a laser that makes use of ultraviolet wavelengths and it was studied throughout the 1970s to find out more about its potential medical applications.

In the early 1980s, work was carried out within the United States Air Force, primarily investigating the eyes of rabbits and how they could be affected by pulsed lasers. This work, by a man named Taboada, led to another man named Steve Trokel wondering how the laser could be used to improve human eyesight.

One of the reasons for investigating the laser was that the knife offered limited surgical options for people with poor eyesight, and the laser had the potential to be much more precise and beneficial when operating on the delicate cornea.

Next steps
This led to further research; Trokel worked on the eyes of veal and, when he published a seminal paper on his work, it sparked interest right around the world.

A man named Charles Munnerlyn was intrigued by what was going on and he worked out much of the maths behind laser treatment, including the correlation between removed tissue and the effect this has on optics. He also coined the term ‘photorefractive keratotomy’, which is more commonly known as PRK today.

One of the challenges faced by PRK and Munnerlyn’s equation was that there needed to be laser developed that could effectively control output for it to work.

Moving onto humans
Gradually, over time, the process improved and by the late 1980s, PRKs started to be used on people with extreme sight difficulties.

It was during this stage that laser eye surgery protocols were put into place and, as more and more research was done, the process continued to improve. The necessary algorithms were refined to help make the process more accurate.

All of this has helped to make possible the type of laser eye surgery that we know today. PRK is still carried out (you might know it better as LASEK treatment), while the popular LASIK treatment was also developed, thanks to progress in femtosecond technology.

Today, millions of people have had laser eye surgery – thousands of them here at AVC. When it started out, testing lasers on rabbit eyes, it must have been hard to imagine the impact that this surgery would have – and continues to have – on all of those people, who might not be able to see nearly as well without it.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at Lasik eye surgery, which is one of the most popular types of laser surgery.

Who can have Lasik eye surgery?
Most patients who are suitable for laser eye surgery will be able to have Lasik treatment. However, there is another type of laser treatment called Lasek, which you might be advised to have if your corneas are too thin for Lasik.

When you come in for your AVC consultation, your surgeon will thoroughly examine your eyes to make sure you get the right kind of treatment.

Why should I consider it?
As long as you are suitable for the treatment, having Lasik eye surgery is completely up to you. However, if you would like to be able to benefit from improved vision without the need to depend so heavily on glasses or contact lenses, it could be a worthwhile investment.

What does Lasik actually mean?
As you have probably already guessed, Lasik is an acronym. It stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, which is essentially a fancy medical way of saying that it’s a form of laser eye surgery. You can visit the relevant page on our site to find out more about the process of the surgery.

Are there any risks involved?
One of the benefits of Lasik eye surgery is that it is as safe as it is possible to make it. Of course, it is possible to remember that it is a form of surgery and so it’s important to be appraised of all the relevant issues before making your final decision; however, if your surgeon thinks that you could be at risk for any reason, you will be advised to take another course of treatment instead.

What should I ask my surgeon?
Your AVC surgeon should tell you everything you need to know about the surgery so you’re fully informed when you make your decision. Do bear in mind that unlike many of AVC’s competitors, you will meet your surgeon and discuss your treatment at your very first consultation. If you’re worried it might help to write down any issues you want to ask about – such as double-checking your corneas to make sure you’re suitable for this type of eye treatment.

Myth: only older people get cataracts
While it’s definitely true that it’s mainly older people who are affected by cataracts, this isn’t always the case. It’s very rare for children to get it, with about 3 in 10,000 UK children being affected – but it does happen.

Myth: the surgery uses lasers
Unlike laser eye surgery, cataract eye surgery doesn’t actually use lasers to carry out the treatment. Instead, ultrasound waves are used in the procedure. The aim here is to break up the cataract using the ultrasound waves so that it can be easily removed and then replaced using an artificial lens implant.

The type of lens implant you are given during your cataract eye surgery will depend on your particular sight problems, and this is something your AVC surgeon will discuss with you. For instance, some patients require a lens to treat astigmatism, while others could need help with distance vision or require multifocal lenses.

Myth: it takes a long time to recover
Some people worry that it will take a long time for them to recover from their cataract eye surgery, but you can actually go home the same day as your treatment. Following the surgery, you are monitored for an hour to make sure you are recovering as you should be, but you are then free to go. You should then start to see improvement in your vision very quickly.

Myth: you have to have an injection in your eye
Having an injection in your eye is something that worries many people, but you don’t need to worry about it with cataract eye surgery. This is because injections aren’t used; you will be given a local anaesthetic in the form of eye drops to make sure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Plus, the procedure itself is very quick and there are no sutures required, either, which makes cataract eye surgery minimally invasive and quick to recover from.

If you have any further queries or want to know whether cataract eye surgery could be right for you, please feel free to get in touch with AVC. We’d be happy to help you.

Why multifocal?
One important reason many people have multifocal implants is that, as their name suggests, they have multiple points of focus. This means that while monofocal lenses only have one point of focus (either near or distance), multifocal lenses are able to offer both.

Is it similar to my natural eye lens?
Multifocal lenses are somewhat different to your natural eye lens. Their purpose is to help compensate for the fact your eye lens changes shape over time. This means that, with age, eye lenses tend to become more monofocal, which causes site problems. The multifocal lens helps you to see both distance and near objects more easily.

Are there different types?
There are a couple of different types of multifocal implants available. Your AVC surgeon will discuss your options with you and recommend which one would be better for your needs. The two main types of implant are diffractive and refractive.

These differ slightly in that the diffractive multifocal implant is especially geared towards excellent distance vision and close vision (such as for reading). This means that if you’re working on things in the middle distance, like on a computer screen, you may need to make small compensations for this.

The refractive multifocal implants offer excellent distance vision and intermediate sight, which can be useful if you do a lot of work on the computer. This means that for close work, you may need to consider reading glasses to prevent eye fatigue.

Based on these two explanations, you should be able to see that you can choose the multifocal implant that would be most appropriate to your lifestyle and the kind of activities you are most likely to be engaged in.

Is there anything I need to be aware of?
One thing you need to be aware of with multifocal implants is that around 25% of patients experience some level of glare, particularly at night. This means that night driving glasses could help you, but most people find that they get used to the sensations after a time.

Is it like a normal lens?
Multifocal implants aren’t like normal contact lenses as they are considerably smaller and are fitted behind your iris. The developments in technology mean that the implanted lens isn’t visible, unlike some of the older models.

Myth: the laser burns your eye
The idea of the laser being hot during surgery is probably one of the greatest myths. If you are unfamiliar with the laser eye surgery procedure, you might assume that the laser is hot, but this isn’t actually the case. The laser is cold during surgery and so there is no chance of it burning your eye; it simply does the job of correcting your sight.

Myth: you can’t have it over a certain age
While it is true that some age-related eye conditions (such as cataracts) mean that laser eye surgery is not an option for some older patients, age doesn’t automatically disqualify you from the procedure. As long as you are over the age of 18 and meet the requirements for Lasik or Lasek eye surgery, it doesn’t really matter whether you are 22 or 82. If your AVC surgeon is worried that your age or age-related condition might have an impact on your surgery, they’ll make sure you know what your alternative options are.

Myth: having the surgery hurts
Understandably, many people couple the idea of surgery with pain in their minds. However, while you might experience some discomfort from laser eye surgery, it shouldn’t cause you any significant pain. As long as you follow the advice of your AVC surgeon (such as being careful with your eyes for a month or so after the procedure and avoiding activities such as swimming), you should recover from the surgery very quickly.

Myth: if you sneeze, it will ruin the surgery
As long as you have a well-skilled doctor taking care of your laser eye surgery, eye movements caused by sneezing or involuntary movement should not affect the outcome of your procedure. This myth is one that tends to crop up in the media from time to time, but the development of eye tracking technology means that it’s not something you need to worry about.

Myth: the surgery isn’t permanent
This isn’t true, either. While it is true that your vision will naturally change over time following laser eye surgery (as it would have done anyway), the changes made by the laser are permanent.

We recently talked in this blog about the importance of going to a clinic that is completely independent and not commercially linked with a lens or laser manufacturer. To demonstrate the genuine value of this advice, we wanted to share with you the feedback below from our patient John Hands.

John came to AVC last month for Clear Lens Exchange with Multifocal IOLs. If you have any reservations about the true significance of choosing an independent refractive clinic, this should dispel any doubts. Here’s what he had to say …

My research for treatments to dispense with contact lenses and spectacles for distance and intermediate (computer) vision included consultations at three other clinics. One asked for a deposit for its full treatment prior to the initial consultation; its optometrist recommended LASIK and said I could only see the surgeon the day before the procedure and she, not he, would answer any of my questions. The second was helpful but no surgeon was present and the patient co-ordinator wasn’t able to answer my questions; it advised a particular make of lens to replace my natural lenses. At the third, very busy clinic, I didn’t have all the tests promised. The surgeon advised another make of replacement lens, but before I could finish asking questions he said my time was up and he had to see the next patient.

I subsequently discovered each clinic had a financial interest in the treatment it recommended, by way of a contract with the manufacturer of the LASIK equipment or else the replacement lenses.

My experience at AVC couldn’t have been more different.

I was given the full range of tests in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. The surgeon, Mr Pillai, explained the results, advised why LASIK was unsuitable for me, even though Lasik is his speciality. He discussed the advantages and disadvantages for my particular requirements of the different types of replacement lenses from different manufacturers, in none of which did AVC have a financial interest. AVC used specialist surgeons for lens replacement treatment.

Subsequently I asked several detailed questions by email, all of which were answered promptly. I wasn’t sure which prescription of lens would be better for my less dominant eye, and so Mr Pillai bought two so that we could choose after I’d experienced the replacement lens in my dominant eye.

The standard of patient care by surgeon, nurses, optometrists, and all the AVC staff for the procedures and afterwards was top class. The outcome has exceeded my expectations. My long distance vision now is excellent, not only in daytime but also in night time conditions with none of the side effects associated with other types of replacement lens. I can now read not only 8-point text on a computer screen for sustained periods (~2 hours) without any spectacles, but in good light I can also read 8-point on paper at a normal reading distance.

I don’t give praise lightly, but I wholeheartedly recommend AVC to anyone wanting a personal, tailor-made service for improving his or her vision.

And the bonus? AVC was less expensive than the others

Similarity: AVC delivers them both
The good news is that Advanced VisionCare is well-equipped to be able to carry out both LASEK and LASIK surgery, so whichever one you have, we’ll be able to take care of you.

Difference: the way the procedure is carried out
As you might expect for two different types of eye surgery, LASEK and LASIK are carried out in slightly different ways.

LASIK eye surgery involves creating a small flap on the outer layer of your cornea. This is essentially lifted away so that the laser treatment can be carried out before the flap is put back into place to heal following the end of the procedure.

LASEK treatment differs because no flap is created. Instead, the top layer of the cornea is loosened and moved out of the way while the surgeon applies the laser. The moved layer is then put back into place.

Similarity: good results
A very welcome similarity between the two procedures is that the results are essentially the same, so you don’t need to worry that you’re losing out in terms of vision by having one type of surgery rather than the other.

Difference: who can have the surgery
Out of the two procedures, LASIK eye surgery is the most popular and is generally considered to be the most efficient and effective method of eye surgery. This means that most people opt to have this version, but this isn’t always possible.

For instance, if someone has thin corneas then the surgeon may advise LASEK treatment instead. However, improved technology means that flaps can sometimes be created even on thin corneas, so LASIK is now an option for more people than ever before.

Whichever type of treatment you have, though, you shouldn’t worry – your AVC surgeon will talk you through your options and give you all the information you need to make sure you get the right option.

Similarity: cost
The cost of LASIK and LASEK treatment is roughly the same, which is good news.

Difference: recovery period
Generally, people tend to recover quicker from LASIK eye surgery than LASEK treatment, which is another reason this option is so popular with people having laser eye surgery. However, there’s usually only a few days in it and LASEK is still a good option for many.

Being involved in the field of laser eye surgery is sometimes like being in a sci-fi movie – things happen that would previously have been considered impossible. Take Marty McFly’s hoverboard in the film Back to the Future 2 for example – in 1989 the idea of being able to whiz around on a skateboard that hovered above the ground was a fantastic but impossible invention; fast forward to 2011 though and scientists have very cleverly figured out how quantum levitation works.

The actual usefulness of the hoverboard is debatable of course, but the latest technological advance in laser vision correction Supracor is a much-needed and highly valuable technique for achieving what was previously impossible – to turn the clock back for middle aged people by correcting both their distance and near vision, without compromising either and with outstanding results.

There are few things that make us feel our age more than the realisation that we need reading glasses. We pretend it’s not happening at first by holding books and mobiles further away whilst we squint and gurn in an attempt to bring things into focus, but it’s a pointless resistance – after all, it’s completely natural that after the age of 40 the muscles of the eye begin to lose their ability to change focus and it gets harder to see clearly at close distances.

However, for those who are already shortsighted, having to change up to wearing varifocals or juggle two pairs of glasses feels like yet another tiresome and undeserved misfortune.
Until now, the only surgical procedures for correcting both short and longsightedness at the same time has been monovision or blended vision treatments, but the results cannot be described as excellent. These treatments involve correcting one eye for distance and one eye for near vision, leaving the brain to adjust the imbalance to produce good, but not perfect, vision.

This is not a treatment that we at AVC offer our patients because it simply does not deliver what they both want and deserve. Despite this fact, there are some well-known clinics that continue to recommend blended vision procedures and, unfortunately, there continues to be dissatisfaction at the results.

Supracor is ground-breaking because it corrects both distance and near prescriptions at the same time to produce outstanding balanced vision for all distances.

The simple Supracor procedure begins in the same way as the Intralase LASIK treatment which involves creating a thin flap on the surface of the cornea using an Intralase blade-free laser. Then the Technolas Supracor excimer laser precisely reshapes the cornea to create a customised profile to correct vision for all distances. The flap is then replaced and the eye begins the natural healing process. It’s quick, painless, permanent and clinically proven to be 100% safe.

So if you wished you were like Marty McFly, living a life of mind-blowing time-slipping adventures, take yourself along to our Harley Street clinic and turn the future into the past – youthful precision vision with no glasses!

Suitable for a wide range of sight issues
Implantable contact lenses are a good option for many people because of the wide range of issues they are able to address. These include hyperopia (far sightedness), myopia (short sightedness) and astigmatism.

Also, if a person has more than one sight problem, in some cases an implantable contact lens can be used to correct one of those issues so that the other can be taken care of another way (such as a simpler glasses prescription than would otherwise be needed).

Simple and efficient procedures
As with Lasik eye surgery and other treatments, the process of fitting an implantable contact lens is generally very quick. It involves making a small incision in eye, into which the soft implantable lens is inserted. It takes as little as five or ten minutes – so, if you are someone who occasionally takes this long to put in a regular contact lens (and you’re not alone), this can be very appealing.

Wide range of correction
Of course, one issue you need to be aware of if you are contemplating implantable contact lenses is that they can’t take account of any future changes in your sight. However, they do have a wide corrective range that spans from +10D to -20D, which makes them suitable for most people seeking corrective sight treatment.

Effective alternative to laser eye surgery
As you are probably aware, laser eye surgery is not for everyone. Not everyone is suitable for procedures such as Lasik treatments or Lasek eye surgery. Plus, laser eye surgery is a permanent action, which is something not all patients are comfortable with. Implantable contact lenses have the option of being removed at a later date and can also be used on a wider range of patients, making them very flexible and a good sight solution.

Advanced VisionCare specialises in providing the very best implantable contact lens treatments. Using the latest technology and the best procedures, we are regularly able to help people see better through ICLs. If this is a solution you would be interested in, we would definitely love to talk to you about your options.

Let’s take keratoconus as an example, which is a condition affecting the cornea. Most commonly, the condition causes the cornea to bulge into a cone shape, which causes myopia and irregular astigmatisms – and it isn’t hard to guess how this might have an impact on your eyesight.

When it initially starts to develop, keratoconus can be quite hard to detect. Often, it will manifest in the form of myopia (short sight) and/or astigmatism, but the telltale cone shape of the cornea will not be apparent straight away. However, the condition usually starts to develop in puberty and is associated with other disorders such as pre-existing eye conditions, eczema, Down Syndrome and eye trauma (caused by excessive eye rubbing, for instance).

The good news is that there is now a good range of treatments available for keratoconus and AVC is skilled in utilising the latest technologies to provide patients with the best possible results. Some of the best keratoconus treatments include:

C3R. This is the short name for corneal collagen cross-linking, which is derived from a previous medical process designed to revive sagging skin. Now, it is used to slow the progression of keratoconus, which can help prevent the need for a transplantation of the cornea. It’s important to note that it’s not a cure, but it can make a significant difference to how the disease progresses.

INTACS. This is a procedure used in keratoconus treatment where small implants are placed inside the cornea. The purpose of this is to reduce the cone shape that is synonymous with the condition, effectively reshaping the cornea with the aim of improving a patient’s vision. The implant is made out of poly methyl methacrylate (often used in contact lenses). The reversible nature of the procedure and its good success rate makes this a popular form of keratoconus treatment for many.

The above treatments can either be used separately or in conjunction with each other; if you are suitable for the treatments, your AVC surgeon will take you through your options to make sure you’re fully informed and that you get the treatment that is best suited to you.

Overall, while curing keratoconus is not an option, the effects of the condition can be managed and lessened quite considerably. When you think about the extent of the impact it can have on your eyesight – and therefore your quality of life – it certainly makes sense to consider all your options when it comes to treatment. Technology can’t solve all of our problems, but it can help them dramatically and keratoconus treatment is certainly a good example of that.

Many laser eye surgery companies or consultants in private practice have an established partnership with a particular laser or lens manufacturer that is of financial benefit to both parties. Now whilst this commercial strategy makes perfect sense in other lines of business, when it comes to something as individual as corrective eye surgery it does not necessarily fit with the basic principle that the patient’s needs come first.

It’s not a secret – many leading names in the corrective eye surgery arena are known to be paid by the laser or lens manufacturers in return for using their products at attractive cost price. Naturally, any business looks to source suppliers at the lowest cost in order to maximise profits, but in this industry there must be a question mark.

As a wholly independent vision correction clinic, AVC has no financial interest in using any particular laser or lens type above another; every recommendation is based on what will provide the patient with the optimum results from the entire market including the leading names such Alcon, Zeiss, Topcon and Staar. If that choice is limited to one manufacturer’s range there can always be a chance that something else would have been a better choice. As always, we would never imply that any clinic is knowingly offering sub-standard care but relationships based on mutual financial benefit inevitably introduce a reason to doubt.

AVC’s surgeons are completely free to choose what is best for each patient by listening to their needs and by performing a thorough consultation. Only after this information has been fully assessed will the surgeon decide which laser eye surgery technique or implantable contact lenses should be used.

But if England doesn’t make it past this weekend’s quarter finals we at Advanced Vision Care believe we could give Martin Johnson a very useful tip that could make all the difference in the future: equip any shortsighted players with 20/20 vision by having a simple laser eye surgery treatment.

Now that may sound a bit glib but it’s actually a very practical, quick and accessible strategy for improving performance on the pitch.

As with any vigorous contact sport – or pretty much any sport come to that – wearing glasses is clearly not an option. The only other choice is contact lenses but, as many sportsmen and women will testify, the risk of a lens becoming dislodged or lost can spell disaster – literally the difference between winning and losing. The only permanent solution is to do away with the problem altogether by having laser eye surgery.

One leading figure in the rugby world who we know agrees with us is former rugby international and now director of rugby at Harlequins, Conor O’Shea. After grappling with the problem of wearing contact lenses on the pitch all his professional playing career, Conor finally decided to have his shortsightedness corrected with LASIK IntraLase treatment at Advanced Vision Care earlier this year.

He now has 20/20 vision in one eye and better than 20/20 in the other eye. For a fast-moving sport such as rugby where players need to be able to spot opportunities ahead in time to react before their opponents, the value of having unimpeded perfect vision hardly needs further explanation.

Apart from all the lifestyle benefits that excellent natural vision brings, for a sportsman, laser eye surgery is nothing to do with vanity, it’s all about performance. Rugby is a game of visual skills and if you don’t have sharp eyesight and good peripheral vision you’re at a disadvantage, no matter how skilled a player you are.

If Conor could turn the clock back and erase all the heart-stopping moments when he lost a contact lens on the pitch, he says he would do it in the blink of an eye. What he can do is recommend to his Harlequins players and peers in the professional rugby arena that they seriously look into laser eye surgery for themselves.

If that happens, when England hosts the Rugby World Cup in 2015, we could be making it four times in the final in a row. You never know.

Isn’t it incredible how cheap laser eye surgery is these days? You can get both eyes done for less than £800! You can’t open a magazine or surf the net these days without seeing offers like this leap out at you for laser surgery at really affordable prices, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that prices really have fallen through the floor. However, look a little deeper and you’ll discover that these prices really are incredible – in other words, not to be believed.

Now, we at AVC are all in favour of marketing – it’s essential to success and survival – but using unrealistically low prices to attract customers is, at best, damaging to the reputation of refractive surgery and, at worst, dishonest.

Until your eyes have been thoroughly examined by a qualified refractive surgeon it is absolutely impossible to know precisely what kind of treatment will be right for you. Sure, you might be suitable for the bargain headline price of £395 per eye that’s used to tempt you in but it’s just as likely that you’re not. However, by asking for payment BEFORE your consultation, you’re on the hook. Then at your pre-op consultation you may be told that unfortunately your eyes are not suitable for this particular treatment but don’t worry, there is a procedure that is perfect for you – at a cost of £3,000!

Of course, we aren’t suggesting for a moment that the clinics offering these attractively priced packages would ever go ahead with surgery that would not be wholly appropriate to the patient. But that’s not the point; the point is that people feel hoodwinked.

For many people, paying £800 for a non-essential procedure is a big financial decision that may have taken them a long time to make. If they knew it would actually cost nearly four times as much it’s very likely that they would never have even entertained the idea. It’s not surprising they feel trapped and foolish and to add insult to injury, they now have the added stress of trying to get their money refunded.

It’s not surprising that there are rumblings of complaints and murmurs of “con” and if that discourages people from having treatment that can change their lives, that’s a very great shame. We want those people to know that there is a genuine, transparent alternative to the “pile ‘em high, sell’ em cheap” sector of the market and that as an independent clinic, we make our own rules.

At AVC, the consultation part of the process is crucial. Every prospective patient is invited to a two-hour examination at which medical director Mr CT Pillai will make a detailed assessment of the patient’s eyes. Then – and only then – will a decision be made on which treatment is most suitable and a price quoted. All the patient will have paid for by this stage is the £85 consultation fee which, if laser treatment is booked, will be refunded. For procedures such as implantable contact lens or cataract surgery, the £100 consultation fee is not deducted from the final cost due to the complex examination procedure involved.

Our prices are for highly advanced procedures performed by surgeons of exceptional skill and experience, accompanied by superb patient care and commitment. We don’t believe that this can – or should – be provided at a knock-down price.

So, everyone knows what’s going on. There are no financial trap doors for the patients to fall through, they are fully aware of what will happen when they come for treatment and they can look forward to their new life of excellent eyesight with confidence and peace of mind.

Seems simple to us.

Making the decision to have corrective eye surgery can be the first move towards new found freedom for people who wear glasses or contact lenses. However, before allowing someone to operate on your eyes you need to have enormous trust in the surgeon and clinical team. Obviously, it helps if you know something about the surgeon and his professional reputation, if you can meet the team before the operation, if the procedure is clearly explained to you so that there are no little surprises in store on the Big Day. It also helps if you can bring along a friend for moral support. Yet, as we know, operating theatres need to be kept sterile which is why, in the UK, friends and family are not allowed inside. Infection aside, bringing in extra people could also affect the surgery as it would alter the temperature and humidity levels, which in turn could affect the performance of the lasers.

Now, however, AVC has created a UK first and an excellent moral boost to its patients with a transparent glass laser theatre. This revolutionary operating theatre allows friends and family to be close by and watch the laser eye treatment procedure live on a screen, as it happens. So now you can feel reassured by the close familiar presence of a companion during surgery. Operating in such transparent conditions also shows the utter confidence of the surgeon and team – there’s nowhere to hide in this theatre – and brings added peace of mind to the patient. Finally, let’s not forget the inquisitive soul in all this: this arrangement, originally designed for training purposes, brings an unprecedented opportunity to watch live laser eye surgery and share a life-changing moment with someone you care about.

Here’s how it works. The surgeon’s microscope is linked to the screen in the next room, so the companion sees everything that the surgeon sees and views each step of the procedure as it takes place. It’s basically a mini master class in laser eye surgery – and it’s quite unique in the UK.

For Advanced Vision Care, excellent patient care has always been a priority. Mr CT Pillai, AVC’s internationally acclaimed medical director, personally implements each laser surgical procedure – and with over 20,000 successful operations to his name to date, there’s no questioning his skill and expertise! He also conducts the initial consultations so that any irregularities or complications, if present, can be identified before the day of the operation.

“AVC is all about providing excellent, unsurpassed patient care,” said Mr Pillai. “That means pre, during and post surgery. We take every measure possible to make our patients feel as relaxed as possible and this is one more means of doing just that.”

Barbara Brooks had LASIK eye surgery in 2003 at AVC under Mr Pillai. Now 59, she still has excellent distance vision with no need to use reading glasses for close work. Despite marvelling at her perfect vision immediately after surgery, she did however have one tiny regret. “I remember saying to Mr Pillai that I wished I’d been standing where he was, able to watch up close what he was doing,” said Mrs Brooks.

Her wish came true this year when she returned to AVC to accompany her friend, Jessica Lam, for bilateral Wavefront LASEK eye surgery. For Mrs Brooks the experience was little short of miraculous. “I didn’t just look in through the glass partition, I actually saw the whole operation on the screen before me,” she said. “It’s funny, you don’t feel anything when it’s being done to you, the light touch across your eyes – and then it’s all over so quickly. But to watch it on screen, well, you’d have to witness it to understand just how amazing it is, the skill, the deftness of the laser. Mr Pillai makes it appear so easy. If more people were able to see the procedure, they wouldn’t have any qualms about having laser surgery.”

For Ms Lam, the nerves had built up in the anticipation of her surgery, to such an extent that she was physically shaking with apprehension. So having her friend, who had herself undergone a similar procedure, in the very next room brought her welcome comfort and reassurance. “I was petrified. It’s your eyes – I knew that Barbara and her niece had both had their eyes done successfully by Mr Pillai but I was still worried,” said Ms Lam. “It was nice to have someone with me – I honestly don’t think I could have done it on my own.” As with Mrs Brooks and her niece, Ms Lam’s surgery was a complete success.

Mr Pillai again: “With the clear glass theatre, our patients have a double reassurance, in effect. They know their companion is close by in the next room, and the AVC surgical and clinical team has demonstrated its complete confidence in its own performance, skills and results. What’s more, our patients get to share this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone close to them. Our patients certainly appreciate this opportunity. And let’s not forget, for the person watching, this is a unique opportunity to watch live surgery – not something they could see anywhere else in the UK.”

With this revolutionary transparent glass theatre, AVC really has addressed any remaining patient worries by removing the fear of the unknown. It’s not just a lesson in eye laser surgery, it’s a lesson both in deep understanding and outstanding patient care.

For a long time, corrective eye surgery was synonymous with laser eye surgery and to many potential patients, it still is. As a result, some vision correction clinics have been reluctant to incorporate other technologies into practice but this is very limiting for those patients whose eyes are not suitable for this kind of treatment.

The lens-based surgical implant options that are now available greatly increase the opportunities for both patients and surgeons to find a mutually agreeable solution to a very wide range of refractive errors.

A driving factor behind this sea-change in the market is increasing demand from the growing presbyopic population – in other words, the baby boomer generation who are now at an age when they can’t read the small print and who do not want the inconvenience of having to keep reaching for a pair of reading glasses.

So, what is the difference and how do patients know which one is best for them? Should they choose LASIK or PRK (laser procedures) or phakic IOLs (implantable contact lenses) or CLE (clear lens exchange)?

There is so much information available online about corrective eye surgery that often patients have decided on a specific treatment before they set foot in the clinic. They may have chosen the right option but equally they may find that a new alternative is more appropriate.

Unlike the one-stop-shop laser clinics, AVC has fully embraced all new technologies which means we are able to find a solution for practically every refractive error. The key to a successful conclusion is putting forward the case for each option in a way that patients can understand.

Intraocular lenses for presbyopic patients

The biggest deciding factor when it comes to patient suitability for IOLs (intraocular lenses) is the patient’s age. Word has spread to patients that this technology can solve the problems of presbyopia and achieve freedom from spectacles for reading and distance vision. Many in the older age bracket, including cataract patients, who think their age precludes them from any option that corrects their refractive error, can also benefit from this option.

Multifocal IOLs

In our clinics, the evolution of multifocal implants has positioned these lenses as the first choice for treating presbyopia. We have been using most of the common multifocal implants for more than 10 years with very positive results. Our patients want value for money and these are more likely to deliver spectacle freedom than with accommodating lenses. After surgery the patient is often reading well within a few days and halos tend to fade within weeks. Depth of focus, which is often better than with other multifocal models, strengthens capability and increases the ability to read a computer screen at 50-60cms.

LASIK and PRK for higher myopia or hyperopia

The latest generation of lasers, keratomes and femtosecond lasers has made LASIK eye surgery considerably safer, making flap complications and induced aberrations rare these days.

Implantable contact lenses (ICL) – remarkable results for the widest range of refractive errors

The Visian ICL brand of implantable contact lenses provides impressive predictability and excellent quality of vision, even with very high prescriptions. The treatment range is remarkable, covering nearly all refractive errors from 10.00 to -18.00D, with or without astigmatism up to 5.00D.

The fact that the procedure is reversible and that no tissue is removed seems to particularly appeal to patients. No stitches are needed and the 2mm incision in the cornea is self-sealing.

Take it from the horse’s mouth – in 2004 I became a satisfied Visian ICL patient myself which has most definitely increased the trust and popularity of this technology among our patients.

Dr Helgason is recognised as a leading authority on the ICL technique and spent five years training surgeons all over the world when the technology was first developed.

With some very welcome wine and nibbles to keep guests refreshed throughout the evening, the event was a great success with several consultations booked by the time we set off back for London.

As many of our patients often tell us, it took them quite a long time to make the decision to go ahead with eye surgery, simply because they weren’t fully informed on what would happen or where they should go for the most reliable and professional treatment. Of course, after treatment, they say they wish they’d done it years ago so we decided last year that we would help to shorten the wondering and waiting by taking our expert advice on the road.

The event was open to anyone, whether they were eyesite patients or not, who was interested in finding out exactly what’s involved in laser eye surgery or implantable contact lens treatment. AVC’s medical director and lead surgeon Mr CT Pillai welcomed the guests with an overview of the company followed by a clear explanation of the range of treatments available and exactly what is involved in each.

After the presentation guests could talk in detail to the AVC team about their own requirements and concerns and make a decision on the best course of action for them personally.

Eyesite’s optometrists were also on hand to introduce their patients to Mr Pillai and contribute their expert knowledge of the individual’s needs and suitability for surgery.

As well as laser eye treatment, AVC offers a wide range of procedures that can help people with practically every refractive error, however complex. These include LASIK and LASEK eye surgery, implantable contact lenses, multifocal implants, keratoconus treatment, refractive lens exchange and cataract eye surgery.

At AVC we have built a unique partnership network across the UK with independent optometrists. This not only provides the opticians’ patients with a reliable referral service for refractive eye surgery but also allows AVC’s patients to visit their own local optician for aftercare appointments instead to having to travel to London.

These offers are for a limited time only so ensure you make your booking NOW….

Remember, we are the only eye clinic who offer:

• ‘Wavefront’ at NO EXTRA CHARGE
• Hotel accomodation at NO EXTRA CHARGE
• The LOWEST monthly charge per eye
• GENUINE 100& INTEREST FREE CREDIT

Visit our Pricing pages at click here now to find out more about this incurable case of SUMMER MADNESS…….

It’s fortunate, then, that there is no evidence to suggest that reading by bad light is detrimental to the health of your eyes. It can tire them certainly, due to the fact that they need to work harder, but you’ll suffer no long-term negative effects. That’s because your eyes are clever enough to be able to adapt to different levels of light – as soon as you walk into a room.

When light is low, your eye adjusts itself in a number of ways. Firstly, the rod and cone cells on the retina begin to produce more light-sensitive chemicals. These chemicals detect light, convert it into electrical signals and then transmit those signals to the brain. Secondly, anyone looking at you might notice that your pupils have become enlarged, and this is because the iris recognises the fact that good light is in short supply, so it relaxes somewhat, allowing your eye to open wider. By doing this your eyes are essentially making a bid to collect as much light as possible!

Reading in poor light tends to frustrate eyes by sending mixed messages. On the one hand, the muscles want to relax in order to absorb as much light as possible, but on the other they’re trying to focus on the words on the page and soak up the detail. This, of course, makes focusing difficult, and over a long period of time they will inevitably become tired, as any muscle would. Any feeling of tiredness, however, is temporary, and if you find that you are experiencing any lasting symptoms we’d recommend that you get your eyes checked out by a professional. You could have an underlying problem such as nearsightedness.

So, reading in poor light is not so detrimental after all, but try not to do it too often!

Presbyopia is a completely natural part of ageing. It occurs when the natural lens within the eye gradually thickens and starts to lose flexibility.
The focusing power of your eyes is very much dependent on the elasticity of the lens. This is why, if you suffer from presbyopia, you probably find yourself having to hold reading materials further away in order to see them clearly. Reading and other close work can also cause headaches and eyestrain.

The condition has in the past been treated with reading glasses, bifocals, or contact lenses. This can be a pain for those who already need glasses to correct their vision, as it means carrying two pairs of glasses around with them!

Now there’s another treatment that can make life just that little bit easier – Conductive Keratoplasty. It’s a non-Laser treatment, specifically designed for those with presbyopia that literally takes 3 minutes.

We’ll all be keeping our eyes on the weather forecast this week as the Bank Holiday approaches. It’s been pretty dismal lately so fingers crossed for a bit of sunshine!

If it does turn out to be a glorious one, remember to protect your eyes and wear shades.

Studies have shown that cataracts can develop after long-term exposure to sunlight. This exposure to UV radiation causes the formation of free radicals which can disturb the delicate composition of the eye lens.

That’s why it’s so important to protect our eyes from the damaging effects of the sun. We all love a bit of sunshine, but just make sure to wear a pair of sunglasses that have the CE mark and British Standards number EN 1836: 2005.

Another thing to remember is that although cataracts do not usually occur until later in life, research shows that much of the sun damage can actually be done before the age of 18. So, making sure that children wear protective sunglasses from a young age is vitally important.

Not sure what sunglasses to buy? See our top shades style tips for the summer, below…

Hollywood glamour

Make like your favourite old school movie star. Wear them like Victoria Beckham.

Circular spectacular

Quirky ‘granny style’ shades. Wear them like Alexa Chung.

Retro Squares

Seventies inspired square shades for the ladies, or the modern square aviator for the gents. Wear them like Nicole Ritchie

Looking fly in Aviators

This classic trend never goes out of fashion. Wear them like Brangelina.

Wrap it up

Sporty lifestyle? How about a sporty trend to match with wrap around shades? Wear it like Matthew

Presidential

Look distinguished in rimless visor shades. Wear them like President Obama.

Here our Medical Director Mr.C.T.Pillai shares his exercise suggestions:

• Imagine that you are looking at a large clock ahead of you. Look at the centre of the clock, then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the centre, then look at another hour mark. Work your way around each hour mark of the clock
• Focus on an object in the distance for several seconds before slowly re-focusing on a nearby object that’s in the same direction. Try this exercise for up to 3 minutes every half hour or so. It can help to maintain the quality of your eyesight during the day, and prevent further deterioration. It is particularly useful if you sit in front of a computer screen all day
• Close your eyes tightly for around 3 to 5 seconds and then open them for 3 to 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise seven or eight times

It’s more important to carry out the exercises regularly than it is to perform each one for a long period of time, so we recommend around 30 to 60 seconds of eye exercise every hour.

You might want to find a private place to carry them out to avoid strange looks, but what are you waiting for? Get pumping that eye iron!

If you’d like to find out more about the different eye exercises you can try, and the range of treatments we offer at AVC, just give us a call on 08006524878, send us an email at enquiries@advancedvisioncare.co.uk or simply fill out our enquiry form to the right of the page.

It’s worth noting that Dry Eye Syndrome is not always an inconvenient side-effect of surgery. You may also suffer from the condition if you use a computer day-to-day for long periods of time, if you become affected by environmental factors (such as extreme heat or a windy climate), if you are undergoing any hormonal changes or if you wear contact lenses.

In the first instance dry eyes are normally treatable with lubricating drops, gels and ointments. But if symptoms are severe or persistent, there are other treatments that can be used.

At AVC, we have helped many patients combat the symptoms of dry eyes by using something called Punctal Plugs. These silicone plugs are inserted into tear drainage ducts in the eyelids. This helps to keep the eye moisturised by preventing tears on the eye from draining away too quickly. The procedure is entirely painless, and you will not feel the plugs once they are inserted.

In extremely rare cases AVC will prescribe you Restatis drops , to be used for 3-4 months. However, in all his years as a Laser refractive surgeon, our Medical Director Mr C.T. Pillai can count on one hand the number of instances this has been required! You can be rest assured that you’ll be in safe hands at AVC.

If you’d like to find out more about Dry Eye Syndrome and the range of treatments we offer at AVC, just give us a call on 08006524878, send us an email at enquiries@advancedvisioncare.co.uk or simply fill out our enquiry form to the right of the page.