Presby-Lasik (laser surgery for presbyopia)

What is Presby-LASIK?

Presby-LASIK is an innovative refractive laser procedure designed to correct presbyopia, the natural, age-related loss of near vision.

As a highly effective alternative to reading glasses, contact lenses, or intraocular lens surgery (such as RLE), Presby-LASIK offers a bespoke solution to restore functional vision across all distances: near, intermediate and far.

How does Presby-LASIK work?

Presby-LASIK utilises the same safe and established technology as traditional LASIK. The procedure begins with a femtosecond laser creating a thin, protective flap on the eye's surface. This flap is gently lifted, allowing a second laser (the Excimer) to precisely remodel the underlying corneal tissue. This reshaping ensures that light focuses accurately onto the retina.

Laser Blended Vision (LBV)

Modern techniques, such as Laser Blended Vision, utilize a sophisticated approach:

• Bespoke Aspheric Profiles: The laser reshapes each eye to increase the depth of field by inducing controlled spherical aberration.
• The Blend Zone: The dominant eye is optimized for distance vision, while the non-dominant eye is set for near vision. Crucially, both eyes maintain a significant overlap for intermediate vision, creating a "blend zone."
• Neuroadaptation: Thanks to this intermediate transition zone, the brain naturally learns to merge the images from both eyes. This process of neuroadaptation typically develops over a few weeks to a few months, resulting in fluid, seamless vision.

The procedure is rapid, performed under topical anaesthesia (numbing drops) and provides a swift recovery with clear vision often achieved by the following day.

What are the benefits?

• Clear Vision at All Distances: Reduces or eliminates the need for reading glasses or "varifocals."
• Bespoke Treatment: Every procedure is tailored to the patient’s unique corneal characteristics and visual requirements.
• Painless and Efficient: The procedure typically takes less than 10 minutes per eye and is generally painless.
• Swift Recovery: Most patients return to their normal daily activities within a few days.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Restores visual freedom for reading, screen use, and driving without the constant need for visual aids.

Who is a suitable candidate?

• Age: Usually 40 years or older, once presbyopia begins to affect daily tasks.
• Stability: A stable prescription for at least 1–2 years.
• Ocular Health: Healthy corneas with sufficient thickness and no history of significant disease (e.g., keratoconus or advanced cataracts).
• General Wellbeing: No medical conditions that significantly impair healing or immunity.
• Not Pregnant or Breastfeeding: Hormonal changes during this time can temporarily alter your prescription.
  

It is important to acknowledge that every eye is unique. A comprehensive consultation with a specialist refractive surgeon is essential to determine whether Presby-LASIK is the most appropriate solution for your specific visual requirements.

What are the risks?

While Presby-LASIK is exceptionally safe, it is a surgical procedure and carries certain risks. The general surgical risks, such as temporary dry eye, transient visual disturbances (halos or glare), and a very low risk of infection, are the same as those for standard LASIK.

Specific considerations for Presby-LASIK include:

• Neuroadaptation Period: It can take several weeks or months for the brain to fully adjust to the "blended" visual profile.
• Refinement: In a small number of cases, a "top-up" or enhancement procedure may be required to fine-tune the visual result and ensure optimal focus.