Lasik surgery - How a 15 minute procedure can change your life

Thinking about getting LASIK surgery in Singapore?

If you wear glasses or contacts, you know first-hand how annoying it can be to have your glasses slip off your nose or fog up in the Singapore heat, and how troublesome it can be to remember your contact solution when you travel. You’ve probably heard about LASIK, but what you may not know is how quick and easy the procedure actually is, and the advantages it can bring.

What is LASIK?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) makes use of high-tech lasers to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors including myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), presbyopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism (a condition that causes blurred vision). With 20 years of proven results, this type of surgery is popular due to its accuracy, predictability and safety, and is considered the gold standard in vision correction. To date, 34 million procedures have been performed worldwide.

A lifestyle choice

LASIK offers a long-term and convenient answer to those who want good vision without the hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses, which offer only temporary vision correction. The added convenience granted by it is the reason why a lot of people with demanding, on-the-go lifestyles opt for this procedure; it’s a perfect solution for everyone from busy mums and dads, and working professionals to athletes, frequent travellers and, really, anyone who wants 24/7 visual freedom.

Imagine being able to exercise freely without being having sweat get onto those glasses. Picture not having to fumble for your glasses at night. Envisage your glasses not fogging up when you walk in and out of air-conditioned buildings. And, yes, there is a way to play with your infant without having your glasses yanked off and broken! And, for those who hate the look of glasses, LASIK is a welcome relief from their once-bespectacled lifestyles – a cosmetic fix that can boost confidence and correct vision at the same time.

Another plus? The procedure only takes 15 minutes, and recovery is quite rapid. In fact, depending on the type you choose, it’s possible to get back to your normal activities within 24 hours.

However, as with any procedure, it has potential side effects and complications. These include dry eyes, halos and glares, and under/over correction. Choosing a good surgeon helps to minimise the chance of post-op complications.

Here in Singapore, Dr Lee Hung Ming, an experienced surgeon with more than 20,000 surgeries under his belt, conducted the first bladeless LASIK surgery in 2004. Formerly the head of LASIK surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and National University Hospital, Dr Lee now helms Lee Hung Ming Eye Centre at Gleneagles Hospital, where he has been performing different kinds of LASIK surgeries on his patients since 2007.

Which type of LASIK is right for you?

LASIK is an established procedure that has been used for more than two decades. There are several different technologies available, but Bladeless LASIK (also known as all-laser or no-blade LASIK) is widely considered the gold standard for best possible outcomes.

It’s suitable for the majority of people, including those who are active in sports. However, the best treatment method for each patient depends on their individual eye condition. For example, patients with thin corneas may want to have Epi-LASIK (another type of LASIK) instead. Although it’s more painful and has longer recovery times than LASIK, it’s a good treatment option for select patients. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the different treatments after examining your eyes.

Lee Hung Ming Eye Centre believes in offering patients the luxury of choosing between different LASIK treatments. The clinic’s most popular treatment is the iLASIK Wavefront Customized procedure. This measures and treats individualised imperfections that are not treated with standard or optimised treatment, making it a potentially superior vision-correcting alternative. In fact, iLASIK is currently the only treatment safe and accurate enough for use by NASA astronauts and US Navy seal personnel!