FAQ

Q1: How soon after the surgery will my vision improve?

It depends on the individual, but in most cases, your vision will blur immediately after the surgery. Usually your vision will stabilize within one month after the surgery because the flaps will have been adsorbed properly by then.

Q2: Is the surgery definitely safe? Is there any case of failure?

Eye surgery using the Excimer laser is one of the most effective and safest ways to correct refractive errors. At Natural vision Takanawa clinic, qualified ophthalmology specialists write and deal with the data extracted from the Excimer laser. We are equipped with the latest laser equipments and there is no possibility of losing your vision due to the procedure.

Q3: What symptoms other than Lasik complications can be caused by the surgery?

Those symptoms cited below won’t occur in every case, and even if they do occur, the condition will improve as time goes by.

• Dry eyes
  After the eye surgery your eyes will tend to get relatively dry. This is a temporary symptom. In most cases this condition will disappear within a few months. We will provide you with eye drops to ease the condition.
  Please note that these eye drops are not supposed to heal your pre-surgery dry eye condition. The Lasik eye surgery is also not intended to heal dry eyes. If you originally had dry eyes, the condition won’t disappear even after undergoing the laser vision correction.
• Pain and irritation
  These conditions tend to occur on the day of the eye surgery. In most cases they will disappear by the next day.
• Bluriness or unclear vision
  Your vision may blur or be foggy, however the condition will improve gradually as time goes by.
• Night time visual symptoms
  Mild glare and /or haloes at night are not uncommon after Lasik eye surgery. This condition will last for up to 6 months for most people.
• Bleeding in the white of the eye
  We place a device firmly on your eye before creating the flap. Sometimes this can cause a red eye because sometimes a capillary vessel of the white of the eye bleeds due to the pressure caused by the firmly placed device. This condition will disappear within one to two weeks.

 

Q4: I have dry eyes. Am I eligible for Lasik eye surgery?

Yes, you are. Lasik eye surgery has been considered as one of the solutions for people who are unable to use contact lenses because of dry eyes. The visual acuity after the surgery will be the same as those who do not have dry eyes.
If you have a serious dry eye condition, then your eyes may need dry eye treatment before having Lasik eye surgery.

Q5: Are elderly people eligible for Lasik eye surgery?

Please have an examination first and if you are considered to be eligible by a doctor, then you will be able to have Lasik eye surgery.

Q6: What will happen in 10 to 20 years after the surgery?

Lasik eye surgery is considered to be a safe medical treatment even in the long term based on the results of the research which has been conducted since 1990.
To conduct the procedure safely, we examine your eye condition thoroughly and find out if your eyes are suitable for the procedure. A cornea which is of a suitable thickness is vitally important to a safe procedure to be conducted.
However, please note that even though we collect this kind of data carefully through examination, there is still a minute chance that unpredictable problems may occur after 20 years. So please consider this well and make your own decision.

Q7: Which is better, Intralase or Microkeratome?

The method of producing the flap is different between Intralase and Microkeratome.
By using a Microkeratome, flaps are produced with stainless-steel blades.
On the other hand, by using an Intralese, flaps are produced with a Femtosecond laser.
A flap produced by a blade is not stable enough because it is cut at an acute-angle, and this sometimes causes postoperative wrinkles and gaps on the flap.
Also, some minor lines produced by the back and forth movements of the blade might remain on the flap, and this might cause postoperative symptoms such as halos and glares.
On the other hand, by using an Intralase, the programmed femtosecond laser enables the production of a smooth thin flap of surface corneal tissue, and also the cut end of the flap is at a right angle.This enables the patient to recover with a clear vision and also the postoperative complications decrease.

Q8: Why do candidates have to be 20 years old or older?

We do not recommend treating children’s refractive errors with eye laser surgery because the eye is still growing right up until the end of puberty (around 20), and corrections made before then will not produce stable results.

Q9: Can I still have cataract, glaucoma or retinal detachment surgery in the future after having Lasik eye surgery? / I have already had one of these surgeries. Am I still eligible for Lasik eye surgery?

There are no problems with combining the procedures. In the case of cataract surgery, the surgeon in charge might want to refer to your pre-Lasik eye surgery corneal data to decide the degree of intraocular lenses which are put into your eyes during cataract surgery.
Please feel free to ask us and we will provide you with these data on demand.

Q10: Are postoperative check-ups necessary?

Postoperative periodical examinations by ophthalmologists are essential after LASIK eye surgery. It is helpful in terms of not only knowing the patient’s post operative situation but also in detecting the complications in their early stages if by any chance they occur. The frequency of the postoperative check-ups depends on the type of surgery. It takes about 10 to 30 minutes for each postoperative check-up.
Please feel free to visit the clinic for check-ups if you feel that something is wrong with your eye condition.

Q11: How long does it take to get back to work?

In general, you can get back to work the next day after your eye surgery. However, if your job involves spending a long time looking at a computer display or spending a long time outdoors, then you might need to take more days off or reduce your workload for a few days. If you need further information, please consult with your doctor.

Q12: When can I resume sports after the surgery?

Please refrain from taking part in sports for a week after the surgery. When it comes to mild sports such as jogging, they can be done one week after the surgery, provided that no problems with your eyes are found in the first week check-up.
Regarding active sports such as martial arts or swimming, please refrain from these activities for at least a month because it is important to avoid the risk of getting hit on your eye area.
After one month, you will be able to dive, as long as you wear swimming goggles.
If you need further information, please consult with your doctor.