Presbyond/ Laser Blended Vision

Laser Blended Vision is a revolutionary laser vision correction treatments for presbyopia. Presbyopia literally translates as ‘old eye’. Unfortunately, ageing affects the eye just as it affects every other part of the body. Starting in early middle age, the lens inside the eye begins to lose its ability to change shape ‘zoom’ from distance to near and back.

As we can’t avoid ageing, nobody is immune to developing presbyopia, and if left unchecked, inevitably leads to the need for reading glasses, bifocals, or varifocals.

What is Laser Blended Vision?

Blended vision is a term, which is placed on a very special kind of Laser Eye Surgery, which we use to correct not only someone’s distance vision but also their near vision, their reading vision. This applies to people who are generally in their 40s or older that have, what is called, aging eye or presbyopia to use the agreed term.

The laser eye procedure to correct presbyopia or ‘ageing eyes’ involves a technique called Laser Blended Vision. The technique can be employed using either LASIK or PRK; whichever is most appropriate for the patient. With this technique, one eye is treated to view objects mainly at distance, but a little up close, and the other is treated to view objects mainly up close, but a little at distance. The brain puts the two images together and enables the individual to see distance and near without effort. In most cases, the brain is able to compensate and you will experience an excellent depth of focus and overall visual acuity, without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.

Laser Blended Vision has been adopted by Carl Zeiss Meditec and programmed into their lasers, so clinics around the world are now able to offer this option.

Benefits for you

Laser Blended Vision adjusts each eye in slightly different ways: one eye is adjusted to see mostly at distance, and a little close up, while the other is the opposite: mostly up close, and a little at distance.

The brain compensates for this change almost instantly, combining the two images to give much greater depth of vision, and an all-round improvement in visual acuity that means most patients can throw away those infuriating reading glasses.

• Over 98% of Laser Blended Vision patients can read normal newsprint (‘N8’).
• Over 90% of Laser Blended Vision patients can read the small print on medicine bottle inserts.

Am I suitable?

Laser Blended Vision is suitable in general for anyone with presbyopia who is also a candidate for corneal laser eye surgery; myopia (short-sightedness) up to -8.50D with astigmatism, hyperopia (long-sightedness) up to +6.00D with astigmatism and patients who have emmetropia (good distance vision) but only need reading glasses for computers or near vision might all be eligible.

Laser Blended Vision can also be performed after cataract surgery in order to increase the independence from spectacles. Assessment is with our expert optometrist. This normally takes an hour. Our optometrist will perform various eligibity tests and measurements and may be able to advise you on what is likely to be the best treatment option for you. The dominant eye is determined and vision tested to identify the level of correction required for distance and near on the dominant eye and non-dominant eye.

Procedure

During the surgery, a corneal flap is created, during which there can be a sensation of slight pressure on the eye during the procedure. The corneal flap is then lifted and the laser correction is done – an ultra thin flap can be created for treatment of very high prescriptions. The flap is replaced and the speculum is removed. The other eye is treated next. The software data for each eye is stored in the Carl Zeiss Meditc MEL 90 laser and delivered by the eye-tracker controlled computer generated excimer laser pulses. The laser time for each eye is usually under 30 seconds.

The entire procedure takes approximately 20 minutes for both eyes and the visual recovery is rapid and there is very little discomfort afterwards, usually described as if contact lenses had been left in for too long. The flap seals down usually within a few hours and the early postoperative recovery period usually about 7 days during which care is needed to not rub eyes and to wear eye shields during the night. The results are almost instantly available to the patient, where objects and people will seem more in focus, and most people can return to work the next day after their postoperative day 1 check.

Your Journey

We have designed our eye surgery pathway to give you adequate space to consider your options without any pressure to sign up for any treatment.

There is no obligation and we will be very pleased to give you information about all vision correction options, answer your questions and organise your suitability assessment.

Suitability Assessment

Assessment is with our expert optometrist. This normally takes an hour. Our optometrist will perform various eligibity tests and measurements and may be able to advise you on what is likely to be the best treatment option for you. At this visit our team will take you through our process, and give you our range of fees and affordable payment and finance options.

You will be given written information guides for the relevant procedures. Our optometrists can also organise an appointment for you to see our surgeon Mr Anandan for your comprehensive vision surgery consultation.

Consultation with Mr Anandan

The consultation with Mr Anandan is the defining stage of the process. The consultation includes a full and comprehensive assessment of your eyes and general health. Mr Anandan will then make his recommendation as to what in his professional opinion is the best vision correction surgery option for you, and explain the reasons behind that recommendation. You will be encouraged to ask questions and your queries will be answered fully. You will leave the consultation with an excellent understanding of all the issues relevant to your treatment to make an informed choice.