When is the Best Time to Have Laser Eye Surgery?
From choosing the right clinic and surgeon to taking time away from work, there are many factors to consider when planning to undergo an elective procedure like Laser Eye Surgery. But is there a time of the year that is considered the “best time to have Laser Eye Surgery”?
The 18th-century English theologian John Trusler once said, there’s ‘no time like the present, a thousand unforeseen circumstances may interrupt you at a future time.’
Many of us are now familiar with this proverb, and it feels just as relevant today as it was when it was first penned in 1790. And yet, most of us will often find ourselves dithering and putting off tasks and opportunities for days, months, or even years. Most of life is spent weighing up options, getting lost down countless tangents, and waiting for a “more suitable” time.
Of course, whether that time ever comes is another matter…
The sentiment of living in the moment is one that many of us strive to get behind. But ending the habit of overthinking is easier said than done. To do so, some of us may turn to mindfulness practices such as yoga or meditation. Great teachers like Eckhart Tolle and Jack Kornfield tell us to live in the moment —the here and now; to forget the regrets of the past and worries of the future, and to start living each day like it’s our last.
Making the Most of Clear Vision
So, what does all this have to do with Laser Eye Surgery? Well, surely, the more time you have to enjoy life with clear vision, the better. In that case, when thinking about the best time to have Laser Eye Surgery, perhaps now is always the best time.
Of course, in reality, several things could get in the way. Whether it’s a big project at work, an upcoming trip, or having a new car to pay off, life always seems to find a way to make things more complicated. Then there are things that might make you temporarily unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery.
The Bad Times to have Laser Eye Surgery
While pregnant or breastfeeding
Hormones are important natural chemicals that play a vital role in many biological functions. However, high or low levels of certain hormones can affect the stability of vision. This is often the case when a person is pregnant or breastfeeding.
During this time, elevated hormone levels can significantly affect your prescription. Many people experience a reduction in their visual acuity during this time, often in the form of myopia (short-sightedness); however, this can also be a shift to hyperopia (long-sightedness).
As patients are required to have had a stable prescription for at least 12 months before being considered a candidate for Laser Eye Surgery, you will likely be unsuitable for the procedure at this time. However, this is only a temporary barrier to clear vision!
When your eyes are still changing
When we reach the age of 18, we are considered adults for most intents and purposes. In the UK, hitting this milestone opens up a huge number of opportunities for us; however, there may still be some limitations – including when it comes to having Laser Eye Surgery.
Our bodies often continue to develop and change past the age of 18 and into our twenties – and our eyes continue to change along with them. This can mean fluctuations in your prescription which could make you temporarily unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery.
Of course, our hormones do balance themselves out eventually, so if you’re 18 or older and your prescription has been stable for over a year, you should have no problem being approved for treatment. This will be confirmed following a thorough screening process at our Harley Street clinic.
If you have an underlying health condition
Several health conditions can make you temporarily or permanently unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery. This includes underlying conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, keratoconus, or dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome is becoming increasingly common – often as a result of our reliance on digital devices. Unfortunately, as Laser Eye Surgery is often associated with post-operative dry eye, people with the condition may be deemed unsuitable for treatment. However,
Your general and eye health will be assessed during your initial consultation, following which our doctors will be able to give you a better idea of your suitability for treatment. This will include evaluating the presence and severity of dry eye symptoms and any other conditions that could affect your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery.
Taking the Plunge
Deciding to have Laser Eye Surgery can seem like a daunting and time-consuming process. After all, as we have said, there are a lot of factors to consider. While you may have previously dismissed Laser Eye Surgery due to the cost or fear of the procedure, some thoughtful research can help to dispel these concerns. The chances are, you’ll find it is a lot less costly and intimidating than you once thought.
So, if you’re at the end of your tether with the many inconveniences of your glasses or contact lenses, you might finally be ready to take the plunge. The good news is if you’re a suitable candidate for treatment – and the vast majority are – all you really need to do is work out the best time for you.
When exactly that is is completely up to you. Of course, the sooner you go ahead with Laser Eye Surgery, the sooner you could be enjoying the benefits of clear, unobstructed vision! Nonetheless, no surgical procedure – even one as safe and straightforward as Laser Eye Surgery – should be rushed into.
It is important to feel confident in your chosen clinic and surgeon. This can mean doing some thorough research, checking independent reviews, and attending several consultations at high-quality clinics. When you feel happy with your chosen clinic, the only thing left to do is to pick a time that works best for you.
Whether you opt to have Laser Eye Surgery in the summer, spring, winter, or fall, surprisingly speedy recovery times could mean you’ll be enjoying the full benefits of your new vision in just a matter of weeks.
If you’d like to learn more about Laser Eye Surgery suitability or the treatments on offer at London Vision Clinic, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today.
View Comments (25)
Hi,
I wanted to have my eyes do a lasik surgery, but Now I'm actually confused if any of PRK or lasek would be a better choice to get the myopia of my eyes corrected?!!! The degree of the myopia is 1D.
Thank you!
Hi Aralia,
Everyone's eyes are different. At London Vision Clinic our aim is to get you the best possible results and that means assessing your eyes for 3.5 hours initially to determine what the best treatment plan for you would be. Unfortunately, just knowing your prescription doesn't give us enough information. We would need to assess your suitability fully and ascertain whether the PRK, Lasik or ReLEx SMILE treatment would be the best option. Please let us know if you need any other information by getting in contact on 0207 224 1005 or via info@londonvisionclinic.com
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi again,
First, THANKS for the quick reply! I had already asked similar question with even more explanation in another medical website and they paid NO attention to it!!
Well, I had actually another quest in which if infections caused by sinusitis could harm eyes any ways, esp after getting eyes done a surgery which means they will get much more sensitive?_I been suffering from a chronic sinusitis too for ages now (sometime it gets kind of infected even if I use anti bioethics for it).
Thanks.
Hi Aralia,
Thank you for your comment. The sinusitis infections you are experiencing will not affect surgery. We would obviously want to make sure you had no signs of infection at the time of surgery. Any sinusitis infection you got after surgery would affect your eyes in the same way. It certainly wouldn't preclude you from surgery. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
I am 18 years old my number iswas -10.5 and -2.5 cylindrical since past 4 years . Suddenly this year it increased by 1 and now it is -11.5 . Is laser eye surgery possible for me
Hi Jessica,
We do treat patients as young as 18, however, to confirm if you would be suitable we would need to see you for a consultation. We would need as many previous prescriptions as you can get. It is certainly possible but we would need to make sure that it was the best option for you at this stage. Please let us know if you have any further questions or call the clinic to speak to one of our Patient Care Coordinators on 0207 224 1005.
Thanks
London Vision Clinic
Hi. I am 49 and generally fit and healthy. My vision has deteriorated over the last few years and I am now struggling with my 3rd pair of varifocals. Would laser eye surgery be suitable for someone like me whose prescription seems to be changing at a (what seems to me) fairly rapid pace?
Hi Lucy,
Thank you for your comment. It sounds like presbyopia has set in for you. This is the natural ageing of the eye and unfortunately means we all need to pop on the reading glasses at some point. Laser Blended Vision, a treatment pioneered at the London Vision Clinic can treat patients with presbyopia. Please follow this link for more information. If you would like to discuss more, please call the clinic on 0207 224 1005.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
I want to have Lasik Eye Surgery because I am sick and tired of lens I want a permanent solution but on the other hand I am very scared of eye laser surgery. Would laser eye surgery be suitable for me? Is it secure? Should I go for it?
Hi John, Laser eye surgery is a very safe medical procedure in terms in comparison. I am unable to say whether it is suitable for you without any information, you may want to call the clinic and get more information about your eyes on 0207 224 1005. One of our Patient Care Coordinators will be happy to go through any questions for you.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi, i am Karnvir from India .recently my eyes have got the problem of anterior uveitis . my treatment is goig on and before this i never wore spectacles but now i have to of -1.5 cylindrical. can u please tell that should i do an eye surgery to get rid of the spectacles . will it be safe for me .
Hi Karnvir,
Unfortunately, we are unable to determine your suitability with this information alone. You would certainly not be able to proceed while the uveitis was active. We would need to see you first for a consultation and most likely require blood tests to fully determine your suitability for laser eye surgery. Please call the clinic on 020 7224 1005 for more information.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
hello
actually i am in india and cannot come to london for blood tests and various other tests.
if i get rid of uveitis then can i have the treatment for eyes .actually i want to get rid of the spectacles as early as possible but safely. i am 17 yrs of age so please guide me as i dont know about these things much
thank you
Hi Karnvir, We would be unable to advise if you would be suitable following Uveitis without assessing your eyes for a thorough examination. I would advise that you seek specialist help closer to home. However, as you are under 18 you should wait until proceeding with surgery.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi
I am 30 years old. I also have a issue with my eyes that I wake up with itchy wet red eye. it is painful. I get a burning sensation. It only happens maybe one a month or in two months.
Is eye surgery suitable for me?
Thank you
Hi Hassan,
We would need to assess your eyes and determine the issue you are having, from the information you have given, it is possible you could be suitable for laser eye surgery. As I said, you would need to have a full assessment to determine your suitability.
Thanks,
London Vision Clinic
Hi, I am considering laser eye surgery within the next month or so. I have never worn glasses, my eyesight is not terrible. Do I need to wear prescription glasses for a certain period of time prior to laser surgery so that you get an accurate/stable prescription?..Or can laser eye surgery go ahead without the need of a prior prescription?
Many Thanks
Wayne
Hi Wayne, thanks for your comment.
We normally ask for the previous few years worth of prescriptions as a way to track how your prescription has changed, and see it stabilising.
If you do not need glasses, you should not start wearing them. Laser eye surgery aims to eliminate or reduce someones need for glasses, so we would need to find out more about your and your eyes in this instance.
If you would like to discuss further with one of our Patient Care Coordinators, call us on 020 7224 1005.
Kind Regards,
London Vision Clinic
I had laser eye surgery somewhere like 1995, approx 23 years ago (45 years old now) , and now i am back on glasses and contacts. can i have second laser eye surgery. or should i go for lens replacement or if there is any other kind of eye technology which i can use.
kind regards
jughead
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it is normal for someone to need a top-up procedure, to tweak the results many years later. We have a treatment called Laser Blended Vision, which addresses the need for reading glasses. You can read more about it here - https://www.londonvisionclinic.com/how-long-will-the-effects-of-laser-blended-vision-last-video/ This treatment compared to lens replacement is less invasive, lower risk, and can often be much cheaper. If you would like to know more, please give us a call on 020 7224 1005.
Kind Regards,
London Vision Clinic
Hello,
I am in my early 60's and, like most people I have had to wear glasses since my 40's due to natural aging of the eyes. My prescription has been fairly stable for the last couple of years and so I have been giving some thought to laser surgery. However, I have been advised by my GP that my eyes will continue to change as I move through the next couple of decades and should I reach my 80's or later, there is a much enhanced risk of cataracts, surgery on which would cause a need for further laser treatment. Added to this he pointed out that due to the continued aging, I would probably still need to wear reading glasses.
In that case I might as well continue to wear varifocals and get the best lenses that I can afford.
Is my GP scaremongering or is laser surgery not ideal for the over 60's for the reasons he stated?
Hi Graham, thank you for your comment.
Presbyopia is a gradual change once you get into your forties, yes, although it is completely unique to each individual in terms of the progression and degree to which it may alter your vision. Should you have laser eye surgery, there is no link to causing cataract formation. I would recommend calling us to have a chat with our Patient Care Coordinators to discuss the various options you have on 020 7224 1005.
Kind Regards,
London Vision Clinic
I am in my early 70 s I have myopia presbyopia and have dry right eye. Am I a suitable candidate for eye correction surgery. Thankyou.
Hi Helen, we have treated patients of similar prescriptions before but we would need you to come in for a full eye health examination to determine your individual suitability. To find out more, you can call to speak with one of our Patient Care Coordinators on 020 7224 1005.
Many thanks,
Chloe at London Vision Clinic