FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

The ideal refractive surgery candidate:

  • Is over 18 years old
  • Has had stable vision/refraction for at least six months
  • Has refractive error(s) that fall within the treatment range
  • Does not have a systemic disease or condition that could impair the procedure or healing process
  • Has been educated about the procedure, including its risks and benefits
  • Understands that the goal of surgery is to improve vision and reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses
  • Has sufficient corneal thickness to allow safe and effective ablation

No.  Once your eyes have reached the Alberta legal driving requirement (20/50 for Class 7 Drivers License), you will be able to drive. Most patients are able to drive within 2-3 days.

Note: Legal driving requirements vary depending on your Driver’s License Class.

Avoid all eye makeup for seven days after surgery.

Surgery time is typically around 20-25 minutes, but patients can expect to be in the clinic for approximately 2 hours, including pre- and post-operative care.

Frequently Asked Questions Edmonton and Northern Alberta
Frequently Asked Questions Edmonton and Northern Alberta

Most people can return to work within five to seven days.

The surgery itself does not hurt. Depending on the type of procedure, some patients may experience mild discomfort after surgery. This can be relieved with medication. Patients who have surface laser procedures generally report more discomfort than with other vision correction procedures.

While there are risks associated with any surgery, the risks associated with vision correction surgery are extremely low. The lifetime risk of wearing contact lenses is higher than undergoing refractive laser eye surgery. Some side effects can be felt by the patient during the healing process (for example, dry eyes, halo effect of lights at night, light sensitivity), but these effects almost always go away once the eyes have completely healed. Your doctor will fully explain the risks and side effects during your consultation and how they can be treated if they occur.

It is common for eyes to be light-sensitive, scratchy, blurry, or foggy and even experience some redness after surgery. It is completely normal and is part of the normal healing process and usually only lasts 1-2 days before it improves.

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