Am I suitable for LASIK surgery?

Wearing spectacles and contact lenses to correct your vision temporarily can be a hassle, but vision-correcting surgeries such as LASIK may indefinitely solve your problem. However, LASIK procedures are quite costly that may dissuade you from trying it.

Fret not, for I will walk you through the dense jungle of information of LASIK procedures that may change your mind.

Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the necessary information to help you make an informed decision regarding your next LASIK procedure.

• How much does LASIK cost in Singapore

• The different types of LASIK procedures

• What are the risks of LASIK surgery?

• If LASIK results last forever

• And more!

LASIK vs Contact lenses vs Spectacles

We all want to find the comfort we need to do everything according to our lifestyle. But how do you assess the benefits of LASIK against the other ways of vision-correcting methods?

With this in-depth comparison between the LASIK vs Contact lenses vs Spectacles, how do they combat each other?

In terms of price value, the Spectacles gets the point for being the most affordable method among the three. A pair of spectacles can cost about $1,200 for over a decade of use. The LASIK comes next with a high upfront cost of $3,500 to $6,000 of one-time surgery. The Contact lens can reach up to $5,000 with disposal usage and contact solutions.

Sustainability wise, the LASIK snatches a win because it lasts indefinitely. In contrast, the Spectacles usually stay up to 3 years, while the Contact lenses last only for a month.

If we were to talk about comfort and quality of life, LASIK gets another point. It is the most comfortable among the three. You’ll get no more fogging of glasses and hassle in using contact solutions from time to time. Spectacles usually make your nose tired, while contact lenses would restrict you from doing many things like taking a nap because you can’t sleep with contact lenses on.

Overall winner: LASIK

So, what does LASIK correct?

LASIK corrects myopia or most commonly known as near-sightedness. If you happen to see things more clearly when things are near you, you most certainly have this myopia, and LASIK is an ideal choice for you. Having low or high myopia depends on your cornea thickness.

Aside from myopia or near-sightedness, LASIK and other eye surgery called Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) and TransPRK also correct long-sightedness or hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Whereas ReLEx SMILE, another surgery, only corrects myopia and astigmatism because it is not suitable for long-sightedness correction.

The different types of LASIK procedures in Singapore: A summary of Pros and Cons

There are different types of LASIK procedures in Singapore that you can use today to correct your vision. To help you decide better, here is a summary of the benefits and disadvantages of these procedures.

LASIK

Pros:

• Visual recovery is fast

• Minimal discomfort after surgery

• Relatively easy for early enhancements

• Flexible in treating an eye power

Cons:

• Flap-related complications are possible

• Possible risk of corneal ectasia (corneal thinning problems)

• High risk of post-procedure dry eye

ReLEx SMILE

Pros:

• Visual recovery is also fast

• Less worry about dry eye

• Flap complications as compared to LASIK

Cons:

• Possibility of lenticular-related complications

• Not suitable for those with very low myopia or high astigmatism

• Not for those with farsightedness

ASA (e.g. TransPRK & Epi-LASIK)

Pros:

• No risk of flap complications

• Lower incidence of post-procedure dry eye

• Great for people who are into contact sports

• Best for those with thin corneas and high myopia

Cons:

• Slower post-operative visual recovery

What is LASIK?

LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis procedure is an outpatient surgical process that treats myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. This modern surgery is now bladeless as it uses a femtosecond laser to create a corneal flap. It reshapes the cornea by laying the flap back in place, so its light focuses directly onto the retina, providing clearer vision.

It’s no wonder why LASIK remains one of the most common and most popular forms of laser eye surgery in Singapore and worldwide.

What is ReLEx SMILE?

ReLEx SMILE or Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction is a flapless procedure with a faster recovery time. It also uses a laser that creates a disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue (lenticule) beneath the cornea’s surface.

Using the same laser, the surgeon makes a small cut on the cornea to remove the lenticule to change the way light bends into the eye, clearing the vision. Unfortunately, ReLEx SMILE doesn’t work for long-sightedness and isn’t as effective for high astigmatism or low myopia.

What is Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)?

Advanced Surface Ablation (Epi-LASIK, LASEK, PRK, TransPRK) is also a no-flap, no-incision, surfaced-based vision correcting procedure. To shape the cornea, ASA removes a thin layer of cells on its surface using a laser.

A protective lens is then placed over the eye until the cells grow back in a few days. If you have a thin cornea, this may be the best option for you. However, you have to note that it requires a longer treatment and recovery time, lasting up to three to five days.

Which is the best LASIK option for me?

If, at this point, you are convinced that you want to undergo a LASIK surgery but couldn’t decide which option best suits you, here are the things that you must consider in determining which LASIK procedure is suitable for you.

• Cornea thickness and shape

• Degree of short-sightedness

• Degree of astigmatism

• Occupation

Considering all the factors listed above, you will still need an extensive consultation and thorough eye assessment to determine which LASIK procedure is the most suited for you.

You may also opt to read a few things about these procedures to help you decide better before going to any hospitals or clinics for a consultation.

What are the risks and side effects of LASIK?

All medical procedures have risks and side effects, but it is still better to know about these to help you understand your situation after the surgery. This way, you will not have unnecessary panic and anxiety for overthinking.

Risks with LASIK

Thinning cornea: There are rare cases of only about 0.04% to 0.06% cases of this risk globally, but it does happen. This condition is also known as post-LASIK ectasia, wherein the cornea becomes irregular and unstable.

Problems with cataract surgery: If, in the long run, you suddenly contacted cataract, the corrected cornea that LASIK changed permanently may be a hassle. During cataract surgery, an artificial lens will be placed to clear your vision. The lens calculations will become more complicated since it requires a normal cornea for correct reading.

Inaccurate eye pressure readings: LASIK makes reading your eye pressure more challenging, leading to lower reading and damage to the optic nerve that can lead to poor eyesight or even blindness.

Regression: In having a very high case of myopia, your old degree could return. Fortunately, since the LASIK procedure improvements are permanent, it would only require minor adjustments.

Side effects with LASIK

Dry eyes: This is one of the most common side effects of having a LASIK procedure, wherein the corneal nerves responsible for normal tear production may have been cut during the process. Thankfully, it should resolve itself in a few months.

Night vision issues: This issue typically goes away gradually within nine months to a year. So seeing halos, glares, and starbursts at night is common, especially with people with a high case of myopia or astigmatism.

Discomfort and itchiness: The discomfort will go away a few hours after the procedure, while the itching should disappear in a few days. Both are part of the healing, so it shouldn’t worry you.

Am I suitable for LASIK?

You are eligible to undergo LASIK if you meet the following criteria:

• At least 18 and/or 21 years old

• Your degrees have stabilized for at least a year

• You are in good health

• If you’re any younger, your eyesight may not have stabilized yet, but if you are in your early or mid-40s, you may need reading glasses as you age.

The LASIK procedure isn’t suitable for you if you:

• Suffer from severe dry eye syndrome

• Have thin corneas

• Have very high refractive error

• Have irregularly-shaped or steep corneas

• Have existing eye injuries or diseases

• Are hoping to correct presbyopia or long-sightedness due to age

• Are pregnant or nursing

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy or nursing

*Take note that you can only undergo LASIK after six months of pregnancy and nursing.

What if I have dry eyes? Can I go for LASIK?

You can’t undergo LASIK if you have dry eyes because LASIK will aggravate the dry eye symptoms. But you may still opt for other eye procedures to correct your vision, such as ASA or ReLEx® SMILE®, which are both flapless procedures.

Is LASIK surgery painful?

LASIK surgery is not painful; it's a relatively painless procedure as it is performed under local anaesthesia. It also gives a rapid visual recovery that will provide you with excellent visual outcomes for varying degrees of short-sightedness and astigmatism.

How much does LASIK surgery cost in Singapore?

LASIK surgery costs in Singapore range from $2,776 to $7,000 in general. Here's a more detailed breakdown of how much each clinic in Singapore charges for LASIK surgery:

Cost of post-operative LASIK medication

There are necessary medications that will most probably be prescribed to help you recover faster such as eye drops, antibiotics, and steroids. You might also need to wear eye protection while you sleep.

If you happen to have a hard time falling asleep, you may ask your doctor to prescribe oral medication like sleeping pills. Generally, the fees for these prescriptions would be included in the surgery package.

Comparing LASIK cost in private eye clinics vs public eye institutions in Singapore

To make direct comparisons between LASIK Cost in private eye clinics vs public eye institutions in Singapore, it may be challenging as there are many variables involved. However, the difference between a hospital and a private clinic in Singapore in terms of costs is minimal.

For a LASIK procedure involving your two eyes, below are the following estimated rates than what you can expect to pay:

• Advanced Surface Ablation: $3,600 to $4,000

• LASIK: $3,500 to $4,500

• ReLEx SMILE: $5,300 to $6,000

Pre-eye evaluations and post-reviews and enhancement operative services attribute to the differences in the individual hospital or clinic packages.

Be wary of accepting any offers in a hurry without reviewing the packages to avoid being faced with paying for unnecessary add-ons or hidden charges.

How do I prepare for my LASIK surgery?

You should stop using soft lenses at least three days before the assessment, and at least ten days for hard lenses, just like how you prepared for your initial LASIK evaluation.

For Collagen Cross-Linking and LASIK, consuming Vitamin C in large amounts is recommended a week before the surgery.

What happens during the LASIK procedure?

LASIK uses a femtosecond laser that creates a corneal flap in reshaping the cornea by laying the flap back in place. With this procedure, light focuses directly onto the retina, providing clearer vision. In the 15 minutes procedure, you will only need to stay still and stare ahead at the laser light as the surgeon “sculpts” better than glasses lens into your cornea.

What happens after my LASIK procedure?

Do not panic if you ever feel like your eyes became blurry for about 6 hours after the LASIK procedure because it is but ordinary. It would be best to have someone with you to take you home so you could rest and regain your strength.

Refrain from rubbing your eyes, too. You might need eye shields during the first week to help shield your eyes from unnecessary rubbing accidents while sleeping. There will also be a series of follow-up reviews arranged for after the procedure.

What should I not do after LASIK surgery to ensure the fastest recovery and best outcome?

LASIK has the fastest initial recovery time, followed by SMILE and, subsequently, ASA. LASIK and SMILE patients can resume their normal activities after 3 days of rest while ASA patients usually take about 4 - 5 days.

For the best outcome, here are the precautions to note:

• Avoid heavy reading, watching TV, or any computer works for 12 hours

• Do not drive and/or operate heavy machinery for 48 hours up to 1 week

• Do not apply any eye makeup for one week

• Avoid getting water into your eyes for one week

• No swimming, hot yoga, jacuzzi, hot tubs, and sauna for two weeks up to one month

• Avoid contact sports for two weeks up to 1 month

• Do note that excessive exercising and contact sports are not advisable for LASIK patients as the cut cornea flap will never fully heal.

Can I still wear contact lenses after LASIK?

If you have undergone the LASIK procedure and still want to use contact lenses for cosmetic reasons, you might want to know if it is always safe to use such.

The good news is, yes, you can still have that doll-eyed look you want to achieve one to three months post-surgery. But remember, you can only use soft contact lenses because hard lenses tend to slip off the cornea surface.

Do I need to go for LASIK enhancement or follow-up treatments?

Of course, you need to go for LASIK enhancement or follow-up treatments because it will be beneficial for you. Here’s a rough timeline of the follow-up reviews:

LASIK/SMILE: Reviews one day after surgery, then one week after, another month later, and finally three months after surgery

ASA: Reviews one day after surgery, followed by three days after, one week after surgery, one month after surgery, and then three months after surgery. For those with high myopia, reviews six months later.

How long do LASIK results last? What are the chances of regression?

Generally, LASIK treatments will last indefinitely. More than 95% of LASIK patients claimed how their visions stayed good after many years of undergoing the said procedure.

And there are just roughly about 6% of patients that may require additional procedures to enhance and correct their short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or astigmatism within ten years.

Can I do LASIK on both eyes at the same time?

Yes, you can have LASIK surgery on both eyes at the same time. Before LASIK became modern, patients used to undergo surgery one eye at a time because the risk would then be limited to only one eye.

But as of this date, having both your eyes undergo LASIK simultaneously is a better option because if the same laser-treated them, its accuracy would be the same for both eyes.

Also, undergoing LASIK for both of your eyes in the same sitting will minimize your downtime after surgery.

What is Collagen Cross-Linking?

Collagen Cross-Linking is an extra procedure that aims to reduce both the risk of your cornea losing its shape and its degree returning, known as corneal ectasia.

For a minute, you will have Vitamin B12 drops applied to your eyes before UV light is shone on it. It will then activate the collagen fibers on your eye to cross-link and strengthen your cornea after LASIK. As rare as it may occur, this kind of procedure is offered before your LASIK surgery starts.

Where can I get LASIK procedures done?

You may opt for public institutions or private clinics for your LASIK procedure. Although it may not always be the case, public institutions are generally the cheaper options.

Here are the most popular public institutions that you may go to for your LASIK procedure:

• Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) offers a LASIK procedure package of $2,364 to $3,531. It also provides consultation fees of $109 to $123.

• National University Hospital offers about $2,140 for the LASIK surgery and $101.65 for the consultation fee.

• Tan Tock Seng Hospital offers $2,000 to $3,590, depending on whether LASIK is bladeless, and a consultation fee of around $160.

• Atlas Eye Specialist Centre offers $2,959 to $4,059 for bladeless LASIK procedure and a consultation fee that ranges from $97 to $225.

• Dr. David Goh Eye Specialist Centre also offers free admission and a $5 LASIK screening.

• Dr. Natasha Lim Eye Centre offers $3,424.00 for LASIK procedure and a consultation fee of $130.

Which LASIK doctor should I choose? Here’s a list of LASIK surgeons in Singapore for you to choose from:

Source: https://atlaseye.sg/dr-david-chan/

Dr David Chan

• Atlas Eye Specialist Centre

• Senior Consultant EPAye Surgeon

• MB ChB (UK), M Med, FAMS, MRCS (Edin), FRCS (Edin)

• Speciality: complex cataract surgery, anterior segment surgery and refractive surgery, ophthalmology

Source: https://lsceye.sg/dr-marc-tay

Dr Marc Tay

• LSC Eye Clinic

• Senior Consultant, Ophthalmologist

• MBBS (Singapore), FRCS (Glasgow), FRCOPHTH (United Kingdom), FAMS (Ophthalmology)

• Speciality: SMILE ® (Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), Monovision LASIK, Cataract Surgery, Advanced Surface Ablation, Multifocal Implant Surgery, LASIK Eye Surgery

Source: https://lsceye.sg/dr-eugene-tay

Dr Eugene Tay

• LSC Eye Clinic

• Senior Consultant

• MSC, MBBS (London, UK), FRCSEd, FRCOphth(UK), FRANZCO

• Speciality: SMILE ® (Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), Cataract Surgery, Advanced Surface Ablation, Retinal Disease Management, Glaucoma Evaluation / Treatment, LASIK Eye Surgery, Multifocal Implant Surgery

Source: https://clearvision.com.sg/doctors

Dr. Tony Ho

• Clearvision Eye Clinic and LASIK Centre

• Senior Consultant

• MBBS, FRCS (Glas), FRCOphth (UK), FAMS

• Speciality: LASIK, Cataract and Implant Surgery

Source: https://www.drdavidgoh.com.sg/doctor/dr-david-goh

Dr. David Goh

• Dr. David Goh Eye Specialist Centre

• Medical Director & Senior Consultant

• BSc (UK), MBBS (UK), MBA (LOND), MRCOphth (LOND), FRCOphth (LOND)

Source: https://www.drnatashalim.com/our-doctor

Dr Natasha Lim

• Dr Natasha Lim Eye Centre

• Medical Director & Senior Consultant

• MMBS (UK),B.MED.Sci (UK), MCROphth (Lond), FCROphth (Lond)

• Speciality: Ophthalmology (Eye)

Source: https://www.jerrytaneyesurgery.com/about-us

Dr Jerry Tan

• Jerry Tan Eye Surgery

• Consultant Eye Surgeon

• MBBS (S'pore), FRCS (Edin), FRCOphth (UK), FAMS

• Speciality: Cataract - Corneal Transplant - LASIK

Source: https://shinagawa.com.sg/dr-lee-sao-bing

Dr Lee Sao Bing

• Shinagawa Eye Centre Pte Ltd

• Medical Director (Ophthalmologist)

• MBBS, MMed(Ophth), FRCSEd(Ophth), MD, FAMS

• Speciality: Cornea and Refractive (LASIK) Surgery

Source: https://www.snec.com.sg/patient-care/specialties-and-services/clinics-centres/our-doctors

Mohamad Rosman

• SNEC Laser Vision Centre

• Head ＆ Senior Consultant

• ​MBBS, MRCSEd, M Med(Ophth), FRCS(Ed), FAMS

• Speciality: Refractive Surgery, Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Can I claim Medisave or insurance for LASIK treatment in Singapore?

Unfortunately, you cannot use insurance for LASIK treatments in Singapore, which is considered a cosmetic procedure.

However, you can use Medisave to cover its costs if:

• There are 300 degrees difference or more between your eyes

• LASIK would correct errors from previous procedures like cataract surgeries

• Your doctor certifies that you aren’t fit for contact lenses or spectacles

• You can claim a hospital charge up to $300 a day, including a maximum of $30 for your doctor’s fee because LASIK is a day procedure.

Are there installment plans available for LASIK surgery in Singapore?

Yes, there are installment plans available for LASIK surgery in Singapore. What’s great about it is, that most clinics that offer installment payment options offer a 0% interest rate for over 6 – 12 months.

For instance, a $3,800 LASIK procedure can be split into more manageable monthly installments of about $300+. You may opt to pay for your LASIK procedure via cash, NETS, debit, or credit card.

So, is LASIK surgery something you're looking for?

LASIK is a very beneficial medical procedure that could improve the vision of at least 20/40 with long-lasting results. Aside from quick results, it also has a speedy recovery rate. With this procedure, you will not need contact lenses or glasses anymore. Though LASIK isn’t cheap, it does have its pluses, and there are ways to make costs manageable, like applying for a monthly installment option.