Refractive error conditions are common and happen when the shape of your eye does not bend and refract light correctly, causing images to look hazy and unclear.
The four most common refractive errors are:
• Myopia (near-sightedness) - difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.
• Hyperopia (farsightedness) - difficulty seeing close objects clearly.
• Presbyopia (loss of near vision with age) – difficulty reading or seeing at arm's length.
• Astigmatism - distorted vision resulting from an irregularly shaped cornea or lens.
An eye care professional can diagnose refractive errors during a comprehensive eye test.
The benefits of refractive surgery may include: improved vision and, a reduction in dependence on or no longer needing glasses or contact lenses.
Wearing glasses or contact lenses can be inconvenient especially if you regularly enjoy sports, water sports, and an active outdoor lifestyle.
LASIK refractive surgery corrects vision almost immediately and recovery is quick.
Refractive surgery, also known as vision correction, improves your eyesight.
There are various refractive surgeries for correcting or adjusting your eye's focusing ability. Refractive surgery is normally an outpatient procedure that is carried out under local anaesthetic. It may involve reshaping your cornea or implanting a lens inside your eye.
Refractive errors that cause blurry vision, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism, may require refractive surgery.
Cataracts may also lead to refractive lens exchange whereby the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a new artificial one.
If you decide to pay for your treatment, Ramsay offer an all-inclusive Total Care package, where a single one-off payment at a pre-agreed price, delivering direct access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance. You can also spread the cost of your treatment with finance options available.
A refractive surgery may be covered by your medical insurance policy. We advise you to check directly with your insurance provider and get written confirmation before commencing treatment.
Recovery from refractive surgery is quicker than you might think.
After laser eye surgery, your vision will be corrected almost immediately and any blurriness will start to clear within 24 hours.
Most people return to work within a few days to a week. Your eye surgeon will advise you when you can drive again.
You can expect your vision to become stable within approximately a month.
Lens surgery has similar recovery times to laser eye surgery.
At Ramsay Health Care we offer a range of refractive surgeries for our patients. Highly skilled ophthalmologist surgeons offer convenient appointments for you to discuss your refractive error surgery options in full and answer any questions you may have.
We regularly perform refractive surgery so you can rest assured you’re in safe hands and our packages offer comprehensive aftercare.
Mr David Jones
Dr David Jones is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Duchy Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
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Mr Ashish Patwardhan
Mr Ashish Patwardhan is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Duchy Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
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Mr William Westlake
Mr William Westlake is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Duchy Hospital in Cornwall.
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Spread the cost of your treatment with fixed, monthly payments over a time period to suit you.
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We offer an alternative range of ways to pay, so you can choose which one best suits you and your finances.
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Use your private medical insurance to fund your treatment through our simple referral process.
Find out moreLearn all about what cataracts are, their symptoms and causes, and how they affect your vision.
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