Healthcare Workers – What are the Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery?

             

There are endless benefits to having laser eye surgery. If you wear glasses or contact lenses and are visually impaired without them, you know first hand how disruptive the requirement for them is.  And if you need more reasons to seek clear vision… there are several posts on our blog page about how amazing laser eye surgery is.  We also have dozens of video’s of people’s reactions immediately after laser eye surgery on TikTok.

 

Why is clear vision at every depth important? 

Clear vision at every depth, in every lighting, is integral for successful patient care. You are required to read the tiny writing on pill bottles, prescriptions and vials, accurately administer treatments, read and add patient notes both on paper and on the computer, make assessments in high pressure environments from a distance, maintain good spatial awareness in busy crowded spaces and, well… everything else! And the hardest part of all of this? There is very little to zero error allowed.

Night shift workers often have to do all of these things with very bright fluorescent lighting or very little lighting on the wards with patients sleeping.

How does nightshift work affect the eyes? 

Night shift work can negatively affect eyes by disrupting circadian rhythms, potentially leading to visual fatigue, dry eye symptoms, and even increasing the risk of certain eye conditions such as AMD.

Eliminating the need for contact lenses, can reduce dry eye symptoms and increase your eyes comfort level if working nights.

Laser eye surgery provides increased comfort in eyes due to a massive reduction in dry eye cases following surgery

Constant exposure to hospital ducted air conditioning can be taxing on our eyes. Low humidity conditions and recirculated air cause an increase in tear evaporation which intensifies dry eye symptoms. Contact lens wearers are already at high risk of dry eye symptoms which cause eyes to be itchy, watery, burn and feel heavy and tired. Adding constant exposure to these AC systems exacerbates dry eye symptoms which can lead to corneal erosion (a more serious occurrence following long-term or extreme corneal dryness).

Improved peripheral vision for a 360° view

Anyone who wears glasses understands that your vision is limited to the area of your glasses lens that you are able to look through. This can be restrictive for healthcare workers that work in a role that is faster paced, such as a paramedic, someone in the emergency department or a registered nurse.

Glasses do not give you immediate access to your peripheral vision in certain cases. This situation in turn, has made their job that bit more difficult.

Daily life is easier following laser eye surgery when you no longer rely on glasses and contact lenses

We have demonstrated how your working life can be vastly improved, but what about your personal life?  Well… how much time do you have?  A reduction in Optometrist appointments, having to re-test eyes and constantly re-order contact lenses, the cost of glasses, improved family life, socialising without the need of glasses and contacts, going on holiday, swimming, playing all sport! And do I even need to mention the main benefit – the simple act of seeing clearly with naked eyes upon waking! 

How many healthcare workers are there in Australia?

In 2022, the health workforce represented 5.0% of the total employed workforce in Australia. During that year, over 688,000 healthcare professionals were actively working in their respective registered professions. Nurses, account for 54% of total health industry employment (around 372,000 registered nurses in 2022).

With such a diverse array of roles within this industry, there are so many reasons to have laser eye surgery.  New technology and straight forward aftercare makes having laser eye surgery easier than ever.  Dr Furness can also provide your with a medical certificate for any additional time off required (work environment dependent during the healing phase). This allows you to access your sick leave and not your personal leave.

FAQ’s

Where should I go for laser eye surgery?

Dr Graham Furness at Insight Eye Clinic is one of the most experienced Refractive & Cataract Surgeons in Western Australia. Dr Furness is a corneal expert who specialises in ReLEx SMILE, LASIK, PRK, ICL (implantable contact lens) and RLE (refractive lens exchange). Dr Furness has also specialised in cataract surgery since 1999, offering a variety of vision outcomes to suit each unique person’s daily vision requirement.

What is the process to visual freedom?

You will first require a consultation in either our Subiaco or Westminster clinic. This process can take between 2 and 3 hours and a full eye health assessment with Dr Furness is also included. Various diagnostic and vision tests will ensure what surgery type is best suited to your daily life. Following your consultation, surgery can be scheduled if you are a suitable candidate. Depending on the surgery type required, you might have to wait between 2 and 6 weeks. Following surgery, a few standard post-operative appointments are required, as well as post-op eye drops for a short period.

How quickly can I see after surgery?

After laser eye surgery, results are immediate and continue to improve over the coming weeks.  For the first few hours afterwards, vision can seem a little foggy and eyes may feel a little light sensitive. Correct aftercare protocol is very important and will ensure the optimal outcome. Almost all patients have reached driving standard vision (usually better) by the following morning.

Is laser eye surgery permanent?

Yes, laser eye surgery is permanent. During the procedure, a tiny amount of corneal tissue is removed to reshape the patient’s eye.  Once the tissue is gone, it is gone permanently. In some cases, people can redevelop refractive error. This will be discussed during a consultation.

Presbyopia is an occurrence that happens to everyone in their mid to late 40’s. The eye loses some of its ability to accommodate and people begin to notice their near vision becoming blurrier and blurrier over time. This is age-related and unrelated to the laser eye surgery procedure performed. There are surgical options available to help with presbyopia, such as RLE (refractive lens exchange).

How much does laser eye surgery cost?

The cost of laser eye surgery is dependent upon where you go. At Insight Eye Clinic, we offer third generation ReLEx SMILE surgery (the latest technique), at only $3400 per eye which is inclusive of everything excluding your consultation fee.  Surgery, post-operative eye drops, surgeon fee and post-operative care is all included in this price. There are no hidden fees. We also gift all laser patients a pair of high quality, polarised sunglasses made from sustainable materials to protect your eyes after surgery. Interest free finance is available for up to 2 years!

The most common statement we hear from our patients after they’ve had their laser eye surgery procedure is, “I wish I had done this sooner!”  You cannot regain the time you’ve been wearing glasses or contact lenses, but you can make the choice to find out if you are eligible for visual freedom.

Please see the below blogs and visit our social media platforms for educational information related to all types of eye surgery available with Dr Graham Furness at Insight Eye Clinic.

             

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