Laser vision correction reshapes the cornea so light focuses correctly without spectacles. Clear Vision offers blade-free LASIK and Contoura Vision, which maps over 22,000 points on your cornea and corrects its irregularities as well as your number. The laser takes 10–15 minutes for both eyes, you are in hospital for two to three hours, and most patients are back at work within 24 to 48 hours. Eligibility is confirmed by a 90-minute workup, available at all 20 branches.
How laser vision correction works
Short sight, long sight and astigmatism are all focusing errors. Light entering the eye lands in front of the retina, behind it, or in more than one place at once. Spectacles fix this by bending light before it reaches the eye. Laser vision correction fixes it at the source, by adjusting the curve of the cornea itself.
A femtosecond laser lifts a thin flap on the corneal surface. An excimer laser then removes a precisely calculated amount of tissue underneath — microns of it — to change the cornea's focusing power. The flap goes back into place and seals on its own. No blade touches your eye at any point, and no stitches are used.
Blade-free LASIK vs Contoura Vision
Both procedures use the same lasers. The difference is the map the laser follows.
| Blade-free LASIK | Contoura Vision | |
|---|---|---|
| Corrects | Your spectacle number | Your number and corneal irregularities |
| Guided by | Refraction measurement | Topographic map of 22,000+ corneal points |
| Night vision | Good | Often better than with spectacles |
| Best for | Straightforward numbers | Irregular corneas, higher astigmatism, night drivers |
No two corneas are identical — not even your own two. Contoura Vision accounts for that individuality, which is why many patients report that their vision after the procedure is crisper than it ever was in spectacles.
Are you a candidate?
You are generally suitable if all of the following are true:
- You are 18 or older
- Your spectacle number has been stable for at least 12 months
- Your corneal thickness is adequate for the correction needed
- You have no active eye infection or inflammation
- You do not have advanced keratoconus or an unstable cornea
- Any dry eye is under control
- You are not pregnant or breastfeeding (a reason to postpone, not to refuse)
None of this can be judged from a prescription slip. The laser vision correction workup is the only way to know, and it is available at every Clear Vision branch.
What the workup involves
- Corneal topography — a detailed map of the surface shape
- Pachymetry — corneal thickness measurement
- Refraction before and after dilation
- Pupil size measurement, which affects night-vision planning
- Tear-film and dry eye assessment
- Dilated retinal examination
It takes about 90 minutes. Stop soft contact lenses for at least 3–7 days beforehand (longer for rigid lenses) — lenses temporarily change the corneal shape and would make the map unreliable.
The day of your procedure
Arrival
Final measurements are confirmed and anaesthetic drops are started. Bring someone to drive you home.
Laser
10–15 minutes for both eyes. You lie back and look at a fixation light; you will feel pressure, not pain.
Rest
A short observation period, then home. Expect watering and a gritty feeling for three to five hours.
Sleep
The single most useful thing you can do on day one. Most people wake with clear vision.
Review
Day one, week one, month one. Drops taper over several weeks.
Recovery and aftercare
- First 24 hours: Rest the eyes. No screens, no reading, no rubbing. Wear the protective shield to sleep.
- Days 2–7: Most patients return to work. Use lubricating drops generously — mild dryness is normal and temporary.
- Weeks 2–4: No swimming, no dusty environments, no eye make-up, no contact sports.
- Month 1–3: Vision continues to stabilise and any residual dryness settles.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for LASIK?
You are generally eligible if you are 18 or older, your spectacle number has been stable for at least 12 months, your corneal thickness is adequate for the correction required, and you have no active eye infection, advanced keratoconus, uncontrolled dry eye or untreated retinal disease. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are temporary reasons to postpone. Only a laser vision correction workup can confirm eligibility.
What is the difference between LASIK and Contoura Vision?
Standard LASIK corrects the spectacle number measured on your prescription. Contoura Vision additionally maps more than 22,000 individual points on the surface of your cornea and corrects its natural irregularities as well as the number. Because no two corneas are identical, this often produces sharper vision, better night vision and less glare than the spectacles you were wearing before.
Is LASIK painful?
No. The eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops and the laser treatment takes only a few seconds per eye. You feel pressure rather than pain. For three to five hours afterwards the eye typically waters and feels gritty, which settles with rest and the prescribed drops.
How long does it take, and when can I go back to work?
You are in the hospital for about two to three hours in total, of which the laser treatment itself is roughly 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes. Useful vision returns within a day, and most patients return to office work within 24 to 48 hours. Swimming, dusty environments and rubbing the eyes should be avoided for two to four weeks.
Will my spectacle number come back?
The correction made by the laser is permanent, because corneal tissue does not grow back. However, LASIK does not stop the eye from ageing. Presbyopia — the loss of near focus that begins around 40 — will still occur, and reading glasses may be needed later in life. This is exactly why a stable number for at least a year before surgery is an eligibility requirement.
What if I am not suitable for LASIK?
Being unsuitable for LASIK does not mean being stuck with spectacles. Thin corneas, very high numbers or early keratoconus each have alternative routes — surface procedures, implantable lenses, or in the case of keratoconus, C3R to stabilise the cornea first. Your surgeon will explain which applies to you and why, at the workup. See also corneal services.
Is LASIK or laser eye surgery safe?
Yes. LASIK and Contoura Vision are well-established procedures performed on millions of patients worldwide, with a high success rate when performed on suitable candidates. Serious complications are uncommon, and the femtosecond laser used for the flap removes the human variability that came with the older blade-based technique. The laser vision correction workup exists specifically to screen out anyone for whom the procedure would carry higher risk, rather than treating everyone the same.