FAQs

The following questions are answered by Dr. Ants Haavel, laser eye surgeon at KSA Vision Clinic.

Can both eyes be corrected during the same procedure?
Yes. During the surgery performed at our clinic it is possible to correct refractive errors of both eyes in the course of a single visit, and in most cases it is recommended. Treating eyes at different times prolongs the healing process. Most of our laser eye surgery patients find it more convenient to have both eyes corrected at the same time.

What do I feel during the procedure?
During the procedure, the eye is anaesthetised. You may feel only slight pressure. You may feel slight discomfort during the procedure. After the surgery you may feel irritation in the eye within 24 hours.

How is the surgery performed?
The treatment is performed with an excimer laser. Cold laser beams vaporize the corneal tissue, reshaping the surface and enabling the patient to see clearly without glasses or lenses. Anaesthetic is applied in the form of drops; needles are not used during the procedure.

How long does the procedure last?
The procedure itself takes only a few minutes, the laser works for a few seconds. Preparations for the surgery (e.g. the eyes are tested once again, etc.) are done at the clinic on the surgery day about 30 minutes before the surgery.

Is the surgery painful?
The procedure itself is painless! During surgery you may feel pressure when the flap is prepared and some discomfort and irritation within 24 hours after the procedure. To relieve the feeling of discomfort, we give our patients eye drops free of charge.

When can I return to my everyday activities?
The functional vision usually recovers during the first 24-48 hours after the surgery but the vision may temporarily be blurred. We recommend that our Flow patients do not return to work for at least three days.

Is it possible to go blind during the laser procedure?
No.

Can I drive a car immediately after the surgery?
You may not drive on the surgery day. Therefore, in order to avoid driving after the procedure, KSA Vision Clinic offers its patients a free taxi ride home.

What happens to my vision in the future?
The quality of vision remains the same after the correction. Studies have shown that the results of the surgery do not deteriorate over time.
Very few patients need additional treatment. However, patients with a more severe refractive error are more likely to need additional treatment.

One problem that cannot be solved with laser surgery is the need for reading glasses (presbyopia). Presbyopia results from your eyes aging. Laser surgery cannot change the regular course of natural processes.

Can my vision return to its original level after the surgery?
Some patients experience deterioration of the effect in time but not to the pre-surgery level. Fine correction or additional treatment can be used for improving vision if required. 98  % of the patients will never experience it though.

What are the side effects of the FLOW-procedure?
The most common side effects are sensitivity to light and halos. There may be under or over correction and it may prove necessary to wear glasses for achieving perfect vision even after the surgery.

What are the risks?
It is important to know that the risk of a complication that might endanger the vision is less than 1 % in this field as a whole and less than 0.1 % with surgeries performed by our eye specialists. We believe that informing the patient of the possible risks is an important part of the whole treatment process. If you have any additional questions about the risks, please do not hesitate to ask – after all, these are your eyes.
KSA Vision Clinic is a leading provider of laser vision correction in Tallinn, Estonia. Using the most up-to-date technology under the direction of experienced surgeon Dr. Ants Haavel, the practice attracts countless Flow non-contact laser surgery patients from throughout Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark each year.