Frequently asked questions about laser eye surgery

Refractive laser treatments have been performed for more than 30 years and are very safe. More than 40 million procedures have been carried out worldwide. Complications are rare and, when they occur, usually treatable. With Dr. Pinxten, every candidate undergoes an extensive pre-assessment to reduce risks to an absolute minimum.

Refractive laser surgery is among the safest elective surgical procedures performed today. The complication risk is below 1% with good patient selection and modern equipment. Important: always have the procedure performed by a specialised ophthalmologist who performs the procedure themselves and personally follows you up.

The most common side effects are temporary dry eyes, mild light sensitivity and halos or glare with night vision. These typically improve within the first 3 to 6 months. Serious complications are rare (< 1%) and include infection and corneal ectasia. Good screening and modern technology minimise these risks.

Blindness from refractive laser surgery is extremely rare. Only a few isolated cases are described in the scientific literature out of tens of millions of treatments worldwide. The laser only treats the cornea, not the retina or optic nerve, making the risk of vision loss extremely small.

Ectasia is a rare complication in which the cornea progressively bulges after the treatment. It is prevented by strict selection: the cornea must be sufficiently thick and the topography fully regular. With modern Scheimpflug and OCT measurements, the risk is virtually eliminated.

In more than 98% of cases the intended result is achieved. In case of a slight over- or undercorrection, an enhancement treatment can be performed, usually within 3 to 12 months. With Dr. Pinxten, an enhancement within 24 months is included in the price.

No. The laser has a built-in 'eye tracker' that follows eye movements up to 1000 times per second. The centre of your pupil is programmed at the start of the treatment so the laser stays perfectly centred, even with movement. If you look too far away the laser automatically pauses and resumes once you fixate again on the target light.

Halos (rings around lights) and starbursts (star-shaped radiation) are mild night-time visual phenomena that may occur mainly during the first weeks after the treatment. With modern wavefront-optimised lasers these phenomena are greatly reduced and usually disappear completely within 3 to 6 months.

Temporary dry eyes are the most common side effect, especially during the first 1 to 3 months. Artificial tears are prescribed by default and the problem disappears in virtually all patients within 6 months.

No. A laser eye treatment is painless. The eyes are numbed with eye drops that take effect very quickly. With the femtosecond laser (Visumax by Zeiss Meditec) you only experience a slight pressure on the eye. In the days after the treatment a gritty feeling may occur, mainly with LASEK/PRK.

The eye being treated is held open with a small lid speculum. As a result, you cannot blink during the treatment. The anaesthetic drops also temporarily suppress the blinking reflex, so this is entirely painless.

Modern excimer lasers have an eye tracker that follows eye movements 1000 times per second and automatically adjusts the laser. If the eye drifts too far, the laser pauses. You do not need to worry about moving — the system corrects this completely.

Yes. At the laser centre you receive a mild sedative tablet (e.g. Xanax) before the procedure to reduce nerves. No general anaesthesia. All treatments are performed under local anaesthesia with eye drops. Because of the sedative, you may not drive yourself afterwards.

During the treatment you see light and some colour shading, but no sharp image. You will be asked to look at a fixation light. The full laser application only lasts a few seconds to a maximum of 1 minute per eye.

You are in principle eligible if you are at least 21 years old, have a stable eye correction (minimum 1 year), a sufficiently thick cornea and no other eye conditions. Check all conditions or book a free screening to have this assessed.

We recommend laser treatment from the age of 20-21. Glasses or contact lens prescription is usually stable from then on. The condition is that the correction has not evolved for at least 12 months. In younger patients, the prescription can still change, which can reduce the result later.

There is no strict upper limit. Up to about 45-50 years, laser surgery is usually the first choice. After that, presbyopia sets in and a refractive lens exchange (RLE) or multifocal lens can be a better option because it corrects both distance and reading vision.

Myopia (short-sightedness) up to about −8 dioptres, hyperopia (long-sightedness) up to +3 dioptres and astigmatism up to 4 dioptres can be treated. The exact limits depend on your corneal thickness and the chosen technique.

No. During pregnancy and breastfeeding hormonal fluctuations can temporarily change the prescription. We recommend waiting at least 3 months after stopping breastfeeding before the treatment.

Classic refractive laser surgery is contraindicated in keratoconus because it can worsen the condition. There are specific treatments such as cross-linking or topography-guided PRK combined with cross-linking, which your ophthalmologist can discuss.

Diabetes is not an absolute contraindication, but blood sugar must be stable and there must be no diabetic retinopathy. A thorough retinal check is always required beforehand.

Many patients have dry eyes when wearing contact lenses: tired, burning or painful eyes and a gritty feeling. These contact-lens-related complaints are precisely a good reason to have laser surgery, because they usually disappear completely after the procedure. Patients with truly very dry eyes (without lenses) are often not good candidates. The ophthalmologist assesses the tear film during the pre-assessment and gives personal advice.

With a thin cornea (< 480 μm), LASIK is usually inadvisable. LASEK/PRK can often still be safely performed because they preserve corneal tissue. In rare cases an ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is considered.

Up to about −8 dioptres, laser surgery is usually possible, depending on corneal thickness. For higher corrections, an ICL (phakic lens) is often advised, which preserves the natural lens and gives excellent vision quality.

During the extensive pre-assessment all measurements (refraction, corneal thickness, topography, pupil size, tear film) are assessed by Dr. Pinxten. She then discusses the options with you and explains which type of laser (SMILE, Femto-LASIK or LASEK/PRK) is optimal. Together you decide which treatment is performed.

In classic LASIK the corneal flap is created with a blade (microkeratome). In Femto-LASIK this is done entirely with a femtosecond laser, making the procedure safer and more precise. With Dr. Pinxten, only Femto-LASIK is offered ('all-laser LASIK').

In SMILE, a small lens-shaped piece of tissue (lenticule) is removed through a micro-incision. In LASIK, a flap is 'printed' on the cornea by the laser. The treatment is performed under this flap, which is then put back and re-adheres by suction. SMILE is a more recent technique. LASIK has been around for more than 20 years and is still very safe. Visual recovery with LASIK is slightly faster than with SMILE.

In LASEK/PRK the top layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed and the laser is applied directly to the corneal surface. No flap is created. Recovery takes slightly longer (3 to 5 days) but the technique is excellent for thin corneas or contact-sport athletes.

Trans-PRK is a 'no-touch' variant of PRK in which the epithelium is also removed with the laser, without alcohol or blade. It is more comfortable and sterile, but recovery is otherwise identical to classic PRK.

ReLEx SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is the third generation of refractive surgery, developed by Zeiss. The full correction is done with one femtosecond laser through a micro-incision. Particularly suitable for myopia and astigmatism.

Femto-LASIK gives the fastest visual recovery: most patients see 90-100% the next day. SMILE follows (1-3 days). LASEK/PRK has the longest recovery: sharp vision after 5 to 10 days.

Not 'better', but different. SMILE is advantageous for people with dry eyes, contact-sport athletes, military personnel or in case of thinner corneas. LASIK has a slightly faster recovery and can also correct hyperopia (which SMILE currently cannot).

The pre-assessment takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Extensive measurements are made: refraction, corneal topography (Scheimpflug + OCT), corneal thickness (pachymetry), pupil size, tear film analysis, eye pressure and retinal examination. The ophthalmologist then discusses the results and the best treatment option.

No. The free screening (30 min) is an initial estimate of whether you are eligible. The extensive pre-assessment (1.5-2 hours) is a paid, detailed examination that maps all parameters for the final treatment decision.

Not for the screening. For the full pre-assessment, yes. Soft contact lenses must be left out for at least 2 weeks beforehand, toric lenses with astigmatism correction 3 weeks, hard lenses or night lenses (ortho-K) 4 weeks. This is essential because lenses temporarily deform the cornea, which would distort the measurements.

For the first appointment (quickscan/screening) you may come alone. During the extensive pre-assessment, pupil-dilating drops are sometimes administered. You may then not drive for 3 to 4 hours. If these drops are needed, the ophthalmologist warns you in advance so you can arrange a driver in time.

No eye make-up, perfume, aftershave or hairspray. Wear comfortable clothing. Eat and drink normally. Take your usual medication. Arrange someone to bring you home. Driving is not allowed that day.

Femto-LASIK: most patients see 80-100% the next day and can work after 1-2 days. SMILE: 1-3 days recovery. LASEK/PRK: 5 to 10 days for sharp vision, full stabilisation after 1-3 months.

For Femto-LASIK, 2 days of time off are usually scheduled: the day of the treatment and the day after. The next day you come for a check and may drive yourself. Then you may resume work. For SMILE this is comparable (1 to 2 days). For LASEK/PRK, 5 to 7 days off are prescribed because the first days you experience a gritty feeling and light sensitivity. If you work a lot on screens, use extra artificial tears. Avoid a dusty work environment for 2 weeks after the treatment.

Very important: do not rub your eyes for one month. The first 7 days you wear protective goggles while sleeping to prevent unconscious rubbing at night. For Femto-LASIK this is crucial to avoid flap displacement. No ball or combat sports the first month. Wait at least a month before swimming, as pool water can contain infectious bacteria. Wear sunglasses in bright sunlight.

No. On the day of the treatment you cannot drive. With Femto-LASIK and SMILE, driving is usually possible from day two, after the first check. With LASEK/PRK it takes 5 to 7 days, depending on recovery.

Non-contact sports can be resumed after 1 week. Contact sports, combat sports and swimming are not advised for 2 to 4 weeks. Diving usually requires 4 weeks of rest. With LASEK/PRK this may take a bit longer.

Swimming pool, sea, sauna and jacuzzi: after 4 weeks. This avoids infection risk during the first healing phase.

Eye make-up (mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow) is not advised for 4 weeks after Femto-LASIK/SMILE and 3 weeks after LASEK/PRK. Afterwards, preferably use new, uncontaminated products.

No. Absolutely not in the first month, especially after LASIK/Femto-LASIK because the flap still needs to adhere. If itchy: use artificial tears or gently dab the eyelids. Wear protective goggles while sleeping in the first week to prevent rubbing during sleep.

You will receive a schedule with antibiotic drops and artificial tears to follow after the treatment.

By default, check-ups are scheduled at day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3 and optionally month 12. For LASEK/PRK there is also a check at removal of the bandage lens (after 3-5 days). All check-ups are included in the price.

Visual recovery is usually complete within 1 month. Full stabilisation of the cornea and the disappearance of any dry eyes or night halos can take 3 to 6 months.

A mild gritty feeling or irritation for 4-6 hours is normal with Femto-LASIK/SMILE. With LASEK/PRK this can last 2-3 days. Real pain is unusual: contact the practice immediately.

The result is permanent: the shape of the cornea is permanently changed. However, from age 45 the natural reading glasses (presbyopia) may develop, regardless of whether you have had laser surgery. This can be corrected with a lens implant.

In most patients the result is permanent. In a small percentage (especially in young patients with high myopia) a slight regression can occur in the first 1-2 years. If necessary an enhancement can be performed.

From around age 45 everyone becomes presbyopic. Our lens accommodates less and reading glasses become necessary. A laser treatment corrects your distance vision but does not prevent presbyopia. With mild myopia (−1 to −3 D) you could previously take off your glasses to read; after LASIK you will need reading glasses for that. Monovision or a multifocal implant lens can be considered as alternatives.

In monovision the dominant eye is set for distance vision and the non-dominant eye for near vision. Not everyone tolerates this equally well. Before the treatment, monovision is first tested with contact lenses so you can confirm you see comfortably with it.

More than 95% of patients achieve 10/10 vision or better without glasses. The exact result depends on your starting prescription, corneal topography and biological response. A realistic expectation is discussed with you during the pre-assessment.

Yes, laser surgery does not protect against cataract. Cataract develops in the lens, while laser only treats the cornea. A possible later cataract operation remains perfectly possible; your ophthalmologist must know that you have had laser surgery for the correct lens calculation.

The actual laser treatment only takes 30 seconds to a few minutes per eye. With preparation you spend about half an hour in the treatment room. You go home the same day.

Yes, in virtually all cases both eyes are treated in the same session. This is more comfortable for the patient and gives faster and more symmetric recovery.

Yes. On the day of the treatment itself you must bring a driver. At the laser centre you receive a sedative tablet before the treatment, which means you may not drive afterwards. You are at the laser centre for 30 to 45 minutes in total. Your companion may wait there to bring you home. Public transport is not advised in the first 24 hours due to light sensitivity and blurred vision.

Yes, eat and drink normally. No general anaesthesia is administered. Avoid alcohol 24 hours beforehand.

After the free screening, the extensive pre-assessment follows (within 2-6 weeks). The treatment itself can usually be scheduled 2 to 4 weeks after the pre-assessment, depending on your schedule.

With Dr. Pinxten the fees are: LASEK/PRK €1,450, Femto-LASIK €1,750 and Relex SMILE €2,050 per eye. All postoperative check-ups and a possible enhancement within 24 months are included. Most Belgian health insurance funds provide a reimbursement of up to €150 per eye.

A laser treatment is expensive because the equipment used is highly sophisticated, both the pre-assessment devices (Scheimpflug, OCT, topography) and the lasers themselves. The benefit is not only the convenience of no longer needing glasses or lenses, but also the saving of years of costs for glasses, contact lenses, solutions and eye check-ups.

Yes, most Belgian health insurance funds (Solidaris, Liberal Mutuality, Neutral Mutuality, Helan, etc.) provide a supplementary contribution of €100 to €150 per eye. The federal RIZIV itself does not provide reimbursement. Some private hospitalisation insurances reimburse a larger part. Check your policy. After the treatment you receive a certificate to submit to your health insurance fund.

No, refractive laser surgery is not tax-deductible. A hospitalisation insurance usually does not cover it either, but always check your policy.

Price differences often reflect the technology used (laser platform, generation of devices), the included aftercare and enhancement, and the surgeon's experience. A cheap treatment without included aftercare can be more expensive in the long run.

An ICL is a phakic lens placed between the iris and the natural lens, without removing corneal tissue. Ideal in case of high myopia (> −10 D), thin corneas or dry eyes. The procedure is reversible and gives excellent vision quality.

In a refractive lens exchange the natural lens is replaced by an artificial lens, comparable to a cataract operation. Particularly interesting from age 50-55: you correct both distance and reading vision in one procedure and prevent later cataract.

A multifocal implant corrects distance, intermediate and near vision simultaneously. It is an excellent option from about age 50, especially with early cataract. Dr. Pinxten has extensive experience with EDOF and trifocal lenses.

If laser is not possible, there are usually good alternatives: an ICL for high myopia or thin corneas, or a refractive lens exchange for older or presbyopic patients. During the pre-assessment we always discuss the best plan for your situation.

Yes, Dr. Pinxten personally performs all laser treatments, from the pre-assessment to the operation and the aftercare. No trainee doctors perform (part of) the procedure. Continuity of care is a core value of the practice.

Of course, you can always consult Dr. Pinxten for a second opinion.