Frequently Asked Questions

​​​​​​Can I use Medisave to pay for the surgery?

No. Refractive surgery is not Medisave deductible. The only exception to the rule is when there is a difference of more than 3 diopters (or 300 degrees) of refractive errors between your eyes and in the presence of spectacle and contact lens intolerance.

What is the range of refractive error that can be treated by LASIK?

In general, LASIK is effective for the treatment of myopia from 100 to 1500 degrees and astigmatism of up to 600 degrees. It can also treat hyperopia of up to 500 degrees. The exact amount of refractive error which can be corrected will also depend on the individual's cornea thickness.

How modern is the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS eye laser?

TTSH LASIK Centre adopts the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS Excimer Laser system that combines all available modern technology in one system. This sophisticated system sets standards regarding treatment safety and precision. Its benefits include:

• Highly precise - very fast ablation speed resulting in short treatment time: treats 1000 degrees of myopia in as fast as 13 seconds
• Safe and reliable through compensation of minute eye movements with its highly advanced eye tracking system
• Very smooth corneal surface achieved through extremely fine laser spots
• Gentle tissue ablation with its intelligent laser thermal control system
• Continuous measurement of corneal thickness

How long does a treatment with the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS take? Does treatment time matter in refractive surgery?

The SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS Excimer Laser has a laser speed of 1050 pulses per second. This translates to being able to treat 1000 degrees of myopia in as fast as 13 seconds. A short treatment time is preferred not only for patient's comfort. It also improves accuracy of the treatment by reducing the chance for significant eye movements to occur.

What are the advantages of the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS active 7D eye tracking technology?

The 7 dimensional active eye tracker tracks the eye during laser in 7 dimensions:

1. Left/Right shifts
2. Up/Down shifts
3. Left/Right eye rolling
4. Upward/downward eye rolling
5. Circular eye rotation
6. Inward/Outward movements
7. Time dimension - laser predicts the next position of the eye and directs the laser pulse accordingly

The SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS eye tracker camera monitors the position of the eye 1050 times per second with a reaction time of three thousandths of a second. This high tracking rate and extremely short reaction time ensures that the laser will be applied at the correct position on the cornea in order for the intended treatment to be accurately achieved.

Is treatment with the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS painful?

Treatment with the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS is virtually painless. Your eye will be numbed with drops before the procedure. You will probably sense a light pressure on your eye, but it is not a real feeling of pain. A possible feeling of a foreign object in the operated eye goes away after a short time.

Will I see exactly as well or better as I could with glasses or contact lenses after treatment with the SCHWIND AMARIS® 1050RS?

Clinical studies with the SCHWIND AMARIS® have shown that patients in numerous cases after laser treatment see even better than they did before with glasses or contact lenses. Virtually all patients see exactly as well as they did before with corrective lenses.

Will hospitalisation leave or medical leave be given? How many days of medical leave will be given?

Approximately 3 to 5 days of outpatient medical leave will be given.

If I am below 21 years old, am I suitable for LASIK?

If you are between 18 and 21 years of age, you may undergo LASIK but must seek parental consent for the procedure.

In additional, your myopia must be stable before LASIK can be considered. When the refractive power of the eye is not stable, it is advisable for you to wait for a few years until the power has stabilised.

Are National Servicemen eligible for refractive surgery?

Full-time National Servicemen are not allowed to undergo refractive surgery. However, exceptions can be made for medical indications. In these cases, they must obtain approval from their SAF units and SAF Vision Performance Centre prior to surgery.

Can refractive surgery be done if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is not advisable for you to have refractive surgery during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This is because hormonal changes during pregnancy or breastfeeding may affect the accuracy of treatment. The same applies to those who are on hormonal therapy. It is recommended that you wait at least 3 months after delivery and breastfeeding before undergoing LASIK.

When can I have my second eye done? Can I have both eyes operated on the same day?

Usually both eyes are operated on the same day but they are performed as two separate procedures. However, if you prefer, operation can be performed one eye at a time on separate days.

What will happen if I blink or move my eye during the surgery?

An eyelid device will be used to hold your eyelids apart to prevent blinking during surgery. In addition, an advanced multi-directional eye tracker in the laser machine will track and compensate for minute eye movements so that the laser treatment is precisely aligned with your eye.

Will there be over-correction and under-correction?

Under-correction and over-correction may sometimes occur in less than 2 to 5% of cases. When vision is significantly affected, the residual power can be fine-tuned with an enhancement surgery.

How long will my eyes take to recover?

Your vision will be hazy immediately after LASIK for a few hours, but you will still be able to see to move about. Normal vision will usually be attained the next day.

You should avoid taking public transport home on the day of surgery and have someone to fetch you.

What are the side effects?

Common side effects include glare, halos, dry eyes and mild fluctuation of vision during the first few days to weeks. Most (if not all) of these will subside and resolve with time. Severe side effects like corneal flap complications and corneal infection are very rare.

What can I do after the procedure?

Most people can return to work a few days after the procedure. However, there are some activity restrictions that you need to observe:

• You can SHOWER the next day with your eyes closed to prevent water from getting into your eyes
• To dry your eyes, you should DAB LIGHTLY without pressing or rubbing them
• Eyelid make-up may be applied after 1 week
• You may start DRIVING when your vision has returned to normal
• LIGHT EXERCISE may be resumed after 1 week
• VIGOROUS EXERCISE/CONTACT SPORTS may be resumed after 2 weeks
• SWIMMING/WATER SPORTS may be resumed after 1 month with goggles
• SCUBA DIVING can be safely done after 3 months

Can the treatment be repeated?

If under-correction or over-correction occurs after the initial laser treatment, enhancement can be performed. Usually, this is considered only when the residual power is 100 degrees or more or the unaided vision is worse than 6/12. It is generally performed at least 3 months after the initial treatment. Your surgeon will evaluate the status of your eye and weigh the benefits, expectations and risks before deciding whether an enhancement is appropriate. Less than 1% of cases has required enhancement at our centre.

Can I still use spectacles or contact lenses after LASIK?

Yes, you can always wear spectacles if there is still some residual low power after LASIK and if enhancement is not considered. Contact lenses can also be worn in most cases but sometimes, a custom-made contact lens may have to be prescribed.

Are the effects of LASIK treatment permanent?

Yes. After the eye heals, the correction will be largely permanent.

Will my vision change when I get older?

After LASIK, your distance vision should remain stable even with age. After the age of 40 years, presbyopia (old-sightedness) will eventually set in giving rise to problems with reading. This is because the ability of our eyes to focus on near objects is progressively lost and therefore reading glasses will be needed.

LASIK cannot prevent or effectively correct presbyopia. However, one way to overcome this is monovision, in which one eye is corrected to see distant objects and the other corrected to see near objects. There may be some imbalance in vision and not everybody can tolerate it. A trial using spectacle simulation can be done to determine if this is an acceptable option for those considering it.​