We aim to provide you with the best information to make an informed decision about your vision from your suitability to the treatment options available.
About Laser Eye Surgery
About the procedure
Learn what happens on the day of your laser eye surgery at Laser Vision SA, including step-by-step details to help you feel prepared, comfortable, and confident throughout the procedure.
What to expect during laser eye surgery
Undergoing laser eye surgery is a straightforward and relatively quick process. While some patients feel a slight pressure on the eye or mild watering, actual discomfort is rare. The procedure itself is often described as an unusual experience rather than a painful one—many patients say it feels “weird” but is far faster and more comfortable than they anticipated.
At Laser Vision SA, laser vision correction procedures take place in our state-of-the-art, fully ISO 9001 accredited laser eye surgery suite at 169 Pirie St, Adelaide. You will typically spend about 45 minutes in the clinic, with only 10 to 15 minutes in the laser suite where the actual treatment occurs.
For lens extraction or implantation procedures, these are performed at our fully ISO 9001 and NSQHS accredited day surgery at 45 Glen Osmond Rd, Eastwood. The procedure itself is even quicker—taking around 10 minutes—but you should expect to be at the facility for approximately two hours, allowing time for preparation and post-procedure monitoring.
After your surgery
Following your procedure, it is essential to arrange for someone to drive you home, as your vision may still be adjusting, and sensitivity to light is common.
The day after your surgery, you will return to Laser Vision SA, Pirie St, for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Fraenkel, who will assess your healing and ensure you are progressing well toward clearer vision without glasses or contact lenses.
While recovery times vary, most patients notice improved vision within 24 hours, with continued refinement over the following days and weeks. It is important to follow post-operative care instructions carefully to support optimal healing.
Frequent questions
We know that deciding to have laser eye surgery comes with plenty of questions. To help you feel informed and confident, we’ve put together answers to some of the most common queries about the procedure, recovery, and what to expect before and after treatment. If you have any further questions, our team is always happy to help!
At Laser Vision SA we offer all three generations of vision correction. 1st generation PRK/ also known as surface laser, 2nd generation Lasik and 3rd generation SMILE: the most advanced in Laser vision technology.
Patients spend approximately 10 minutes in the laser suite, most of that time is getting patients comfortable on the laser bed.
No you can not drive home after your surgery, as initially your vision will be hazy and may still feel the effects of you pre surgery Valium. We suggest you arrange for someone to drop you off and pick you up. Alternatively, a Taxi or an Uber.
The vast majority of patients can return to normal daily duties the following day. If you have had Lasik or SMILE, legally you can drive 24 hours after their procedure has been performed. If you have had PRK, just waiting a couple days longer till you can drive.
Patients are required to follow some post op after care. These include a series of eye drops. Patients are provided all eye drops and instructions when they come out of the laser suite. One of our staff members will also go through these instructions with them. You will also find the sheet is colour coded for ease.
For SMILE and LASIK you can usually go back to screen work the next day. However for many people it can take 5 days or so for their brain to adjust to their new distance vision.
During those 5-7 days it can be more challenging to read your computer and phone. Then your brain gets with the program for reading
For patients under 45 years of age this is very rare. If there are any unusual features of your examination making this more possible, you would be fully informed.
For patients over 45 years of age, due to presbyopia (loss of near vision without glasses), whilst most far and close tasks are done without glasses, extremely far or close vision might occasionally need glasses, like driving at night in the rain or threading a needle.
No. Drops numb your eye. They work better than you can imagine. You may feel a little water or gentle pressure around your eye but pain is rare. Most patients say laser vision correction was more weird but more quick and comfortable than they imagined.
The 10 year studies following 1000s of patients show that for the vast majority modern laser vision correction does NOT wear off. This idea relates to the very early days of laser vision correction more than 20 years ago.