Having previously been turned away as an unsuitable candidate for laser eye surgery, Linda Lusardi, 51, finally underwent the procedure at the London Vision Clinic and is delighted with the results.

1. HEALTH Eyesight
Linda Lusardi, 51, had previously keeping people from having
been turned away by high-street laser surgery on the eyes is fear
laser surgeons as an “unsuitable” – and knowledge dispels fear.”
candidate, but 18 months ago One technique promoted by
she successfully had the Prof. Reinstein is laser blended
operation and is delighted with vision, which adjusts each eye
the results. differently for distance and near
“I was starting to need glasses vision, and which he believes
to read as well as to drive,” can significantly reduce the
she explains. “I went to see need for reading glasses or
Professor Dan Reinstein and he bifocals as the eye ages. He is
said he could help me. I found one of the few doctors so far to
the surgery a bit scary but over offer such a treatment.
very quickly. I am pleased to Laser surgery in general has
say there was no pain at all and had mixed reviews in the
the recovery was very quick. past, with reports of results that
My eyes are better now than failed to live up to patients’
when I was 16.” expectations, continuing
problems with night vision after
Seeing is believing the operation and concerns
Dan, a laser eye surgeon at the over long-term safety.
London Vision Clinic, also Recent research, however,
operated on Phillip Schofield indicates that complications
and is a pioneer of treatments occur in fewer than five per
for ageing eyes and those with cent of cases.
complicated prescriptions. He Meanwhile, many eye
says: “No one could possibly surgeons believe that for the
prefer being dependent on first time there’s a very real
glasses or contact lenses as it possibility of delivering perfect
means there is something wrong sight to those who could never
with the body. The only thing have dreamed of it before.
More and more THE LASER LOWDOWN
of us are Laser eye surgery can help correct myopia (short sightedness),
choosing laser hyperopia (long sightedness), astigmatism (distorted vision
surgery over because of a misshapen eye surface) and, in some clinics,
glasses or
contact lenses presbyopia (age-related vision). It involves reshaping the
cornea using a laser and is done as an outpatient procedure.
I can see
As the surgery is considered non-essential, it is not usually
available on the NHS. However, some NHS hospitals will offer
the treatment on a private basis.
Finding the right surgeon for your type of procedure is
crucial to success. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists
guidelines say that only registered surgeons with specialist
clearly now
training should carry out laser surgery. For the full
guidelines, visit the college website at rcophth.ac.uk. To
find a consultant with specialist experience, visit
drfoster.co.uk/Guides/ConsultantGuide.
The website lasik-eyes.co.uk includes patient reviews to
help you compare pri prices and procedures.
Many stars can’t believe their eyes after
yes To contact Professor Reinstein’s London
Profe
Vision Clinic, visit londonvisionclinic.com.
laser vision correction surgery. But can we £4
Prices start at £4,600 for surgery to both
eyes, which can b paid in instalments.
be
all look forward to a life without glasses?
P
Nicole Kidman (lef
(left)
hillip Schofield has a whole new people a year who opt to have their and Courteney Co Cox
outlook on life these days – and eyes lasered in the UK. And he’s far
. (right) are two of th
the
it’s all thanks to vision correction from the only famous face who has who’v
celebrities who’ve
surgery. After having the procedure been able to say goodbye to glasses
bye tried the surgery
(which he allowed to be filmed for with the help of an ophthalmic
PHOTOS: FAMOUS. GETTY IMAGES. SCOPE FEATURES
This Morning), the popular presenter, an,
surgeon. Nicole Kidman, Brad
a glasses wearer since the age of 15, x
Pitt and Courteney Cox are all
could not quite believe his eyes. reported to have had the op,
“Done! Unbelievable, astonishing, while Jessica Simpson and Kim
painless and quite emotional,” he said. Kardashian have, like Phillip,
“I just sent my glasses to Africa!” And allowed their procedures to be
es
two weeks later, Phillip revealed to ws.
filmed for their TV shows.
HELLO ! just how much his life had First carried out in the UK in
e
changed. For the first time since the late 1980s, laser eye surgery
childhood, he said, he could see clearly is now so effective it can treat
an
without the help of contact lenses or ems
almost all vision problems –
114 glasses and could read the autocue in including, some believe, ieve,
the This Morning studio with ease. presbyopia or sight deter-eter-
Phillip is just one of around 100,000 ioration as a result of age.
HELLO1110p114.indd 2 6/2/10 03:12:39