Is Wavelight Plus InnovEyes the Right Choice for Your Vision?

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Ophthalmologist/ Eye Surgeon 13+ Years Exp

MBBS, MS – Ophthalmology

TREATMENT

WaveLight Plus Innoveyes

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Living with glasses or contact lenses can feel like a constant compromise.

From foggy lenses and misplaced specs to the daily ritual of putting in contacts, the dream of waking up with clear, sharp vision is a powerful one.

If you’ve been exploring laser eye surgery, you’ve likely encountered a range of technologies, each promising life-changing results.

Among these advanced options is Wavelight Plus InnovEyes surgery. This procedure represents a significant step forward in vision correction, offering a highly personalised and precise approach.

But what exactly is it, and how do you know if it’s the right path for you?

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Wavelight Plus InnovEyes.

We’ll explore how the technology works, its unique benefits, who makes an ideal candidate, and what you can expect during and after the procedure.

Our goal is to provide clear, trustworthy information to help you make a confident decision about your vision.

What is Wavelight Plus InnovEyes Surgery?

Wavelight Plus InnovEyes surgery is a type of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) that uses one of the most advanced excimer laser platforms available today.

At its core, it’s a blade-free procedure designed to permanently correct refractive errors such as short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.

The “Plus InnovEyes” aspect refers to the sophisticated diagnostic and treatment mapping that personalises the procedure for each eye.

It goes beyond a standard prescription to correct tiny, unique imperfections in your cornea, known as higher-order aberrations. By addressing these, the surgery aims to deliver not just clearer vision, but a higher quality of vision, especially in low-light conditions.

How Does the Wavelight Platform Work?

The procedure uses a combination of two lasers in a two-step process:

Creating the Flap: First, an ultra-fast femtosecond laser creates a thin, precise flap in the cornea (the clear front part of your eye). This part of the process is blade-free, which enhances safety and allows for a more predictable recovery.
Reshaping the Cornea: The flap is gently lifted, and the WaveLight® EX500 Excimer Laser gets to work. Guided by a detailed 3D map of your eye, it removes a microscopic amount of corneal tissue with exceptional speed and accuracy. This reshaping corrects the way light focuses on your retina, thereby correcting your vision.

The laser’s speed is a key advantage, as a faster treatment time means the cornea is exposed for a shorter period, which can reduce the risk of dehydration and lead to a more comfortable patient experience.

What are the Key Benefits of Wavelight Plus InnovEyes?

Choosing Wavelight Plus InnovEyes offers several distinct advantages over older laser eye surgery techniques. The primary benefits stem from its precision, speed, and personalised approach.

Exceptional Precision: The system uses advanced eye-tracking technology that monitors your eye’s position 1,050 times per second. This ensures the laser is always perfectly centred and accurately placed, even if your eye moves slightly during the procedure.
Superior Night Vision: By correcting higher-order aberrations, the procedure can significantly reduce common night vision problems like glare, starbursts, and halos around lights. Many patients report that their night vision after surgery is better than it was with glasses or contacts.
Personalised Treatment: The technology creates a unique treatment profile for each eye, much like a fingerprint. This custom approach ensures the correction is tailored specifically to your visual needs, often resulting in vision that is sharper and clearer than 20/20.
Speed and Comfort: The WaveLight® EX500 is the fastest excimer laser system in the UK. The actual laser correction part of the procedure often takes only a few seconds per eye, improving comfort and reducing anxiety.
Proven Safety and Results: The Wavelight platform has a long track record of delivering excellent outcomes. It is a trusted technology used by leading surgeons worldwide to help millions of people achieve freedom from corrective eyewear.

Comparison of Vision Correction Methods

Feature	Glasses/Contact Lenses	Standard LASIK	Wavelight Plus InnovEyes
Correction Type	Temporary	Permanent	Permanent
Personalisation	Based on prescription	Corrects prescription	Corrects prescription + higher-order aberrations
Night Vision	Can cause glare/reflections	May cause halos or glare	Optimised to reduce halos and glare
Convenience	Daily maintenance required	No daily maintenance	No daily maintenance
Clarity	Good	Very Good	Excellent, often better than 20/20

Who is a Good Candidate for This Surgery?

While Wavelight Plus InnovEyes offers incredible benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. A thorough consultation and screening with an ophthalmic surgeon is essential to determine your eligibility.

Generally, you may be a good candidate if you meet the following criteria:

Age: You are over 18 years old, and ideally over 21.
Stable Prescription: Your glasses or contact lens prescription has been stable for at least one year.
Good Eye Health: You do not have underlying eye diseases such as severe dry eye, keratoconus, advanced glaucoma, or cataracts.
Good General Health: You do not have certain autoimmune conditions that may affect healing.
Corneal Thickness: Your cornea must be thick enough to allow for the creation of the flap and the removal of tissue. This is a critical measurement taken during your pre-operative assessment.

Your surgeon will perform a series of detailed eye scans to measure every aspect of your eyes and confirm if Wavelight Plus InnovEyes is the safest and most effective option for your vision goals.

Not sure if you’re a candidate? Our surgeons can tell you in one quick consultation.

📞 Call now to schedule your personalized eligibility check.

The Wavelight Plus InnovEyes Procedure: Step-by-Step

Understanding the process can help ease any nerves you might have about the surgery. The entire Wavelight Plus InnovEyes Procedure is typically completed in under 15 minutes for both eyes.

Preparation: Numbing anaesthetic drops are applied to your eyes to ensure you feel no pain. An instrument is used to gently keep your eyelids open and prevent you from blinking.
Flap Creation: You will be asked to focus on a light. The femtosecond laser creates the corneal flap in a matter of seconds. You may feel a light pressure sensation during this step.
Corneal Reshaping: The surgeon carefully lifts the flap. You will then focus on another light as the excimer laser reshapes your cornea. The laser’s eye tracker follows any small movements to ensure perfect placement.
Flap Repositioning: The flap is gently placed back into its original position, where it begins to heal naturally without the need for stitches.
Final Checks: The surgeon checks that the flap is secure, and more eye drops are administered. The process is then repeated on the other eye.

After a short rest, your surgeon will perform a final check, and you will be able to go home (with a friend or family member driving you).

Recovery and Expected Results

Recovery after Wavelight Plus InnovEyes is typically very quick. Most patients notice a dramatic improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours.

Your eyes may feel slightly gritty, watery, or sensitive to light for the first few hours, which is normal. You will be given a schedule of lubricating and antibiotic eye drops to use to aid healing and prevent infection.

Most people can return to work and normal activities within a day or two, though you should avoid swimming and contact sports for a few weeks.

The final results continue to stabilise over the following weeks. The vast majority of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better and are able to completely eliminate their need for glasses or contact lenses for distance vision.

Key Takeaways

Highly Personalised: Wavelight Plus InnovEyes uses a detailed map of your eye to provide a treatment tailored to your unique visual imperfections.
Advanced and Safe: The procedure is blade-free and uses sophisticated eye-tracking for exceptional precision and safety.
Improved Vision Quality: It aims to provide vision that is not just clear, but also sharper, with better night vision and reduced glare.
Quick and Comfortable: The surgery is very fast, often taking less than 15 minutes for both eyes, and recovery is rapid for most patients.
Not for Everyone: A comprehensive eye examination is required to confirm if you are a suitable candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does Wavelight Plus InnovEyes surgery hurt?
A: No, the procedure itself is painless. Your eyes are completely numbed with anaesthetic drops. You may feel a slight pressure sensation, but there is no pain. Some mild discomfort or grittiness is normal for a few hours after the surgery.

Q: How long do the results of the surgery last?
A: The results are permanent. The laser physically reshapes your cornea to correct your vision. However, the surgery does not prevent age-related changes to the eye, such as the need for reading glasses (presbyopia) or the development of cataracts later in life.

Q: What are the risks of Wavelight Plus InnovEyes surgery?
A: Like any surgical procedure, there are risks, though they are rare. The most common side effects are temporary dry eyes, glare, or halos, which typically resolve as the eye heals. Your surgeon will discuss all potential risks with you in detail during your consultation.

Q: How soon can I see clearly after the procedure?
A: Most patients experience a significant improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours. Your vision will continue to sharpen and stabilise over the next few weeks.