What is laser eye surgery?

You’ve probably heard of laser eye surgery. But what exactly is it?

At Blink Vision Clinic in Canberra, we help people reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses using advanced laser eye procedures. In this blog, we’ll explain what laser eye surgery is, how it works, and what you can expect if you choose to explore it further.

The basics

Laser eye surgery is a procedure that uses a medical-grade laser to reshape the surface of the eye, known as the cornea. The goal is to help light focus properly on the retina at the back of your eye.

When light focuses correctly, vision becomes clearer—often without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

What does it treat?

Laser eye surgery can treat:

• Short-sightedness (myopia) – difficulty seeing far
• Long-sightedness (hyperopia) – difficulty seeing near
• Astigmatism – blurred or distorted vision due to irregular cornea shape
• Presbyopia – age-related near vision loss (some procedures).

How does it work?

The laser carefully reshapes your cornea based on your eye measurements. This allows light to bend (refract) properly as it enters the eye.

Different techniques are used depending on your prescription, corneal shape, and eye health.

Types of laser eye surgery

At Blink Vision Clinic, we offer three main types:

1. LASIK

• A thin flap is made in the top layer of the cornea
• The laser reshapes the tissue underneath
• The flap is replaced
• Many people see clearly the next day.

2. TransPRK (SmartSurface)

• No flap is created
• The laser reshapes the surface of the eye directly
• It’s often used for people with thinner corneas
• Recovery can take a few days longer.

3. PresbyMAX

• Designed for people over 45 with presbyopia
• A blended vision approach to help with both near and far tasks
• Not suitable for everyone and requires a detailed eye assessment.

Is it painful?

No. Numbing eye drops are used during the procedure, so you won’t feel pain. You may feel slight pressure or movement, but most people say it’s very manageable.

After the procedure, some discomfort is normal—especially with surface treatments like TransPRK. This usually settles in a few days.

What’s recovery like?

Recovery time depends on the procedure:

• LASIK – Often clearer vision within 24 hours
• TransPRK – Blurry for a few days, improves over a week
• PresbyMAX – Gradual adjustment to blended vision.

We’ll give you clear aftercare instructions and schedule follow-ups to monitor healing.

Is everyone suitable?

No. Laser eye surgery is not right for everyone. We look at:

• Your age
• Eye health
• Corneal shape and thickness
• Prescription stability
• Lifestyle and vision needs.

If you're not suitable, we’ll explain why and recommend safe alternatives where possible.

What should I do next?

Start with our free online suitability self-test. It takes just a minute and gives you a good idea of whether laser eye surgery might be a good option.

It’s the first step toward finding out what’s right for your eyes.