It’s important to ask questions when it comes to your vision
Making decisions about refractive eye surgery can be overwhelming. These FAQs are here to help you better understand the process. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just get in touch.
We’re all about transparency at ELS. That’s why you’ll find our fees and all inclusions clearly explained on each treatment page. Learn more about fees and financing here.
Medicare considers refractive procedures as elective. Therefore, it doesn’t cover the cost.
Some private health funds may offer limited cover for refractive laser procedures. However, these vary, and we suggest you contact your health fund for details.
Our optometrists take you through an extensive examination and suitability assessment at:
Your initial assessment takes about an hour. This involves a range of scans and tests to assess your eye health and suitability including pupil dilation. As a result of dilated pupils, you may be sensitive to glare for 4-6 hours, so we suggest you bring sunglasses for afterwards.
Our surgical theatre is at Eye Laser Specialists, 1209 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne, VIC 3143.
While you may drive to your surgery, you’ll need someone to drive you home. Your vision is likely to be blurry, and you may have been given a mild sedative to help you relax during the procedure.
Before surgery, your eyes are numbed with anaesthetic eye drops. Most patients report little to no pain during the procedure, though you may notice pressure or unusual sensations. Depending on the treatment type, temporary mild-to-moderate discomfort can occur during recovery and is usually managed with medication as prescribed by your clinician.
For most patients, SMILE® Pro, PRESBYOND®, LASIK and PRK surgeries take approximately 20 minutes for both eyes. While the procedure itself is generally quick, you should plan to be in the clinic for about an hour for pre-operative preparation and post-operative checks.
Many patients who have SMILE® Pro, PRESBYOND® or LASIK return to work within 24-48 hours, depending on comfort and vision stability. PRK involves longer surface healing, so a week off work is commonly recommended, with some people needing longer before returning to normal activities. Jobs involving manual labour or dusty environments may require additional time off.
We recommend arranging a ride to our clinic for your first post-op appointment. At this visit, we’ll assess whether your vision has recovered enough for safe driving.
For lens-based procedures, surgery will take place at The Avenue Hospital in Windsor or Victoria Parade Surgery Centre (VPSC) in East Melbourne.
Cataract surgery is often eligible for Medicare and private health insurance, though the level of cover varies between insurers. We recommend checking your policy details directly. Refractive lens exchange and ICL surgeries aren’t usually covered by private health insurance.
Many patients return to everyday activities within a few days, depending on the procedure, their comfort and how their eyes heal. Some activities may need to be avoided for longer. We’ll monitor your recovery during follow-up appointments and guide you on when it’s appropriate to resume work and other activities.
Recovery times, comfort levels and visual outcomes vary between individuals. We’ll discuss what’s most relevant to you during your consultation. Your suitability, experience and results will depend on your eyes, your health, and how you heal. All medical and surgical procedures carry potential risks and side effects, and we’ll discuss these before any decisions are made. The information on this page is general in nature, and you should consult your ophthalmologist for specific medical advice.
