Wellington Eye Clinic in General Media
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CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY TODAYEUROPE
April 2009
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“On the couch”
Dr Richard Corkin, Laser Eye Surgeon
26 February 2008
Name: Dr Richard Corkin
Title: Ophthalmic Surgeon
Family/Personal: Married to Lynn, two children Lucy (27) and James (21)
Which living person do you most admire and why?
Nelson Mandela – for his belief in himself and his principles, his ability to show compassion to both friend and enemy, and his deep sense of humility.
What do you regard as the top three problems facing Ireland’s health system?
The HSE is a juggernaut in a stormy sea without a rudder.
1) The lack of local and community involvement with regard to their own medical services and facilities.
2) The failure of private healthcare to be accepted not as alternative but as complementary to the public system.
3) The need to improve healthy living incentivizing healthy lifestyle choices.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, John Cleese, Ruby Wax, Julie Christie and Nicole Kidman.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being on the golf course at Goose Valley, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Buying a brand new 4x4 12 years ago – and I am still driving it.
What is your most unhealthy habit?
Not being able to brave the cold and dark winter to make gym before work
How do you relax?
My favorites would be paddling my kayak on the Dalkey Sound and relaxing with a beer in front of the rugby channel.
What trait do you most value in your friends?
Sincerity.
What talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be a whiz kid in the kitchen.
Do you use alternative/complementary medicines or therapies?
No – I have done in the past, but don’t go down that road anymore.
What is your earliest memory?
Aged 2, banging a spoon on the table in a Portrush restaurant and shouting “more soup”.
What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t treasure possessions – my family is my most treasured asset.
What other career might you have chosen?
Air force pilot
Woman’s Way
Tuesday, 10th February 2009
HELLO LADIES!
This week, we’re all about health issues in Woman’s Way. If, like me, you half though about taking up a new exercise regime come 1 January but are now too scared to join a gym or class, we’ve got the rundown on the best celebrity fitness DVDs on the market, plus our view on whether they really work. They certainly beat sweating it out in a room filled with stranger, plus you can wear whatever form of gymwear you like!
And speaking of looking and feeling better, laser eye surgery has fast become a popular choice for those of us who wear glasses but want to be spectacle-free. But what does it involve and (more importantly), does it hurt? Well, our intrepid deputy editor Aisling O’Toole recently got new eyes (as we’ve been calling it in the WW office!) and on page 19 se tells us her story of what happens – plus Lisa Jewell gives us a guide to what other plucky glasses wearers can expect should they be interested in undergoing the procedure.
Turning to food, we’ve got three pages of delicious meals made from seasonal produce that are not only healthy but tasty to boot. Turn to page 34 and get thee to the shops to stock up for these gorgeous dinners. From fitness to food, we’ve got this healthy lifestyle sewn up!
Aine Toner
Editor.
Womans Way
Tuesday 10 February 2009-04-21
Laser eye surgery: your guide
If you’re thinking about undergoing eye surgery, we have all the information you need, plus one WW staff member gives her view of the procedure.
The past few years have seen a big increase in the numbers of people opting for laser eye surgery. Many clinics here have reported 40-60 per cent rise in client numbers and in the States, one million people undergo refractive eye surgery every year. It’s no wonder that so many people are choosing to have the procedure – improved eyesight means they can wave goodbye to their glasses or contact lenses.
And when you factor in how much money is spent on those items over the course of a lifetime, the price of laser eye surgery seems reasonable.
But despite this newfound popularity, some people are still unsure about signing up for the procedure. The biggest questions that arise are – is it safe and will it actually work? We take a closer look (pardon the pun!) at laser eye surgery and bring you through it step by step.
Can everyone have laser eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery involves changing the shape of the cornea (the clear covering at the front of the eye) to improve the sharpness of a person’s vision. It’s generally suitable for people with short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), age-related visual problems (presbyopia) and astigmatism (caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea).
No everyone who wears glasses or contact lenses is suitable for laser eye surgery and, for that reason, eye clinics arrange for a consultation with an ophthalmologist. A detailed check of the eyes is carried out and the person’s medical history is discussed.
Certain conditions such as glaucoma and dry eyes will rule out laser eye surgery. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are not good candidates for the procedure because hormonal changes mean that the eye’s prescription can be unstable, making it difficult to calculate corrective measures.
There is no upper-age limit for laser eye surgery (if the person is in good health) and procedures are carried out on people aged 18 and upward.
What does laser eye surgery actually involve?
There are two main types of laser eye surgery – LASEK (Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis) and LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis).
LASIK is a more popular procedure and has less downtime for patients afterwards. It involves lifting a thin layer of the cornea to create a flap. Then a pre-programmed laser reshapes the underlying surface and the flap is repositioned.
LASEK is usually recommended for patients with particular cornea shapes. Instead of a flap being made with a blade, the top layer of the cornea is treated with some alcohol so that it detaches from the underlying tissue and can be rolled back. The same laser technique as LASIK is used and the top layer is repositioned.
Laser eye surgery is a day case and usually takes around 15-30 minutes to complete – in most cases, both eyes can be treated simultaneously but occasionally it’s recommended that one is treated first and the procedure is later repeated for the other eye.
Patients sit in a reclining chair and are awake during surgery. They are usually given the option of taking a Valium to help them relax before the procedure. Anaesthetic drops are placed in the eye and a device called a speculum is placed on the eye to keep it open.
Is the procedure painful?
The procedure itself isn’t painful because of the anaesthetic eye drops. Afterwards, some patients say that their eyes feel a little gritty as they readjust but this is only temporary. It’s acknowledged that compared to LASIK eye surgery, LASEK involves more discomfort for the patient and takes longer to heal.
What about aftercare?
It’s not possible to drive home afterwards so you will need to be escorted home by a friend.
It’s advised that women don’t wear eye make-up in the days following surgery and that patients avoid swimming. In most cases, it takes a couple of days for the eyes to readjust – some people have blurred vision afterwards but by the second day find that their vision much improved.
Are there any potential complications?
Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the possible risks and side effects so that they can make an informed decision. It’s known that laser eye surgery is generally a safe type of surgery and that side effects (such as dry eyes or night vision problems) are relatively rare.
The main complication to watch out for is infection but this only happens to a tiny number of people. If anyone experiences side effects or has any concerns in the days after surgery, they should go back to see their ophthalmologist.
What about the costs?
The costs of laser eye surgery vary so it’s worth asking around. It’s not necessarily a good idea to opt the cheapest quote – you should also base your decision on the professionalism of staff and the details of your procedure. Do your research and ask questions when you go for your initial consultation.
It’s possible to claim tax back on your laser eye surgery – by submitting a MED1 form to the tax office. In January this year, the tax relief on many procedures (including laser eye surgery) dropped from 41 per cent to 20 per cent for those on the higher tax rate.
VHI Healthcare covers certain types of laser eye surgery when it’s deemed medically necessary to treat a range of specified conditions (these don’t include short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism). However, VHI Healthcare members can receive a discount of 15 per cent on non-medically necessary laser eye surgery in a number of participating clinics.
Did you know?
A survey shows that the professional group that has had LASIK eye surgery more than any other is accountants
Celebs who’ve ditched their contacts
• Nicole Kidman opted for laser eye surgery in 2006, after struggling to read cue card during rehearsals for the Oscars.
• Jessica Simpson underwent LASIK eye surgery back in 2004 and had the experience documented for her Newlyweds TV show.
• Champion golfer Padraig Harrington has enjoyed great success in the last couple of years. We wonder if he credits getting laser eye surgery in 2004 (also in the Wellington Eye Clinic) with giving him a winning edge?
My story
Our own Aisling O’Toole went under the laser in the name of research.
I wore glasses from the age of 12. After a dodgy few years when I sported some Deirdre Barlow-esque frames I eventually found my glasses groove and basically – my glasses were me. So you will understand why my nerves weren’t actually about somebody slicing my eyes open (I was to have LASIK surgery!) but more to do the fear that I’d be ugly!
A few Valium down, I arrived at the Wellington Eye Clinic in Dublin’s South Quarter full of bravado about the surgery.
My first trip to the Wellington Eye Clinic was for my initial consultation. During which I read charts and had drops applied before returning to work where I officially became the Womans Way guinea pig. The consultation doesn’t hurt but because my eyes were dilated, I felt nauseous afterwards. However, I left knowing I was in good hands after meeting Dr Corkin who promised to take good care of me and after all, if the clinic is good enough for Padraig Harrington it’s good enough for me.
Back to the morning of my surgery: after being dressed in a gown and prepared for surgery, I was shown into the operating theatre and told to lie down. I must have the look of a chicken because I was offered the services of the clinic’s teddy bear, Wellington, and gladly took it. With myself and Wellington on our backs I was talked through the entire procedure which was very reassuring. In a nutshell, my eyes were held open and drops applied, after which each eye was treated separately. A machine was lowered down and I was told to look directly at the dot, at this stage I felt some pressure on my eyeball (similar to the pressure you feel when shaking somebody’s hand) and my vision turned to black for some seconds. This doesn’t hurt but it does feel weird so much that I tried to push the machine away. Clear that Wellington wasn’t being enough of a comfort a nurse held (restrained?) my hand for the rest of the procedure – which helped, I must be a chicken after all!
Next up was the scary bit when they actually make the flap. Dr Corkin counted down from 15 while this was going on, it’s the most painful part but in the grand scheme of things actually isn’t that painful. I didn’t feel anything as the laser entered my eye but could smell burning, which wasn’t my eye but the laser reacting with the air. The flap was brushed back down, another strange but painless sensation. One eye down, the other was done and I was finished.
Done and dusted I recovered in a dark room after which, armed with an assortment of drops, painkillers and Dr Corkin’s mobile phone number, I went home to bed. I woke up about four hours later greatly improved vision, which was just got better and better as the weeks go by.
The next morning I had a check up and the surgery was declared a success, in fact I was back in work within three days (which made Aine very happy indeed!). The weirdest part of the healing process is the itching, which you can’t scratch. I made a conscious effort to avoid TV and computers for as long as possible and make-up for much longer – in fact I’m still putting my appearance down to the fact that I just had surgery! I’m also applying my eye drops religiously but apart from occasional twinges the painkillers were unnecessary.
Three months later and I officially have perfect vision. On the whole the experience was absolutely fantastic. I was warned beforehand that I might experience some side effects, which had me unnecessarily worried, in fact all my fears were completely unfounded as the whole procedure was painless.
As for being ugly without my glasses – I’ll let you make your own decision!
The Wellington Eye Clinic, Suite 36, Beacon Hall, Beacon Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18. For more information, log onto www.wellingtoneyeclinic.com or tel: 01 293 0470.
