New high-precision laser at QVH eye unit

The Queen Victoria Hospital eye unit can now offer patients the best in modern clinical care using the latest, high-precision laser technology.

The £200,000 investment in a femtosecond laser allows the specialist team to use ultra-short infrared laser pulses to treat a range of conditions with an exceptional degree of precision and predictability.

Damian Lake, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Corneal and Refractive Surgeon, said “QVH already has a national and international reputation for providing the highest quality of ophthalmic care. High precision laser assisted treatment has the potential to make our surgery even more accurate with better outcomes for patients – such as improved vision and quality of life.”

Jamie Sadler from Crawley, who benefitted from the laser on its very first day, said: “The team told me I was one of the first patients and I was really pleased. I have a condition called keratoconus and using the new laser they have put in a band that changes the shape of my eye ball so that I can see better. The treatment was very professional and very quick.”

 Notes

QVH provides treatment and care for NHS patients with a wide range of eye problems, from common complaints to complex conditions that require treatment in one of two specialist centres in the UK. The Corneo-Plastic department is a high-profile and technologically advanced service that delivers high quality care in its sub-specialties and sets standards for care in the UK and internationally.

The femtosecond laser is used for specialist surgical procedures such as cornea transplants and lamellar grafts, intra corneal rings such as Intacs, and Kerarings, and can also be used for more common treatments such as cataract surgery.

Clinical audit shows that eye surgery at QVH gives patients positive outcomes well above national average standards.