20:20 is described as normal
vision, which is the comparison between what you can see at 20 feet
and what normal-sighted people can see at 20 feet. Driving
standard is 10:20 and is measured as reading the fifth line of the
eye test chart.
The very best results from the
laser are achieved at mild levels of correction with treatments up
to -3 dioptres usually achieving excellent satisfaction levels
with either
LASIK or
LASEK.99.5% of patients achieve unaided
driving standard after their laser eye operation. Moderate eyesight
correction surgery levels achieve a 95% success rate. Severe levels
of eyesight correction achieve a 90% success rate (to driving
standard) - the remainder will occasionally need to wear glasses
for best vision.
Long sight results achieve an
80% success rate to driving standard; lower corrections are more
accurate. After treatment there may still be a need for
glasses or contact lenses to correct remaining refractive
error. Older patients will need reading glasses after
treatment (if both eyes are fully corrected).
Use these links to read more
about results:
Reading Glasses (Presbyopia)
Lasers treat the need for
distance vision only. If you wear glasses for both distance and
close vision, the distant vision can be treated but you will still
need glasses for close vision. The continuing need for
reading glasses is not due to long or short sight, but the
stiffening of the eye muscles that usually occurs after middle
age.
As with all normal-sighted
people, patients will still need reading glasses from about 45
years of age, unless monovision or
Refractive Lens Exhange/Clear Lens Exchange is
chosen.