Experiences after laser eye surgery for presbyopia

The experiences others have had before us can help allay fears and enable an informed decision. It’s the same with laser eye surgery for presbyopia, where many people worry about the procedure and its outcome. This is understandable, because after all it is an operation on the eye – a central sensory organ that allows us to perceive our surroundings.

Nico Auer of Hitradio Antenna 1 (he also had laser eye surgery at Bányai Neue Augen in 2021) accompanied Thomas during his treatment for presbyopia. From the initial examination to the day of the operation to the follow-up appointment one week later – Thomas talks about his expectations, considerations, and experiences during the procedure at Bányai Neue Augen.

Why undergo laser eye surgery for presbyopia?

The starting point: For Thomas — as for many of us over the course of our lives — presbyopia, i.e. age-related difficulty seeing things up close, had developed. With this form of age-related vision impairment, people find it increasingly difficult to see nearby objects clearly. This is noticeable, for example, when reading, but also when doing close-up tasks such as crafts or working at a computer.

Although he had worn glasses for over 50 years, his brother’s cataract surgery motivated him to look into the possibility of eye surgery himself. After consulting his ophthalmologist and doing some online research – he also listened to the Bányai Neue Augen podcast – Thomas found his way to our practice. His expectation: to finally be able to do without glasses.

Experiences during the preliminary examination

In the run-up to the operation, Thomas’ eyes were thoroughly examined by optometrist Michelle. She determined the visual acuity and carried out instrument-based measurements to ensure eye health. Specifically, the retina, the optic nerve, and the cornea were examined.

The examination went well, and Thomas felt motivated afterward: “Now I’m somehow completely relaxed. I was still a little nervous this morning. But after going through everything again and seeing that the results are what I wanted, I’m feeling really good now,” he said after leaving the practice. Although he had expected to be nervous in the run-up to the operation, he felt reassured in his decision, not least because of the team’s professionalism.

The day of treatment: What does the procedure feel like?

Before the operation, Thomas was a bit nervous. At the same time, he handed over his glasses with a reassuring feeling, knowing he wouldn’t need them afterward. The pre-op preparations were straightforward: surgical shoe covers, a surgical cap over his hair, and a face mask. The eye area was also disinfected, so Thomas was then allowed into the sterile operating room.

In the meantime, host Nico Auer waited before the operation, but he didn’t remain alone for long, as the procedure was over after just a few minutes and went smoothly.

Doctor-medic Bányai, who had performed the procedure, briefly explained it to Nico: “The laser treatment went very well. First, we created the flaps, which took seven seconds per eye. After that, we reshaped the cornea.” The excimer laser and the PRESBYOND® method were used here; the latter provides sharp vision at near, intermediate and far distances. “The operation proceeded without complications and without pain.”

Thomas’s experience with laser eye surgery reflected this. Thanks to the anesthetic drops, he didn’t feel the laser being applied to his eye. He was therefore surprised that it was already time for the second eye, because each step of the procedure was explained to him as it happened, and the second eye was treated without any problems.

When asked about his vision immediately after the procedure, Thomas replied, “I could actually see better straight away.” He still couldn’t quite believe it when he thought of his glasses: “I had handed them in beforehand, and I don’t need them anymore.”

After the operation, Thomas went for an initial follow-up check. During this exam, it was confirmed, for example, that the flap was properly in place. It’s normal at this stage for the eyes to be watery and slightly irritated, and there were no other abnormalities on the follow-up. Thomas was able to go home afterwards.

Laser eye surgery for presbyopia – the PRESBYOND® procedure

With the PRESBYOND® method, the eyes are optimized for different distances. After an acclimatization phase, the eye manages to fuse the two visual impressions into a single sharp image. This makes it possible to see clearly at different distances again.

One week later: What experiences were reported?

Thomas was also accompanied by Nico for a follow-up examination a week later, which went smoothly as well. Nico asked him about his impressions the day after the surgery — Thomas was immediately enthusiastic about being able to see without glasses and also astonished. “For me, there was this initial sense of amazement. Nothing hurt; it really felt like it was done in minutes.” When he got home, he rested, and the fear of pain in the days after the operation proved unfounded.

“There’s only one problem: I should have done it much earlier,” Thomas concluded. He said people perceive him very differently, and he had already bought two pairs of sunglasses. It is clear: he is satisfied with the result of his surgery and pleased that, from now on, he can go about his daily life without glasses.