
ABOUT LASER SURGERY
WHAT IS A LASER VISION CORRECTION?
Laser vision correction or refractive surgery is done to reduce the need for spectacles or contact lenses. Every eye has an intrinsic spectacle error. The eye can be nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism.
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Laser surgery changes the shape of the surface layer of the eye, to remove this error.
Laser surgery is fast, safe and effective. We rely on numerous tests and investigations to assess each patient to see if they are a good candidate for refractive surgery. Please see the section The Advanced Eye Exam for investigation details.
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All patients that would like laser surgery need to have the advanced eye examination.
This examination takes at least an hour and a half. Every detail of the eye needs to be assessed to make sure that laser can be done in a safe manner.
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Laser surgery is not for everyone. We look at multiple factors including age, family planning, dry eye disease, cataract status, the individual needs and expectations of the patient to make a decision.
WHY CATARACT SURGERY?
Patients that have cataract are usually treated with cataract surgery, rather than laser. Reshaping the cornea with a laser will not improve your vision adequately if there is a cataract present.
IS LASER FOR YOU?
If you have a healthy tear film, good corneal bio-mechanics, good general health, clear lenses and healthy retinas, then you are a candidate for laser vision correction.
There are multiple types of laser surgery that can be done. Each type has certain benefits that make it a better choice depending on the patient profile.
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The choice is made by assessing the ocular history and the anatomy of the eye.
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LASIK:
Laser light is used to cut a hinged, partial thickness flap on the surface of the cornea. This flap is lifted and the inner layer, or stroma, of the cornea is further reshaped by the laser. The flap is then repositioned and the process is repeated on the fellow eye. The recovery time is fast and the procedure is generally painless.
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PRK:
This type of laser is used when the cornea is too thin to create a flap. The laser is performed directly onto the cornea without creating a flap. The surface layer of the eye needs to regenerate after the procedure. A bandage contact lens is usually placed on the cornea after the procedure. This contact lens is removed after a couple of days. There may be mild to moderate discomfort for a few days following surgery as the surface of the eye heals. Vision also takes a bit longer to stabilize following PRK as the surface layer needs to regenerate first.
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Our practice does screening and assessment of laser vision candidates. We have partnered with a very well known and respected refractive surgeon , Dr Dylan Joseph, who performs the surgeries at his practice in Knysna. We aim to make the journey to refractive laser surgery a little easier by offering screening, and follow up after surgery, locally to reduce the need for patients to travel to Knysna on multiple occasions.
Dr Dylan Joseph

Dr Joseph is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon who has been fellowship trained in refractive, lens and cataract surgery at a world-leading clinic in Dublin, Ireland with Mr Arthur Cummings. Having spent two years perfecting the art of laser vision correction whilst abroad, Dr Joseph has returned to the Garden
Route to provide the same level of expertise on identical technology he used in Europe.
He qualified from the University of Bloemfontein in South Africa, cum laude, winning the prestigious Dean’s medal. This award is bestowed upon the student in the post-graduate medical faculty with the highest overall marks accumulated during training. He also completed his post-graduate degree at the College of Surgeons of South Africa and is registered as a specialist ophthalmic surgeon with the Irish Medical Council and the General Medical Council in Britain.
Dr Joseph was involved in the first clinical trials in the world with Mr Cummings for the Streamlight laser vision correction procedure, which was presented to the world at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in 2018. At his refractive suite, which is situated in the Advanced Surgical Centre in Knysna, Dr Joseph uses among the safest, most efficient and advanced technology to treat his patients.
The WaveLight refractive suite is one of two full suites in the country which is entirely bladeless and provides a platform to fully customise and optimise your vision. Dr Joseph offers Contoura ™ Vision LASIK, which is completely customised to the contour of your eye, targeting the best visual quality and contrast under all lighting conditions.
He also focuses on cataract
and lens-based surgery, with vast experience in EDOF or the extended depth of field technology, and trifocal intraocular lens implants. These types of advanced laser vision modalities and lens procedures in South Africa and across the globe help to reduce, or eliminate in most cases, your dependency on eye
spectacles, contact lenses or reading glasses.
Whether performing refractive surgery or cataract surgery, Dr Joseph strives to attain the best possible visual outcome for his patients.