Femto-LASIK

Many people dream of finally being able to see clearly and sharply without having to rely on glasses or contact lenses. Femto-LASIK can make this dream come true and help you enjoy a whole new lease on life.

This laser eye treatment corrects your vision precisely and gently: painlessly and in just a few minutes.

Since the 1990s, over 100 million people worldwide have opted for laser eye treatment, which impressively demonstrates the established safety and success of this method. Studies confirm that common laser procedures such as Femto-LASIK have high success rates and offer maximum safety. According to our own studies, Femto-LASIK is even approved for jet pilots and astronauts in the US Navy and NASA.

Femto-LASIK is a very precise and gentle method for correcting vision problems.

Femto-LASIK can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Femto-LASIK is usually painless and takes only a few minutes per eye.

Just a few hours after laser eye surgery, vision improves noticeably, and a return to everyday life is possible after about 48 hours.

The procedure is considered very safe and has a very low complication rate.

Femto LASIK is an innovative form of laser vision correction that, unlike conventional LASIK, no longer requires the use of a mechanical scalpel (microkeratome). Instead, a high-precision femtosecond laser is used to open the first layer of the cornea.

In a fraction of a trillionth of a second (femtoseconds, hence the name), this laser creates an ultra-thin corneal flap. This flap is lifted like a hinge, and the underlying corneal layer is then reshaped with a second laser (excimer laser) to correct the vision defect.

Finally, the surgeon folds the flap back onto the surface of the eye, where it adheres by itself and supports wound healing like a natural bandage.

The procedure is over in just a few minutes.

–8 to –10 diopters

+4 diopters

5 diopters

Femto-LASIK can generally correct myopia (nearsightedness) up to about –8 to –10 diopters, hyperopia (farsightedness) up to about +4 diopters and astigmatism (corneal curvature) up to about 5 diopters.

Important: All figures given here are approximate values. Your personal limits depend on your individual corneal thickness and eye health. A detailed preliminary examination is therefore essential.

In principle Femto-LASIK is a very good option for the majority of people with vision problems who want to see clearly without glasses.

Even in cases of thin corneas, where LASIK was not possible in the past, modern femtosecond technology can often still create a flap that allows treatment to be performed.

Together with classic LASIK and superficial PRK, Femto-LASIK is considered one of the safest operations in modern medicine. The procedures have been tried and tested millions of times, the technology is mature and very precise.

As with any surgery, there is a small residual risk, but serious complications are extremely rare thanks to careful diagnostics in advance and our experienced surgeons. It is crucial that the treatment is only performed on suitable candidates.

YOUSEE's internal guidelines are stricter than the international standard.

Summary: Femto-LASIK is an effective and reliable solution for permanently eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Femto-LASIK is the most commonly used procedure worldwide, and for good reason: in this video, our ophthalmologist Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Dr. med. univ. Jascha Wendelstein explains all the details of the Femto-LASIK laser eye surgery procedure in detail.

If some of these points are not met, this does not automatically mean that we cannot help you.

In many cases, there are alternatives: For thin corneas or very high refractive errors, superficial laser treatment without a flap (Trans-PRK) or the insertion of an artificial lens (ICL) may be considered.

We will advise you honestly and in detail about your personal options. However, your safety is always our top priority:

We only recommend Femto-LASIK if everything is suitable.

On the day of your LASIK treatment, there is no need to be nervous. We will welcome you to our practice in a relaxed atmosphere. The entire appointment takes about 1 hour, the laser procedure itself taking only a few seconds per eye.

If you are very nervous, you can request a mild sedative.

Note:

With Femto-LASIK, both eyes are treated in one session. This is standard practice, safe, and much more convenient for you, as you will be able to see clearly with both eyes immediately. The procedure is quick and painless.

Important to know:

If you accidentally blink or move your eye, an eye-tracking system registers this in real time. The laser beam compensates for the movement, if this is not possible, it automatically interrupts the treatment in a matter of milliseconds.

During the treatment we will talk to you and guide you through each step. Many of our patients are surprised at how quickly and unspectacularly everything goes.

After the surgery you can relax with us while we discuss the aftercare once again. Then we will arrange your first follow-up appointment, and you will receive an emergency number from us, which you can use to reach us at any time.

Since your vision may still be slightly blurred immediately after the laser treatment, we recommend that you arrange for someone to pick you up or have an accompanying person with you.

On the day of the operation, it is normal for your eyes to water a little, burn or feel like there is something in them. Thanks to the gentle nature of the procedure, there is usually no pain.

At home, it is best to rest with your eyes closed. Many patients can see surprisingly well by the evening or the next morning at the latest.

You will come to us for your first follow-up checkup the day after the surgery. At this point, most patients already have very good visual acuity, with many achieving 80% vision or even more.

In the first few hours immediately after the operation, vision is still somewhat cloudy and blurred, but this clears up quickly.

The day after laser treatment most people feel ready to resume their normal daily activities, i.e. they can read normally again, participate in road traffic and go about their work.

However, we recommend taking at least the day of the surgery and the following day off work and resting your eyes during this time.

For your safety we will discuss with you during the check-up the next day when you can drive again. This is usually possible after 24 hours, as soon as we have confirmed your visual acuity.

The improvement in vision achieved with Femto-LASIK is permanent. The corneal curvature or refractive error that was treated with the laser does not normally return: the result lasts a lifetime.

In a few cases, a small amount of corneal tissue may regrow, leaving a slight residual refractive error; experience shows that this occurs more frequently with very high initial diopters and within the first few months. If, after some time, you notice that your visual acuity is not optimal, there is the option of follow-up treatment. YOUSEE performs such corrective procedures, provided they are medically advisable, at no additional cost to you.

We are only satisfied when you are.

However, even the best LASIK surgery cannot stop the natural aging process: from the mid-forties onwards, the lens in the eye becomes less flexible in most people due to age. This so-called presbyopia means that at some point you will need reading glasses, even if your distance vision remains sharp.

Femto-LASIK cannot prevent presbyopia.

However, there are solutions for this (e.g., monovision), which we will be happy to tell you about when the time comes. The important thing now is that you can enjoy freedom from your glasses.

99.4% of YOUSEE patients are happy with the results of their laser eye treatment and enjoy a new attitude towards life full of spontaneity and comfort.

The success rate of Femto-LASIK in the first procedure is 99.4% at YOUSEE.
Only 0.6% of our patients require follow-up laser treatment (global success rate: 94.1%).

Femto-LASIK offers numerous advantages over other procedures and over living with glasses, which we have summarized here:

Once laser treatment is complete, you can see clearly in the distance (and, depending on the treatment, possibly also up close) without visual aids. No more fogging up of glasses, no more lost contact lenses: simply a better quality of life!

Femto-LASIK allows for highly individualized adjustment, as modern laser technology can be used to precisely adapt the shape and thickness of the cornea to the individual eye structure, giving each eye its own customized treatment profile. Many patients even achieve better visual acuity than they had before with glasses or contact lenses.

Femto-LASIK is considered one of the safest eye surgery procedures, with complications being very rare. During the procedure, the eye is not cut mechanically, but with a laser. This minimizes the risk of infection and tissue trauma. The treatment is painless; only slight pressure is felt.

Thanks to the precise laser cut, the cornea heals exceptionally quickly. Most patients have almost full vision the very next day, and after a few days, any slight irritation has subsided. No weeks of downtime, just a short recovery time thanks to Femto-LASIK.

The laser treatment itself takes only a few seconds per eye, and the entire procedure takes only a few minutes. From the time you arrive at the clinic to the time you leave, it usually takes only an hour.

Femto-LASIK is used worldwide and is constantly being optimized. Millions of successful treatments and over 30 years of experience underpin the reliability of the technology. So you can rely on an established procedure that delivers excellent results in the hands of our experienced ophthalmologists.

Of course, like any method, Femto-LASIK also has limitations and potential disadvantages, which we would also like to discuss. Although most patients are completely satisfied, it is important to be informed:

As successful as Femto-LASIK is, no reputable doctor can guarantee an absolutely perfect result. In rare cases, a slight residual visual impairment remains. Follow-up treatment can usually correct this, but a minimal residual need for visual aids cannot be 100% ruled out.

Almost everyone experiences temporary dryness of the eyes or slight sensitivity to light after the operation. At night, halos or glare around light sources may occur at first. These side effects usually disappear completely within a few weeks to months, but may cause slight discomfort in the short term.

LASIK does not protect against natural presbyopia. This means that from around your mid-40s, you will probably need reading glasses, even if your distance vision is and remains perfectly corrected. This is not a fault of the surgery, but the normal course of time.

In summary, the advantages of Femto-LASIK far outweigh the disadvantages, which is why this method is so popular.

Of course we will discuss all the advantages and disadvantages with you openly in advance and address your individual situation so that you can make an informed decision

Every surgical procedure carries certain risks, however rare they may be. With Femto-LASIK serious complications are extremely rare because the procedure is designed for safety and we carry out extensive preliminary examinations to minimize risks.

With any surgery, theoretically, a wound can become infected. However, after LASIK this is extremely rare (in significantly less than 1% of cases). As a preventive measure we will provide you with antibiotic eye drops and a bandage contact lens. Sterile conditions in the operating room and proper aftercare reduce this risk to a minimum.

In rare cases, too much or too little cornea is removed, resulting in a minor visual defect. Minor residual defects are often barely noticeable, larger ones can be corrected by a follow-up laser treatment once the cornea has healed.

Problems with the corneal flap during or after surgery are very rare. Our modern lasers and our experience ensure that the flap is formed evenly and stably. However, if a problem does occur, the surgeon can usually intervene immediately and counteract it.

Almost everyone initially experiences dryness, as tiny nerves in the cornea are severed by the flap. These fine corneal nerves play a key role in regulating tear production, and severing these nerves temporarily disrupts communication between the cornea and the lacrimal gland. In very rare cases, an increased feeling of dryness persists for months. In the vast majority of cases, however, tear production returns to normal.

Some patients initially notice halos, glare, or dazzling effects in the dark. These phenomena subside during the healing phase. Only in extremely rare cases do they remain a permanent nuisance. Modern Femto-LASIK is always performed with wavefront optimization and aims to minimize such phenomena.

In very rare cases, the corrected vision may deteriorate slightly after several months or years. This is referred to as regression: the cornea changes again. This is unusual, but does occasionally occur in younger patients with high myopia. If the regression is bothersome, laser treatment can be repeated, but it is often minor and does not require further treatment.

Serious complications leading to significant and permanent vision impairment are extremely rare with Trans-PRK (in the per mille range). Blindness is not a possibility at all. It is important that you follow all aftercare recommendations and, if in doubt, come in for an additional check-up.

We do everything we can to ensure that you achieve the best possible result without complications. However, if something unexpected does happen, we are always there for you and can help quickly and effectively. The health of your eyes is always our top priority.

A word about the responsibility of laser eye surgery centers:

In a comprehensive test (2024), Stiftung Warentest emphasized the importance of thorough preliminary examinations and transparent consultations before laser surgery.

We take this responsibility very seriously.

You can rest assured that we will only treat you if we are convinced that it is safe and appropriate in your individual case.

Don't hesitate to ask us critical questions:
We will be happy to answer them honestly.

You may have heard of alternative laser eye surgery procedures, such as KLEx (ReLEx SMILE) or Trans-PRK. How do they differ from Femto-LASIK, and which is “the best”?

When used appropriately, all common procedures yield similarly good results in terms of visual quality. The difference lies primarily in the approach and the healing time. Here is a brief overview:

Instead of a femtosecond laser, the predecessor to Femto-LASIK uses a microkeratome, a highly advanced precision micro-scalpel, to cut the corneal flap. This technique is a mechanical method and has been greatly improved by the use of modern, computer-controlled devices, so that its results are almost comparable to those of our femtosecond lasers.

However, Femto-LASIK is superior to mechanical cutting in terms of precision and safety, as there are fewer irregularities and the risk of complications is lower. For this reason, Femto-LASIK has almost completely replaced conventional LASIK.

In transepithelial PRK, no flap is created; instead, the laser completely removes the uppermost epithelial layer of the cornea in the surgical area and corrects the refractive error on the surface. This eliminates the need for a flap incision, which can be important in cases of very thin corneas or certain anatomical conditions. On the other hand, the epithelial layer must grow back, which causes a few days of healing pain and blurred vision. The recovery time is significantly longer than with Femto-LASIK (vision is only good after about 1 week, and the final result is achieved after 4 to 6 weeks). The risk of infection is also slightly higher in the first few days, as there is an open wound on the surface of the cornea. Trans-PRK is particularly suitable if LASIK is not an option for medical reasons.

KLEx is the newest laser procedure. Here, the femtosecond laser cuts out a small lens (lenticule) inside the cornea, which is then removed through a tiny incision. This keeps the corneal surface more stable and there is no flap that could slip. Vision recovery with KLEx is also very fast, sometimes even on the same day. However, KLEx can currently only treat myopia and astigmatism. Hyperopia cannot be corrected with this procedure. In addition, KLEx is technically more demanding, so not every practice offers it. Femto-LASIK is currently more widespread and suitable for a broader group of patients. We offer both procedures and will advise you on which method is best for your eyes.

All of the laser procedures mentioned: Femto-LASIK, Trans-PRK and KLEx, have the same goal and achieve it consistently in suitable candidates. The visual results are equally good after six months at the latest for all procedures.

There is no single best procedure, but there is the best procedure for you: Together we will find it.

One of the most common concerns among patients is the cost of treatment: since health insurance companies in Germany and Switzerland classify refractive laser surgery as a voluntary, self-pay service, patients usually have to pay for Femto-LASIK out of their own pocket. Statutory health insurance companies do not cover the costs, while private health insurance companies often reimburse part of the costs, depending on the tariff: It is worth inquiring individually, but what amounts can you expect to pay?

Important: At YOUSEE, all preliminary examinations, the surgery itself, and all follow-up examinations are included in the price.

Transparency is very important to us: With us, you will know exactly what costs you will incur in advance, with no hidden fees or surcharges. You will not be charged for any follow-up treatments either.

Perhaps you have seen a significantly cheaper offer from a competitor abroad (such as laser eye surgery in Istanbul)?

Of course, there are good doctors all over the world, but when it comes to your eyes, price should not be the most important factor.

The most important factors are the experience of the surgeon, the quality of the laser technology, and comprehensive on-site care. Germany and Switzerland have very high medical standards, and you can be sure that they are adhered to.

We understand the desire to save money, of course, but we repeatedly see patients coming to us after cheap deals that have resulted in complications or unsatisfactory results. Laser eye surgery also requires comprehensive aftercare and a dedicated contact person whom you can trust.