Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Laser vision correction is the most modern, effective and safe method on the market. Depending on age, medical history and eye condition, it can correct myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism. However, there are several techniques available for correction. How to choose the best one and which will be the most suitable for us?
What are visual impairments?
To best understand the method and choose the more appropriate one, we need to know what are the visual impairment. The cornea of a healthy eye, allowing for sharp, precise vision, resembles a ping-pong ball. The light rays reach our eye through the cornea, lens and vitreous body to ultimately focus on the retina. There, the optic nerves send an image to the brain. This one decides what the final image we see looks like.
With myopia, the light rays do not refract on the retina, but in front of it. Therefore, people with this visual impairment see better up close and the image is blurry and unclear from a distance. In patients with farsightedness, the opposite is true – the rays refract behind the retina, which is why they see better at a distance than at close range. Astigmatism is more complicated. In his case, the shape of the cornea, reminiscent of a rugby ball, means that the light rays do not hit the retina at one point, as is the case with a healthy eye, but at several points. This makes the image of patients trying to look at objects both up close and from a distance blurry. They are unable to focus their eyesight.
Check if everyone can undergo laser vision correction.
FemtoLASIK
It is the most modern modification of the classic LASIK procedure used at the beginning of the XNUMXst century. Improved, and therefore safer FemtoLASIK is recommended for patients whose eyesight defect is:
- for myopia up to -10 diopters,
- with farsightedness +6 diopters,
- with astigmatism of 6 diopters.
FemtoLASIK method when used in a patient whose defect does not exceed the above parameters, it allows for its complete removal. The course of the entire procedure takes no more than 30 minutes. At the beginning, the doctor put anesthetic drops into the eyes, and then proceeded to the proper operation.
Also read: Laser vision correction – anesthesia or narcosis?
Initially, the femtosecond laser cuts the corneal flap while maintaining connection with the rest of the cornea. After the flap is tilted, the shape of the cornea is modeled using an excimer laser. Its work is computer-controlled. The computer decides to send pulses by the laser until the desired shape of the cornea is achieved and the defect is eliminated. The cut corneal flap is then returned to its place and a dressing is placed over the eye.
LASEK
If, for some reason, such as deep embedment of the eyes or the thickness of the cornea, a patient cannot have FemtoLASIK vision correction, ophthalmologists usually recommend the LASEK technique. Unlike the FemtoLASIK method, the LASEK method consists of the corneal epithelium itself and is not cut with a laser, but with alcohol. The cornea itself is modeled in a similar way, i.e. with an excimer laser.
This method will be most effective in patients with myopia up to -10 diopters, with farsightedness up to +5 diopters, and in patients with astigmatism up to 5 diopters. The entire procedure takes no more than 30 minutes. Sight correction using the LASEK method in one eye, depending on the city, costs from PLN 2000.
SFBC
EBK is a method that allows you to remove relatively small vision defects. The defect in patients with myopia must not exceed -7 diopters, with astigmatism 3 diopters. This method is rarely used in patients with farsightedness because it does not remove this defect effectively.
In this technique, following administration of anesthetic drops, the epithelium is removed from the cornea with a disposable device. This allows for its gentle removal without interfering with the deeper layers of the cornea. In addition, the epithelium is the only part of the cornea that is able to rebuild itself. After the procedure is completed, a bandage lens is placed over the treated eye. It should be worn for 3 days.
ReLEx smile
ReLEx smile is currently the most innovative available on the market methods of laser correction. Only a femtosecond laser is used to make it. Thanks to this, the procedure is less invasive, and convalescence is much shorter. Correction of the defect in this method involves excision of the corneal layer, the so-called lenses. As it is removed through a 4 mm incision, it is not necessary to cut the corneal flap.
The entire procedure takes a few minutes and has fewer side effects than other methods of laser correction. First of all, patients do not complain about the most bothersome ailment – dry eye syndrome. The ReLEx smile method allows for the removal of astigmatism in patients with a defect up to 5 diopters and myopia up to -10 diopters.
wavefront
To remove large, complex defects, individual techniques, the so-called Wavefront. Its selection is based on a meticulous examination of the defect and the structure of the patient’s eye itself. Only then is it possible to choose the method that will remove the defect in the most accurate and safe way.
Wavefront allows for the correction of myopia up to -10 diopters, farsightedness up to +6 diopters, astigmatism up to 6 diopters, as well as any combination of astigmatism with other eye defects. .
A personalized treatment is to be more beneficial for the patient. Learn more about surgery for visual impairment: Is laser vision correction safe?
Vision Defects and Intraocular Lens Transplant
But what about patients who deal with very severe eye defects on a daily basis and dream about getting rid of the need to wear glasses or contact lenses once and for all? Unfortunately, in their case, laser vision correction methods are not an option – the effect of the treatment may turn out to be unsatisfactory. Therefore, in the case of large vision defects, doctors recommend the so-called refractive lens replacement.
We already know that it is the retina, and in fact the light rays refracting in front of it, behind it or on it, are responsible for the fact that some patients see better from a distance, and others close up. Removal of the patient’s lens and implantation in its place of an artificial lens corrects abnormalities and restores visual acuity. Experts believe that implantation of the lens corrects vision defects above -10, +10 diopters, but proper lens selection can also get rid of the problem of astigmatism.
In the case of short-sighted or farsightedness, a multifocal intraocular lens is implanted. After the procedure, the patient is able to see clearly both from a distance and up close. So it is possible to drive a car, read a book or work on a computer without the need for additional vision correction in the form of glasses or contact lenses. In the case of patients with astigmatism, implantation of a multifocal toric lens is used. It eliminates both the problem of astigmatism and poor vision near or far.
Recommendations after laser vision correction surgery
Regardless of the type of method that we choose after consulting a doctor, in order to achieve the desired effect, it will be necessary to strictly follow the recommendations. For the first few days after the procedure, activities that could quickly tire the operated eye should be abandoned. So we should give up reading, watching TV, working at the computer.
It is recommended resignation from strenuous activities, rest and long sleep. We cannot engage in intense physical activity for several weeks. You also need to remember about proper hygiene, not rinsing your eyes with tap water, and using the antibiotic and moisturizing drops prescribed by your doctor.
We should not stay in air-conditioned, smoky and dusty rooms. For 3 months, forget about sunbathing, swimming in a swimming pool and lake, and for 2 weeks about applying makeup around the eyes. We must remember that any contact of an irritated eye with dirty hands, objects or substances may lead to serious complications and infections.
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.