Patients with myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism might benefit greatly from laser eye surgery (also known as refractive surgery), which is a great alternative to glasses or contact lenses.
The most popular procedures for treating mild to moderate myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are LASIK and PRK. They are safe and incredibly effective procedures. Quick and painless, laser eye surgery. It requires local anesthesia and lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Even hospitalization is not necessary for the patient!
If you have high myopia, please consult your eye doctor for high myopia lasik.
Which Approach is Superior? LASIK or PRK?
In order to ensure that the light is properly focused, laser eye surgery modifies the cornea’s curvature. Laser eye surgery comes in two major flavors. There are two laser procedures used to treat refractive issues (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism), PRK or photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK surgery.
The corneal surface is altered and reshaped during both LASIK and PRK procedures. The way the surgical treatments are carried out varies, though. To do PRK, your eye surgeon must first access the cornea by removing its thin outer layer, or epithelium. The layers of the exposed cornea are then reshaped by your surgeon using lasers, along with any irregularities in your eye’s curvature, to make the necessary repair.
In contrast, the surgeon uses a laser to cut a corneal flap and split the corneal epithelium during LASIK surgery, the most popular refractive treatment. Your surgeon will raise up this flap and use a laser to sculpt and remove a portion of the corneal tissue. The cornea should then heal naturally over the following few months without the need for stitches after the flap is lowered back down.
The final decision regarding the procedure is made in light of the outcomes of the eye exams conducted during the initial preoperative consultation. The laser eye surgery expert should be the one to assess you in person and make the final decision regarding the ideal procedure for your unique situation.
Who Can Undergo Laser Eye Surgery?
Myopia can currently be treated with laser eye surgery up to a maximum of -10D and long-sightedness up to a maximum of +6D. Up to 3D, astigmatism can be completely repaired, but at higher levels, it may only be partially cured or necessitate additional surgery. Your eye prescription should ideally have remained largely unchanged for close to two years. It is important to assess the patient’s cornea and its thickness before laser eye surgery.
The initial recommendation is cataract surgery with refractive correction goals when the patient is older, the cornea is thin, and the patient’s short-sightedness (myopia) is severe. Age does matter when determining whether a patient can have laser surgery for hyperopia or myopia. 18 years old is the lowest age while 45 years old is the maximum. Younger patients frequently still have not fully developed short- or long-sightedness. On the other hand, at a certain age (patients over 40), cataracts may form in the coming years. As a result, it might be desirable for these patients to think about switching their crystalline lens for an IOL.
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