REFRACTIVE SURGERY

Refractive surgery is a surgical procedure performed to correct the refractive error (spectacle power) of the eye. It is usually done to get rid of or reduce dependence on glasses and contact lens. It can be performed in a patient with stable refraction (glass power) after the age of 18 – 21 years. Complete medical history along with detailed eye examination is mandatory in all candidates, special Investigations like corneal topography (Pentacam, Orbscan), Anterior segment Optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) are performed to evaluate the shape, thickness and curvature of the cornea and other dimensions of the eye. After acquiring all the details, the eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) makes a decision regarding the available options of refractive surgery for the patient.

Lasik

Lasik stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis. Lasik eye surgery is a type of day care laser treatment that is performed to correct the spectacle power. In patients with refractive error, i.e spectacle power, the rays of the light entering the eye do not focus precisely on the Retina.
Contoura vision is most advanced version of lasik. This procedure also treats corneal irregularities in addition to removal of spectacle power.
Glasses and contact lenses are hence used to precisely focus the light onto the retina so that vision improves. However, without using glasses or contact lenses constantly, the patient cannot view the objects clearly. This spectacle dependency can be a hindrance for day to day activities. Persons who lead a very active lifestyle may particularly find wearing spectacles to be bothersome

Steps of Lasik Eye Surgery

Depending on the type of lasik eye surgery chosen, your treatment may be performed precisely in the following steps:
A Microkeratome [which is an automated precise tool for making a flap] is used to create a circular flap in the cornea to reach the corneal stromal layer before the laser treatment.
In the next step of the laser surgery, the excimer laser precisely reshapes the cornea as per the programmed advanced algorithm to correct the eye spectacle power.
The flap is then repositioned in place after the laser treatment without sutures and this heals in 24-48 hours of time.
All this is performed under the effect of drop anaesthesia and is completely painless to the patient

Phakic IOLs

Are intraocular lenses implanted in in the eye for refractive correction. This procedure can be performed in patient of higher refractive error or relatively thin or weak cornea where lasik is not possible. Although these IOLs are available in wider range of refrective powers.

Refractive lens Exchange (RLE)

This is another refractive procedure that removes eye's natural crystalline lens and replace with intraocular lens. It is a preferred procedure in patients of age more than 40 yrs, higher refractive errors and thin cornea.