Question 1: What is refractive surgery of the eye?
Answer:
Refractive surgery is performed to reduce dependence on glasses by altering the eye’s focusing ability through various procedures. There are two main types of refractive surgery. These are cornea-based and lens-based surgeries. Cornea-based surgeries change the shape of the cornea, while lens-based surgeries involve implanting an artificial lens. Cornea based surgery is further subdivided to directly changing the shape of the cornea by laser ablation (LASIK and its variants) and removing a small lenticule of the cornea (cornea lenticule based surgery) to achieve the same result.
Question 2: What is LASIK, and how does it work?
Answer:
LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) is a popular form of corneal refractive surgery that involves creating a thin flap in the cornea using a laser, followed by reshaping the underlying corneal tissue with another laser to correct refractive errors. LASIK was introduced in 1990. Since then technology advancements like femtosecond lasers for precision, bladeless flap creation, wavefront-guided treatments for enhanced accuracy and customized vision correction have added a lot of clinical excellence in LASIK outcomes.
Question 4: You mentioned some of the technology advancements in LASIK. Can you kindly elaborate the advantages of these technology?
Answer:
Femtosecond laser technology has been a game-changer in corneal refractive surgery, enabling surgeons to perform precise, bladeless procedures with customizable treatment parameters. In addition to Lasik and Lenticule based surgery, femtosecond lasers are also used in procedures such as flap creation for corneal transplant surgery and corneal collagen cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus.
Wavefront-guided and topography-guided treatments have further refined the customization of corneal refractive surgery, allowing surgeons to address higher-order aberrations (microscopic refractions or deviations) and irregular astigmatism for enhanced visual quality. These advanced diagnostic tools provide detailed maps of the cornea’s surface, enabling personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique visual characteristics. The current most popular amongst these in Contoura. This technique utilizes topography-guided technology to create a highly personalized treatment plan tailored to the unique curvature and irregularities of each patient’s cornea thereby improving the quality of vision and decreasing the chances of complications such as glare and halos at night.
Question 5: How long does LASIK surgery take and what is the recovery time?
Answer:
LASIK surgery is known for its efficiency and quickness, typically taking about 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes. The actual laser application only lasts for about 20 to 50 seconds per eye. Recovery is equally swift, with most patients experiencing significant improvements in their vision within 24 hours. Many are able to resume their normal activities the next day, though complete healing might take a few weeks.
Question 6: Is LASIK surgery painful?
Answer:
Patients often worry about pain during the procedure, but LASIK surgery involves minimal discomfort. Anesthetic eye drops are used to numb the eyes before the surgery, and at most, patients might feel slight pressure on the eye during the procedure. Post-operative discomfort is usually mild and manageable with prescribed medications for most patients.
Question 7: What are the potential risks or side effects associated with LASIK?
Answer:
Like any surgical procedure, LASIK comes with potential risks; however, serious complications are rare. Some possible side effects include dry eyes, temporary visual disturbances like halos or glare, and slight under or over-corrections of vision, which can often be corrected with a follow-up procedure. It’s important to discuss these risks with a qualified surgeon to get a clear understanding based on personal health.
Question 8: How effective is LASIK surgery? What are the success rates?
Answer:
LASIK surgery has a high success rate, with over 96% of patients achieving 20/20 vision or better according to clinical studies. The outcomes might slightly vary depending on the individual’s pre-surgery vision and health conditions, but the majority of patients express high satisfaction with their results.
Question 9: Can LASIK surgery be repeated if needed?
Answer:
Yes, LASIK can be repeated, known as a “LASIK enhancement.” If the initial surgery doesn’t perfectly correct the vision or if vision changes significantly over time, an enhancement procedure can be performed. However, it’s essential that there is sufficient corneal thickness and overall eye health to undergo an additional surgery.
Question 10: How does one choose a good LASIK surgeon?
Answer:
Choosing the right surgeon is critical for ensuring the best outcomes from LASIK surgery. Look for a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in LASIK and has a proven track record of success. It’s advisable to read reviews, ask for referrals from friends or family who have undergone the procedure, and consult with multiple surgeons to compare experiences and credentials.
Question 11: Is LASIK the ultimate treatment in refractive surgery of the eye?
Answer:
There are newer technology which have been introduced recently in the field of refractive eye surgery. These technology are clinical conditions based and may not be applicable for all patients. A thorough examination by experienced team of clinicians will be able to identify the need and possibility. There are two major such technology.
One of these two are Advanced Surface Ablation. This technology is gaining popularity as it reduces the chances of certain complications including dryness which is seen in first few months after Lasik. In this technology, treatment of excimer laser (reshaping the cornea) is done by removing epithelium (first layer of the cornea) rather than by creating flap like in LASIK. Patients with lower numbers or thinner corneas, those involved in contact sports are some of the cases where advanced Surface Ablation is preferred over LASIK.
The second and the most recent one is Lenticule based Corneal Surgery, a newer technique approved by the FDA in recent years, offers several advantages over LASIK. In this, a femtosecond laser is used to create a small, lens-shaped lenticule within the cornea, which is then removed through a tiny incision, effectively reshaping the cornea and correcting refractive errors. Because it involves a smaller incision and no flap creation, this technology may result in faster healing, reduced risk of dry eye, and greater corneal stability compared to LASIK.
