Refractive eye surgery has evolved with advanced option, as the demand of it increases due to the technological impact. This surgery focusses to treat certain condition like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism and correct the vision and help people free from contact lens and specs. People who look for this type of surgery is not just confined to particular age. Refractive eye surgery is a branch of ophthalmic surgery designed to improve vision and reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses. The evolution of this field has led to various surgical techniques, each tailored to address specific visual impairments. While traditional eyewear offers a temporary solution, refractive eye surgery provides a long-term alternative for those seeking freedom from glasses or contacts.
Types of refractive eye surgery:
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): LASIK is perhaps the most well-known refractive surgery. It is done my passing laser below the cornea, which was done after creating a thin space. This precise reshaping corrects refractive errors and enhances visual acuity. LASIK has gained popularity due to its rapid recovery time and high success rates.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): PRK predates LASIK and involves the removal of a small amount of corneal tissue to reshape the eye. Unlike LASIK, there is no flap creation; instead, the outer layer of the cornea is directly treated with the laser. While the recovery time is longer compared to LASIK, PRK remains a viable option, particularly for individuals with thin corneas.
LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis): LASEK is done combining the procedure of both LASIK and PRK. Similar to LASIK, a thin flap is created but the alcohol is used to treat the outer layer of cornea before reshaping. This makes LASEK suitable for individuals with thinner corneas who may not be ideal candidates for traditional LASIK.
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): As the evolve in technology, SMILE is a newer refractive surgery technique where a creation of thin flap is eliminated. Instead, a small incision is made to extract a piece of tissue from the cornea, changing its shape to correct refractive errors. SMILE is associated with a quicker recovery and reduced risk of dry eye compared to traditional LASIK.
Preoperative Evaluation:
Before undergoing refractive eye surgery, individuals must undergo a comprehensive eye examination to determine their candidacy. Factors such as corneal thickness and degree of refractive error play a crucial role in the assessment. It’s essential for patients to have stable vision for a certain period before surgery, ensuring a more predictable outcome.
Benefits of Refractive Eye Surgery:
1. Reduced Dependence on Corrective Lenses: One of the major benefits is the reduction or elimination of dependence on glasses or contact lenses, thus paves way for the most comfortable lifestyle
2. Improved Quality of Vision: More than vision correction, the quality of the vision is also improved. Thus, more clarity and sharpness of vision is experienced by the people.
3. Quick Recovery: With advancements in surgical techniques, the recovery period for refractive eye surgery is the noticeable process. Most patients get to experience the clear vision within a day.
4. Long-Term Results: Refractive eye surgery can provide lasting results with certain exception like age related changes which has the impact in later life. Through this surgery, the refractive errors are comparatively reduced.
The Surgical Procedure:
All type of refractive surgery follows almost the similar technique with slight changes. Apart from the technique employed, the procedure is similar to other surgeries. Followed by the preoperative assessment, the local anaesthetic eye drops are provided to numb the eye. Then the surgical procedure to followed based on the types and other medical condition of the patients.
Recovery and Postoperative Care:
Most people will ignore the postoperative care, once gaining the clear vision. This may result in unsuccessful surgical procedure or sometime least another complication. Thus, following refractive eye surgery, patients are advised to rest for a specified period. It’s common to experience some discomfort but the symptoms usually subside within a few days to weeks. Don’t miss the follow-up appointments to address any concerns and to get assured of the successful procedure
Risks and Considerations:
Like other surgeries, refractive eye surgery also has some rare risks and considerations. The minor issue like dry eyes, glare and major issue many lead to the need of another advanced procedure. So, it is important of the patients to get aware of the risk and complications before opting for the surgery.
Thus, it is always mandatory for the patients to get some knowledge before appearing for the procedure and above all that, do some research to find some best eye hospital in your locality. For instance, if you are residing at odissa, look for the best eye hospital in odissa for refractive treatment, this would save some money on accommodation and commutation.
