Until recently, the correction of vision defects involved the wearing of appropriate glasses, contact lenses, and sometimes surgery performed by traditional eye surgery methods. In recent years, however, laser vision correction has gained popularity - it is minimally invasive, safe for the patient, can treat even severely advanced defects and, in many cases, free the patient from glasses or lenses.
When a light ray passes through the eyeball, it undergoes refraction, or refraction. In a healthy eye, if the axis of the eyeball is normal, the beam is focused (focused) on the retina. Visual defects cause refractive disorders, which manifests itself in various types of vision problems.
According to statistics, uncorrected vision defects are - after cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration - one of the most common causes of vision problems and blindness. Short-sightedness affects up to 30% of the European population and as much as 70% of the Asian population. Various studies report that between 35 and 55% of the population also struggle with hyperopia and astigmatism.
Vision correction until recently primarily involved the patient wearing appropriate glasses and contact lenses. In recent years, however, laser refractive surgery of the cornea and lens has become an alternative to these methods.
What does laser vision correction involve?
The revolution in corneal refractive surgery came in 1983. - At that time, American scientists introduced the excimer laser, with which incisions and photoablation of the cornea could be performed. The first operation using the excimer laser was performed in 1989. - This method quickly found its way into the treatment of all eye defects. The operation of the laser is based on the pulsed emission of ultraviolet radiation, with the help of which the cornea can be precisely modeled. This procedure is referred to as photochemical ablation. In laser myopia correction, the laser light is directed in such a way as to flatten the cornea in the center. In the correction of hyperopia, on the other hand, the perimeter of the cornea is reduced and the central part of the cornea is emphasized. Laser correction of astigmatism involves removing tissue 90° from the axis of astigmatism.
At the beginning of the 21st century, femtosecond lasers appeared on the market, which emit extremely short pulses of infrared radiation with a beam diameter of just 0.001 mm - so the laser action is extremely precise, without any damage to the surrounding corneal layers. The femtosecond laser is used in applications such as. In the correction of myopia (implantation of intraocular rings), treatment of corneal cone or cataract surgery.
Laser vision correction - types of treatments
Laser vision correction procedures are divided into superficial and deep. The superficial ones involve removing the corneal epithelium and performing laser ablation on the dermis tissue. Deep methods, on the other hand, involve extracting a flap of the cornea using a laser, which is fused together during the recovery period. Deep treatments allow correction of even severely advanced visual defects.
In terms of how the corneal epithelium is removed, surface treatments are in turn divided into chemical, mechanical and laser methods.
Methods of correcting eye defects
There are several methods of laser treatment of vision defects.
- TE-PRK (surface method) - in this case, the excimer laser is used simultaneously to remove the corneal epithelium and ablate the corneal dermis. For the patient, the procedure is shorter and associated with less discomfort after surgery.
- Laser vision correction FEMTOLASIK (deep method) - in this method, the cutting blade is eliminated and replaced by tearing collagen fibers under the influence of femtosecond laser light. This method is very safe and provides less intraocular pressure fluctuation during the procedure. Rehabilitation after surgery is also faster.
Laser vision correction - contraindications
Although, in principle, vision correction with lasers is a minimally invasive and safe procedure, there are some contraindications to this type of procedure. Among them are. Pregnancy and lactation period. Laser vision correction is not performed on people whose eyeballs are still developing - the lower limit here is 21. year of life. Contraindications include other eye diseases - cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment, as well as viral infections and active inflammation of the eyes. Laser procedures - including ophthalmic - are not performed on patients with active or unstable thyroid or adrenal conditions, as well as ENT diseases. The presence of an implanted pacemaker is also a contraindication.
Laser vision correction - is it worth it?
Despite all the contraindications, laser vision correction has many benefits for patients. Above all, these treatments are very effective, allowing the patient to restore normal visual acuity. In the vast majority of cases, this means he can say goodbye to glasses or contact lenses once and for all.
Other advantages? Laser vision correction is performed under local anesthesia - these are eye drops applied to the conjunctival sac. This means that the patient is not burdened with general anesthesia, and the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis - you can go home the same day.
Laser vision correction generally takes about 15 minutes - it is minimally invasive, painless and safe. There is little risk of any complications. The recovery time is also very short - in many cases, you can return to driving or performing daily duties as early as the second day.
If you are looking for a place where you can get rid of your eye defect in a comfortable environment, come to Voigt Eye Clinic in Krakow! We perform, among other things. FEMTOLASIK and V-LASIK laser vision correction, as well as the EBK procedure. It all depends on the individual health condition and the diagnosis of our doctors. Feel free to contact us -> h ttps://voigtklinikaoka.pl/contact/.