REFRACTIVE DISORDERS

REFRACTIVE DISORDERS

Not all of us are blessed with perfect Eyesight. However, a massive chunk of our population requires visual aid to see clearly. People use Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, Lens Implants, and now, in recent years, LASERS to help themselves see the world better and clearly. However, many of us are tired of using spectacles or contact lenses on a daily basis. At the same time, others simply don’t want to use eyeglasses or contact lenses because of their professional & Lifestyle needs or social compulsions.

This blog article will help you understand various methods and techniques to reduce your dependence on eyeglasses or eliminate them entirely and permanently. These days Refractive Eye surgeons use techniques Like LASIK, PRK, SMILE, CONTOURA, & FEMTO to help people get rid of eyeglasses. This is because no single approach or Method fits all people wanting to get rid of eyeglasses.  

Each Method or technique has its own pros and cons. Each suits a specific LASIK candidate after a set of pre-surgery tests. So which technique or approach should you adopt? If you are not interested in wearing eyeglasses or using contact lenses, this content will help you best. Here we cover everything about Laser vision corrections, types, techniques, costs, and suitability. 

What is LASER Vision Corrections?

Laser vision correction uses lasers to change the shape of the cornea and fix vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Over the years, the procedure has become much safer and more effective as technology has improved. This has enabled more people to get a clear, natural vision.

Here we describe laser eye surgery methods, each with its pros and cons.  

Some of the most popular choices are:

LASIK: LASIK is a time-tested and globally used method of removing your dependence on eyeglasses. Hence, LASIK is the most common way to fix your Eyesight. It involves making a flap in the cornea and reshaping the tissue beneath it with a laser. Most of the time, this procedure takes less than 15 minutes, and the results can be seen right away. In the modern versions of LASIK, twin Lasers are used for vision correction, which is often painless and 100%bladefree. One Laser creates the Flap and another – a special Excimer Laser corrects the corneal curvature to fix the refractive error. With these innovative and Guided Lasers, results are better and take less than 10 minutes for each eye. However, the costs are higher than the standard LASIK

PRK – An abbreviation for a technique known as Photorefractive Keratectomy, is a type of laser vision correction that reshapes the cornea by removing its top layer. This procedure is like LASIK, but it doesn’t involve making a flap in the cornea.

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction, or SMILE, is a newer type of laser vision correction that removes a small disc of tissue from the cornea using a femtosecond laser. This procedure is less painful and takes less time to heal than LASIK and PRK.

Epi-LASIK is a type of laser eye surgery that uses parts of both LASIK and PRK. It involves removing a thin layer of the cornea to get to the tissue underneath and then reshaping it with a laser.

Transepithelial PRK:  

In transepithelial PRK, a special brush or solution is used to remove the epithelium, which is the top layer of the cornea. The Laser is then used directly on the tissue underneath. The procedure aims to reshape the cornea to improve the way it focuses light onto the retina, resulting in clearer vision. In recent times instead of brushes or chemical solutions, Lasers are used directly to induce change. And since this Method does not require creating a flap or using any physical tool to correct refractive errors, it is sometimes marketed as Flapless or touchless LASIK.

FEMTOSECOND LASIK: As the name suggests, Femtosecond is a unit of time equal to 10^-15 (one quadrillionth) of a second. This Swiss technology uses very high-frequency Lasers to create a Smooth flap during LASIK while saving the adjacent eye tissue because of its high precision & Low pulse Laser. Because of its better safety profile, it is recommended by the American FDA. Using femtosecond lasers has dramatically reduced the chance of complications and made the procedure more accurate. Also, wavefront technology has made it possible to make the procedure different for each patient, leading to better visual results. This is referred to as Customized Femto LASIK

CONTOURA VISION: Another modern method, Contoura uses Topographical mapping for a personalized treatment plan. The AI-aided innovative technology creates a precise map of each patient’s eye, helping the surgeon construct an accurate treatment plan. As a result, Contoura Vision patients report better night-time glare and visual acuity than LASIK patients. However, on the flip side, Contoura Vision costs more than LASIK, so it may not be affordable for everyone. In addition, as with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications associated with Contoura Vision.

SMILE LASIK: A latest all Laser technique, SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) SMILE differs from traditional LASIK because it only needs one small Laser Incision. This allows for a faster recovery and minimal harm to the corneal structure. Compared to other types of laser eye surgery, this procedure is also known to cause less dry eye and have a lower risk of complications afterward. Overall, SMILE LASIK can give patients better vision and make the time after surgery more comfortable.

Who decides which Method suits your eye best?

Laser vision correction is a safe and effective way to fix vision problems and get a natural, clear sight. However, only a qualified, experienced Refractive eye surgeon can take the final decision after due consultation with patients as to which specific LASIK method will increase the prospect of best results after Laser Vision correction. Hence, make sure you consult the right eye specialist for your Vision correction surgery. Once you get it done rightly, you could stop wearing glasses or contacts and see clearly for the rest of your life.