Laser Eye Surgery

REFRACTIVE ERROR

Patients often come to our eye care center in Pune, India, and ask us “How do I know if I need Laser Eye Surgery?” The short answer is, if you are experiencing a refractive error. Refractive errors are caused by rays of light entering the eye that are not able to focus precisely on the retina.

THE COMMON REFRACTIVE ERRORS ARE

MYOPIA (NEARSIGHTEDNESS)

A myopic eye is longer than normal and the cornea is steeper, so the light rays focus in front of the retina. This causes close objects to look clear but distant objects appear blurred.

HYPEROPIA (FARSIGHTEDNESS)

Hyperopia causes are typically genetic. A hyperopic eye is too short and the cornea is too flat, so the rays of light focus behind the retina. This causes distant objects to look clear but near objects appear blurred.

ASTIGMATISM (DISTORTED VISION)

The incoming light rays are unable to focus at a common point within the eye. This causes distorted or blurred vision for both near and far objects. S normal cornea is round and smooth. With astigmatism, the cornea curves more in one direction than in the other. Astigmatism can occur in combination with myopia or hyperopia.

TYPES OF REFRACTIVE SURGERIES

PHOTO REFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY (PRK )

Performed with an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. Corrects mild to moderate myopia by removing tiny amounts of tissue from the outer surface. The procedure uses a computer to map the eye’s surface & calculate how much tissue to remove PRK takes only a few minutes.

LASER EPITHELIAL KERATOMILEUSIS (LASEK)

LASEK surgery combines the benefits of LASIK & PRK to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. The procedure uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea, properly focusing light on the retina.

CUSTOMVUE LASIK

wavefront guided lasik is advanced method for measuring optical distortions in the eye
wavescan can be used to evaluate the eye before surgery. this technology lets a lasik surgeon adjust the laser beam settings for more precise procedure

RELEX (REFRACTIVE LENTICULE EXTRACTION )

RELEX “FLEX”(FEMTOSECOND LENTICULE EXTRACTION)
RELEX “SMILE”(SMALL INCISION LENTICULE EXTRACTION)

Choosing the Best Laser Eye Procedure

Before making the decision to have LASIK surgery, it is important to understand that there are various types of laser eye surgery, each with its own benefits and risks. Not all laser correction options are suitable for every eye. You should undergo a comprehensive eye exam with your ophthalmologist before laser eye surgery. After this consultation, your eye care professional will be able to guide you with regard to which surgery is best for your eyes. Read on to learn more about the various laser eye surgery options available:

Treatment type	Advantages	Limitations
ReLEx SMILE	BLADELESS and FLAPLESS 2 mm incision surgery hence least post operative care Inadvertent eye rubbing is allowed Very fast recovery time Patient having Less corneal thickness can also be treated	Not suitable Plus number (Hyperopia) at present (May 2016)
Bladeless Femto Customvue Lasik	Very precise, bladeless flap hence recovery is fast. Treats astigmatism/ high cylindrical power and plus number (Hyperopia) accurately	Flap precautions are to be taken care like no rubbing till flap is stable.
Customvue Blade Lasik	Gives personalized treatment to eye by treating highest degree of corneal abnormality (abbrations). Very precise as it has IRIS REGISTRATION technology which register your eye and notice even a micro movement hence laser firing is on target area always.	Not recommended when corneal thickness is less Flap precautions are to be taken care like no rubbing till flap is stable.
Photo refractive keratotomy (PRK)	When the shape of cornea is not normal. No flap. Variants – LASEK, Epi-Lasik, ASA	Work resume after 15 days. return of some spectacle number is possible. Eye drops used for longer duration