| Lasik |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
| Few Facts about LASIK-refractive surgery to remove spectacle power
(Are you a good candidate for LASIK?) |
| If you're tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses, you may be considering Lasik eye surgery — one of the finest procedures to correct spectacle related vision problems. Lasik has evoked queries and doubts in past and before you sign up for the surgery, this article will help you get a clear picture of whether it is a good option for you or not and what you can expect . |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Understanding Your Eyes : |
To see clearly, light rays have to focus on the retina — a layer of light-sensing cells at the back of the eye. The retina converts the light rays into impulses that are sent to the brain, where they are recognized as images. If the light rays focus either in front or at back of retina , the image you see is blurry. This is called a refractive error. Glasses, contact lens and refractive surgery attempt to correct these errors by making light rays focus on the retina.
Refractive errors are caused by an imperfectly shaped eyeball, cornea or lens, and are of these types: |
| • |
Myopia — nearsightedness; only nearby objects are clear. |
| • |
Hyperopia — farsightedness; only objects far away are clear. |
| • |
Astigmatism — images are blurred at a distance and near. |
| |
Presbyopia — difficulty in reading/near work, occurs after 40 yrs of age |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| What is LASIK? |
| LASIK –Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomelieusis is a procedure by which the front mirror portion of eye-cornea is reshaped by laser to nullify spectacle power. The result of procedure is based on highly sophisticated computerized automated machine. A thin flap of cornea is raised by microkeratome, highly precise laser is delivered on cornea bed and the flap put back. There are no sutures or pain involved. It is a walk in walk out procedure. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Selection criteria of a patient: |
| The safety of eye is of utmost importance and hence I am very particular about the selection criteria of patient who can undergo LASIK. |
| • |
Age should be above 19 yrs of age |
| • |
Spectacle power should have been stable for more then a year |
| • |
Prior local eye examination should fulfill all criteria for selection –most important being corneal thickness |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Can any power be corrected? |
| • |
Myopia -1 to -8 can be safely treated. However with modifications in procedure and using advanced versions of software, powers upto -14 can be removed, depending on individual’s corneal thickness or doing modified procedures like epilasik. |
| • |
Hyperopia +1 to +6 |
| • |
Astigmatism 1 to 6 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| How is LASIK done? |
| The procedure is done under topical anaesthesia,ie, drops are used to make it painless.A hinged corneal flap of 90 to180 um and 7.5-9.5 mm diameter is raised using a high precision instrument called microkeratome. Excimer laser is then applied to the exposed stromal bed. The flap is replaced, the interface is washed and allowed to dry. This gets re-attached in few mins without any stitches. Thus there is virtually no wound and the patient is able to leave operation theatre without any pain,pad or bandage. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| How long does the surgery take? |
| The procedure takes around 15 mins, the actual laser treatment time being in seconds. It is a walk in walk out procedure with no eye pad or bandage. Most of the patients resume normal activities next day. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| How safe is the procedure? |
Lasik is quite a safe procedure now. The high end Lasik machine and microkeratomes have made this possible. One has to ensure that all selection criteria are meant. We are very stringent on that and if there is the slightest doubt of unpredictable result in an individual eye ,we motivate the patient to keep wearing his glasses or contact lens.
Complications such as overcorrection, undercorrection, inflammation, and very rarely infection have been reported in literature across the world,but are few .Most of these can be managed well with timely intervention. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| How soon does one attain visual recovery following LASIK? Is prolonged medication required post-operatively? |
| The visual recovery is virtually immediate. The person can see quite clearly within two hours and the full result is achieved in 5-7 days. The post-operative medication is required only for 3-4 weeks, that too in reducing dosage. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| What are the precautions that I am required to take after LASIK? |
| For a period of about three weeks after LASIK you have to avoid rubbing your eyes and splashing water forcefully into the eyes. When moving outdoors in dusty environment it is desirable that the eyes are protected using sunglasses. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Does the correction obtained after LASIK last a lifetime? Is it true that I will not require any glasses whatsoever in future? |
| Yes, if the eye does not suffer any other disease no glasses would be required. Few patients with specially with high powers may have regression.Also the presbyopic changes will require you to wear reading correction around 45 years of age. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| What is the long term effect of this procedure on one’s eye? |
| As much data we have shows that it has no side effects on other parts of eye in long term. It is important to keep the details of your original corneal mapping as these will help to calculate correct lens power if you ever undergo cataract surgery in future. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Can people between 40 & 60 yrs of age also get Lasik done? |
| Sure, they can. Though if you are above 45 yrs of age, Lasik can correct only your distant vision but you will still nead reading glasses as & when required. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Am I a suitable candidate for Lasik? |
| • |
You should be at least 19 years old |
| • |
Your refraction (glasses power) should have been stable for more then a year |
| • |
You will have to undergo detailed eye examination to decide if LASIK is suitable for your eyes- corneal thickness, eye pressure, retina examination etc |
| • |
You should not be pregnant or nursing as these conditions might change the measured refraction of the eye. It is best to wait for 6 months after delivery to get Lasik done. |
| • |
You should be in good general health. Lasik may not be recommended for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, |
| • |
You should not have eye diseases like keratoconus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, severe dry eye . |
| • |
Understand your expectations from the surgery. Are they realistic? Discuss all the pros and cons in detail with the surgeon |
| |
|
We at Max Eye Care-Superspecialized Eye Institute of Max Healthcare have Allegrato Wave Excimer Lasik machine which is one of the fastest and most precise in the world. Option of creating very thin cornea flap allows correction of higher powers with safety of adequate corneal bed being left behind. The Allegrato Wave Excimer Laser with the Aberrometer provides the most advanced laser vision technology available to date, designed to provide patients to achieve the best possible quality of vision ie more contrast sensitivity and sharpness.
I would summarize by saying that Lasik is an option vis a vis spectacle or contact lens. It makes you free from dependence on them. You have to make a choice and once you decide, we execute and assure safe and precise procedure. |
|
| |
|
|
