LASIK Eye Surgery
A laser vision correction procedure, which is called LASIK, has already been performed more than twenty years around the world. Nowadays, it is probably one of the most popular operations in ophthalmology. The number of laser surgeries performed in the world has reached 15 million operations. The technique of this procedure is a safe method for high-precision correction of vision in patients with refractive errors (hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism). Nowadays, the possibilities of vision correction using the LASIK procedure are extremely impressive.
Jose Barraquer is the ophthalmologist who designed the first microkeratome and designed the techniques of operating on a thin slice of the cornea and change its shape during the procedure. The procedure was later named keratomileusis. Later, other scientists started further improving this technique. The doctor from Columbia University developed the excimer laser radial keratotomy. In 1987, doctors performed the first laser eye surgery on a blind patient. Since then, LASIK was introduced into the clinical practice. In the US, the first LASIK operations were made in 1989.
The operation consists of two stages. In the first step, a special tool creates the valve which consists of epithelium, Bowmans membrane, and the upper portion of the stroma. It is attached to the cornea. The second stage is a laser surgery. During the surgery, a laser using a special algorithm vaporizes a portion of the stroma, thereby changing the curvature of the cornea. It causes a change in the refractive power of the cornea. The valve is laid back and the operation is finished. The recovery period is very short. A patient receives good vision almost immediately in the first few hours. However, in the first days or weeks, the quality of vision can vary slightly, although, as a rule in the direction of improvement. Feeling of a mote in the eye, tearing, and other unpleasant sensations usually disappear within the first day.
LASIK is suitable for the correction of all types of refractive errors including hyperopia and astigmatism, which are difficult and not in all cases can be corrected by PRK. In order for the LASIK process to be automated, it is necessary to gather information about the patients visual system. Corneal thickness is an important parameter to determine the possibility of LASIK. There is a rule that the thickness of the cornea under the flap (RST) after laser correction should not be less than 250-300 microns. Given the average corneal thickness of 525 microns and the thickness of the valve of about 90-120 microns, the correction is from 100 to about 200 microns. The refractive power of the cornea after the operation must be at least 31 diopters but no more than 50 diopters. Otherwise, there can be inconsistent results and various complications.
There are several modifications of LASIK. One of the most popular ones is personalized LASIK. It means that the program of ablation does not operate in the standard mode. It takes into account the individual characteristics of the cornea of a patient. Despite the fact that the cornea is usually depicted as a perfect sphere, it is not perfect. These local deviations are recorded and corrected with personalized LASIK.
LASIK is a safe procedure. The technique of performance is constantly being improved. With the advent of new equipment, the level of preoperative diagnosis increases. It reduces the likelihood of developing complications. It is suitable for various refractive errors including myopia and astigmatism. Nowadays, LASIK is one of the safest and the most widespread operations in the sphere of eye correction.
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