HYDERABAD: Refractive surgeries are cosmetic procedures and permanent option for those people who doesn’t want to wear glasses or contact lens. These procedures can correct all refractive errors like Myopia, Hypermetropia, Astigmatism and Presbyopia. Patient should undergo suitability test along with routine detail eye examination to find out possible suitable option to get rid of glasses permanently.
If you are wearing soft contact lens then stop them for one week and then go for checkup. After that Doctor will guide the patient; which technique is suitable for that eye. There are two types of solutions, Cornea based surgery & Lens based surgery.
Cornea based surgery includes Surface Ablation (PRK, LASEK and Epilasik), Lasik (with Blade-Microkeratome Lasik or without Blade-Femto LASIK), ReLEx FLEx and ReLEx SMILE (key hole surgery). These are just different techniques but basic principle of all surgeries is same, that is by removing ultra-thin layers from the corneal stroma, the cornea is reshaped. Now person can see without using any glasses as reshaped cornea itself will focus rays on retina.
Surface ablations means after removing first layer (Epithelium) of cornea, Excimer laser is applied directly and Refractive error is corrected. In Lasik procedure, thin cut is made on the cornea either with Microkeratome (Blade) or Femtosecond laser (Blade free) and then upper thin cut called “Flap” is lifted like a page of paper. After lifting the flap, excimer laser is applied on lower corneal stroma to correct Refractive error.ReLEx SMILE procedure is one step Femto second laser procedure where, ultra-thin layer is separated by Femtosecond laser and then removed through small incision. That’s why it is also known as key hole surgery.
Lens based solution includes permanent phakic lenses, called ICL (Implantable Collamer lens/Implantable contact lens), an imported lens from Staar company. It is positioned in front of your natural lens by surgeon and outside cannot be seen or felt. Recently some Indian lenses have also been available.
All techniques have their own values, pros and cons, different cost and rehabilitation time. Pre-operative evaluation and judgement before surgery is more crucial than surgery itself. In good hands, they give excellent and satisfactory outcome. Goal of all techniques is same, to make person Independent of glass.
The doctor is a refractive and cataract surgeon, head of Refractive Surgery Service, secretary - Women Ophthalmologists’ Society, Telangana, Maxivision Superspeciality EyeHospital.