If you want to carry out your simple daily activities without wearing glasses or contact lenses and laser treatment is suitable for you, your doctor — after a detailed examination and tests, and taking into account factors such as your age, other medical conditions and prescription — will decide which method is appropriate for you among laser treatments and intraocular-lens treatments. For more detailed information you may wish to review our article on eye laser surgery.
Types of Eye Laser Surgery
LASIK, used for laser eye surgery, is an abbreviation formed from the initials of the English words “Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis”. It means “laser-assisted in-place reshaping of the cornea”.
- In the LASIK method, a flap of corneal tissue is lifted using a blade. The lifted portion (the corneal flap) is carefully folded back, leaving the central area of the cornea exposed. Excimer-laser beams are applied to the tissue beneath the corneal flap. The corneal flap is then returned to its original position. The LASIK method is suitable for correcting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It is a painless and short procedure. It is performed after a few drops of anaesthetic agent are instilled. With the effect of the drops, the blink reflex is reduced and the eyes are numbed. After surgery, there may be brief stinging and burning, or discomfort from light, for a short time. Vision is expected to improve within a few days.
- Femto LASIK or i-LASIK is the method in which femtosecond-laser technology is used to create the flap. The femtosecond laser is an infrared laser operating at very small nanometre wavelengths that can create blade-free incisions in the tissue at the desired depth, width and shape. The Femto LASIK method is used to treat myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It can also be used to place corneal implants and to perform keratoplasty (corneal transplant) and astigmatic keratotomy procedures. Because it can lift a flap of any desired thickness, it can also be applied in patients whose corneal thickness is at borderline values.
In the i-LASIK method, since a three-dimensional map of the eye can be produced with wavefront technology, a personalised visual profile is created for the patient.
- PRK is an abbreviation derived from the initials of “PhotoRefractive Keratectomy”. It means cutting the cornea using light. In this method, no corneal flap is lifted. The corneal epithelial tissue is scraped away and the refractive error is treated with an excimer laser. The epithelial tissue is then put back in place. Because no corneal flap is lifted, no scarring is expected. There may be complaints of burning, stinging or watering for a few days after surgery. It is used in the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Vision is expected to clear within 7–10 days.
Types of Intraocular Lenses
Intraocular lens treatment is a treatment method used in eye conditions such as cataract. This method involves placing specially manufactured lenses in place of the natural lens inside the eye, which has lost its transparency. The natural lens inside our eye refracts the incoming light and transmits it to the retina, allowing the eye to see objects. Thanks to its flexibility, this lens changes shape when we look at near and distant objects, focuses on the distance being viewed, and thereby allows us to see both near and far.
- Phakic intraocular lens is a method recommended for patients whose refractive errors — such as myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia — are too high to be corrected with eye laser surgery, or whose corneas are not suitable for laser surgery. The natural lens inside the eye is not removed; the artificial lens is positioned in such a way that it does not touch it. Because it is compatible with the eye tissue, the patient does not feel the lens after surgery and it can be used for life. However, if the patient so requests, it can later be removed and other treatment methods can be applied.
- Trifocal intraocular lens, also known as the smart lens, is used for suitable patients in cataract surgery. These lenses are three-focus intraocular lenses used to address not a single focal problem but multiple focal problems. Thus, the lens can be adjusted to suit the focal distances at which the person has trouble focusing. The trifocal intraocular lens provides clear vision at distance, near and intermediate ranges without glasses. After surgery there may be glare and reflection problems, with adaptation occurring over time. Removing and replacing the lens is a risky procedure, and removal is not recommended unless medically necessary.
We wish you healthy, bright days…
Prepared by the Editorial Board of the Eye Foundation Hospitals.
