Lasik is used to correct refractive errors, LASIK eye surgery is a treatment that reshapes the cornea in order to produce clear vision. The LASIK refractive eye surgery procedure can treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, and reduce patient’s dependency on contact lenses and glasses. Refractive errors impede the focusing ability of the eye, patients who suffer from these conditions experience blurred vision. LASIK eye surgery provides these individuals with an effective treatment option, where a predetermined amount of corneal tissue is removed. In Lasik, the corneal surface is reshaped using a laser beam. It corrects vision by altering refractive power of the eye by a calculated change in the corneal curvature. This reshaping of the cornea improves the eye’s focusing power and enhances patients’ visual acuity.
What are the various tests done before Lasik/Customized Lasik?
Spectacle power assessment
Corneal topography using Sirius Topography/Pentacam to assess the corneal thickness & curvature
Peripheral retinal examination after dilating the pupillary aperture of the eye
The tests are mostly done on the day before the procedure. The entire preoperative assessment process may take about 1-2 hours
Wavefront Lasik
In Wavefront-guided Lasik, Optical aberrations (imperfections) inherent in the eye are also corrected. Conventional Lasik can only correct the spectacle power & not these subtle optical aberrations. With Wavefront-guided Lasik, it is now possible to reduce these aberrations and enhance vision much above normal levels. This is also referred to as Custom Lasik / Zyoptix or Opti LAsik
Why Choose Lasik/Customized Lasik?
The number of people considering refractive surgery is at an all-time high and Lasik is considered by virtually all refractive surgeons worldwide to be the procedure of choice today.
The following are some of the benefits of Lasik/Customized Lasik
Surgical Procedure
Equipments
C3R Treatment
Wave Light Lasik Laser
Sirius topography
C3R (Collagen Cross Linking)
Collagen Crosslinking (C3R,CXR,CCL,KXL)
New treatment options offers a new hope in patients of progressive Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a bilateral ocular disorder in which the cornea assumes a conical shape due to thinning of the stromal collagen tissue. It is a relatively frequent disease with an incidence of 1 in 2000 in the general population. It classically has its onset at puberty and is progressive until the third or fourth decade of life when it usually arrests.
Keratoconus can be detected clinically by slit lamp examination by an Ophthalmologist and the diagnosis can be confirmed by corneal topography.
Treatment options
Currently, the mainstay of treatment for Keratoconus includes glasses and/or specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses which offer good quality vision.
In advanced cases, visual improvement in keratoconus can be achieved surgically by the placement of intracorneal rings, topography-guided ablation treatments, and corneal grafting.
Collagen Cross-Linking is a new modality of treatment that aims to arrest the progression of keratoconus.
What is Collagen crosslinking ?
The corneal collagen is crosslinked with the help of ultraviolet rays ( UVA ) and a photosensitizer, Riboflavin, thus enhancing the rigidity of corneal tissue and stabilizing the condition
Who is a suitable candidate for Collagen crosslinking ?
The patient must be a proven case of keratoconus with the documented progression of the disease.
The patient’s corneal thickness must be at least 400 microns.
Patients should not be pregnant or nursing.
How is Collagen crosslinking performed ?
The treatment is performed under topical anesthesia with the patient in a lying-down posture in the sterile environment of the operating room. The patient’s corneal epithelium is gently removed, following which Riboflavin solution is applied every 2 minutes for the first half an hour. Thereafter the patient’s cornea is exposed to UVA light for 20 minutes. The treatment is painless and lasts for an hour, at the end of which the eye is patched
What is accelerated crosslinking?
Accelerated Crosslinking involves the use of the latest equipment in crosslinking which delivers the same energy in a shorter period of time making the total procedure to be over in less than half an hour. This treatment offers less patient discomfort and early recovery.
When can the patient resume normal routine ?
After the treatment, the patient will be able to resume work within 3 to 4 days. Care should be taken to avoid the entry of water into the eyes during this period. The use of contact lenses may be resumed 6 weeks after treatment.
How often must the patient come for follow up ?
The surgeon will examine the patient’s eye daily for the first 2 to 3 days until the epithelial healing is complete. Eye drops will be used for 4 months. The patient will have to come for follow-up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the procedure.
Can both eyes be treated at the same time?
If both eyes are suitable for Collagen crosslinking, the treatment is performed on one eye at a time. The timing of treatment of the second eye is best decided in consultation with your ophthalmologist.
What are the possible side effects of the procedure?
A foreign body sensation, irritation, or watering accompanied by pain is not uncommon on the day of treatment. Analgesics for relief from pain will be prescribed, and the pain usually subsides within 24 hours. Dryness of the eyes frequently follows this treatment and may last for 6 to 8 months. Tear lubricants are therefore recommended for the period.
What are the various tests done before ICL?
The patient willing to get the ICL procedure done must stop the contact lenses for a specified period of time as mentioned above. Following tests are conducted in the hospital
Spectacle power assessment
Corneal topography using Sirius Topography to assess the corneal curvature, corneal diameter, and anterior chamber depth.
Peripheral Retinal Examination
After the measurements, one has to wait for a period of 7 – 10 days, as these lenses are to be imported. During this waiting period, one can use contact lenses.
How is the surgical procedure for ICL implantation performed?
Prior to the implantation of the ICL, you will receive topical anesthetic drops. An oral sedative tablet may also be administered.
First, a tiny incision will be made where the white of your eye meets with the colored part.
Second, a gel-like substance will be injected into your eye and the ICL will be injected in front of your iris.
Then the ICL is carefully placed behind the iris & the gel is removed from your eye.
That’s it! The incision will not need any sutures-it will seal naturally and heal in a very short time. Implanting the ICL is considered an outpatient procedure and takes about 15 minutes. A few hours after the treatment you will be able to leave the hospital and resume most of your activities.
What is the long-term experience with the ICL?
The ICL was made available in 1997. Over 55,000 lenses have been implanted since then and it is a USFDA.
If i get cataract later what will i do?
When you develop cataract later in life, ICL can be easily removed and cataract surgery can be performed
Am I a candidate for ICL?
Yes, if you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism and are not suitable for conventional laser correction. ed
What are the advantages of ICL?
The lens is small, foldable, and injected through a tiny, pain-free, self-sealing incision in your eye. The ICL provides highly predictable outcomes, and excellent quality of vision and can be removed if necessary.
Is the ICL visible to others?
The lens is invisible. The only way that you or anyone else will know that it is there is the improvement in your eyesight. You can neither see nor feel the lens once it is inside your eye.
How quickly can I go back to sports & activities?
Due to quick recovery after this treatment, you can leave the hospital after a couple of hours. You will be able to enjoy your new sight almost immediately and go back to your active lifestyle.
What if my vision changes?
If during your annual eye exam, major changes in your vision are observed, the ICL can be removed or replaced. With the ICL you can still wear fine-tuning glasses or contact lenses if necessary. The lens does not treat presbyopia or eliminate the need for reading glasses due to age. Lasik can also be done after I C L implantation to fine-tune vision and this is known as bi-optics
Implantable contact Lens
ICL is a high-tech yet simple way of correcting your refractive error. Don’t be disappointed if your doctor has denied the Lasik procedure for your eyes. The following information gives you the reassurance that you can still enjoy life without the constraints and restrictions of spectacles or contact lenses. No more problems with playing, jogging, or swimming!
Wavelight Lasik Laser
In Wavefront-guided Lasik, Optical aberrations (imperfections) inherent in the eye are also corrected. Conventional Lasik can only correct the spectacle power & not these subtle optical aberrations. With Wavefront-guided Lasik, it is now possible to reduce these aberrations and enhance vision much above normal levels. This is also referred to as Custom Lasik / Zyoptix or Opti LAsik