How is the surgery for vision correction done?

Laser correction - surgical treatment, which allows you to eliminate the violation of refraction by correcting the shape of the cornea. This method of treatment is used with stable nearsightedness or farsightedness, it is recommended to people over 21 years old. The effect of this operation can be estimated on the day of its conduct. Two weeks after laser correction, vision completely returns to the patient. In this material, we will examine what the correction procedure is, what indications for carrying out it has what kinds of it exist, and also what results can be achieved using this method treatment.

Modern methods of correction

Laser correction - manipulation, during which the laser evaporates part of the cornea in order to improve visual acuity. This technique does not allow to eliminate the cause of myopia or hyperopia - too large or too small size of the eyeball, it is aimed only at improving the refraction by changing the shape cornea. How this eye works will tell this article.

Indications for the procedure are:

• myopia to -10 diopters;
• farsightedness - up to +6 diopters;
• astigmatism - up to 4 diopters;
• the reduction in visual acuity of one eye, at which the overvoltage of the second eye is observed.

The operation can be performed only for patients who have not changed their visual acuity during the last years. If a person's nearsightedness or hyperopia progress, this method of treatment is not prescribed to them, since he can not give a lasting result.

There are a number of contraindications to this treatment. Among them are:

• infectious diseases of the eyes;
• cataract;
• glaucoma;
• dystrophic changes in the cornea;
• The recently transferred operations associated with detachment of the retina;
• endocrine diseases, in particular, severe forms of diabetes;
• pathological changes of the fundus;
• inflammatory processes in the eye chamber;
• pregnancy.

The conditional contraindication for the operation is the age of the patient under 21 years of age. When correcting people of this age, the doctor needs to make sure that the eyeball does not grow with him, and only after that start manipulation.

To make sure there are no contraindications to such treatment and the possibility of using it for the patient by doctors, a number of studies are being carried out. Among them are:

• Autorefractometry. Determines the degree of visual impairment of the patient. Such diagnostics are carried out by means of a special apparatus.
• Visometry. In this study, the doctor determines the visual acuity of the patient. It is carried out with the help of special apparatuses or a check table.
• Keratotopography. The study allows you to determine the corneal map. If it is too steep or flat, the patient can be denied laser correction.
• A lacrimal test.It allows to find out whether a person has enough tear fluid to be produced, whether he needs to use additional drops such as "artificial tear".
• Ultrasound of the eye.It makes it possible to measure the axis of the eye, as well as determine the thickness of the cornea. The last parameter is decisive in the choice of the method of vision correction.

The laser vision correction for patients is carried out as follows:

1. The patient is being prepared for surgery.The mucous eye is treated with antibacterial drops, the eyelid skin is covered with a weak solution of iodine. On the face of the patient put a special napkin with holes for the eyes. After that, on the eye that will be operated, the eyelash extender is applied so that the person does not blink during the operation.
2. The eye is treated with anesthetic drops.General anesthesia with such manipulation is not provided. The patient is asked to focus on the green light.
3. On a mucous eye the flap from an epithelial tissue is formed.He carefully moves aside.
4. Using a laser, a portion of the mucosa evaporates.After this, the flap fits into its original place. The operation is considered complete.

Within a few days after surgery, the patient needs to wear a special bandage or lens, use special drops and be examined regularly by the treating doctor. Do this usually out-patient. If the patient has no complications after surgery, he is not left in the clinic.

Kinds

There are two main methods of laser correction.Among them are:

• KFK. The very first method of laser vision correction. Currently used rarely, because its use is associated with high risks of corneal opacity and other complications. Correction of vision within the framework of this technique is carried out by means of an excimer laser. Within the framework of this technique, the doctor through the laser vaporizes not only the epithelial cells, but also part of the Bowman membrane, and then removes part of the stroma within the framework of vision correction. There are several subspecies of this method, including M-PRK (in which the removal of the epithelium is carried out by means of a spatula), Trans FRK which removal is carried out with a laser), Lasek PRK (at which part of the epithelium is preserved and after treatment of the cornea returns to a place).

• Lasik. A newer technique for laser correction of vision, involving the formation of a flap of the epithelium of the eye and a part of the Bowman membrane, which, after evaporation of a part of the stroma, returns to its place. There are several varieties of this technique, among which the Super-Lasik, taking into account the peculiarities of the structure of the eye patient, Femto-Lasik, in which a special femto laser is used, as well as Lepto-Lasik, in which a thinner flap is created mucous membranes.

Both methods of laser vision correction are not considered universal and should be selected for the patient according to the indications. So, Lasik is not prescribed to patients with unusual thickness of the cornea, for them only PRK is used. Lasik also tries to apply for correction in patients with minor deviations of refraction as the most gentle technique.

results

In 98% of cases, vision correction is successful.Visual acuity after such manipulation is restored in 14 days. In some cases, during this period, patients are faced with corneal syndrome, whose manifestations are: increased dryness of the eye, a sense of foreign body, pain, itching, photophobia. Analgesics are used for relief of the syndrome, as well as local antiseptic drugs. Normally, after 14 days, the patient returns to normal.

Within a month after the operation, the patient is not recommended to swim in the pool, drive a car, use cosmetics. After the end of this period, he can return to normal life.

The period during which the patient will retain the results of correction, is individual.Usually it is 10 years, but it can decrease with high eye strain, transferred eye diseases and other negative factors.If desired, the patient may, in a few years, re-apply to the doctors and undergo a correction procedure if he does not have contraindications to it.

The patient needs to closely monitor his health in the first few months after the operation. If he marks the slightest impairment of vision, he should consult a doctor. Only this approach makes it possible to avoid complications after the procedure.

Video

The video describes the main aspects of the operation to restore the vision of the laser.

conclusions

1. Laser correction is an operation that ensures the refraction of the eye.
2. The procedure is not performed for patients suffering from inflammatory eye diseases, cataracts, glaucoma, having acute infectious diseases or endocrine pathologies.
3. For correct operation before the laser correction, the degree of refractive error in the patient, the map of his cornea, its thickness are studied. All these parameters influence the choice of the correction technique.
4. The procedure itself takes several minutes, it provides for the laser to evaporate part of the cornea to change its refraction.
5. There are two main methods of correction: PRK, in which a part of the mucosa is evaporated for further work with the cornea, and Lasik, in which a piece of mucosa forms a flap, which is then returned to the treated area eyes.
6. Operations are successful in the vast majority of cases. Vision in a person is restored after 14 days after the manipulation. Among the conservative methods for restoring vision, Bates' method is distinguished, which is described in this material.