Refractive Surgery
Refractive surgery is a surgical procedure used to correct the eye’s refractive error (spectacle power). It is typically done to eliminate or reduce reliance on glasses and contact lenses. After the age of 18 – 21 years, it can be performed on a patient with stable refraction (glass power). All candidates must provide a complete medical history as well as a thorough eye examination. Corneal topography (Pentacam, Orbscan), and anterior segment Optical Coherence Tomography (ASOCT) are used to assess the shape, thickness, and curvature of the cornea, as well as other dimensions of the eye. After gathering all of the information, the eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) decides the refractive surgery options available to the patient. Current refractive procedures are divided into two categories: Corneal procedures and Lens-based surgery.
- LASIK: Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) can be commonly referred to as an alternative to glasses and contact lenses. It is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of hypermetropia, myopia, and an actual cure for astigmatism.
- PRK: This procedure involves carefully removing the topmost layer of the cornea, also known as the epithelium, followed by the delivery of an Excimer laser that reshapes the corneal surface. A contact lens is placed for a few days to help the eye heal; the epithelium is very thin and usually grows back within three days.
The natural crystalline lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens of the appropriate power during refractive lens exchange. This procedure extracts the natural lens from the eye using ultrasonic energy (Phacoemulsification), eliminating the need for future cataract surgery. The femtosecond laser platform can be used to aid in the refractive lens exchange procedure, also known as ROBOTIC -Refractive Lens Exchange.