Laser eye surgery trend: what are the methods and what are the risks?

Increasing demand for ophthalmic laser treatments

About 51 percent of all Schweitzers depend on visual aids to compensate for ametropia. However, many adults also want to go about their daily lives without visual aids and therefore decide to do so. Laser Eye Surgery at Betterview or other clinics. with these as refractive surgery The interventions described above correct ametropia with the help of ultra-precise laser beams.

About 150,000 laser operations are now performed each year, so this type of intervention is becoming increasingly popular. Depending on the type of ametropia, different methods are used. Precise laser beams can be used to correct corneal curvature as well as short and long vision.

Benefits of Eye Laser Treatment

Laser eye treatment offers decisive benefits to the patient: First, after the procedure, the patient is no longer dependent on visual aids. Wearing glasses is often found to be very annoying, especially while doing sports. Meanwhile, contact lenses often cause dry eyes.

In addition to improving vision, laser eye treatment also improves contrast and visual acuity. Finally, patients no longer have to admit to imaging errors that occur while wearing contact lenses or glasses. Thanks to a large number of different procedures, the right method can also be found for each patient.

Since ophthalmic laser treatment can usually be done on an outpatient basis, the patient can go home straight after the operation.

Individual processes at a glance

Basically, different procedures are used in the field of refractive surgery. These treatment methods depend on the type of ametropia and the condition of the cornea and eyeball.

We have summarized the three most important methods below.

lasik process

LASIK surgery (“laser in situ keratomileusis”) can be used to treat myopia as well as farsightedness. In this procedure, the cornea is opened and with a small, precise blade a fine lamella (also called a “flap”) in the cornea is cut and opened. With the help of an Eyesiner laser, the corneal tissue under the lamella is removed according to precise calculations and the flap is re-positioned – the flap acts like a natural bandage.

Since LASIK surgery is a painless procedure, about 85 percent of all laser eye treatments are based on this method. Depending on the eye clinic, ametropia can be corrected with a diopter number of -12 to +6. With astigmatism, up to 4 diopters are possible. With this method, the cost per eye is around CHF 1,600 to CHF 3,000 and must be borne by the patient or the health insurance company. The treatment takes about five to twenty minutes per eye.

LASEK PROCEDURE

If the patient’s cornea is too thin, the LASEK method (“laser epithelial keratomileusis”) is used to treat astigmatism or myopia. In this procedure, a good portion of the cornea, the upper layer of the epithelium, is removed and treated with an alcohol solution. The cornea below is then prepared using an acimer laser.

The top layer of the cornea regrows after a few days. During this time, the patient wears a bandage contact lens. The LASEK method can treat diopter numbers from -6 to +3. Around 900 francs will be charged per eye.

prk procedure

The PRK method (“photorefractive keratectomy”) is a precursor to the LASIK procedure and is also frequently used. In this procedure, the top layer of the cornea is also removed with the help of a laser and the area below is treated. After treatment, a special bandage contact lens protects the eyes.

This laser operation also costs about 900 francs, which is paid by the patient or health insurance have to be carried.

What are the risks of ophthalmic laser treatment?

Even though laser eye treatments are routine procedures, there are individual risks. Initially, itching, scratching and burning in the affected area may occur for up to three months after the procedure. so Have regular follow-up checkups Indispensable. In addition, the ability to see may also be limited at first.

In addition to potential infections, dry eyes are also one of the risks of laser eye treatment. There may also be more and less improvement in individual cases. it can grow current vision to be connected. Finally, corneal instability and tissue ingrowth are among the potential risks of laser surgery. Therefore it is necessary to consult an experienced doctor.

Conclusion: Patients should seek detailed advice in advance

Ametropia can be quickly and easily corrected with laser treatment of the eyes. Thanks to a variety of procedures, the right method can be found for each patient. However, to avoid potential risks, detailed consultation should be done beforehand.