According to survey data, the incidence of myopia in our population is 33%, and the number of myopic eyes in the country is nearly 400 million, which is one of the countries with the highest incidence of myopia in the world. Myopia has become an important problem that affects the health of our people.
With the development of the economy and the improvement of people’s material living conditions, more and more myopic patients want to remove their glasses. The treatment of refractive error, on the other hand, is a complex medical challenge. Since the 1970s, ophthalmologists in various countries have shown a keen interest in this issue. Radial keratotomy (PRK) in the former Soviet Union pioneered the correction of refractive error by changing the shape of the cornea.
In the late 1980s, excimer laser surgery was introduced and opened up a new era of refractive eye surgery by virtue of high technology and in-depth research on the etiology of myopia and animal experiments. Since the results of excimer laser correction for high, medium and low myopia were far better than those of previous refractive surgery, it soon caught the attention of ophthalmologists worldwide.
I. Excimer laser technology has been used for more than 20 years and has proven to be safe and reliable
In 1993, with the approval and support of the Ministry of Health, excimer laser corneal refractive surgery was introduced in China to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, and 150,000 clinical cases have been accumulated so far. As long as doctors strictly master the indications, standard operating procedures and technical requirements of the surgery, the probability of complications is very low and it is very safe.
The three main types of widely performed excimer laser refractive surgery are PRK, LASEK and LASIK. The indications for the three types of surgery to correct myopia vary, and the doctor will make recommendations to the patient based on a standard set of preoperative examination indicators, and the patient will make a careful choice based on a full understanding of his or her own situation.
In recent years, the accuracy, predictability, safety and reliability of myopia surgery has been improving with the constant refinement of excimer laser equipment. Currently, LASIK (excimer laser in situ keratomileusis) is internationally recognized as the safest, most mature and effective refractive surgery. Compared to the other two procedures, LASIK has a wide range of indications and this method is available to 99% of patients.
The principle is to use a microkeratome to form a corneal flap, then use a laser to cut the corneal stroma under the flap, and after cutting, restore the cut flap to its original position; the curvature of the cornea is reduced after cutting, and the refractive power of the cornea is reduced, thus correcting myopia. LASIK has been widely used in China because of its wide range of application, preservation of the integrity of the corneal epithelium and anterior elastic layer, more in line with the anatomical and physiological structure of the cornea, rapid recovery from postoperative pain relief, and short medication time.
However, it requires a higher level of skill than the previous PRK and LASEK surgeries. Therefore, reputable hospitals and experienced surgeons are more willing to choose LASIK to increase the safety of patients, and this surgery is also popular among patients.
There are many new technologies being added to LASIK surgery. For example, wavefront guidance and femtosecond laser. The advantage of wavefront guidance is that patients will have better night vision. Wavefront guidance is usually recommended for people who are involved in things like flying, art, painting, videography, shooting, etc. that require a high quality of vision. The femtosecond laser is a laser to achieve photodynamic blasting of corneal tissue to create a corneal flap, with higher safety, higher accuracy, tighter corneal flap reset and other advantages, so that the patient’s post-operative visual quality is very good.
Second, the choice of surgery should not be blind, only the right surgery to achieve the best results
The key factor in the selection of myopia surgery is the qualification of the hospital and its own indications, so be sure not to choose surgery blindly, but to listen to the advice of professional doctors, only the right surgery to achieve the best results.
Myopia correction surgery has strict indications and contraindications. For example, the age of 18 years or older; refractive error stability for about 2 years: no cone cornea, viral keratitis, glaucoma, dry eye and other serious eye diseases; no diabetes, collagen disease and scarring, etc.; should also have a good psychological quality. It should be noted that some contraindications to surgery are not absolute, and some cases can be operated on with caution under proper management and close observation, but only after both the doctor and the patient have weighed the pros and cons.
Patients need to undergo preoperative examinations of visual acuity, refraction, fundus (pupil dilation), intraocular pressure, as well as medical optometry, corneal topography, corneal thickness measurement, slit lamp examination and other corresponding examinations necessary for surgery. Laser surgery only corrects the refractive error, while other eye pathologies associated with the original myopia will still occur.
Therefore, post-operative patients are still more prone to myopia-induced fundus complications (such as fundus hemorrhage and retinal detachment) than normal people, and if left untreated, they may also be at risk of blindness, but this condition is not clearly related to the surgery itself, so all myopic patients should have regular routine checkups regardless of surgery.
”Medicine is an evolving science, a risky business that cannot be perfect and always has regrets. Therefore, even the best surgeon who puts all his efforts into his patients will not be able to satisfy every patient completely.
Because the success of any surgery has more or less known and unknown correlations with the development of medicine, the doctor’s technique, the characteristics of the condition itself, the patient’s own cooperation and his own factors, we will constantly strive to improve our technique, and at the same time, we hope that every patient who is ready for surgery will carefully weigh the risks of surgery and his own needs for removal of glasses, and choose the surgery carefully. “
Third, any surgery has risks Choosing a regular hospital is a prerequisite to improve safety
Excimer laser keratomileusis is an effective method to correct refractive error, but the surgery can only help you remove your glasses, not change the nature of your myopia. The results of the surgery are related to the surgeon’s skill and the quality of the equipment, but also to the patient’s own condition, the degree of refractive error and its stability, the ability of the wound to heal, and the intraoperative cooperation. The excimer laser used for myopia correction is a high-tech device that is upgraded and updated very quickly.
Whether a patient is suitable for excimer laser surgery and what type of surgery to choose must be decided by a professional ophthalmologist after a detailed examination at a regular professional hospital. Therefore, I hope that the majority of myopic patients will not be deceived by some false advertising, do not be greedy for cheap, must be careful to choose professional regular hospital consultation and treatment, so as not to cause lifelong regret.
”Medical practice can only win the trust of patients if it is guaranteed by superb technology and quality service, and puts the interests of patients in the first place.”