1.What is the principle of laser treatment for refractive error of the eye?
Excimer laser (193nm wavelength laser) is used to cut a very small portion of the anterior surface of the cornea to change the shape of the cornea, thus changing its refractive power and achieving the purpose of treating refractive error of the eye.
2.Is laser treatment for refractive error safe? What are the side effects?
Laser treatment of refractive error of the eye has been proven to be a very safe and effective surgical method. Generally speaking, as long as the indications for surgery are well mastered, there are few side effects, but because it is a surgery, theoretically there are complications such as poor night vision, glare, refractive regression (so-called “rebound”), etc. in a few patients with a high degree of postoperative failure to complete the surgery.
3, laser treatment of refractive error of the eye surgery effect is lasting?
The surgery requires 18 years of age or older, and the refractive error is stable before the surgery, as long as the reasonable use of eyes after surgery, the treatment effect is lasting.
4.To what extent can the vision be restored after the surgery?
After the surgery, the vision of the naked eye can generally reach the best corrected vision before surgery with glasses, but for patients with high myopia, it may not reach the best corrected vision before surgery.
5.Who is suitable for surgery?
(1) Patients who do not wear glasses and want to improve their visual acuity;
(2) Age 18 years or older;
3）The refractive error is stable for more than 1~2 years;
(4) No surgery prohibition.
6.Who is not suitable for surgery?
1）Acute inflammatory lesions in the eye such as conjunctivitis, keratitis and dacryocystitis, etc;
(2) Patients with retinal detachment and other fundus pathologies;
3）Patients suffering from severe dry eye, glaucoma, diabetes, collagen disease and keloid;
(4) Patients with cone cornea;
(5) Pregnant and lactating women;
6）Patients with severe amblyopia who have very poor vision with lens correction;
(7) Proptosis, incomplete eyelid closure;
8）Patients with very high vision requirements and large concerns about surgery.
7.What are the laser surgeries? What are the characteristics of each?
(1) PRK: early surgery, simple and safe; however, it is suitable for low to moderate myopia, slow recovery of vision after surgery, heavy post-operative reactions such as eye pain, tearing, etc., and is now less clinically used;
(2) LASIK: currently the main surgical procedure, with a wide range of adaptation, fast recovery and light postoperative vision, but with high technical requirements;
(3) LASEK: combining the advantages of PRK and LASIK, with a wide range of adaptation, safety, slow postoperative vision recovery, and postoperative response between LASIK and PRK;
(4) Epi-LASIK: a modified method of LASIK, more suitable for some patients with book corneas and high myopia.
8.What is individualized excimer laser refractive surgery?
Individualized excimer laser refractive surgery is a surgical cutting method using corneal topography and wavefront aberration guidance, which is more precise and has better post-operative visual quality compared to standardized surgery.
9.What preparatory work is needed before surgery?
1) Do not wear hard contact lenses for three weeks before surgery, and do not wear soft contact lenses for 1 to 2 weeks before surgery;
2) Please take antibiotic eye drops 1 to 3 days before surgery as prescribed by your doctor;
3) Please wash your hair and take a shower one day before the surgery to improve your personal hygiene, and do not use any cosmetics or perfume on the day of surgery to avoid affecting the surgery;
4) Female patients are advised to avoid menstrual period.
10.What should I pay attention to after laser surgery?
1) LASIK
Patients generally have no significant discomfort after surgery, a few patients will have a slight foreign body sensation, pain, tearing and other symptoms after surgery, this is a normal post-operative reaction, generally tolerated, do not need to deal with. This is a normal post-operative reaction, which is usually tolerated and does not need to be treated. On the first day after surgery, we will review and follow the doctor’s instructions for eye drops and follow-up;
(2) LASEK
(2) LASEK and PRK patients have postoperative symptoms such as eye stinging, foreign body sensation and tearing, which are normal postoperative reactions and can be relieved by taking the medication prescribed by the preoperative surgeon. Three days after the operation, the medication should be changed daily and eye drops should be ordered for 4 months after the operation;
(3) It is absolutely forbidden to rub the eyes on the day after surgery, do not wash your hair or shower, avoid trauma;
4）After surgery, you must follow the doctor’s instructions and go to the hospital for review on time. The purpose of follow-up visit is to detect and deal with complications as early as possible to ensure the surgical effect.