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LASER VISION CORRECTION

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Laser Vision Correction

Laser Vision Correction is a type of eye surgery that involves the use of a laser to reshape the surface of the eye. This is done to improve or correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism, and decrease or eliminate your dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

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Bladeless WaveFront LASIK

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most commonly performed laser vision correction to treat myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism.

  • After anaesthetic drops are applied to your eyes, a thin cornea flap is created using femtosecond laser (blade-free).
  • This hinged flap is folded back to expose underlying cornea.
  • An excimer laser is then used to sculpt and reshape your cornea over just a few seconds, correcting your vision. The cornea flap is repositioned and stays in place until fully healed.
  • LASIK surgery is essentially pain-free and takes only about 15-20 minutes for both eyes. Vision recovery is quick, improved vision occurs immediately after the procedure and continues to improve and stabilize over a few days.
  • Compared with PRK, LASIK is more comfortable, with much faster vision recovery and shorter duration of eyedrops required
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PRK / Epi- LASIK / Trans- PRK
(Advanced Surface Ablation – ASA)

PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) is a method where laser correction is performed directly on the cornea surface after removal of the epithelium (‘skin’) of the cornea. There is no flap created. PRK is the predecessor to LASIK.

  • After anaesthetic drops are applied to your eyes, the cornea epithelium (‘skin’ of the cornea) is removed using a blunt instrument. A laser can also be used to remove epithelium – “All laser” Trans-PRK
  • An excimer laser is then used to sculpt and reshape your cornea over just a few seconds, correcting your vision.
  • A protective contact lens is placed on your eye until the epithelium regenerates after a few days.
  • PRK is more painful post-operatively and has a slower return of vision than LASIK. The advantages of any ASA include no flap and its possible complications, less cornea tissue altered so cornea is presumably stronger, and it may be more suitable for low prescriptions and thinner corneas.
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ReLEx SMILE

ReLEx® SMILE (Refractive Lenticule Extraction, SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a flapless laser vision correction method using only one femtosecond laser for the entire procedure. It is an alternative to LASIK and is able to correct myopia (short-sightedness) and astigmatism.

  • A small disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue (lenticule) and a small 4mm incision are created under the surface of the cornea with a Femtosecond laser
  • The lenticule is removed through the incision which re-shapes the cornea, and achieves vision correction.
  • There is minimal disruption to the cornea biomechanics which arguably maintains more corneal strength and may result in less dry eyes. Visual recovery is slower and takes slightly longer than LASIK.
Laser Vision Correction FAQs

Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL)

Corneal collagen cross-linking is a technique which involves first soaking the cornea with liquid vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) followed by illuminating it with UV-A light. This activates formation of new chemical bonds (cross links) between fibres of the cornea, increasing its mechanical strength.

Occasionally collagen cross-linking (CXL) is added to the laser vision correction procedure for patients with mild cornea irregularities, slightly thinner corneas, higher myopia or astigmatism. CXL may make your vision more stable, reducing the need for enhancement laser, decrease the risk of cornea ectasia (weakening) and changes to your vision. Collagen cross-linking adds only an extra 1.5 to 2 minutes of time to your laser vision correction procedure but could make it safer and more stable in the long term.

Corneal collagen cross-linking is also used for patients with keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia (weakening and irregularity of the cornea that can occur with laser vision corrections). The goal of the treatment is to halt progressive and irregular changes in corneal shape and preserve its strength.