
[Surgical process]
On the day of surgery it is normal to feel a little nervous, but do not worry. If you have had a thorough examination prior to laser surgery we do at the Polyclinic Bilić Vision, it is certain that we have studied your eyes to the slightest detail, which is essential for the successful outcome of the operation.
No special preoperative preparation is required on the day of the procedure, although it is important to note that it is necessary to take someone with you. Before the surgery, several more tests are repeated, and the eyes are anesthetized by anesthetic drops. When anesthesia begins to work, the patient is placed on the laser bed.
At Polyclinic Bilić Vision laser eye correction is performed in two ways:
LASIK is today the most common form of surgery because it gives excellent results right after the surgery and studies have shown that patients are more satisfied after the LASIK method than after the PRK method (weaker postoperative pain and faster visual recovery).
LASIK operation is very short and painless, and the laser surgery itself consists of two phases.. In the first one, a corneal flap is formed, and in the second phase, the laser removes the diopter and the flap is self-healing.
The range of diopters that can be operated on by the LASIK method:
- nearsightedness up to -10.00 diopter
- farsightedness up to +5.00 diopter
- astigmatism up to 5.00 diopter
- pin cases of over -10.00 diopter, instead of laser method, the method of implementing an intraocular lens is used (Read more here ovdje)
LASIK can be applied to all the aforementioned diopters. As a rule, both eyes are operated on at once. Recovery is quick, and the vision is almost normal again tomorrow. We also apply individualized approach to each patient using "Wave Scan Technology" that detects all corneal irregularities and gives us an insight into the objective diopter of the patient.
LASIK phase operations
1. Eye before surgery
2, 3, 4. Forming the corneal flap with a mikrokeratome
5. Laser eye surgery
6. Cornea after the laser activity
7. Recovering the flap in place
8. Cornea after the procedure
LASIK surgery is completely painless and is performed under drop anesthesia. The procedure for both eyes lasts for about 30 minutes, although the laser works on the cornea for only 10 seconds, depending on the height of the diopter. After the LASIK surgery, patients go to work after 1 to 2 days.
PRK
PRK is a method that is applied mainly in lower diopters and thinner corneas. During surgery the epithelium of the cornea is removed and the laser directly removes the diopter, with no incisions on the cornea. In the postoperative course following the PRK method, the corneal epithelium spontaneously heals in 2-3 days. By applying the PRK method, visual recovery is a bit longer, and - as with the LASIK method - both eyes are operated on at the same time.
Visual recovery lasts up to 3-4 weeks, and the method can be applied to:
- nearsightedness up to 6.00 diopter
- astigmatism up to 3.0 diopters
- farsightedness up to +4.0 diopters.
The advantages of PRK Method:
- can be done on thin corneas (below 550 microns)
- the appearance of the dry eye is noticeable at a considerably lower percentage than with the LASIK method
- artificial tears need to be applied much shorter, on average 2-3 months.
In the postoperative course, antibiotic drops need to be applied for a week, and artificial tears for the next 2-3 months. You can normally return to regular life activities and sports two weeks after the operation.
Which method are you a candidate for: LASIK or PRK?
If a patient has corneas with a corresponding thickness (550 microns, normal corneal thickness), and the diopter is in the range of -10.00 diopter up to +5.00 diopter, he or she can choose the method in agreement with the physician. In cases of thinner corneas (thickness less than 500 microns), the method used is PRK. However, in every case, before a physician decides for one of the methods offered during consultations with a patient, a detailed preoperative examination is required to determine all the parameters needed to make the optimal decision.
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