In recent years millions of patients have undergone a laser treatment or eye surgery. The results are impressive.
The Goes Eye Centre applies the most modern techniques. During the preliminary examination the technique recommended for your particular case is discussed. Advantages and disadvantages are openly and honestly discussed in order to make an informed decision. The various techniques are summarized below.
Abnormalities that can be treated by laser surgery are myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The laser can flatten the cornea which is needed for nearsightedness, or steepen it which is needed for farsightedness.
Did you know that 39% of all ophthalmologists and who perform laser surgery have had laser treatment themselves? 36% have treated their spouse, 19% have treated their children. This is a much higher percentage than the rest of the population.
€1750 / eye
The history of laser surgery started with the very popular radial keratotomy. This consisted of flattening the cornea by making several incisions with a small diamond knife.
Afterwards came the PRK method with the ‘excimer laser’. The cornea was still being flattened with this method, however, since tissue of the cornea was being vaporized, it was done without incisions. Although the treatment itself was good and precise, the healing process was very slow and sometimes involved some level of discomfort.
With ‘LASIK’ surgery a flap was first made manually and the treatment with the excimer laser happened afterwards, underneath this flap. This treatment was equally precise and resulted in a practically instant healing process. Nevertheless, it has since also become outdated.
Ever since the arrival of the femtosecond laser there is no need for creating a flap with a knife anymore, instead this is done with a computer-controlled and extremely precise laser. This method is called ‘FEMTOLASIK’. Again, the quality improved and the safety increased.
Since the introduction of the SMILE-technique we mostly only use the precise femtosecond laser to perform the entire treatment. SMILE eye surgery is the cream of the crop and the latest innovation in the ever evolving world of laser surgery.
During a ‘Lasik’ treatment we use the same technique as during a ‘Femtolasik’ treatment, except that the flap is created with a surgical scalpel instead of the laser. After the flap is created, the curvature of the cornea is modified by an ‘excimer’ laser.
There is slightly more discomfort after a ‘lasik’ treatment than after a ‘femtolasik’ treatment. The depth of the flap is slightly less accurate. It is generally accepted that this technique is likely to be replaced by the more modern ‘Femtolasik’ treatment.
During a lasek treatment, unlike Femtolasik and lasik, no flap is made in the cornea. A superficial layer of cells is manually pushed aside, and an excimer laser (computer controlled) is precisely programmed to perform the laser treatment of the corneal surface.
Afterwards, the cells are pulled back over the cornea, and a contact lens is placed over the eye. The major advantage of this technique is the limited distressing nature of the treatment, as there is no flap to be made. The disadvantage is a longer recovery time. In practice, this technique is particularly suitable for patients where Femtolasik-treatment is not possible. The results of the different techniques in the long run, however, are all very comparable.