Refractive eye issues are vision problems that pertain to the eye’s inability to focus light correctly on the retina. They include myopia or nearsightedness, hypermetropia or longsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Refractive errors are usually caused by anatomical abnormalities in the eyes, such as a too-long or too-short eyeball or an irregularly shaped cornea. Aging can also render the lenses inflexible, disabling them from adequately refracting light.
Laser/refractive eye surgery is one of the main treatments for refractive eye issues.
However, before you get LASIK in Dubai, read on for more information about refractive eye surgery in general and laser eye surgery in particular. LASIK is not the only type of laser eye surgery available. There are also non-laser surgical procedures that may also be used to resolve refractive eye errors.
The following are a few typical surgical treatments for addressing refractive eye problems that your eye surgeon may prescribe.
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1. Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
Considered a highly popular surgical eye treatment, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis or LASIK is a cornea reshaping procedure. The surgeon creates a thin, hinged flap in the surface or outer layer of the cornea, lifts the flap out of the way, and then uses an excimer laser to change the shape of the corneal tissue underneath, to create the intended correction.
The excision of corneal tissue reshapes the cornea so that it can optimally and correctly refract light, thereby resolving refractive errors. Once the surgery is done, the flap created at the start of the procedure is restored to its original position.
LASIK refractive eye surgery is the most popular and most commonly performed laser eye surgery globally, with more than 16,000,000 procedures done globally by 2015. This likely decided preference for LASIK will continue.
Market Research Future says the LASIK eye surgery market size will grow at a 5.6% compound annual growth rate in the period between 2022 and 2030.
LASIK is used to treat myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism.
Myopia
Myopia is caused by a too-sharp curvature of the cornea or an excessive elongation of the eyeball. During LASIK surgery, the cornea is reshaped. Hence, it is no longer excessively curved to help compensate for the longer eyeball, ensuring that light will focus on the retina instead of in front of the retina.
Hypermetropia
Hypermetropia (also known as hyperopia) may be caused by a too-short eyeball or a too-flat cornea. LASIK can resolve this condition by giving the cornea more of a curve or reshaping it to compensate for the shorter eyeball. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the eye will focus light on the retina instead of behind the retina.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a refractive eye error caused by a non-spherically curved cornea or lens, specifically when the cornea or lens has a steeper curve in one direction, and a flatter curve in the perpendicularly opposite direction. If you have regular corneal astigmatism, your surgeon can perform LASIK to give your cornea a more regular shape. LASIK, however, cannot treat lenticular astigmatism or astigmatism caused by an irregularly curved lens or cornea.
2. Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK is laser eye surgery that may resolve mild to moderate cases of nearsightedness, and astigmatism. Like LASIK, it is a corneal reshaping procedure. Unlike LASIK, PRK reshapes the cornea by using a laser directly on the corneal surface, not the layer of corneal tissue underneath. The longevity of PRK for hypermetropia or longsightedness is usually much less satisfactory than for myopia or nearsightedness.
In PRK, the surgeon does not create a corneal surface flap. This may make PRK more suitable for people with thinner corneas, and also for candidates with highly active lifestyles, as the LASIK flap may be at risk of getting dislodged by rigorous physical activities.
3. Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)
LASEK is another corneal reshaping procedure. Like PRK, LASEK does not require the creation of an outer corneal flap, and it is performed directly on the corneal surface.
However, in LASEK, the surgeon moves aside the corneal epithelium or the epithelial layer covering the cornea before initiating the corneal reshaping procedure and then restores or replaces it afterward. In PRK, the surgeon does not preserve the epithelium layer but leaves it to regrow.
4. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Refractive lens exchange involves creating an incision at the edge of the cornea to give the surgeon access to the lens. The surgeon then extracts the lens and replaces it with a lens implant.
This procedure is suitable for extreme nearsightedness, longsightedness, and astigmatism. It may also be indicated for people whose cornea might be too thin, weak, or unstable for corneal reshaping surgery.
RLE, particularly presbyopic lens exchange or PRELEX, is also suitable for treating presbyopia. PRELEX involves the same procedure as RLE but uses a multifocal lens implant.
5. Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation (Phakic IOL)
Phakic intraocular lens implantation is like RLE because it involves synthetic lens implantation. However, in phakic IOL, the eye’s natural lens is not removed. Instead, an implantable collamer lens is inserted in front of the lens, right behind the iris.
Phakic IOL is, thus, akin to inserting a permanent silicone or plastic contact lens in the eye. The procedure suits patients with extreme nearsightedness, longsightedness, and astigmatism who are not good candidates for corneal reshaping laser surgery and are not yet presbyopic.
6. Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
CK is an older surgical procedure indicated in cases of mild to moderate hypermetropia for people over 40.
In this procedure, a tiny probe releases radio frequency (RF) energy at the edge of the cornea. The heat causes the periphery of the cornea to shrink and tighten, which increases the curvature of the central portion of the corneal dome. The increased steepness of the cornea’s curve adjusts the focus of the light, bringing it forward from the back of the retina.
CK may be performed as a corrective measure for presbyopia. Essentially, CK will give one eye (the non-dominant eye) good near vision. The dominant eye will retain its distance vision. The longevity of the effect of CK has also been less satisfactory in the long term.
Understand Your Options for Refractive Eye Surgery
If you’re considering refractive eye surgery to correct your vision, it’s important to understand the different types of procedures available.
LASIK, PRK, LASEK, RLE, phakic IOL, and CK are all effective surgical treatments for suitable candidates that can help you achieve clearer vision without needing glasses or contact lenses.
Ultimately, the best refractive eye surgery depends on your needs and doctor’s recommendations. Your eye clinic in Dubai will be able to assess your eyes THOROUGHLY, and then explain each of your surgical options best so you can make an informed decision.
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