Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery is a type of eye surgery aimed at improving the refractive error of the eye, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses like glasses or contact lenses. Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye does not bend light correctly, leading to blurred vision. The most common types of refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision at all distances), and presbyopia (loss of ability to focus on close objects due to aging).

Refractive surgery works by reshaping the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, to alter how light rays are focused onto the retina at the back of the eye. This can be achieved through various surgical techniques, including:

• LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): This is the most common refractive surgery procedure. It involves creating a thin flap on the cornea using a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser, then reshaping the underlying corneal tissue with an excimer laser. The flap is then repositioned, allowing for rapid healing.
• PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): In PRK, the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed entirely before reshaping the corneal tissue with an excimer laser. The epithelium regenerates naturally over a few days following the surgery.
• LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis): LASEK is similar to PRK but involves preserving a thin layer of the epithelium, which is loosened with alcohol solution before being pushed aside to access the underlying cornea for laser reshaping.
• SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): This newer procedure involves creating a small, precise incision in the cornea to remove a thin layer of tissue (lenticule) through which the cornea's shape is altered, correcting refractive errors.
• Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation: In cases where reshaping the cornea is not feasible or advisable, such as extreme refractive errors or thin corneas, a phakic intraocular lens (IOL) can be implanted in addition to the eye's natural lens to correct vision.