Seeing the world in all colors, clearly and clearly – a gift that almost every one of us receives on the first day of his birth. Eye diseases, injuries, bad habits can reduce visual acuity, and soon you have to adjust it with glasses or lenses. But one day there comes a time when you want to remove accessories for the eyes, put them on the far shelf and forget forever. In this case, an operation can help. Learn all about laser vision correction, its indications, features, stages, and recovery period!

Under the lens: laser vision correction

Laser vision correction is one of the most sought-after operations of our time. It is held in 45 countries around the world, and in the last 10 years alone over 3 million corrections have been made. To date, it is rightfully included in the list of the most studied operations, its effectiveness and safety has been proven by numerous studies.

The main goal of the correction is to return the visual acuity to the patient, which was lost at some time in life. The operation is carried out to patients who have reached the age of majority. Previously, it is irrational to do it, because until the age of 18 the human body is actively growing and the refraction of vision can change. Upper limit of age suitable for   Laser vision correction is approximately 45 years old. The operation can be carried out later in consultation with the doctor. But it should be noted right away that medical intervention does not insure against the appearance of age-sighted hyperopia, which almost every person faces.

Why is visual acuity reduced? Indications for surgery

It is known that it is much easier to prevent a disease than to cure its consequences. This rule is very relevant in relation to eye health. After all, 95% of the information we receive from the outside world comes from the organs of vision. Thanks to the visual system, we distinguish colors, shape, determine the size and number of visible objects. All this gives us a quality of life and complete freedom of action.

Everyone should know what causes visual impairment and how to avoid them. There are a lot of such factors, we will designate the most important of them.

• First, it is a genetic predisposition.

If among relatives there are a lot of people who had to wear glasses because of weak eyesight, the person is at risk. He needs to watch carefully   health   eye, regularly undergo preventive examinations, practice special exercises for the eyes.

• Secondly, it is a big strain on the eyes.

For many people, visual acuity is intensely reduced in school and student years, when it takes a lot of time to bring textbooks, notes, and a computer monitor. If a person is worried about dry eye syndrome, strong tension, feeling of “sand in the eyes”, it is necessary to take a break from work. If discomfort occurs every time he gets to work, consult a doctor.

• Thirdly, these are eye diseases.

Poor blood supply, inflammation of the sclera can lead to their development.   or ciliary weakness   muscle. All of these conditions require the supervision of an ophthalmologist and, if necessary, prescription of treatment.

• Fourth, spinal pathologies associated with injuries, bruises, as well as infectious and other types of lesions, which lead to a deterioration of blood flow in vessels located in a given area, can affect visual acuity and   impaired blood supply to the organs of sight.

So be careful!

• Fifth, lifestyle plays a big role.

Harmful habits (smoking and alcohol abuse), violations of sleep and wakefulness, prolonged stress and depression, malnutrition, lack of hygiene of the eye apparatus – all this can lead to problems with the eyes.

Laser correction is effective in almost all cases of reduced visual acuity, as measured by ophthalmologists in the degrees of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Important conditions for the success of the operation are a fully examined patient and the absence of contraindications to medical intervention.

The advantages of the operation, or what can the patient expect?

After the operation, the patient can count on the visual acuity that appears after wearing contact lenses or glasses. It is not always possible to return 100 percent vision, and this must be understood. But, nevertheless, even such results significantly improve the quality of human life.

Among the advantages of the operation can be attributed to the fact that it has already been sufficiently studied by the world community. Before surgery, the ophthalmic surgeon can give a prediction of what visual acuity will be after. It is calculated, as a rule, as a percentage.

After correction, the modified form of the cornea remains for a lifetime, and this means that if a person does not have progressive myopia, good results will be maintained.

Many patients are concerned about the question of whether the operation is painful. Immediately it should be said that no. Before the correction, the ophthalmologist will drop the patient’s eyes with anesthetic drops that block pain. During the procedure, the person will feel only pressure on the eyes at some stages of the correction and a pinpoint “touch” of the device.

Duration of vision correction of one eye is approximately 10 minutes, while the effect of the device accounts for up to one minute. It will be possible to leave the ophthalmologic clinic within an hour after the operation.

How is laser vision correction performed?

Ophthalmological clinics offer patients different types of vision correction operations. Denote them in descending order of popularity, these are Super LASIK, LASIK, Femto LASIK, Femto Super LASIK, Presby LASIK, PRK, Epi-LASIK. All of them have the same tasks and differ from each other, mainly by the nature of the impact of the device that conducts vision correction. The more advanced equipment, the better result (from the maximum possible) can be obtained.

One of the most advanced techniques today is Super LASIK. It takes into account the individual parameters of the patient, down to the smallest details of the unique structure of the cornea! It is performed using the latest generation of laser.

Is the operation safe? Contraindications 

Before vision correction operations were performed in medical clinics around the world, scientists conducted multistage studies that proved the effectiveness and safety of the technique. The impact of a laser device falls on only one of the refracting media, the cornea, and the depth of this impact is strictly limited.

The main factor in the success of the operation is the choice of a good clinic, the professionalism of its specialists. No less important is the comprehensive examination of the patient in order to identify possible contraindications, if necessary, treatment or offer alternative methods.

Complications after surgery most often occur in two cases: if the patient is under-examined or if the operation was performed with significant contraindications. The latter happens if the clinic decided to make money, no matter what.

Possible consequences of correction: health risks

Speaking about the benefits of laser vision correction, one cannot but touch upon the subject of possible negative consequences of this operation. And, unfortunately, they are, like any other surgical intervention. Ophthalmologists claim that the more vision correction operations are performed, the better the statistics, but which of us would like to experience failure, to enter that small percentage who are “not lucky”?

The probability of getting a complication after surgery threatens about two percent of patients who decide to regain good vision. But there is another statistic, about 8% of patients who underwent surgery, vision after correction does not improve. So what to expect from life? Consider the most common complications.

• Dry eye syndrome.

It is a common adverse reaction of this surgery. Usually passes after 72 hours, all this time you will need to moisten the eyes with special drops. But there are cases when this syndrome becomes a constant patient’s companion.

• Visibility restriction at night.

Decreased visual acuity after dusk can be an unpleasant surprise for any person, but motorists perceive it especially hard. Most often, this tendency is temporary and comes by itself several months after the operation, but sometimes it becomes permanent. At risk – patients with wide pupils.

• Foggy visibility.

A blurred or duplicate image can be observed in the first days after correction, but sometimes appear in the more late postoperative period.

• Keratitis – an eye disease that can cause reduced visual acuity, is inflammation of the cornea.

May occur as a result of infection or after injury.

• Increased sensitivity to bright light, glare.

Typical for the first day after correction, but sometimes persist for a long time. In almost all cases, the sensitivity to bright light becomes higher than it was before surgery.

• The omission of the upper eyelid is an aesthetic drawback, which, according to the assurance of the surgeons, is eliminated on its own within six months after the correction.

Life after surgery: personal experience

People who are planning a laser vision correction in the foreseeable future, traditionally have many questions and concerns. How will life after surgery change, what sensations will accompany the procedure and what vision will be later, a few years later? To get comprehensive answers to all questions, read the frank story of a person who has undergone laser vision correction in a Moscow clinic.