How can my refractive error be corrected?
Various surgical procedures (LASIK, PRK, IOL) are employed depending on the patient’s condition (degree and type of refractive error, corneal thickness, quality and shape of cornea, state of the retina etc.), and the extensive preoperative examination is crucial for the problem to be accurately defined and the right solution to be reached. LASIK can correct short-sightedness of up to -12 dioptres, where as far-sightedness and cylindrical vision can be corrected up to +6 dioptres, which is determined by the thickness of the cornea.
Is there an age limit up to which Ultra B2 can be applied to stop keratoconus?
The intervention should be planned as soon as the progression of keratoconus is established. Since the disease begins at puberty, this method is applied to many patients at a very early age when a progressive form of keratoconus has already appeared. As for the upper limit, the progression of keratoconus in the thirties stops spontaneously, then the condition of the cornea is usually just monitored, and the intervention is undertaken only if necessary.
When is the best time for cataract surgery?
The doctor will assess the right moment for the operation. The general advice is to remove the cataract when it starts to interfere with a normal way of life and work abilities. Modern and comfortable surgeries do not implicate the cataract should “mature” in order to be operated.
How often should diabetics control their vision?
They can do it once a year if they keep sugar levels at normal or slightly elevated, if they take medication and conduct a proper lifestyle, if they’re on a diet and they have no complications. People with any alteration of sugar level should see a doctor every four or six months.
Who is a good candidate for refractive surgery?
The patient’s refractive power must have been stable for at least year. For most patients, stabilization occurs between the ages of 18 and 21. Children should never undergo PRK or LASIK surgery as they as still developing physically, meaning that their myopia or astigmatism are similarly increasing. Furthermore, healing responses and processes in children are likely to be far more aggressive than in adults which may potentially lead to regression and/or scarring, especially with treatments such as PRK, LASEK or epi-LASIK.
When can the lenses be put on after a corneal crosslinking intervention?
The cornea should be left to recover for at least a month, then you can start wearing the previous contact lenses with a shortened regime. Since complete recovery occurs for 3-6 months after the intervention, the cornea is often partially straightened after the recovery and then weaker contact lenses may be needed.
Should we await before the cataract “matures” to perform the surgery?
We don’t have to, it can be operated at any stage. A cataract is not an urgent condition in ophthalmology, so there is no degree of urgency for surgery. It is mainly operated when the patient decides to do it, in other words when the cataract starts bothering him in everyday activities: reading, driving, watching television, walking.
How long before the operation should I stop wearing contact lenses?
If you wear soft contacts, you should remove them at least ten days before the procedure, while those patients who use hard lenses must go without for at least a month before an operation.
What type of anesthesia is used during the intervention?
On the day of the intervention, the eye is anesthetized with drops. The whole procedure is painless.
What are the symptoms of cataract?
In the beginning a worse, blurred vision, light scattering, especially at night. If the cataract progresses, vision can become quite poor so that it interferes with daily activities.
Who can perform LASIK surgery?
Only ophthalmologists who have been specially trained by authorized instructors in LASIK can perform the procedure, and the more experienced the surgeon the better. This is because LASIK is an operation that depends largely on the ability and experienced of the surgeon performing it. He must also possess certified proof of having undergone specialized training in refractive surgery.
Can strabismus be corrected by a laser?
If strabismus is caused by dioptre, it can be corrected with the laser correction of the sight. It is necessary to consult the doctor who will determine what are the expected results of the laser surgery after a series of preliminary examinations.
How long after the procedure can the effects be seen?
LASIK does not stop a patient’s refractive error from increasing (this usually happens once the patient reaches 25 years of age) but it eliminates the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. If the eye has completely developed and the cornea has finished growing then the refractive error most often never returns.
Do I need an escort after the intervention?
We recommend someone to come with you because your eyesight will be limited after the intervention and the use of public transport can be a risk. Also, you should not drive a car.
How long do the preparations take, how long does the cataract surgery take, and how long does the recovery take?
The surgery takes about ten minutes. The preparation is quite extensive and detailed in order to prevent complications that can be predicted by a careful preoperative examination. Recovery depends on the type of surgical technique and the type of used anesthesia. At LaserFocus, we use the ultrasound method for cataract removal and drip anesthesia, so our patients can see quite correctly just a few hours after the intervention.
What are the risks involved?
Complications do exist, as in every surgical procedure, but they occur fairly rarely. The usually manifest themselves in the form of occasional glare, haloes and reduced contrast capacity. Some patients experience ‘dry eye’ after the procedure, which can be successfully remedied through a treatment of artificial tears. The degree of success depends on the pre-operative condition of the patient.
Does long reading and watching TV impair the sight and affect the dioptre change?
Looking at the TV screen or computer monitor for a long time, or reading does not increase the dioptre. Disturbances can occur due to uncorrected refractive defects, but the eyes do not “impair”.
Does LASIK hurt?
No, not at all. LASIK is conducted under local anesthesia in the form of eye drops. No injections or general anesthesia are necessary. The patient only feels a gentle suction on his eye during the creation of the flap. In fact, many patients are pleasantly surprise at how painless the procedure really is.
What to do and what therapy to take after Ultra B2 intervention?
After the surgery, it is recommended to apply drops for several months, with frequent check-ups. It is very important that the patient follows the instructions properly and that the drops are used regularly. The patient may continue to wear contact lenses.
How long after the procedure will I be able to return to my daily activities?
You will be able to return to work and even sport activity two days after the operation itself. However, where water sports are concerned it is better to wait at least a month before resumption and contact sports should be avoided for at least 6 months.
Is a frequent bursting of capillaries in the eye dangerous?
It is not dangerous for the eye, but it reflects the condition of blood vessels in the body. An internist’s check-up is required.
If the dioptre is also corrected by cataract surgery, what to do with the other eye that does not have cataract but has dioptre?
The most often cataract affects both eyes, except that one eye is always affected earlier than the other. If there is a big difference in dioptre, the other lens should also be operated so that the vision would be better and the dioptre equalized.
Which factors most affect the level of success of the procedure?
There are three important factors which can affect precision: the thickness of the cornea, the size of the patient’s pupils in the dark and the respective level of refractive error to be corrected.
Is glaucoma hereditary?
Glaucoma can be hereditary, therefore regular check-ups are recommended for a patient with a positive family anamnesis of glaucoma.
How long do the examinations and operation last?
The pre-operative examination lasts two hours, and on the day of the operation you’ll spend roughly the same amount of time at the clinic. After the procedure, you will be able to go home, without bandages or stitches, using a protective lens only at night-time and eye drops during the day to ensure quicker healing and minimize risk of infection over the following week.