Finding your glasses every morning, getting them fogged up on rainy days, and having to put in and take them out are probably familiar to you, right? Sometimes you may wonder how great it would be to be completely free from the hassle of glasses. There is actually a solution to that. That is what we are going to talk about today. That is vision correction surgery, or Vision Correction Surgery.
What exactly is this eye surgery that corrects vision?
Simply put, these surgeries focus the light rays that enter your eyes. That's when we see clearly. If you have a vision defect, that is, a refractive error, these light rays don't focus properly. That's why you see blurry.
Think of your eye as a good camera. This camera has two main parts that focus light.
1. Cornea: This is the transparent, slightly convex part of the eye at the front. About 65% - 75% of the light entering the eye is focused here.
2. Lens: This is located inside the eye, behind the pupil. After coming from the cornea, the light is focused more finely and directed precisely onto the screen at the back of the eye called the retina.
So, these surgeries are done by very subtly changing the shape of the cornea or lens, depending on the weakness of your eye. Or by inserting an artificial lens into the eye. In this way, when the light is focused correctly, you can see the world clearly again.
What are the main types of these surgeries?
These surgeries can mainly be divided into two types.
- Laser procedures: This involves using a special laser beam to very subtly reshape your cornea. This change changes the way light is refracted, which can completely eliminate or greatly reduce your vision loss.
- Lens placement or replacement procedures: In this procedure, an artificial lens, custom-made to fit your vision, is inserted into your eye. Sometimes this is done without removing your natural lens, other times the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens.
Here are some of the most popular surgical procedures today:
- LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis)
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
- SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction)
- LASEK (laser subepithelial keratomileusis)
- Phakic intraocular lens (IOL) placement
- Refractive lens exchange
Don't be alarmed by these names. Your doctor will explain each of these to you in simple terms. The important thing is that all of these methods are trying to do the same thing, which is to give you clear vision.
What is the best surgery for me?
This is the biggest question that many people have. There really is no such thing as the "best surgery." What's best for you may not be the best for someone else. The best option for you depends on several factors.
- The type of vision loss you have: Some surgeries are better suited to one type of loss than another. You may have both nearsightedness and farsightedness.
- Severity of the weakness: Your prescription number also affects this.
- The overall health of your eyes: If you have other eye diseases, such as glaucoma, or dry eye disease, some surgeries may not be suitable.
Therefore, the best place to get information and guidance on this is your eye specialist. He or she will thoroughly examine your eyes, explain what options you have, what their pros and cons are, and help you choose what is best for you.
What vision impairments can be cured with these surgeries?
There are four main types of vision impairments that can be corrected with these surgeries. Let's take a look at what they are.
| Refractive Error | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Nearsightedness / Myopia | Things that are close are clearly visible, but things that are far away, such as signs and bus numbers, are blurry. |
| Farsightedness / Hyperopia | Although things that are far away can be seen clearly, close-up tasks, such as reading a book or newspaper or looking at your phone, are blurry. |
| Astigmatism | In this, both near and far objects may appear slightly blurred and stretched. It is also a symptom that vehicle lights appear to have lines around them at night. |
| Presbyopia (nearsightedness) as you age | A condition that many people experience when they turn 40. They have to hold their hands far away to see things that are close by. |
How should I prepare before surgery?
Okay, now let's say you're considering having surgery like this. Before that, your doctor will run several tests.
- Vision test: Your vision loss will be measured accurately. They will also check to see if your prescription is "stable." This means that there shouldn't be any significant changes in the past year or two.
- Eye health check: A thorough check is done to check for other eye diseases.
- Eye surface mapping: Special scanning machines create a very detailed map of your cornea. This is very important for planning surgery.
In addition, your doctor will give you some other instructions. For example, he may give you antibiotic eye drops to put in your eyes for a few days before the surgery. It is very important to follow all of these instructions exactly.
What happens during the surgery?
Although many people are afraid of this, it's actually not as big a deal as you might think. This is an outpatient procedure where you can go home the same day without having to stay in the hospital.
First, numbing drops are put into your eyes so you don't feel any pain . Then, a small device is used to keep your eye open and still. Only then does the actual surgery begin.
During laser surgery, all you have to do is look at a single light as the doctor tells you. The entire procedure takes a very short time, about 15-30 minutes . So there's no reason to be afraid.
How successful are these surgeries? What are the benefits?
The biggest advantage of this is that you can be completely free from glasses and contact lenses. This is a great help in carrying out your daily activities, hobbies, and sports without any hindrance.
In terms of success, these surgeries have a very high success rate and patient satisfaction .
- Laser surgery: More than 95% of people who have this procedure are very happy with the results. Nearly 99% of people achieve 20/40 (the vision required for a normal driver's license) or better vision. More than 90% of people achieve 20/20 vision.
- Lens implantation surgeries: More than 84% of people still have 20/40 or better vision after these.
Are there no risks or side effects?
As with any medical treatment, there are a few things we need to be aware of.
- You may need glasses: Sometimes your vision may not be 100% correct after surgery. But even then, your vision will be much better than before. You may only need glasses with a small amount of power for things like driving at night.
- Temporary side effects: In the first few weeks after surgery, you may experience dry eyes, light sensitivity, and seeing glare around lights at night. These are often temporary and can be controlled with eye drops prescribed by your doctor.
- Risk of complications: As with any surgery, there is a small chance of infection. However, these are very rare . This is why it is important to follow the instructions given before and after surgery exactly.
How should I take care of my eyes after surgery?
The success of the surgery is greatly influenced by how you take care of your eyes after surgery.
Most importantly: Do not rub your eyes for any reason! Your eyes may feel a little itchy after surgery. But rubbing can damage the healing cornea.
- Wear a protective shield: The doctor will give you an eye shield made of plastic. It is essential to wear this, especially while sleeping.
- Use good sunglasses: Your eyes are very sensitive to UV rays in the early days after surgery. Therefore, wear good sunglasses as recommended by your doctor whenever you go outside.
- Follow your doctor's instructions: Follow your doctor's instructions exactly, including when to apply eye medication, when to take a shower, and when to start exercising.
When should you talk to the doctor?
If you experience any of the following symptoms after surgery, notify your doctor immediately .
- Sudden change in vision (blurring, double vision, or loss of vision)
- Signs of an eye infection (severe pain, swelling, discharge like watery tears)
- Burning or itching that doesn't go away after a few days
If you experience these symptoms, it's best to seek medical advice immediately, rather than staying home in fear.
Take-Home Message
- Vision correction surgery is a very safe and effective way to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
- Although there are various methods such as LASIK, PRK, and SMILE, the method that suits you best will depend on the condition of your eyes.
- This is a simple surgery that usually takes less than 30 minutes and you can go home the same day.
- Before making any decision, be sure to discuss this thoroughly with an experienced ophthalmologist and have all your questions answered.
- It is essential to follow the doctor's instructions exactly after surgery to achieve the best results.
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