What is LASIK?
LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a safe and effective method of correcting refractive errors. During the surgery, your eye is anaesthetised and an eyelid holder is placed onto your eye to prevent blinking. An instrument is used to cut a flap in your cornea, following which a computer-controlled laser beam vaporises a portion of the corneal tissue to change the shape of the cornea. Finally, the flap is put back in position without any stitches. The benefits of LASIK include less surface area to heal, less risk of scarring and corneal haze, reduced post-operative discomfort and most importantly, a quicker visual rehabilitation.
LASIK TECHNOLOGY - ALLEGRETTO WAVE: SPEED + PRECISION + BETTER VISION
1. SPEED: The ALLEGRETTO WAVE Excimer Laser applies 200 Hz of laser pulses ensuring the fastest treatment for optimal results.
2. PRECISION: With a spot size of 0.95mm and Gaussian Beam Profile, Allegretto Wave can produce a smoother treatment bed compared with flat-top beam or 2+1 mm compound laser beam. The smoother of treatment bed, will have better of visual outcome after surgery.
3. BETTER VISION: The Allegretto Wave can provide excellent clinical outcomes for the treatment of refractive errors, according to a clinical data presented from FDA trial studies. 3 months post-operative results showed that 98% of eyes (n=797) can achieved 20/40 or better vision and which is accepted by most countries for driving without glasses.
Am I suitable for LASIK?
You are suitable for LASIK if you:
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are at least 18 years old
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have healthy eyes
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have a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for the last year
A comprehensive eye examination by ophthalmologist is preferred before the LASIK surgery. And you may go through the preparation before surgery, surgery procedure and precautions after surgery.
What are the potential risks involved in LASIK?
1. The surgical outcome is usually predictable and acceptable. However, there exists variability and thus the results of surgery cannot be guaranteed. The vision could become better or worse after treatment.
2. Enhancement surgery or corrective lenses might be required in case of over or under correction.
3. Irregular scarring due to improper healing of the corneal flap could result in astigmatism and consequently affect the final best-corrected vision.
4. Conditions such as increased sensitivity to light, glare, foggy and double vision may be permanent as a result of the surgery. After the surgery, depth perception may be slightly different, all of which may affect the ability to drive and judge distances.
5. The surgery might be terminated in case of unexpected incidence, and the operation has to be rescheduled.
6. Corneal inflammation, infection, distortion, scar may happen. In such circumstances, remedial work such as laser surgery or even corneal transplant may be required.
7. If epithelial ingrowth occurs, the corneal flap needs to be re-elevated to remove the epithelial cells underneath the flap.
8. If the corneal epithelium is loose, it may be detached during the operation, leading to more pain and longer recovery time.
9. This surgery may cause difference in refraction and retinal images between eyes, ptosis, double vision and visual fluctuation.
10. The above complications can affect temporal or permanent vision.
11. This surgery will only change the refractive power of the eye, corneal thickness and curvature, but it will not alter the anatomical state of the eye. So, eyes originally myopic will always be classified as myopic eyes which will still suffer from risks, such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.
12. Lasik does not correct presbyopia (aging of the eye) and reading glasses may be needed after this treatment.