Eye treatments
General
The eye is considered the most important human sensory organ. Indeed, the eyes and lips are our most prominent facial features, and greatly contribute to our appearance. Signals that are important in communication often come from eye-contact.
Wearing glasses creates certain difficulties, especially in sports activities, or when we need protection from the sun, etc. Unfortunately, for many people contact lenses are not an alternative because they are not biocompatible, require care and maintenance and may cause inflammation.
Today, when many eye deficiencies can be corrected by modern laser techniques, patients with permanent eyesight deficiencies can choose from a number of alternatives:
- gray cataract surgery
- Femto-LASIK
- LASEK
- LASIK
- PRK
Gray cataract
Although it most often occurs in old age, the gray cataract can also be caused by eye injuries or medications. The lense increasingly becomes cloudy or opaque which causes blurred vision and eventually requires a surgical procedure.
It is first necessary to perform a few preliminary tests that last 3-4 hours. One of the tests causes the pupils to dilate, so the patient will be unable to drive after the examination.
The surgery for the removal of the gray cataract lasts approximately 20 minutes, but the overall treatment is 3-4 hours long. The opaque eye cataract is replaced with the new, intraocular lense made either from a soft material or a hard one, Plexiglas.
In certain cases, the patient will be advised to remain in the clinic for 2-3 days, but most patients leave the clinic after a few hours of tests, with an eye bandage that stays on the eye overnight.
After the procedure, the eye should not come into contact with water while showering or swimming. Proper care and consultation with the physician after the surgery can reduce the potential risks.
Femto - LASIK
Femto-LASIK is one of the methods that restore normal sight to those with distorted vision up to +/- 0.5 dioptre. The procedure entirely removes the need for poor eyesight aids or reduces it to only occasional use.
The surgical procedure is preceded by tests that last for 3-4 hours and determine the condition of the sight. The tests cause dilation of the pupils, so it is not possible to drive after the examination. Those who wear contact lenses should not use them a few weeks prior to the surgery.
Femto-Lasik surgery only lasts a few minutes, but the patient stays in the clinic for 4 hours. The procedure is painless and performed under local anaesthesia. The lower layer of the cornea is corrected by the computer guided excimer and the epithelium is then returned to the eye to serve as a natural bandage until recovery.
After the surgery, the eye needs to be closed for five hours for better recovery, and the patient will require an escort.
Antibiotic drops are used for a week as a matter of precaution. The patient will feel a pricking sensation for the first few days while the wound is healing. It is important to avoid strong wind and sun for 5 days after the surgery. Easy sports activities are allowed after 5 days, but the patient should avoid intensive trainings for a few weeks.
The risks of the Femto LASIK procedure are rather low. Combined with regular visits to the Ophthalmologist, they can be further reduced to a minimum.
LASEK
LASEK surgery is a method of sight correction that is used when the cornea is very thin and not quite suitable for treatment with other methods. During the surgery the surface layer of the cornea is removed, the deficiency is then corrected with the laser, and the epithelium is returned to its former place to serve as a natural protection during recovery.
This is a routine procedure, but it is necessary to talk to the physician first and to perform 3-4 hour long tests: corneal topography, eye pressure measurement... Because of the dilated pupils, the patient will not be able to drive after the examination. Contact lenses must not be worn for 2 weeks before the surgery.
After the surgery, the patient should keep his/her eyes closed for a few hours in order to enhance recovery. A burning sensation is possible during recovery, and tear secretion sometimes increases. Exposure to intense sun and strong wind is not advised 3-5 days following the surgery.
After 5 days, the patient can engage in light sports activities, while intense sports activities are allowed only after a few weeks. Swimming pools and sauna are not allowed in the period immediately following the procedure.
Good care after the procedure and regular check-ups reduce the potential risks. Eyesight improves within a few days after a LASEK procedure, or four to six weeks at the latest, and eyeglasses and lenses become a thing of the past.
LASIK
This method is used to remove the predetermined amount of corneal cells with a computerized laser beam. Sight deficiencies caused by an irregular angle of reflection of light are thus removed by accurate modification of the surface of the cornea.
LASIK is the most frequently used, the least painful and the least demanding method of eye correction in global terms. The procedure lasts only a few minutes and is performed under a local anaesthesia. Patients who choose this method should not wear contact lenses or eye make-up in the period immediately before the procedure.
During the first hours after the surgery, it is advised to keep the eyes closed to ensure optimum healing. After that, with regular check-ups and precautionary measures, it is possible to lead a normal life, and an eye bandage is usually not necessary. The risks of this procedure are rare.
Normal sight is achieved after 4-6 weeks with +/-0.5 dioptre, which enables a life without glasses or contact lenses.
PRK
The PRK sight correction method has been performed since 1980. It is a safe and reliable method of sight correction for deficiencies of up to -6 dioptre.
It is first necessary to conduct tests which last 3-4 hours: the exam of the surface of the cornea, eye pressure measurement… It is advised not to wear contact lenses two weeks prior to the procedure.
The operation lasts only a few minutes, however the overall procedure takes up to 4 hours. The procedure includes complete removal of the epithelium, the protective and regenerable layer of the cornea, to ensure better access to the lower layers of the cornea which is then treated with the laser. During the procedure, the patient normally experiences no pain.
After the surgery, the patient should have an escort because the eyes need to be closed for 3-5 hours, which enhances recovery. Epithelium regenerates itself within 2-3 days upon surgery and the patient will feel pain for a few days.
In order to prevent inflammation, antibiotic drops are applied and it might be necessary to wear an eye bandage. One should avoid direct exposure to sun and strong winds. The patient will be able to play sports again after a few weeks.
The patient needs to pay regular visits to the Ophthalmologist because it helps the process of recovery and reduces the risk of post-surgical complications.
The eye is considered the most important human sensory organ. Indeed, the eyes and lips are our most prominent facial features, and greatly contribute to our appearance. Signals that are important in communication often come from eye-contact.
Wearing glasses creates certain difficulties, especially in sports activities, or when we need protection from the sun, etc. Unfortunately, for many people contact lenses are not an alternative because they are not biocompatible, require care and maintenance and may cause inflammation.
Today, when many eye deficiencies can be corrected by modern laser techniques, patients with permanent eyesight deficiencies can choose from a number of alternatives:
- gray cataract surgery
- Femto-LASIK
- LASEK
- LASIK
- PRK
Gray cataract
Although it most often occurs in old age, the gray cataract can also be caused by eye injuries or medications. The lense increasingly becomes cloudy or opaque which causes blurred vision and eventually requires a surgical procedure.
It is first necessary to perform a few preliminary tests that last 3-4 hours. One of the tests causes the pupils to dilate, so the patient will be unable to drive after the examination.
The surgery for the removal of the gray cataract lasts approximately 20 minutes, but the overall treatment is 3-4 hours long. The opaque eye cataract is replaced with the new, intraocular lense made either from a soft material or a hard one, Plexiglas.
In certain cases, the patient will be advised to remain in the clinic for 2-3 days, but most patients leave the clinic after a few hours of tests, with an eye bandage that stays on the eye overnight.
After the procedure, the eye should not come into contact with water while showering or swimming. Proper care and consultation with the physician after the surgery can reduce the potential risks.
Femto - LASIK
Femto-LASIK is one of the methods that restore normal sight to those with distorted vision up to +/- 0.5 dioptre. The procedure entirely removes the need for poor eyesight aids or reduces it to only occasional use.
The surgical procedure is preceded by tests that last for 3-4 hours and determine the condition of the sight. The tests cause dilation of the pupils, so it is not possible to drive after the examination. Those who wear contact lenses should not use them a few weeks prior to the surgery.
Femto-Lasik surgery only lasts a few minutes, but the patient stays in the clinic for 4 hours. The procedure is painless and performed under local anaesthesia. The lower layer of the cornea is corrected by the computer guided excimer and the epithelium is then returned to the eye to serve as a natural bandage until recovery.
After the surgery, the eye needs to be closed for five hours for better recovery, and the patient will require an escort.
Antibiotic drops are used for a week as a matter of precaution. The patient will feel a pricking sensation for the first few days while the wound is healing. It is important to avoid strong wind and sun for 5 days after the surgery. Easy sports activities are allowed after 5 days, but the patient should avoid intensive trainings for a few weeks.
The risks of the Femto LASIK procedure are rather low. Combined with regular visits to the Ophthalmologist, they can be further reduced to a minimum.
LASEK
LASEK surgery is a method of sight correction that is used when the cornea is very thin and not quite suitable for treatment with other methods. During the surgery the surface layer of the cornea is removed, the deficiency is then corrected with the laser, and the epithelium is returned to its former place to serve as a natural protection during recovery.
This is a routine procedure, but it is necessary to talk to the physician first and to perform 3-4 hour long tests: corneal topography, eye pressure measurement... Because of the dilated pupils, the patient will not be able to drive after the examination. Contact lenses must not be worn for 2 weeks before the surgery.
After the surgery, the patient should keep his/her eyes closed for a few hours in order to enhance recovery. A burning sensation is possible during recovery, and tear secretion sometimes increases. Exposure to intense sun and strong wind is not advised 3-5 days following the surgery.
After 5 days, the patient can engage in light sports activities, while intense sports activities are allowed only after a few weeks. Swimming pools and sauna are not allowed in the period immediately following the procedure.
Good care after the procedure and regular check-ups reduce the potential risks. Eyesight improves within a few days after a LASEK procedure, or four to six weeks at the latest, and eyeglasses and lenses become a thing of the past.
LASIK
This method is used to remove the predetermined amount of corneal cells with a computerized laser beam. Sight deficiencies caused by an irregular angle of reflection of light are thus removed by accurate modification of the surface of the cornea.
LASIK is the most frequently used, the least painful and the least demanding method of eye correction in global terms. The procedure lasts only a few minutes and is performed under a local anaesthesia. Patients who choose this method should not wear contact lenses or eye make-up in the period immediately before the procedure.
During the first hours after the surgery, it is advised to keep the eyes closed to ensure optimum healing. After that, with regular check-ups and precautionary measures, it is possible to lead a normal life, and an eye bandage is usually not necessary. The risks of this procedure are rare.
Normal sight is achieved after 4-6 weeks with +/-0.5 dioptre, which enables a life without glasses or contact lenses.
PRK
The PRK sight correction method has been performed since 1980. It is a safe and reliable method of sight correction for deficiencies of up to -6 dioptre.
It is first necessary to conduct tests which last 3-4 hours: the exam of the surface of the cornea, eye pressure measurement… It is advised not to wear contact lenses two weeks prior to the procedure.
The operation lasts only a few minutes, however the overall procedure takes up to 4 hours. The procedure includes complete removal of the epithelium, the protective and regenerable layer of the cornea, to ensure better access to the lower layers of the cornea which is then treated with the laser. During the procedure, the patient normally experiences no pain.
After the surgery, the patient should have an escort because the eyes need to be closed for 3-5 hours, which enhances recovery. Epithelium regenerates itself within 2-3 days upon surgery and the patient will feel pain for a few days.
In order to prevent inflammation, antibiotic drops are applied and it might be necessary to wear an eye bandage. One should avoid direct exposure to sun and strong winds. The patient will be able to play sports again after a few weeks.
The patient needs to pay regular visits to the Ophthalmologist because it helps the process of recovery and reduces the risk of post-surgical complications.