LASIK EYE LASER –
Refractive Surgery
The goal of refractive surgery is the surgical correction of refractive errors.
This area of ophthalmology specializes in helping people with complex visual impairments who have problems with traditional visual aids.
The aim of surgical intervention on the cornea or lens is to correct the refractive error so that light rays or images are sharply focused on the retina without additional optical aids.
The procedures at a glance
The innovative methods of refractive surgery have been used for many years and have opened up new avenues in ophthalmology.
A distinction is made between lens and corneal procedures:
Treatment methods at a glance
| Application | Nearsightedness | Hyperopia | Astigmatism | Presbyopia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornhautanwendung | |||||
| Femto/ I-LASIK | Bis ca. -12 dpt* | Bis ca. +5 dpt | Bis ca. 4.5 dpt | – | |
| LASEK/PRK | Bis ca. -8 dpt | Bis ca. +3 dpt | Bis ca. 3 dpt | – | |
| ReLex SMILE LASIK | Up to approx. -10 diopters | not possible | Up to approx. -5 diopters | – | |
| Lens application | |||||
| IOL | up to -25 diopters | up to +13 diopters | All values | – | |
| Multifocal lenses | up to -25 diopters | up to +13 diopters | All values | Yes |
Corneal procedure (excimer laser technology)
The term “excimer” derives from the English “excited dimer” (excited molecule). This refers to the effect of cold lasers on cells. In medicine, lasers are used in a wide variety of fields.
Excimer lasers have been used in eye surgery since the early 1980s. They are used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This has the advantage of minimizing treatment time.
Two different methods are used with excimer lasers:
- LASIK = Laser in situ keratomileusis (Standard/ Femto- Intralase/ ReLex Smile)
- LASEK /PRK = Laser(Sub)epithelial Keratectomy
Nowadays, almost all treatments are performed using I-LASIK or ReLex Smile LASIK.
You can find more information here.
Lens Surgery
Lens surgery is primarily used for very high refractive errors when complete correction is not possible by simply changing the refractive power of the cornea. This procedure is also used to correct presbyopia (age-related farsightedness).
Experience in the field of lens implantation spans almost 50 years: The first artificial lenses to correct refractive errors were implanted in the 1950s.