Increase the refractive surgeries by functionality

Written by: Dra. Paula Verdaguer Agustí

Published: 29/04/2014

Edited by: Top Doctors^®

More and more people are opting to treat their vision problems such as myopia , hyperopia or astigmatism with surgery, not just for aesthetics, but also for comfort. The pleasure of being able to see well without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses makes people between 20 and 40 years go to refractive surgery .

This is a quick and painless intervention. Topical or local anesthesia is used, having a high safety index, so complications are infrequent.

*Refractive surgery is a quick and painless intervention*

At present, there are several surgical techniques but "in the Institut de la Màcula i de la Retina we use three. All, correctly indicated, are equally effective so the use of one or the other will depend on the needs and characteristics of each patient "says Dr.. Paula Verdaguer , ophthalmologist specialist in cornea, refractive surgery and cataract at the Institut.

Lasik (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) consists in modifying the shape of the cornea to change the refraction or total graduation of the eye. Lasts about 20 minutes and usually both eyes are involved in the same session. The visual recovery is practically immediate.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy with Excimer laser): corrects diopters on the external surface of the cornea. Its duration is about 20 minutes and both eyes can be operated on in the same intervention. You get good vision a week after surgery.
The posterior chamber phakic lens type ICL ( Implantable Contact Lens ) is introduced into the eye in front of the lens and behind the iris to correct myopia, hyperopia and high astigmatism. The surgery lasts about 20 minutes per eye and, to minimize risks of infection, it is performed first of one eye and between one and two weeks after that of the second. The visual recovery is practically immediate .

Some requirements must be met to be able to perform this operation. The first, be of legal age and present a stable graduation for at least one year. People with serious or uncontrolled eye diseases or pregnant women could not be intervened.