LASIK (or Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a modern surgical procedure for correcting vision problems like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. LASIK is an advanced laser vision correction technique in which the curvature of the cornea is reshaped to a micron, to help you achieve excellent visual outcomes. In a

Patients who are 18 years old or older, and have a stable spectacle power over a year are eligible for LASIK. In a two-part procedure, a femtosecond laser is used to create a flap in the cornea (the transparent outer layer of the eye), and an excimer laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. The flap is folded back precisely and sealed together. The procedure takes a few minutes per eye. Most patients begin to see clearly from the day of the surgery.

LASIK is a well-tested procedure for most people looking to correct their vision and give up spectacles or contact lens.

• At least 18 years old or older.
• A stable prescription without any changes to the refractive power for at least a year.
• Adequately thick corneas that are healthy with adequate cell-count.
• A refractive error that is best suited to be corrected with LASIK.

LASIK is safe and effective, but it has certain side-effects. Some are common and temporary, while a few may develop longer-term issues.

• Under-correction or Over-correction: Undercorrection may sometimes be planned intentionally or may occur as an unintentional effect. As a result, the eye remains shortsighted even after the surgery. If the degree of residual myopia is significant, the eye may be retreated at a later date. Overcorrection is a very rare occurrence.
• Glare/Halo: You may feel some sensitivity to light at night or in bright sunlight. Sometimes in dim light, you may see a faded ghost image around the sharp bright image. This will pass after the first few days or weeks.
• Decrease in contrast sensitivity: Some people find that their night time vision has become mildly dull. This happens because of a decrease in their ability to discriminate between different contrast levels.
• Dry eyes: LASIK may result in some temporary dryness in the eyes. Your doctor may prescribe artificial tears to help ease the dryness. If it persists or is severe, they may offer more options.

PRK is preferred in cases with borderline corneal thickness where LASIK might be risky. Excessive ultraviolet exposure is a risk factor as it might cause haze after PRK; this is a problem faced predominantly by Indian subjects. After surgery, to minimize haze, your doctor mat prescribe ointments. L V Prasad Eye Institute is one of the few places in India that offers this procedure, and the results have been very encouraging.

The Phakic IOL technique is recommended for patients with moderate to severe myopia, i.e., very high refractive powers (near-sightedness). It is used safely and effectively for the acutely near-sighted who are tired of wearing thick glasses and are not suited for the customized LASIK procedure, because they have low corneal thickness or flat corneas.

In this procedure an intraocular lens, (made of biocompatible material that has been tested and proven fit for implantation for over 50 years), is fixed in front of the natural clear lens — behind the cornea and on top of the iris. The word ‘phakic’ means that the natural crystalline lens is left in the eye. This is important because the natural lens plays an important role in helping the eye adjust between seeing objects that are near and far. This gives the eye another focusing lens that provides high-quality, high-definition vision like a normal eye.

Phakic IOL is performed as an outpatient procedure that takes 15 – 30 minutes. Usually one eye is treated at a time. The patient is administered eye drops to reduce the size of the pupil. The doctor uses an instrument to comfortably hold the eyelids open during the procedure. A local anesthetic is given to sedate the eye, so the procedure is virtually painless. A small incision is made in the cornea and the phakic IOL is centreed in front of the pupil, and is gently attached to the iris to hold the lens in place. The incision is closed with microscopic stitches that dissolve on their own.

Types of Phakic IOLs

• Anterior chamber IOL
• Iris fixated IOL
• Posterior chamber IOL