Overview of Laser Eye Surgery
Refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism; The daily lives of millions of people are shaped by addiction to glasses or lenses. Laser eye surgery stands out as the most reliable and common method to get rid of this restriction permanently.
Technology has advanced significantly over the years; Today, different techniques such as LASIK, iLASIK and SMILE Pro are offered to patients. This guide provides the information you need in your decision process in a clear and comparative format.
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)
En yaygın uygulanan laser eye surgery yöntemidir. Mikrokeratom adı verilen özel bir bıçak yardımıyla kornea yüzeyinde ince bir kapak (flap) oluşturulur; ardından lazer ile korneada gerekli şekillendirme yapılır ve kapak yerine geri konur. Hızlı iyileşme süreci ve düşük ağrı düzeyi nedeniyle uzun yıllar standart tercih olmuştur.
iLASIK (Bladeless, All-Laser LASIK)
iLASIK‘ta kapak oluşturma aşamasında da lazer (femtosaniye lazeri) kullanılır; mikrokeratom bıçağı devreye girmez. Bu sayede kapak daha ince, daha uniform ve kişiye özel biçimde hazırlanır. Dalga cephesi rehberli teknoloji ile birleştiğinde bireyselleştirilmiş bir tedavi sunar. Standart LASIK’a göre daha hassas ve güvenli kabul edilir.
SMILE Pro (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)
SMILE Pro, kornea yüzeyinde flap oluşturmaksızın çalışan en son nesil teknolojidir. Femtosaniye lazeri ile kornea içinde küçük bir lentiküler doku çıkarılır ve yalnızca 2-4 mm’lik minik bir kesi ile bu doku uzaklaştırılır. Yüzey bütünlüğü çok daha iyi korunduğundan kuru göz riski daha düşük, mekanik dayanıklılık ise daha yüksektir.
Which Method is Right for You?
Laser method selection; It depends on many variables such as corneal thickness, eye size, pupil width, profession, sports habits and personal preferences. General trends can be summarized as follows:
- Candidates with thin corneas or those actively involved in sports: SMILE Pro
- Those looking for wide eye size and personalized treatment: iLASIK
- Standard myopia or astigmatism, suitable corneal thickness: LASIK
However, these pairings are not exact; Each patient should be evaluated individually. The only realistic way to understand which method is suitable for you is a preliminary examination by a specialist ophthalmologist.
What is Checked in the Pre-Operative Examination?
The preliminary evaluation performed before deciding on laser eye surgery is extremely comprehensive. During this process, corneal topography and thickness measurement, pupil diameter determination, wave front analysis, intraocular pressure measurement and general eye health examination are performed. By bringing all these data together, a decision on suitability for surgery is made and personalized treatment parameters are determined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is laser surgery permanent?
Yes. The effect of laser surgery is largely permanent. However, the need for reading glasses may develop over the age of 40; This is a result of the natural aging process, not the laser treatment.
Can laser be applied to every eye?
No. People who have insufficient corneal thickness, have certain eye diseases, or whose eye number exceeds a certain threshold may not be suitable candidates. Therefore, preliminary examination is indispensable.
Can both eyes be operated on in the same session?
Yes. It is standard practice in laser surgery to treat both eyes in the same session. The healing process is completed in one go.
Is SMILE Pro more expensive?
SMILE Pro costs slightly more than standard LASIK due to the technology it uses. However, considering the advantages it offers and its side effect profile, including dry eye, it may be a more economical choice in the long term for many patients.
