Refractive surgery could be the right option for patients with refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia.
Refractive surgery is a surgical procedure that corrects common vision problems to reduce reliance on glasses or contact lenses. A laser procedure called LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive surgery to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The LASIK procedure reshapes the cornea to allow light to enter the eye properly and focus on the retina for clearer vision.
Refractive surgery include:
- LASIK
- PRK
- Refractive intraocular lenses (toric, multifocal, restoration).
When the first laser vision correction procedures were performed in 1987, only those with low to moderate myopia without astigmatism were candidates. Today, however, the procedure is effective for those with a wide range of vision problems, such as:
- Astigmatism
- Farsightedness (Farsightedness)
- myopia (nearsightedness)
- Presbyopia
There are many factors to consider when determining which type of refractive surgery is right for each patient. Some of these factors are discussed with the specialist during the preoperative evaluation. Some may be decided by the patient's lifestyle and preferences. The ophthalmologist also performs a series of tests and evaluates them together with the patient, explaining the available options to make the best decision.
El Director of Innova Ocular Muiños Clinic explains in this video what refractive surgery consists of, what the different existing techniques are and some of the recommendations to carry out after the intervention.
