Get rid of glasses and contact lenses
More and more people are going through life without glasses and lenses because they have had their eyes lasered. But which laser methods are there actually and for whom are they suitable?
No eye, and therefore no eye defect is the same. But most refractive or refractive errors – such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, cylinder deviation or presbyopia (reading glasses) – can be corrected by refractive eye surgery, in other words: lasering the eyes.
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The most well-known laser treatment is the so-called lasik treatment, also called femtolasik or epilasik. A computer-controlled laser makes a wafer-thin flap in the cornea. The glasses strength is then corrected with a laser. The flap is then put back. The surface heals almost immediately and your vision is quickly restored. Most eye disorders can be treated with this treatment. You may be eligible for strengths between -10.00 and +5.00 and cylinder strengths up to -/+6.00. At higher strengths, a contact lens implant is recommended. The results are very good, in about 95 percent the vision is 100 percent again after a treatment. The treatment takes place under local anesthesia with eye drops.
lasek
If preliminary research shows that your eyes are not suitable for a lasik treatment, for example due to a cornea that is too thin, you can consider asek or PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy). This treatment is suitable for myopia up to -8D, farsightedness up to +3D and for cylinders up to 5D. With this laser treatment, the most superficial, protective cell layer (epithelium) is removed. The laser treatment then takes place on the underlying corneal tissue. You will usually achieve 80 percent of the intended result within a week. Full vision recovery takes 2 to 4 weeks. Anesthetic eye drops are also used in this treatment. Some people find recovery after a laser treatment a bit painful.
Lens Implantation
Laser treatment is often less suitable for very strong eye defects. A lens implant may then be an option. A contact lens implantation is especially helpful for moderate to severe nearsightedness and farsightedness (from -8D to over -20D, and from +2D to +14D). In this treatment, an ‘extra’ lens is implanted in the eye. It stays in place permanently and does not need to be replaced after a certain time. Depending on the type of lens, it is placed in front of or behind the iris. Also offers novice cataracts lens implant outcome.
The risks
The risks of complications with refractive eye surgery are small and can almost always be treated well. If the preliminary examination is thorough and the treatment is done by a skilled ophthalmologist with the most modern equipment, the risks are no greater than those of wearing contact lenses or glasses.
Costs
Laser eye surgery seems expensive if you compare it to glasses or contact lenses. But the costs for glasses or lenses return regularly, while the costs for laser eye surgery are one-off. In most cases you will have earned this back in a few years. Whether it is worth the investment is therefore highly personal. Some insurance policies reimburse (part of) the costs, inquire about this with your insurance company.