Towards clearer vision

OVER the past decades, vision correction surgery – or refractive and laser eye surgery – has improved the quality of life in over 30 million patients, with a 95% or more patient satisfaction rate.

It is one of the most popular elective surgery procedures in all of medicine.

It is considered safe with predictable results and has been approved by the armed forces in many countries and even Nasa astronaut candidates in the United States.

Many patients reported seeing better than they had at any other time in their lives after the surgery.

Laser- assisted in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK) is now the most performed elective procedure in the modern world.

But in recent years, advancements have been made, with a new procedure called ReLEx Smile gaining popularity worldwide and potentially changing the practice for the next decades.

Unlike conventional LASIK, ReLEx Smile procedure does not create flap and involves the use of only one laser ( the femtosecond laser).

Instead of vapourising cornea tissue to correct the underlying short- sightedness and astigmatism, ReLEx Smile carves out a small piece of corneal tissue called a lenticule in the cornea, which is removed through a 2.5 to 4mm keyhole incision.

This single- step, all- in- one- laser operation only takes about 30 seconds to perform on one eye and the entire procedure can be completed in about 15 minutes for both eyes.

This laser is fast and uses low energy, the procedure is odourless and silent, so there is less discomfort for patients.

They also feel more comfortable as the suction on the eye during the treatment is gentler.

Most will experience a dramatic improvement in their vision a day after the surgery and then remain stable days after the surgery.

But choosing laser eye correction for eyesight problems is not a decision to take lightly.

It is still a surgical procedure that carries surgical risk, although the risk involved is very small and the success rate is high.

Patients are advised to have their eyes properly evaluated and examined by an eye surgeon prior to surgery. Discuss all options and potential risks in detail with the eye surgeon or eye care provider before deciding.

For more information, contact KPJ Pusat Pakar Mata Centre For Sight at 03- 4022 6222 ( KL); 03- 7804 4051 ( PJ).

In a single step, the laser creates a refractive lenticule and a small incision of less than 4mm in the intact cornea – virtually regardless of the ambient conditions or corneal structure.