The current excimer laser surgery for myopia can be categorized into PRK (laser refractive keratectomy) and LASIK (laser in situ lamellar keratoplasty). Physicians say that the former is suitable for vision correction between 300 and 800 degrees, while the latter is more suitable for patients with high myopia.
The advantages and disadvantages of laser surgery for myopia, it is best to consult with a professional ophthalmologist to fully communicate before the operation.
The biggest difference between PRK and LASIK is that PRK removes the corneal epithelium, and as the epithelium gradually heals, vision is gradually restored; LASIK does not remove the corneal epithelium, and therefore does not destroy the Bowman's layer between the epithelium and the stroma. The attending physician of Shu Tian Eye Clinic, Dr. Wu Renbin, said that the two laser surgeries have their own advantages and disadvantages, which are related to the physician's professional experience and technical skills.
In the case of PRK, it is suitable for patients over 20 years of age, with stable myopia, best-corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or higher, and patients who are not adapted to, or do not want to wear, glasses and contact lenses. Suitable for patients with myopia between 300 and 800 diopters and astigmatism between 50 and 600 diopters. Prior to the surgery, the surgeon will administer topical anesthetics, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops, and then scrape off the central corneal epithelium with the aid of a computer. After the surgery, in addition to the eye drops, the patient will be required to wear a therapeutic contact lens for about 3 days.
Because the corneal epithelium has been removed, pain is more likely to be experienced on the first to second day after the procedure. However, as the epithelium gradually heals (about 3 days for the general public, 4-7 days for a few), the pain will gradually subside, and vision will gradually return, stabilizing in about 1 month to 4 months. After the surgery, we have to pay attention to the possibility of infection, and for those with high myopia, scarring is more likely to occur, which may have an impact on the corrected visual acuity.
As for LASIK, it can correct myopia up to 2,500 diopters, so it is a better choice for patients with high myopia over 800 diopters, and astigmatism between 50 diopters and 600 diopters. The surgery is characterized by a gear-driven corneal microscopic razor that lifts the corneal epidermis to form a corneal epidermal flap, which is then cut with a laser in the corneal stroma, and then the epidermal flap is covered back up after the surgery.
Compared to PRK, LASIK does not remove the corneal epithelium, so it does not damage the Bowman's layer between the epithelium and the stroma, which greatly reduces the chances of scarring in highly myopic patients, and with the corneal epithelium intact, the wound heals quickly, and there is no postoperative pain, and vision can be stabilized in 1 to 4 weeks.
However, the LASIK procedure is more complex, and lifting the corneal epithelial flap is too large or too small, which may affect the postoperative outcome, and a very small number of patients may also experience flap detachment or corneal rupture, as well as under- or over-correction, infection, glare .... and other problems.
Each patient has a different degree of myopia and eye health, and it is recommended that you should fully consult and communicate with your physician before making a decision to have myopic laser surgery, in order to have a more consistent expectation of postoperative outcomes.
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