What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

Vision issues may be remedied by using laser eye surgery, often known as refractive surgery. Other variations include LASIK, LASEK, PRK, and ALK, amongst others. They may help treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism all at the same time. Overcorrection, under-correction, infection, halos, and other adverse effects are possible risks of this procedure. It would help if you discussed them with your physician to get more information. You should find out whether you are a candidate for surgery and if your insurance covered the treatment before deciding to have it done. Use the links provided below to access WebMD’s extensive coverage of laser eye surgery, including information on how the procedure is done, what to anticipate during recovery, and much more.

Eye surgery known as radial keratotomy (RK).

This treatment was one of the most widespread methods used to address nearsightedness. Nevertheless, when more modern techniques like LASEK, LASIK, and PRK have become available, this one is now regarded as needing to be updated.

Individuals who have undergone RK are at an increased risk of developing difficulties in the future, such as variations in their vision. Cross-linking of the collagen in the cornea may assist in minimizing the fluctuations.

Is Laser Eye Surgery or Refractive Eye Surgery Something I Should Consider?

Certain people need to be better candidates for laser or refractive eye surgery. In general, a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery or refractive eye surgery will have the following characteristics:

At least 18 years old to participate.
Prescription for eyeglasses and contact lenses that have been stable for at least two to three years.
The vision that has remained unchanged for at least the last year
There is neither a history nor any indications of currently active corneal disease.
No primary medical or ocular conditions, such as a history of corneal ulcers, keratoconus (a gradual thinning of the cornea, which may also run in families), diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or glaucoma.
There is no severe dry eye here.
Not pregnant or breastfeeding
Eyeglass prescriptions that fall within specified parameters established by your ophthalmologist

A suitable candidate is also someone who, even though they anticipate an improvement in their vision, is nevertheless OK with the thought of being required to wear glasses in certain circumstances, such as driving at night.

Health insurance as well as corrective eye surgery using laser technology

The price of refractive or laser eye surgery is often not covered by health insurance; however, certain businesses will foot the bill if particular conditions are satisfied. Laser eye surgery may qualify for discounts or be partially hidden under the vision plans offered by certain insurance carriers. These plans are often referred to as “vision plans.” Because laser eye surgery is a kind of elective surgery, many health insurance companies see it as a cosmetic procedure that is not required for any medical reason. The following are some of the scenarios in which some medical insurance policies may, in exceptional cases, cover laser eye surgery or refractive eye surgery:

Surgery on the eye to correct refractive defects brought on by an accident or injury
Eye surgery to correct refractive problems caused by previous surgical procedures.
Eye surgery may be necessary for patients with severe refractive problems; however, there is no predetermined degree of visual impairment at which insurance will pay for repair. Insurance coverage under these conditions is often quite uneven, and consumers should check with their providers to confirm their coverage.
Eye surgery for patients who are unable to use glasses because of a physical constraint (such as an allergy or a deformity), as well as those who are unable to wear contacts because of a physical limitation (lens intolerance)

If you are still determining whether or not you are enrolled in a plan that offers benefits, you should contact the insurance provider you currently use. You may have to pay for it out of your pocket, use money from your flexible spending or health savings account, or all of the above.

Photorefractive Keratectomy Eye Surgery

This form of laser eye surgery sometimes referred to as PRK, may be helpful for patients who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. If your eye condition is modest or moderate, it will function better.

The cornea, the transparent front layer of your eye, will be reshaped during any laser vision correction surgery you have. Imagine it as a windscreen; light passes through it, and the back of your eye, where the retina is, receives the focused image.

Your cornea is treated with a cold, pulsating beam of ultraviolet radiation while undergoing PRK, performed by an eye surgeon. Another laser surgery, LASIK, does its job underneath the cornea.

Pros
It has a great degree of efficacy in treating several instances of nearsightedness. One year following the procedure, most patients no longer need glasses or contacts and have vision that is at least 20/40 or better.

Cons
This endeavor is hardly a stroll in the park. It’s possible that you:

After the operation, you may have slight pain for one to three days, including moderate eye irritation and watering.
A more drawn-out period of recovery. Individuals who get LASIK surgery report seeing changes in their vision in less than a month. It may take anything from one to three months while use PRK.
A requirement for eyeglasses.

Adverse Reactions

After surgery, you can expect to have some minor pain between hours 24 and 72. You may also have light sensitivity for some time, and you will need to continue using eye drops as directed for the next several weeks. Within the first six months, you’ll realize you need new glasses to compensate for your enhanced vision.

How should I get ready?

You will first have a consultation with an eye surgeon or a coordinator to discuss what you may anticipate before, during, and after the procedure. They will examine your eyes and talk to you about your past medical history. The following tests are possible:

A measurement of the corneal thickness
Refraction
Mapping of the corneum
Eye pressure check

After that, your surgeon will address any more questions you may have. After that, you will make an appointment for your procedure.

If you use contact lenses, you will be required to refrain from using them for the duration of the evaluation:

Gas permeable: 2 weeks
Other durations: five days

On the day of your operation, eat a small meal before heading into the operating room, and take all your medicines as directed. Avoid wearing eye makeup or thick hair accessories since doing so will make it more challenging to position your head correctly beneath the laser. If you wake up feeling unwell on the day of the surgery, you should contact the doctor’s office to see whether or not the treatment might be delayed.

What Can I Expect During the PRK Procedure?

Your eye will be rendered numb by using a medication known as a topical anesthetic by the doctor. In most cases, the operation lasts little more than ten minutes total, including time spent on both eyes. To access the top layer of your eye, they will delicately remove a portion of the surface epithelium, often known as the “skin.” After that, the doctor will restructure it with a laser. This laser, which emits ultraviolet light, is employed on the surface of the cornea.

What Kind of Results Can I Anticipate After PRK?

After surgical procedures, the majority of the time, a bandage contact lens will be placed by the attending physician. To give the surface of your eye time to heal, you will need to wear it for the first five to seven days. Throughout the following half year, you are scheduled to have some appointments with your eye doctor. The first appointment is typically scheduled for the day following surgery. The second visit, during which the doctor will remove the contact lens, is often prepared for around one week after the first procedure.

During the first several weeks after surgery, your vision may go from clear to fuzzy. You may need glasses to read at night or drive at night until it evens out. Even though it may not feel like it, the moisture in your eyes has evaporated. Your eyes need to be kept moist and protected from infection. Therefore the doctor will prescribe eye drops for you. They may hurt you or temporarily obscure your eyesight. Do not use any bubbles that your physician has not recommended. Your vision will gradually become improve over time. You should be able to go back behind the wheel for one to three weeks. Nevertheless, you won’t get your finest results anywhere between two and twelve weeks.

Do I Have to Keep Using My Reading Glasses?

Most likely, yes. This is because presbyopia, in which reading vision becomes blurry while distance vision remains unaffected, often affects people in their 40s. Reading glasses are the solution to the issue. In monovision, one eye is used to concentrate on objects that are in the near distance while the other eye focuses on those that are in the distant space. You have the option of obtaining it via the use of contact lenses or through laser refractive surgery like LASIK or PRK. Check with your medical provider to see whether it’s appropriate for you.

A Guide to the Procedures of Laser and Refractive Eye Surgery

Vision correction surgery, also known as refractive and laser eye surgery, is a general term that refers to any surgical operation performed to rectify patient vision issues. The last several years have seen much progress in this area. Many people benefit from refractive and laser eye surgery, enabling them to have the best vision they have ever had.

The cornea, the transparent front section of the eye, is reshaped in most surgical procedures that restore eyesight. This allows light to pass through it and correctly concentrate on the retina located in the rear of your eye. Some techniques can replace the natural lens in your eye.

LASIK

Laser in-situ keratomileusis, more commonly known as LASIK, is an effective treatment option for those who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. In order to access the tissue that lies behind the cornea’s outermost layer, the doctor creates a flap in that layer. After that, a laser will remodel the tissue behind your cornea to focus light correctly. The flap is what distinguishes LASIK from other available treatments. Computer imaging, known as wavefront technology, may also be used by the doctor to get an accurate picture of your cornea that they may use as a reference point.

PORK

Photorefractive keratectomy, often known as PRK, is a procedure that may treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism that is mild to moderate in severity. A surgeon will use a laser to reshape your cornea, similar to the LASIK procedure. Yet, it only affects the cornea’s surface, not the deeper tissue. In addition to this, your doctor could employ computer imaging to examine the cornea. Are you curious about how long the recovery period is after astigmatism surgery?

The RLE and the PRELEX

The abbreviation for “refractive lens exchange” is “RLE.” PRELEX, transparent lens exchange (CLE), precise lens extraction (CLE), and refractive lens replacement are some of the other names for this procedure (RLR). It’s precisely the same as surgery for cataracts. Your cornea’s periphery will have a tiny incision made by the surgeon. They will remove your natural lens and insert an artificial one made of plastic. The method is capable of treating severe cases of either nearsightedness or farsightedness. Those whose corneas are thin, whose eyes are dry, or who have other mild corneal disorders benefit greatly from using it. RLE may be used with LASIK or a technique comparable to LASIK to address astigmatism.

A presbyopic lens exchange, often known as PRELEX for short, is a surgical surgery that corrects presbyopia, also known as a lack of flexibility in the eye. Your current lens will be removed, and the doctor will insert a multifocal lens. It is the same as the one described before, except it also includes a multifocal implant, improving your distance and up-close vision.

Intacs

Intracorneal ring segments, abbreviated as ICR, are another name, for instance. The doctor will create a tiny incision in your cornea and install two plastic rings in the form of a crescent moon at the cornea’s periphery. Your cornea will become flatter due to the rings, and the way light rays concentrate on your retina will also alter. In-situ keratomileusis (ICR) was a treatment option for myopia; however, laser-based techniques have since supplanted it. Keratoconus, an irregularly shaped cornea that causes your cornea to thin and result in vision loss, is being treated with it in the hope that it may correct the condition.

Phakic Intraocular Lens Implants

Phakic intraocular lens implants, also known as implanted contact lenses (ICL), are created for those with a degree of myopia that makes LASIK and PRK unfeasible. The surgeon will first create a tiny incision around the periphery of your cornea, and then they will either connect the implant lens to your iris or place it behind your pupil. In contrast to RLE, your native lens will not get dislodged. The most common phakic lens implant form is the Visian ICL.

LORI

Limbal Relaxing Incision is an abbreviation for an astigmatic keratotomy, also known as an LRI. Astigmatism may be surgically corrected with a process that is not laser eye surgery. Astigmatism is characterized by an irregularly shaped cornea, giving the appearance of a football rather than a circular pupil. The doctor will make one or two small incisions in the area of your cornea that is most steep. This helps it relax, which ultimately results in a more rounded appearance. This technique may be performed on its own, or it can be done in conjunction with other laser eyes procedures such as PRK, LASIK, or RK.

Are These Operations Likely to be Successful and Safe?

It has been shown that they are effective, but like with any surgical procedure, there is always the possibility of adverse consequences. It is essential to keep them in mind at all times.

Infection, as well as a delay in the healing process. After PRK or LASIK surgery, an infection may occur in a tiny percentage of patients. In most cases, it results in increased pain and a lengthier recovery period.

Either insufficient correction or too much punishment. You will know how successful the surgery was once your eye wholly recovered from the procedure. You may still need to use glasses or contacts. A second laser operation, also known as laser enhancement, may improve your eyesight if it isn’t delicious.

The vision could be better. While it’s uncommon, some individuals end up with even poorer fiction than before surgery. The typical causes include irregular tissue loss or an excessive corneal haze.

Excessive clouding of the cornea. After PRK, this is a potential component of the natural healing process. After that, it will often not impact your eyesight, and the only way to tell for sure is to have an eye check. There are occasions when it may mess with your vision. You may need a second procedure. A drug known as mitomycin C (MMC), used after PRK surgery, may also prevent it.

Regression. Atypical healing may result in the effects of surgery disappearing over many months at times. You may require a second operation to see better.

The effect of a halo occurs when there is little light, and it may make it difficult to drive or see in dark regions. The untreated area is outside your cornea and provides a second picture of when your pupil widens. It can occur after LASIK or PRK. To reduce the risk of this happening, your ophthalmologist may use laser optical zones or wavefront technology, which generate a three-dimensional model of your eye to facilitate more accurate surgical procedures. Greater degrees of nearsightedness with LASIK and PRK are associated with an increased risk of halo, but higher degrees of nearsightedness treated with Visian ICL had a lower chance of halo.

Flap damage or loss. The LASIK procedure creates a hinged flap in the corneal center. It may need to be realigned during the first few days following surgery or after significant damage to your eye that occurred directly.

What is Laser Eye Surgery, How Much It Cost?