They say that laser vision correction is painful and unreliable, and after the operation you cannot play sports or give birth. Really?

Laser correction

is a modern treatment method that allows you to restore visual acuity and get rid of various ophthalmological diseases in just 5 minutes. There are many myths and stereotypes around laser correction. But, of course, like any treatment method, laser correction has indications and contraindications, advantages and disadvantages.

Is laser vision correction safe?

This question worries every patient. We will answer right away - yes, it is safe. With the exception of some contraindications. Let's explain what's what.

Statement two: laser correction is accurate and safe

Is it true

. The entire correction process is carried out under computer control: a special program dynamically evaluates the depth and strength of the laser impact. This means that the accuracy of the procedure is maximum and practically does not depend on the human factor.

At the same time, the laser’s impact is strictly limited in depth: the laser works only within the cornea and does not affect the internal structures of the eye. At the same time, the temperature of the tissue next to the beam does not increase, the laser pulses move very quickly and remove only 0.25 microns of the tissue layer, which is comparable to 1/500 of a human hair.

Is anesthesia used before surgery?

Laser surgery is performed under local drip anesthesia. Some users, hearing the word “drop,” believe that pain relief will be administered intravenously. However, it is not. Drip anesthesia is the instillation of anesthetic drops into the eyes, intended for short-term pain relief. Its advantage is that it is absolutely painless and eliminates the burden on the cardiovascular system that occurs when an anesthetic is administered intravenously. The drops used for pain relief are not chosen at random. The main criterion is their low epithelial toxicity (that is, they do not have a negative effect on sensitive corneal tissue). The most popular anesthetics today are the following solutions:

• 0.3% leocaine;
• 2% lidocaine;
• 0.5% proparacaine.

As a rule, for pain relief during laser operations, medications are used that are more concentrated and cause a longer and more profound loss of sensitivity. The most widely used drugs are:

• 0.25%–1.0% dicaine;
• 0.4% oxybuprocaine;
• 3–5% trimecaine.

Statement three: laser correction gives 100% vision

Partly

. Most patients actually receive ideal super vision after treatment - 100 - 120, and sometimes 150%. However, not all patients have a retina that can see 100% or higher. With a high degree of myopia and farsightedness, combined with astigmatism, it is not always possible to return the coveted “one”.

Before the procedure, the doctor will tell you about the possible limits of vision restoration and warn you about the likelihood of changes: for example, while driving in the dark, you may still need glasses even after laser correction.

Why do complications occur after laser vision correction?

Before performing the operation, the doctor talks about possible risks to the functionality of the patient’s eyeballs. A person should take this into account when agreeing to the procedure. There may be temporary minor complications that go away over time. But there is a risk of serious deviations in the functionality of the eyeballs. The following factors may be the reason:

• low qualification of the doctor;
• not modern equipment;
• squeezing and bringing together the tissues of the eyeball when opening it;
• violation of the formation of a vacuum on the eyes for the procedure;
• poor-quality diagnosis of the patient’s condition before the procedure.

Some complications are eliminated over time, and vision functionality is restored. Others lead to irreparable consequences for the organ of vision, for example, increased intraocular pressure and the formation of glaucoma, the development of cataracts, and retinal detachment.

In what cases is laser correction still prohibited?

Laser correction is prohibited for progressive diseases of the cornea (keratoconus, dystrophy, cataract).

Laser correction is not recommended for patients with infectious eye diseases (acute keratitis, iridocyclitis, conjunctivitis), severe somatic diseases (for example, diabetes), mental disorders, as well as during pregnancy and lactation. The doctor will advise you about all contraindications after a comprehensive examination.

Can the patient feel discomfort during the operation?

How effective are the above anesthetics and do they guarantee a painless operation? This is a question many patients ask before surgery. Ophthalmologists assure that the use of these painkillers completely eliminates pain during vision correction.

Only eyelid dilators can cause inconvenience to the patient, without the use of which not a single laser operation can be performed. However, as doctors assure, if the patient himself is not nervous and tries to keep his eyes open, then he will not feel any pain. Exceptions can be observed in those people whose visual organs are deeply set. In this case, unpleasant sensations are possible if the doctor tries to open the eye as wide as possible.

Which laser correction method should I choose?

There are several types of laser vision correction. Thanks to this diversity, it is possible to treat ophthalmological diseases in patients with a wide variety of characteristics of the body and even lifestyle. For example, with a thin cornea of ​​the eye, it is better to use Femto Lasik or ReLEx SMILE, and for patients with professions in which there is a risk of mechanical damage to the eyes, doctors recommend surgery using the PRK method. If you are a driver and want to see perfectly both day and night, without suffering from glare and halos, then you need Super Lasik or Femto Super Lasik.

Laser correction at Dr. Belikova’s Eye Clinic is performed only by experienced doctors with extensive experience. Our ophthalmic surgeons monitor the emergence of new treatment methods and approach each patient carefully. Many operations are performed personally by the head physician of our clinic, Elena Ivanovna Belikova.

Patients' opinions about Excimer laser vision correction

Anyone who plans to correct their vision once and for all with the help of laser correction is concerned about what sensations await them ahead... How will life change after this procedure? And how will he see the world? Do you also want to know all this? Then in the reviews of patients who have undergone laser vision correction at the Excimer clinic... Read!

Abramova Ekaterina, 27 years old. Advertising Manager

I always thought that I didn’t have time to run to doctors. I learned to live with my poor eyesight (-6.5 D) and was sure: “the less you think about illnesses, the better you will feel.” I must say that this worked great for some time. But at one “wonderful” moment (as happens to many), I realized that I simply couldn’t wear glasses anymore and didn’t want to.

At some point, the thought of good vision became simply obsessive. Wherever I am: on the subway, at work, in a store, at a party. Everywhere it seemed to me that people were not looking at me, but at my glasses! One day, returning from another meeting, I called my friend Anya. I told her that life with glasses had become unbearable... Anya said that we would solve the problem quickly, and I shouldn’t worry. I've calmed down!

I have been friends with Anya since school, and even then she approached the solution of any problem thoroughly, and was always aware of where to find the best! Unlike me, she had already undergone conceivable and unimaginable diagnostics a long time ago. And a year ago I decided to have excimer laser correction! I remember then she buzzed my ears off about how cool it was to see everything with my own eyes!!! And after taking off her glasses, things quickly improved in her personal life...

The very next day she signed me up for diagnostics. I remember when I first crossed the threshold of the clinic, something inside me let me know that it was within these walls that my life would change... That’s how it all happened. But I won’t get ahead of myself! The diagnosis was carried out very carefully: first, a vision test with a normal and dilated pupil, and then a measurement of the optical characteristics of the eye... There was something else, but I don’t remember now.

Based on the results of the examination, it turned out that I have no contraindications to the procedure. Therefore, the very next day I asked to sign up for laser vision correction. I completely forgot to say that after the diagnosis I talked with the doctor who then operated on me - Georgy Pavlovich Parjanadze. This is not only a professional with a capital P, but also just a wonderful person!

Arriving at the clinic on the day appointed for me, I was completely calm. I didn't have to wait. This was good for me - I was not given any time to think too much... I spent about 15 minutes in the operating room, after which I rested for about 40 minutes. Then there was an examination, at which I was told that everything was fine and they calmly sent me home. I did not experience any pain or discomfort during or after vision correction. Now I have changed my slogan. “The more you think about your health, the better you will feel.” I especially felt this when I went outside after the excimer laser correction. I felt completely happy!

Kovalchuk Elena, 34 years old. Economist

I had surgery at the end of 2007. — My vision was almost −6, I wore contact lenses, I often had eye infections, and with them redness, photophobia and other accompanying “charms.” Therefore, it was an obvious decision for me to go to the clinic and undergo diagnostics, to find out whether it is possible to get rid of these problems. So I came to the Excimer clinic. Based on the results of the examination, I was recommended to undergo excimer laser correction. The doctor told me in great detail about what this procedure was and what my vision would be like. After talking with the doctor, all my fears and doubts dissipated. And so much so that I had the operation done on the same day, despite the fact that New Year was just around the corner and I was “threatened” with a complete refusal of cosmetics and alcohol on New Year’s Eve.

Kirill Borisovich Pershin, the leading ophthalmic surgeon at the clinic, operated on me. In my opinion, he is a true professional in his field and a very sensitive, attentive person. Every step of the operation was explained to me in advance, so I had no fear. Improvement occurred immediately after the operation. Photophobia, however, was there. But the very next morning I was able to look at the world with “new” eyes. The sensations were so strong that, like a child, I read all the signs on the streets, rediscovering familiar places where I had previously been unable to see something due to poor eyesight.

Six months after the operation, I had my last examination, which showed that my vision was completely restored! And this despite the fact that Kirill Borisovich initially predicted an improvement of up to 0.8 in both eyes, which would have been just a fairy tale for me anyway. I am sure that my confidence that I would see 100% played a significant role in this. So I recommend that anyone who has doubts just go for a diagnosis and listen to the doctor’s conclusion, he will dispel all your doubts and tell you about the possible risks. Good luck to everyone and may your dreams come true!

Vasiliev Alexander, 25 years old, graduate student

For as long as I can remember, I have always seen poorly. At first I only wore glasses in school during classes, and then gradually moved on to wearing them all the time (except at night, so I probably didn’t have any dreams - just kidding!). I can’t say that the glasses really bothered me. I guess I just got used to them and didn’t notice them anymore. Except that in winter they fogged up, but on the beach and in the pool I really couldn’t see anything and swam by touch. I’ve never worn contact lenses, and it’s inconvenient to take them off and put them on every day, wash them, etc., in my opinion, glasses are simpler and more convenient, and they also give a sense of solidity. Although sometimes my eyes got so tired from glasses that I wanted to just throw them away, but... without glasses I was like without hands. I could have made such a correction a long time ago, but... why, if everything is fine? Yes, and I was afraid, of course, although I don’t understand what I was afraid of now. I thought that the recovery would take a long time, so I literally prepared for this as if it were my last trip, tried to complete all the most important things, buy groceries for the month ahead, etc. But somehow everything didn’t work out. And on May 18, nothing stopped me from starting with one eye at the Excimer clinic. My vision was very poor. Without glasses I saw 15%, with glasses - 50%. Up to 1, vision was not corrected with glasses, so I was not initially promised 100% vision - at most, as much as you can see with glasses, maybe a little more. What complicated the matter was that I had mixed astigmatism with a predominance of the hypermetropic component - three diopters in one eye and four in the other. Preparation for the operation in Excimer took about an hour and a half - this examination, and directly on the day of the operation the eyes were injected, the correction itself lasts about two minutes at most per eye (I had one eye done per day). During the correction, you see everything, only when a flap is formed from the cornea, vision turns, as it seemed to me, into a kaleidoscope of red and green lights, very beautiful. There is no pain (when blood is taken from a finger in the clinic, it hurts!). The only unpleasant sensation - not painful, but simply unpleasant - is when a vacuum ring is installed on the eye, fixing the eye in the desired position. After the correction you go out into the corridor, you have to blink frequently for an hour - about twice a second. It seemed that during this time I had wrinkled my eyes for the rest of my life.

After the correction, three discoveries awaited me. Firstly, immediately after the correction you can see everything. True, it is very vague, there is a feeling of a foreign body (a grain of sand) in the eye, tears flow - for me a little, and for some it is very strong - everything is individual. There are pictures hanging on the walls in the hall, and while you sit and blink for an hour, you notice how the image in these pictures gradually appears, your vision gradually becomes clearer and clearer. It is noteworthy that the same patients are sitting next to them, and, although with tears in their eyes, they are satisfied and happy, cheerful, they joke, share their impressions and, listening to them, you understand that everything is like theirs - that means everything is fine. In general, during this time, you feel like family with the patients sitting next to you... By the way, for those who have doubts, I can advise you to come to the Excimer clinic and talk to the patients in order to hear real patient reviews with your own ears. After the operation I came home and went to bed. In the evening I woke up, sat down to watch the TV and immediately discovered the second amazing thing - I already saw the running text, which I had never seen before without glasses... That is, the conclusion - 6 hours after the correction, I could already see better without glasses than with glasses before the correction! !! Of course, my joy knew no bounds, and the next day I literally persuaded the chief doctor at Excimer to operate on my second eye (usually, with severe astigmatism, they take a break between eyes for about a week to assess how the recovery is going).

The next day I had surgery on my second eye. On the second day after the correction, I could see 50% without glasses compared to 15% before the operation. On the third day, about 60%, etc. The maximum I reached was 90% with both eyes!!! But vision fluctuates at first - today you see 80%, tomorrow 50%, the day after tomorrow again 70%, etc. The main thing here is not to panic, you need to do exercises to train the eye muscles and put drops in your eyes (which, by the way, will be given in Excimer). , and know that this is normal, the recovery process is just going on, the corneal flap is growing in. At dusk, it’s quite difficult to see at first... But on the third day (!!!) after the correction, I got behind the wheel of a car and drove even at night... In general, it is recommended to buy sunglasses (even in winter) with polarized lenses before surgery, they shorten the recovery period. When I had both eyes operated on, I was to be surprised again: I could no longer remember how I had seen before with glasses. As they say, you quickly get used to good things. I also noticed that I have never been so sensitive to my vision, never before have I tried to look at the world first with one eye and then with the other, in order to evaluate which eye sees the world more beautifully. Now I’m sure only people who have undergone laser correction do this. There are restrictions after correction - do not drink alcohol, including beer, for ten days, do not swim for two months, do not sunbathe, do not go to the solarium, do not play hazardous sports - tennis (the ball can get into the eye), boxing, etc. Don't go to the sauna for a couple of months. I can say that I tried all these restrictions on myself - I was in the sauna a month later, I played tennis, and I started sunbathing and swimming in a couple of weeks - people I knew, of course, bothered me, but I’m a desperate and lucky person, so I'm doing well.

Now, after three months, I consistently see 70% in each eye and 90% in both eyes - this is even more than what I could have hoped for. And I'm very happy! The first month I generally glowed with happiness... And then I got used to it, oddly enough. Yet doctors have learned to work miracles! I have already forgotten that I even made this correction; it seems that I never wore glasses. In general, we can talk for a long time on this topic, I will only add that if I knew that everything was so easy and simple, I would have done it a long time ago. And the price is generally low compared to how much pleasure you begin to get from life, how much more comfortable your life becomes, how many new things you begin to notice in the world around you. It’s funny now to remember how at first I generally thought that even after the correction I would wear glasses with simple lenses, for the sake of respectability (like “I have a smarter face in them”), but believe me, nothing now will force me to put them on again. And in general, a lot of problems are solved right away, you become more confident in yourself and it’s just great. In general, after vision correction, life is just beginning! And this is not an operation at all, but a kind of procedure, after which the soul becomes lighter and happier and more pleasant to live, like after a sauna with friends and beer. In short, I'm very pleased.

I would like to express my gratitude to the chief physician of the Excimer clinic, Doctor of Medical Sciences, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Vladimir Vasilyevich Kashnikov, who carried out the correction for me, as well as to the entire staff of Excimer. Thanks to them, I now see the world without glasses, and I see well!

Gudkov Yu.A. , 41 years old. ophthalmologist

Even when I entered school, I was diagnosed with astigmatism in one eye. The ophthalmologists at the children's clinic tried to correct my vision with glasses. I remember that I could not get used to them - the difference in visual acuity between the eyes was too great. Already studying at the institute, I tried to wear a hard contact lens. Due to constant irritation, I had to give it up too. Until some time I was not sure of the methods that were proposed. You can say that I was really lucky: I waited for the LASIK method to appear. More than five years have passed since I had laser correction. Believe it or not, even now I am sometimes surprised by what I see... with both eyes at the same time! When I think about it, I feel that this situation is unusual for me. In general, I stopped distinguishing between a healthy and an operated eye! Now I can tell my patients about the advantages of this method not only as a doctor, but also as a person who has used it himself.

Olkhovskaya Natalya, housewife, 29 years old

Before the correction, I had very severe myopia. I wore contact lenses for 15 years. And my eyes could no longer tolerate them, although I chose imported, good and expensive ones. There was no specific moment that pushed me to undergo laser correction, but I prepared for it for a very long time. After all, vision is the main thing. We discussed my problems with my husband for a long time and made a decision. Correction is not something that is necessary, but simply necessary!

I remember that on Monday I came for diagnostics, which, by the way, is mandatory before correction, and on Wednesday I already had the procedure done! I was very pleased that I didn’t need to stay in the hospital. Everything is fast and painless! And the anesthesia is drip. This is also, in my opinion, a huge advantage. After all, not everyone tolerates general anesthesia well! The feelings I experienced after laser correction are difficult to convey. I opened my eyes and here it is happiness - I see!!! You know, at -12, D I saw almost nothing, but here, as soon as the correction ended - and I see! My dream has come true!

On the way home, I looked out the window. My vision has not yet fully recovered, but I have already seen! Somewhere on the third day after the correction, I could calmly do all my usual activities. Now I'm fine. There was a feeling of freedom... This is exactly what I needed to be a truly happy person. Thank you Excimer! You are doing good!

In Excimer ophthalmology clinics, laser correction has corrected the vision of more than 75,000 people. Each of them had their own problems, each had their own reasons for turning to doctors. But laser correction helped them all!

Indications

In addition to the patient’s basic wishes, as with every operation, there must be medical indications for correction:

• stable myopia up to 10 diopters;
• farsightedness for a long time up to +6 diopters;
• Astigmatism up to 4 diopters is allowed;
• individual symptoms (partial correction is possible);
• Due to the specific nature of the work, it is impossible to use contact lenses or glasses.

Is it possible to use sedatives?

The question of the patient’s personal experiences is also relevant, because any treatment carried out using an operative method, even a minimally invasive one, represents a certain stress. In this regard, in some cases, sedatives may be used. However, they must be used very carefully, since an overdose of sedative drugs can provoke negative consequences, for example, worsen respiratory tractability. In addition, if sedation was used before laser surgery, then the assistants of the operating doctor should be more attentive to the patient and try to maintain verbal contact with him during the correction.

Contraindications

As with any operation, there are limitations under which the doctor will not perform the procedure:

• the patient has not yet reached 18 years of age;
• It is prohibited to carry out interventions during lactation or pregnancy;
• You should not perform correction when vision wear is 0.5 diopters per year;
• if the patient has keratoconus (the cornea has a conical shape), inflammatory ailments;
• with reduced immunity, any surgical interventions are generally prohibited;
• if the patient has diabetes mellitus or anemia, as the rehabilitation process may worsen;
• when the client has severe forms of eye disease.

Negative reviews about laser vision correction most often come when the indications are not followed. This is what they do in new, still unknown clinics that want to earn more money.

What guarantees painless laser surgery?

Before undergoing surgery, it is worth remembering that laser vision correction is one of the most effective ways to correct visual pathologies. Technologies for its implementation are improved every year, as are the laser devices used for the operation. In addition, the number of positive reviews, as a rule, is much greater than negative ones, and therefore you should not worry. So, for example, even if the surgeon’s hand trembles during the operation, the laser will not “miss” and will not in any way damage the healthy part of the eye.

In most modern clinics, the position of the visual organs is fixed using a vacuum ring, and the head is fixed using a special pillow. Moreover, the patient chair is connected to the laser device to ensure a stable position of the laser. If there is a power outage during laser correction, there is no need to worry about it. The power supply will be immediately transferred to uninterruptible power supply provided by another source.

Postoperative symptoms

Reviews about laser vision correction vary, so you need to know what symptoms a patient can expect after such a procedure. Of course, like any surgical or medical intervention, surgery has its consequences. Today, modern clinics assume the likelihood of complications occurring in 1% of patients.

Main reasons:

• incorrectly installed calibration of equipment that is necessary for the operation, as well as malfunctions of the vacuum system;
• incorrectly selected size of nozzle for performing the procedure;
• making an overly split or thin cut.

All the facts given above are attributed to the human factor or poor quality equipment.

Unfortunately, even if the equipment works without interruption and the doctor has the best experience, complications may arise after a successfully performed operation. Most often, their presence is associated with the individual characteristics of the patient; they cannot be prevented.

Problems of this kind often arise:

• redness and swelling of tissues;
• various inflammatory processes;
• retinal disinsertion;
• blurred vision;
• sensation of “sand” in the eye;
• the need for re-operation due to insufficient recovery;
• diopters can go from minus to plus and vice versa.

Even after a long period of time (years, months), complications may appear due to the unpredictability of the human body, as well as the individual reaction to the intervention:

• the result comes temporarily, and after that you will have to repeat the entire procedure again;
• impossibility of subsequent therapy if the patient is dissatisfied with the result;
• thinning of the tissue occurs due to the effect of the laser, since at the time of correction of the curvature, some part of the tissue is simply cut off;
• a huge likelihood of corneal clouding;
• the possibility of other eye diseases.

During the rehabilitation period, it is very important not to plan a pregnancy for six months. Since while waiting for a baby, a woman’s immunity is significantly reduced, which must be kept at a high level for the cornea to heal.

You need to understand that farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism are progressive diseases. With age, vision will, of course, deteriorate, it all depends on how quickly everything happens.