Reducing the Power of Spectacle Using Laser

How does the Exciter Laser Work?

An exciter laser is a laser that works on the surface of the eye. The exciter laser refractive procedure (also called corneal sculpting) corrects refractive errors by altering the shape of the cornea. Ultraviolet light from the exciter laser hits the cornea surface and removes or ablates some corneal tissue with virtually no damage to surrounding tissue. Exciter laser is primarily used to correct myopia (minus number). It is also popularly used to correct astigmatism (compound power) and hypermetropia (plus number) with good results.

The Treatment
Exciter laser refractive procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under topical anesthesia, which means that the patient will be awake during the procedure. The surgeon will key the refractive correction into laser’s computer and will then ask the patient to fix his /her gaze on a target. The surgeon then performs one or two familiarization sessions to help the patient get used to the target, before activating the system perform the corneal sculpting which takes 15 to – 40 seconds. The total time taken, including positioning the eye under the laser, is about three to five minutes. The patient is not admitted in the hospital.

One should be able to see clearly a few days after the procedure, but the vision may be blurred for close work or reading fine print for one month after the procedure, as the eye undergoes a period of long-sightedness before stabilization.

Possible Side-effects
Common side-effects of laser treatment include susceptibility to glare, foreign body sensation and light sensitivity as the epithelium grows back over the cornea in the first two or three days.

There may also be corneal haze (clouding of the corneal tissues) which usually occurs two to four weeks after the laser treatment and usually disappears with time. Driving at night may be a problem for one or two months.

Need of Lenses or Spectacles after Laser Treatment Exciter Laser Keratotomy (PRK) is designed to reduce dependence on corrective lenses. But in the case of higher refractive errors, or if the patient is over 40 years, one may need to wear corrective lenses after treatment for driving or for fine work.

Who Qualifies for this Procedure?

The patient should be 18 years or older, mildly to moderately short-sighted, and his vision over the last year should have been stable; -4 to -10 myopia is ideal for this kind of laser therapy. The ophthalmologist conducts a complete eye examination to decide if the procedure is right for the patient.

PRK can be performed on one eye at a time or both eyes at the same time.

Is Pain Experienced?

There is no pain when the laser beam strikes the cornea during the procedure. But some discomfort may be experienced during the first 24 hours when the anesthesia wears off.

Looking after the Eye

The surgeon asks the patient to come for a follow-up examination three days after the procedure and prescribes medication to help the healing. Eye drops must be used as prescribed as they are vital to regulate healing. The medication may need to be continued for up to five months to reduce chances of regression.

Making a Decision

Be sure to discuss with your doctor the various options for correcting your short-sightedness and their advantages and side-effects before making Y0ll:’ decision. An ophthalmic surgeon having an expertise of at least five years of exciter laser is essential. Excimelaser has now been improved further by a ‘Las” procedure approved in USA and other countries. (Las therapy for myopia is advancing and changing even this book is in the process of printing.)

How to Seek the Treatment?

The patient who meets the aforementioned criteria needs to have a treatment evaluation and assessment. No p appointment is required. After the treatment evaluation is completed, the date for the exciter laser will be fixed.

If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them f least five days before your assessment and evaluation.