Does laser surgery treat myopia?

Apr 15, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Chen You

Introduction

Laser surgery can treat myopia. Currently, two main types of lasers are used to correct myopia: excimer laser and femtosecond laser. Excimer laser procedures include photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Patients must be at least 18 years old to undergo these procedures. Corneal refractive surgery is only considered after a comprehensive preoperative evaluation.

With the continuous upgrading of electronic devices, many people have experienced progressively worsening myopia due to prolonged exposure to such devices—and are now considering surgical intervention for vision correction. Can laser surgery treat myopia?

Can laser surgery treat myopia?

Yes, laser surgery can effectively correct myopia. Currently, two primary types of lasers are used for myopia correction: excimer laser and femtosecond laser. Excimer laser procedures include photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Patients must be at least 18 years old to qualify. Only after a comprehensive preoperative evaluation can candidates be considered for corneal refractive surgery. In excimer laser surgery, a corneal flap is created first, followed by precise reshaping of the underlying corneal stroma using the excimer laser—thereby correcting refractive error. Femtosecond laser procedures are further categorized into “semi-femtosecond” (i.e., femtosecond LASIK) and “all-femtosecond” (i.e., small incision lenticule extraction, SMILE). In SMILE surgery, the femtosecond laser performs two precise intrastromal scans within the cornea to create a lenticule, which is then extracted through a small incision (<2–4 mm) at the corneal periphery—effectively treating myopia.

Laser myopia correction enables highly accurate and precise control over the degree of refractive correction. Advantages of this procedure include short operative time and high safety profile. The entire surgery requires only topical anesthesia (eye drops), involves no incisions or blades, and postoperative care is minimal.

After undergoing laser myopia surgery, patients should avoid prolonged use of electronic devices during the early recovery period. Adequate sleep is essential to prevent ocular fatigue. When outdoors, wearing sunglasses is recommended to shield the eyes from direct ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We hope this information proves helpful to you.

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