In recent years, ophthalmology has seen rapid development in laser technology. Excimer laser and Femtosecond laser are two of the most commonly used laser technologies in ophthalmology. In this blog, we will explore the basics of each of these technologies. But first I’d like to tell you about two patients I treated recently.
Patient 1
A lovely young athletic woman in her 20s. She had to wear glasses or contact lenses at all times and this was problematic in her athletic life because the glasses would fall off or fog up and the contact lenses would irritate her eyes.
We decided to perform Femtolasik surgery which is a combination of Femtosecond and Excimer laser and she couldn’t believe her results. She now has 100% vision and no need for lenses or glasses, taking her athletic performance to a whole new level.
Patient 2
This lovely African lady in her 30s was very nearsighted and her vision was completely blurred without glasses. In her case, we couldn’t perform Femtosecond laser surgery because her eyes didn’t meet the requirements. Instead, I performed TransPRK, which is performed using only the Eximer laser. With TransPRK your vision takes longer to stabilise but ultimately she is now also living her best life with perfect vision and it has completely changed her life.
Both these women are good examples of the benefits of doing laser eye surgery when you are younger. The ideal age range would be 20s-30s. Adults in their 40s can also expect great results. As soon as we go into the 50s age range it becomes necessary to move to a lens refractive adjustment.
Femtosecond Laser:
Femtosecond lasers are the most exciting lasers in modern ophthalmology. They are used for a range of surgical procedures, including LASIK, cataract surgery, and corneal transplants. This laser uses ultrashort pulses of light to precisely remove tissue, creating very clean, precise incisions in the cornea. Femtosecond lasers are often preferred over traditional surgical tools as they offer greater accuracy and reduced risk of complications.
Excimer Laser:
Excimer lasers are the most commonly used laser in South Africa. Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TransPRK) is a type of refractive surgery that uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. Unlike LASIK, which creates a flap in the cornea to allow the laser to access the underlying tissue, TransPRK uses the laser to remove the corneal epithelium (the outer layer of the cornea) before reshaping the cornea. TransPRK is often preferred by patients who have thin corneas, and it can also be used to correct higher levels of astigmatism.
In summary, Femtosecond lasers are the most exciting lasers in modern ophthalmology, and here at Ocumed Excimer lasers and TransPRK also being important technologies in the field.
Each of these laser technologies offers specific benefits to patients and can be used to treat a range of vision problems.
If you are considering laser eye surgery, it is important to consult with a qualified ophthalmologist to determine which treatment is best for you and what is possible as treatment options vary from person to person.
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