Wearing contact lenses or glasses can be inconvenient in certain situations, but they are necessary to correct myopia and improve distance vision.
Fortunately, surgery or laser correction of myopia is now possible, offering a viable alternative to getting rid of glasses or contact lenses.
Myopia affects 20-30% of the world's population (about 2 billion people) and could affect half by 2050. It is not only genetic - new lifestyle habits such as prolonged use of screens, reading and lack of light may be factors. Our eye surgeons at Capital Care operate myopia with lasers.
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Course of the interventionion
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There are several refractive surgery techniques for myopia. You have the choice between refractive photokeratectomy (PKR) or trans-PKR, which consists in ridding the cornea of the epithelium. PKR is preferred for the thinnest or irregular corneas, but it can be painful over the next 24 to 48 hours.
The other method, LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis), uses the laser to cut and hollow out the cornea. It is a completely painless and much appreciated operation. Whichever technique is chosen, the operation is very quick, taking about 20 minutes.
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Myopia, like other visual disorders, is expressed in diopter (unit of optical power). Lasik can correct myopia from -1 to -12 diopters.
What are the operational consequences?
The eye is located in a well-protected bony cavity behind the eyelid. However, during the postoperative period, it must be overprotected for a few days or weeks.
After the operation, it is important to rest for a few days, as for any operation, and to pay attention to your movements by avoiding certain activities.