Therapeutic methods

The history of correcting dioptric defects reaches as far as to the 14th century when spectacles were used as a remedy for various visual defects for the first time.

A significant progress was the discovery of contact lenses (in 1950) whose quality is getting constantly better. However, majority of those who suffer from a dioptric defect wish to have their handicap removed for good.

The so called radial keratotomy was used for lesser degrees of short-sightedness in the 80s. An eye surgeon used extremely thin keratotomy methods to change the cornea curvature.

PRK

In 1988, a far more precise and progressive method was introduced, namely the laser correction (PRK) by means of the excimer laser. This can be currently used for removing all types of dioptric defects. Since 1988, when this progressive method was put to use clinically, it has been incessantly improved to be more perfect and accurate. It is very popular globally. There are for example 500 Americans who undergo this method annually.

In our country and in Central Europe at large, this laser method was introduced in 1991 by the present chief ophthalmologist of the Eye and Aesthetic Clinic in Zlin, Doc. MUDr. Mgr. Zdeněk Smečka, CSc. To the present day, he operated more than 19,500 patients with all types of dioptric defects.

Principle of laser operation

The laser operation consists in re-shaping the cornea surface by laser beam, thereby changing the cornea refractive power. A myopic cornea is reshaped to be flatter in the centre, on the contrary, in case of farsightedness, it becomes more convex by re-shaping the cornea periphery. In case of astigmatizm, the originally different radiuses of curvature are equalized.

Course of operation

Operation is made in an outpatient surgery and is painless. A patient lies on a comfortable couch and follows a fixation point. Eyes can wink; the operated eye is secured against its full closing. To desensitize the eyes, we use anesthetic drops. An active monitoring system incessantly traces the position of the eye and immediately responds to any movement. This safeguards that the laser beam falls reliably there where is should. The surgery is very short, including the preparation of the cornea, and depends on the size and complexity of a dioptric defect.

Laser beam can be fixated either on the centre of the pupil or on the eye optical line of sight, which is very essential in particular in farsightedness and is a big advantage of our laser.

Post-operation

Vision is blurred immediately after operation. Eyesight becomes clearer during several days, simultaneously as the surface epithelium layer is healing. To speed up healing, the cornea is covered for 3 – 7 days by a contact lens. A patient will used two kinds of drops that serve for moistening the contact lens and contain antibiotics. The healing phase can entail lacrimation, eye reddening or smarting. These symptoms are very individual and can be significantly reduced by using the drops.

The first post-operative examination is within a weak, another after a month. Dates of further medical checks are determined individually. Drops are usually applied into the eye during this time, which serve for clearing the cornea and for attaining the resulting postoperative dioptric eyesight value. Full stabilization of the postoperative condition usually arrives within 4 to 6 months following operation. Shortly after operation of myopia the eye becomes temporarily far-sighted, which can cause problems when looking at close-up objects. These problems, however, do not last longer than 6 weeks. Shortly after operation of farsightedness, persons experience myopia, with the prevalence of good vision of close objects. Farsightedness gradually accommodates.

• The probability of planned result accuracy, in particular as regard lower dioptres, is very high.
• Very smooth surface of the cornea reshaped by the laser guarantees great stability of the eye defect and minimum inherent risk of postoperative healing complication.
• The risk of relapsing to the pre-operation condition is all but nil.

The laser correction in not recommended in pregnancy. In patients suffering from diabetes, cataract, and glaucoma and some diseases of the cornea, the suitability or unsuitability of a surgery is evaluated by the examining ophthalmologist.

During pre-operative examination a patient can ask the examining ophthalmologist questions that can help him/her to fully understand the process and principle of the laser surgery. Also, any potential drawbacks can be discussed.

Postoperative checks are very important as well as accurate adherence to a prescribed postoperative treatment.

All laser operations are made by the chief ophthalmologist, doc. Smečka.

As our philosophy, reliability, credibility and awareness of personal responsibility are to be taken into account.