Importance Of Corneal Thickness In Laser Eye Surgery

Laser Eye Surgery is carried out on the cornea of the eye. Know why is it important to have a thick cornea.

Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, commonly known as LASIK, is a refractive surgery that corrects vision by reshaping the cornea with a highly specialized laser beam.

This procedure has gained immense popularity in the past few decades, and for good reasons. It is a minimally invasive and quick procedure, due to which more and more people are opting for LASIK. It aids in flattening a nearsighted patient's abnormally steep corneas. Also, the procedure provides a steeper cornea in farsighted people. It smoothes out the irregular corneas of people with astigmatism.

What is the Procedure of Lasik Eye Surgery?

Lasik is a speedy and painless procedure; it does not require the patient to remain overnight in the hospital. First and foremost, your surgeon will examine your eyes for the issue, and accordingly, he/she will suggest the surgery. You'll be given the date and for the surgery thereafter.

On the day of the surgery, your eye specialist will first measure your underlying corneal thickness. Following that, a topical anesthetic or numbing eye drops are administered. Once your eyes are numb, your head will be comfortably positioned beneath the laser.

Since the procedure necessitates your eyes to remain open, a gentle clip is placed around them. Then, a thin flap is created using a femtosecond laser or microkeratome. The surgeon then uses a computer to calibrate the excimer laser.

You'll be instructed to focus on the target light. During this time, the doctor examines the patient's eye using a microscope while light pulses are applied to the cornea. The light reshapes the cornea in a painless manner.

The entire operation typically takes between five and ten minutes for each eye. However, the precise time period is determined by the prescription. Following the surgery, you'll be asked to rest for a short period of time.

After the procedure, your surgeon will prescribe necessary drugs and eye drops that you'll have to use religiously for prompt healing.

Within four to six hours, the recuperation process begins. However, effective eyesight restoration takes between 24 and 48 hours. Additionally, it is critical to adhere to post-surgical procedures to avoid problems.

But do you know that you need to have an adequate corneal thickness to undergo LASIK?

Wondering why?

Here is why you need adequate corneal thickness to undergo LASIK surgery...

Why is Corneal Thickness Important?

The majority of surgeons use a flap with a thickness of approximately 160 microns. According to experts, a good LASIK candidate will have a 450-550 microns thick cornea. Only during the consultation will you be able to find out if you qualify for LASIK or not.

To determine the thickness of your cornea, your surgeon will perform the corneal pachymetry test during your LASIK evaluation. This process involves ultrasonic technology to measure corneal thickness.

The testing gadget is placed against the patient's eye while the patient maintains a straightforward gaze and does not blink during the procedure.

Aside from that, at the time of your LASIK screening, your surgeon will also perform an eye refraction test, which will determine the severity of your refractive defects.

If you have undergone LASIK surgery, the findings of your refraction test and the corneal thickness measurement will be used by your LASIK surgeon to assess how much corneal tissue will remain following surgery.

You need to have a minimum of 250 microns of corneal tissue remaining after the procedure to be eligible for LASIK surgery. Even if all of your other prerequisites match well with the procedure, you'll be deemed ineligible for the surgery if you don't have adequate corneal thickness measurement.

How do surgeons determine how much corneal tissue will be damaged during LASIK surgery?

Here are a few things that are considered while measuring corneal tissue:

  • The patient should have 300-micron thick corneal tissue post LASIK for the safety of the eye in the future.
  • The corneal flap is approximately 160 microns thick.
  • For every one diopter of prescription power, 12 to 14 microns of corneal tissue are lost, depending on the prescription.

Patients who have very thin corneas or a very high prescription following LASIK surgery will not have enough corneal tissue remaining after the procedure, which could be a problem for them in the future.

This implies that if your corneas are too thin, you will not be able to have the Laser Eye Surgery in Delhi. It is because the corneal tissue is altered throughout the treatment; hence, it is crucial to have enough corneal tissue to undergo LASIK. Having LASIK surgery with thinner corneas will create severe visual difficulties in the future.

Does that mean patients with thinner cornea cannot get rid of their refractive errors?

No, not at all!

There are alternative treatments available!

Alternative Surgery Options for Patients with Thin Cornea

Photorefractive Keratectomy, commonly known as PRK surgery, is considered the best alternative for those who cannot undergo LASIK. This means people with very thin cornea can opt for PRK surgery.

PRK surgery is also meant for patients with refractive errors. However, it does not necessitate the deployment of a corneal flap, making it possible for patients with thin corneas to undergo a surgical procedure that would provide them with more lasting vision correction.

The shape of your cornea is altered by the use of a laser during this procedure. The cornea's outer layer (the epithelium) is removed from the eye, after which the underlying cornea is modified to provide clear vision once more. Following surgery, the epithelium re-grows with the assistance of specially designed contact lenses.

The only downside PRK surgery has is the time of recovery. PRK has a lengthier recovery period than LASIK; however, the results are equivalent to those obtained with LASIK surgery.

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