iRA Clinic

Excimer Laser

Procedures

Excimer Laser

The use of the EXCIMER LASER in corneal refractive surgery has greatly increased the safety of the procedure as the refractive correction is achieved by removing as little as 10-20% of the total corneal thickness.

The EXCIMER LASER is a “cool” laser and does not generate heat in the cornea. The laser energy destroys intermolecular bonds in the corneal tissue resulting in tissue removal by a process termed “photoablative decomposition”. The exquisite precision with which the tissue can be removed, and the absence of thermal damage, render this laser suitable for surgery on the delicate cornea.

Removal of corneal tissue alters the corneal contour. By specifically removing tissues from different portions of the cornea, the surgeon is able to correct the different refractive errors. Removal of the central corneal tissue in a circular fashion results in central flattening and corrects myopia. Surface Photorefractive Keratectomy (SURFACE PRK), has been in use all over the world since 1987 and has proven to be safe and effective, particularly in the treatment of myopia and astigmatism. However, when very high refractive errors are treated by SURFACE PRK, the predictability of the procedure is lower with increased occurrence of undesirable side effects. Most of these adverse results appear to be due to excessive corneal healing. Since removal of corneal tissue from the surface is a powerful stimulus for corneal healing, the treatment of higher errors (requiring increased removal of corneal tissue) produces poorer results

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