LASEK/PRK

• 
  

  LASEK – The surgical technique

   

  Unlike SMILE or Femto-LASIK, there is no incision into the cornea with LASEK/PRK. An alcohol solution is applied to your eye, which removes the top layer of the cornea, the epithelium. The surface of the cornea which has been revealed is then shaped using an Excimer laser to correct the defective vision. A therapeutic contact lens (a dressing lens) is then inserted, which protects the open layer of the cornea for 3-5 days. It takes this long for the epithelium to grow back, which is comparable to a small skin graze.
   
  This method is used to treat those types of defective vision where, for various reasons, SMILE or LASIK are not appropriate.
   
  Compared to SMILE or Femto-LASIK, the healing process is significantly slower and there can be increased post-operative pain in the first couple of days. We advise you to take the first two weeks after the procedure off work. Strenuous sporting activity, chemical and mechanical irritants and also dusty, smoky air should be avoided. Eye drops will be prescribed for up to three months, to prevent the potential formation of scarring. Your eyesight will fluctuate in these first few weeks and only after this will you achieve the visual acuity you are aiming for.

• 
  

  Lens exchange with multifocal lenses: risks

   

  Refractive Lens Exchange is based in essence on the surgical technique used for routine cataract operations.
   
  Nevertheless, even with this operation – as with any other operation – there is a residual risk that complications may arise. As with all operations, even here there is a risk of an infection, although this can be kept to a minimum by the application of suitable antibiotic drops. In some exceptional cases, the lens capsule may become clouded after the operation (what is known as a secondary cataract). This can usually be removed with a simple laser procedure.
   
  So we can eliminate any potential risks as much as possible, the eye experts at the Cabinet de Chirurgie Réfractive in Luxembourg will carry out detailed preliminary examinations and post-operative checks as a matter of course and will be with you every step of the way.

• 
  

  LASEK risks

   
  Surgical risks can be kept down to a minimum by adopting a responsible approach and with our quality management, although they can never be ruled out completely. However, there are solutions for nearly every complication, if the patient and doctor do the right thing.
   
  The use of the very latest technology at the Cabinet de Chirurgie Réfractive in Luxembourg as well as regular ongoing training, the experience of the surgeons and of the whole team all make a decisive contribution to minimizing any risks with LASEK/PRK procedures.
   
  In general, the complications will all fall
  into three essential areas:
   
  1. Infections
  Infections can occur with any surgical procedure, and this is also the case with LASEK/PRK. In clinics with sterile conditions, however, this risk can be reduced considerably (under 1:3000).
   
  2. Result of the correction
  The aim is to correct the defective vision fully. This can be achieved in approx. 95 % of cases with a single laser operation. A second procedure may be necessary, if individual tissue reactions result in an over-correction or an under-correction.
   
  3. Keratectasia
  In extremely rare cases a congenital weakness in tissue can lead to a protrusion of the cornea soon after the operation, or even years later, which can affect the patient’s vision. If a protrusion of this type forms (keratectasia), this can be treated with a bespoke contact lens, treating the cornea with UV light and/or implanting ring segments into the cornea to increase its strength.

How we can help you?