Laser Treatments

Laser eye treatment is a surgical procedure used to correct eye defects. This treatment improves vision by reshaping the corneal tissue in the eye. The use of laser light provides precise correction of the cornea. It is basically applied to reduce or completely end the use of glasses or contact lenses.

Excimer laser is a laser technology used in eye refractive surgery. This technology is used in procedures such as LASIK and PRK, which are widely used to correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and other refractive errors.Excimer laser surgery changes the focusing power of the eye by vaporizing the upper layer of the eye surface at the molecular level. In this way, eye defects such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are corrected.Excimer laser can be used to correct various eye defects. In the case of myopia, it corrects the middle of the cornea, allowing distant objects to appear clearly. In the case of hyperopia, it changes the shape of the cornea, allowing nearby objects to appear clearly. In astigmatism, it reshapes the irregular corneal surface, allowing both near and far objects to appear clearly.

Excimer laser treatment is usually performed under topical anesthesia and requires a short recovery period. The LASIK procedure involves removing the upper layer of the cornea, while the PRK procedure involves removing the upper layer of the cornea.Since every patient is different, certain criteria must be met to be a candidate for excimer laser treatment. Your eye doctor can determine the most appropriate treatment options for you after a detailed eye examination and tests. He or she can evaluate whether excimer laser is appropriate for your situation.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a refractive error caused by irregularities in the cornea layer of the eye or the lens of the eye. Normally, the cornea or lens of the eye refracts the incoming rays properly and focuses them on the retina, thus obtaining clear images. However, in the case of astigmatism, the cornea or lens of the eye is irregularly curved, which causes the incoming rays to focus at different points on the retina. As a result, the images in the eyes may be blurry or distorted, affecting clear vision at both near and far distances. Due to this irregularity in the eyes, the edges or lines of various objects may appear distorted.

What are the Symptoms of Astigmatism?

Astigmatism may develop due to genetic factors, congenital conditions or blows to the eye. Although symptoms vary from person to person, the most common symptoms are:

Blurred vision
Seeing scattered or scattered lights
Difficulty seeing while driving at night
Eye fatigue after prolonged reading or focusing
Squinting
Eye itching
Headache
Shadowed vision

How is an Astigmatism Test Performed?

An astigmatism test is usually performed with an autorefractometer (autoref) device and a series of evaluations are performed by the doctor. These evaluations are performed during a general eye examination and based on the results, astigmatism or other eye defects can be diagnosed. The diagnosis of astigmatism is usually made during an eye examination and can be treated by prescribing glasses or contact lenses. However, in severe cases, refractive surgery may be considered. Surgical interventions such as laser treatment can provide permanent correction, but it is important to note that there is no 100% guaranteed result.

Laser Examination: Preparation and Process

A detailed eye examination is performed to determine your suitability for laser treatment. During this examination, your visual acuity and eyeglass numbers are determined, corneal topography is taken, a biomicroscopic examination is performed, and your eye pressure is measured.

Which Examinations Are Required?

Among the examinations required for laser treatment are measurements made with a topography device for a detailed analysis of the corneal layer of your eye. Your corneal thickness is also important and is also measured. In addition, an eye examination with drops is performed.

How is an Eye Examination with Drops Performed?

A drop that dilates your pupils is instilled and then your eye numbers are re-determined. Then a detailed fundus examination is performed. During this examination, if there are any problems in the retina, these problems are first treated with the argon laser method. This process makes your laser eye surgery safer and more effective.

What to Consider Before Laser Treatment?

Before laser treatment, it is important not to wear eye makeup, not to use perfume, and not to take blood thinners. Also, there is no harm in eating on the day of laser eye surgery.

What Happens During Laser Treatment?

For laser eye surgery, your eyes are covered with a sterile cover and your eyelids are fixed with an apparatus so that they remain open. Laser eye surgery usually takes about 4-5 minutes for each eye, and during this time, you will not feel any pain using anesthetic creams.

What is Smile Laser Treatment?

Relex smile laser treatment is a treatment that is usually applied specifically to people with thin corneas and myopia and astigmatism problems.

Who is it applied to?

This treatment method is recommended for people who are deemed suitable by the doctor after a detailed examination. It can also be an ideal treatment method for athletes and certain professional groups exposed to impact and pressure.

Who is it not applied to?

Relex Smile laser treatment can be applied to people whose eye structure is suitable after a detailed examination and tests. This treatment method, which is made specifically for the person to solve myopia and astigmatism problems, has the ability to correct myopia up to -10 and astigmatism up to -5.

How is it applied?

Smile laser treatment is performed by creating a thin lenticule in the corneal layer of the eye with Zeiss Visumax Femtosecond technology. During this procedure, no flap is cut, thus the biomechanics of the cornea are less affected. This method, unlike other traditional laser treatments, is performed without making an incision and offers a faster recovery process.

What is the Difference Between Smile Laser and No Touch?

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) and No-Touch Laser technologies have recently come to the fore for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism. These technologies successfully eliminate myopia and astigmatism problems and dry eye complaints are less common after the operation. SMILE and No-Touch Laser allow for the effective treatment of eye disorders. After the operation, discomforts such as dry eyes in patients are reduced. These technologies, developed in recent years, are considered an important step in the treatment of myopia and astigmatism.

What is i-Lasik Laser Treatment?

Approximately 80% of people worldwide have refractive errors. One of the most reliable methods in the treatment of these defects is a treatment method called refractive surgery, which uses laser technology. Refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism have become treatable with lasers thanks to developing technology. The main purpose of laser treatment is to increase the quality of life of individuals and to enable them to have a more comfortable life. The I-Lasik (Laser Assisted in situ Keratomilluesis) method is the most commonly preferred method in the treatment of refractive errors. This method is planned specifically for the patient's eye structure and is applied after a detailed examination and tests.

I-Lasik Laser: Who is it Applied to?

Those over the age of 18

Those with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism

Those with sufficient corneal thickness

Those without systemic diseases (such as diabetes or rheumatism)

How is I-Lasik Surgery Performed?

In the I-Lasik application, a patient-specific plan is made and the procedure is performed using wavefront and iDesign technologies. Thanks to femtosecond laser technology, bladeless incisions are possible, which increases the success of the treatment.

Wavefront Technology

A light beam is sent to the eye and the resulting image is evaluated to create a treatment plan. This method is especially preferred for patients with night vision problems or large pupils.

iDesign Wavefront

First, a personal vision profile is prepared with Wavescan technology. Then, a corneal incision is created with a femtosecond laser and the information obtained from the image is used for the treatment plan.

What is Femtosecond Laser?

Femtosecond laser is a laser technology used in refractive surgery and cataract surgery. This technology increases the success of computer-controlled laser surgeries and plays an important role in operations. Differences with Blade Laser:

Unplanned surgical results and the risk of flap tears are eliminated.

A safer procedure can be performed on people with thin cornea structures.

Treatment can be applied to people with high eye numbers.

The risk of dry eyes after the operation is lower.

Who Can Use Femtosecond Laser?

If the person's eye structure is suitable, this technology can be used in the treatment of vision defects. The appropriate method is determined as a result of a detailed eye examination.

Is Femtosecond Laser Applied to Myopia?

Yes, femtosecond laser is used in the treatment of vision defects such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

What is Myopia?

Myopia is the problem of not being able to see clearly far away. When the eye lens cannot focus, it is difficult to see distant objects and signs clearly, but it can easily see nearby objects. It is a common vision defect that usually occurs in school ages and can increase until adulthood.

How Does Myopia Form?

Myopia usually develops due to genetic factors. However, environmental factors can also be effective in the progression of myopia. Myopia occurs when light rays are refracted incorrectly due to the shape of the eye, and images are focused in front of the retina instead of on it. This condition is related to the length of your eye and the curvature of your cornea.

What are the Symptoms of Myopia?

Squinting

Frequent eye rubbing

Squinting

Difficulty seeing while driving at night

Need to squint

Blurred vision beyond a certain distance

Can Myopia Go Away? How Does Myopia Go Away?

Depending on its degree, myopia can be treated with glasses or contact lenses. Laser or intraocular lens treatment can be applied to those who do not want to wear glasses or lenses. With these methods, the problem of long-distance vision can be corrected and the need for glasses or lenses can be eliminated.

What is Hyperopia (Near Vision Inability)?

The condition of not being able to see near objects clearly as a result of the anterior-posterior diameter of the eye being shorter than normal is called hyperopia. The difference from the normally seeing eye is that when the cornea is flatter or shorter than normal (its refractive index is lower than normal), the divergent, divergent rays coming from objects close to the eye focus on a virtual point behind the retina. This incoming image blurs on the retina and the patient cannot see near objects clearly.

What Causes Hyperopia?

Hyperopia, which usually occurs with advancing age, can also develop congenitally. However, it can increase with advancing age, the reason for this is the progressive decrease in accommodation power with age. In addition, genetic factors play an effective role in the formation of this condition, which is a vision defect.

What Are the Symptoms of Hyperopia?

Letters or lines shifting while reading

Eye and headaches in people who read for a long time

Seeing letters as if they are intertwined in writing

How is Hyperopia Treated?

The most common treatment method for vision defects such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism is to use glasses. The glasses of people who have problems with near vision are produced using thin-edged -convex- lenses that allow light to focus on the retina and increase the vision power of the eye. Contact lenses with the same optical properties can also be used to correct vision defects. Another treatment method used in addition to glasses and contact lenses is laser or intraocular lens surgery.

Before Surgery

There are a number of preparations and important steps before eye laser surgery. However, since every patient is different, the specific steps in this process may vary depending on your doctor's recommendations and your medical condition. Here are some important things to consider before eye laser surgery in general:

Choosing a Doctor

It is important to choose a reliable eye surgeon. Eye laser surgery is usually performed by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) or a specialized refractive surgeon.

Eye Exam

Your doctor will evaluate your eye health by performing an eye exam and determine if you are a candidate for laser surgery.

Inserting Lenses

You may need to insert lenses before eye laser surgery. This can correct any temporary vision problems that may occur after laser surgery.

Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Use

Your soft contact lens use may be stopped and your eyeglass use may be limited for a period of time before laser surgery. Your doctor will provide you with detailed information on this subject.

Using Eye Drops

Eye drops are usually required for several weeks before surgery. These drops can help keep the surface of the eye moist and promote healing.

During Surgery

During eye laser surgery, a number of special procedures and safety precautions are implemented. These procedures are meticulously followed to ensure that the surgery is successful and safe. Here are some basic points to consider during eye laser surgery:

Preparing the Eye Surface

Before the surgery begins, the eye doctor cleans the surface of the eye with a special sterile solution. This helps reduce the risk of infection during the surgery.

Eyelid Holders

Eyelid holders hold the eyelid open, making it easier for the surgeon to perform the laser procedure. These instruments are usually placed comfortably.

Adjusting the Laser Device

The laser device used in eye laser surgery is adjusted according to predetermined parameters by the surgeon. These adjustments depend on the person's eye defect and the type of surgery.

Immobilizing the Eye

The eye is immobilized throughout the surgery. This ensures that the laser procedure is performed accurately.

Laser Procedure

A laser procedure is used to create a specific pattern or shape on the eye by the surgeon. The laser corrects vision defects by shaping the cornea's tissue.

Surface Correction Procedures

During the laser procedure, your doctor may perform additional procedures to correct the surface of the eye as needed.

Anesthesia

Eye laser surgeries are usually performed under local anesthesia. Anesthetic drops or injections are used to prevent pain and discomfort in the eye area.

Surgical Process Control

The surgical process is monitored by high-tech equipment and computer-controlled systems. This provides the surgeon with a precise and controlled environment.

Completion of the Surgery

After the laser procedure is completed, the surgeon removes the eyelid retainers and the patient's eye may be covered with a protective bandage or contact lenses.

After Surgery

There are a few important things to consider to best manage the patient's recovery after eye laser surgery. Here are some basic points to consider after eye laser surgery:

Rest

Take care to rest and protect your eyes after surgery. Resting your eyes can speed up your recovery.

Eye Protection

Use special eye protection equipment such as bandages, glasses or contact lenses as recommended by your doctor.

Doctor's Checkups

Attend your follow-up appointments regularly. Your doctor will assess your eyes' healing progress and provide additional instructions if needed.

Eye Drops

Use eye drops prescribed by your doctor regularly. These drops can help keep your eyes moist and promote healing.

Avoid Rubbing or Straining Your Eyes

Rubbing your eyes or frequently immersing them in water can negatively impact the healing process. Therefore, avoid these activities.

Wearing Glasses or Contact Lenses

Follow your doctor's instructions regarding wearing glasses or contact lenses. This can help support your healing process.

Avoid Strenuous Exercise and Activities

Avoid strenuous exercise and strenuous activities for a period of time after surgery. This is important to protect your eyes and speed up healing.

Avoid Eye Makeup

Avoid wearing eye makeup for a period of time after surgery. It should not be forgotten that products containing chemicals can harm the eyes.