Is the use of laser at the eyes safe?

The type of laser that is used in ophthalmology is called EXCIMER LASER, its wave length makes it very safe to be employed at the eyes. It consists on a cold laser, it doesn´t produce any heat in the treated area, its function is evaporating tissue at a determined area, carving the cornea, according to the refractive defects.
On what issues does the election of procedure depend?

It depends on the part of the cornea to be treated with laser. In LASIK, a portion called flap is raised, then laser is applied beneath it, and then, the area is closed again. Patients with thinner corneas are not candidates for LASIK, but for Lasek or PRK, where the flap is avoided, and carving is carried out directly at the corneal surface.
On the other hand, EPILASIK is also a corneal procedure, but it raises the most superficial part of the cornea, the epithelium. LASIK and EPILASIK essentially differ in two things: The thickness of the cornea, and the part of the cornea where the laser is applied.

Who are the candidates for this procedure?

Patients older than 18, after specialized corneal exams conclude that their cornea has an specific thickness which makes it eligible for surgery. Surgery is impossible in corneas that lack a necessary thickness. Considering all this, nowadays ranges of myopia between 0.75 to 25 or 30 diopters can be corrected. (diopters are the defect measurement unit)

Other issue consists on the lubrication of eyes. As years pass, and commonly in women, due to hormonal changes, the production of tears diminishes, making contradictory the application of a laser, that increases dryness. Patients with a low production of tears are not good candidates for the LASIK, they might be good candidates for Conductive Keratoplasy, or Intraocular Lenses.

Which are the recovery percentages?

These are more than 96%, better than 20/30. When patients are correctly evaluated, determining that they are good candidates for the procedure, more than 90% of vision will be improved, it can be guaranteed.

Results of Lasik Wavefront are more than 98%, obtaining 20/20 or better degrees.

How long must I wait for results?

It depends of age. Younger patients get faster results. In cases of myopia or myopic astigmatism, a young patient gets results in two or three days. The opposite case, presbytia treatment in older patients, produces complete results in one to three months.

Can complications occur?

LASIK is a safe procedure, but complications might occur. Patients must understand that each eye heals in a different way. If any doubt, please consult to Dr. Oliveros.

Which are the average costs involved?

Laser interventions cost from two million to two and a half million Colombian Pesos. Conductive Keratoplasty is more economical: An average of two million pesos (but requiring a re-touching in three to five years). Multifocal Intraocular Lenses surgery could cost Seven million pesos or more, but results are definitive, 85% of patients get rid of their glasses for their whole life.

Why is the difference in prices so high, depending on the procedure?

Your cornea is unique, like a finger print. Some centers offer low cost treatments, without providing the last technologies, without taking into account individual differences in corneas, making extremely unlikely any 20/20 result. Other consequences could by experiencing flashes and ghostly images, specially at night, etc…
The Wavefront provides unique guarantees, in quality and quantity of vision, because it is extremely safe, responding to individual needs of each case.


How safe is the procedure?

If it is practiced by a good surgeon, it is extremely safe. These requirements must be met:

• Myopia, less than 10 diopters, astigmatism and hypermetropia, less than 6 diopters.
• The refractive defect must have been stable for a year (it is usually stable at 18 years of age)
• No glaucoma, keratoconus or other visual problems, that the doctor must previously discard, before conducting surgery.
• An adequate corneal thickness. This measurement is always required before surgery.
• Surgery is not recommended in pregnant women.

Like all surgeries, LASIK involves risks. No surgeon can offer a 100% guarantee of no risks. One person out of 100 persons that get this procedure will experience some complication. Most complications can be solved. Severe complications are extremely rare.

What should I do before surgery?

Previously, Dr. Oliveros will conduct a complete exam of your eyes, to make sure that you don´t suffer from any condition that could prevent the treatment from being carried out or that could worsen the prognosis. A Computerized Corneal Topography and a Pachymetry allow the specialist to know the form and thickness of your cornea, to plan the procedure and discard some pathologies that were not detected at the initial exam.
An exam, with the pupils previously dilated, establishes the degree of myopia or hypermetropia, and informs about the health state of the retina.
Patients are not required to follow any preparation steps before surgery, excepting patients that wear contact lenses, they must suspend their use 8 days before surgery
(soft lenses) and 20 days before surgery (gas permeable lenses)


Is LASIK painful? How long does it take?

A topic anesthesia is used (anesthetic eye drops). Neither injections nor general anesthesia are required. Patients are awake, but they don´t feel any pain or discomfort.
The procedure lasts approximately five minutes for each eye.
Once the surgery is finished, you can go home without any hospitalization.


What should I do after surgery? How is the incapacity period?.

It is very important not to touch the eye the first day, and not to apply any pressure on it
For five days (Do not rub it). A slight discomfort at the eyes is normal during the first day after surgery. Due to the fact that the occlusion of the eyes generally takes two hours, in this first day after surgery, you can walk normally, you will just experience a somewhat blurred vision. It will occur for two or three days, due to the minimal inflammation that is produced. Blurred vision is the only obstacle to normal activities for two or three days.

It is important to use all prescribed medications, specially ophthalmic drops. You must wear protecting sun glasses for 15 days, Also, no swimming is allowed during this period. 15 days after the procedure, you can resume your daily life as if no operation had occurred. Lasik provides stability to the cornea, unlike former procedures, in which any hit or trauma meant an extremely high risk. The cornea´s structure is kept, as in not operated eyes.


What results can I expect?

Results of surgery specially depend on the visual conditions with glasses or contact lenses that existed before the procedure. In general, vision without glasses, after the procedure, will be the same vision with glasses before it. It will be better when Wavefront is used. Results are accomplished three days after surgery, they will be optimal one to three months after it.


Can a second procedure be necessary?

In LASIK, the excimer laser carves the cornea, because the cornea is a live tissue, results are different that when carving a plastic object (cicatrization is different from patient to patient) Sometimes, a partial or an excessive correction is obtained, in these cases, a second procedure is needed, to carve the cornea again and correct any residual refractive defect. This second procedure is not riskier than the first one.