For over 40 years, laser eye surgery has been successfully used to correct vision impairments such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. With approximately 32 million procedures performed, LASIK is one of the most commonly conducted surgeries in the field of refractive surgery worldwide.
Laser eye surgery in Turkey has a long-standing “tradition” for European patients. For over 30 years, foreign patients, especially in Istanbul, have been undergoing laser eye surgery.
Over time, the traditional LASIK method has been further developed to make “laser eye surgery” even safer and more precise. The best laser eye method for an individual depends on various factors such as the type of vision impairment, diopter strength, corneal thickness, and the patient’s personal preferences and expectations.
The following laser eye procedures are performed:
Relex Smile
The ReLEx SMILE procedure, compared to the LASIK method, is a relatively new laser treatment that has already been successfully practiced for nearly 15 years.
The innovation of this minimally invasive method lies in the fact that the preparation of a corneal flap is no longer necessary. Unlike LASIK procedures, the cornea does not need to be extensively incised.
This approach preserves the cornea. The ReLEx SMILE method is particularly well-suited for patients with high diopter values, as the thickness of the cornea might not be sufficient for other procedures.
iLasik
The iLASIK method, also known as IntraLASIK or Premium LASIK, is an advanced and modern version of traditional LASIK.
In this procedure, the flap (corneal cap) is not created using a microkeratome but with a highly precise femtosecond laser. The surgeon inputs the patient’s individual data into the laser system, which then calculates the dimensions of the flap.
Using thousands of consecutive laser pulses, the upper layer of the cornea is opened. Thanks to the femtosecond laser, the result is a precise, cleanly cut, and stable flap.
PRK
For patients with very thin corneas, the PRK variant is a suitable option. In this refractive surgical procedure, no flap is created, and no incision is made, as the corneal thickness is insufficient for such techniques.
Instead, the corneal surface layer (epithelium) is loosened using an alcohol-based solution and then moved aside. The laser treatment is performed afterward, and the epithelium is repositioned on the cornea. Generally, full visual acuity is achieved slightly later than with LASIK.
Additionally, the healing process takes significantly longer than with LASIK or Femto-LASIK, as the epithelium must fully regenerate.
Advantages of Laser Eye Surgery:
- Wearing glasses or contact lenses is no longer necessary.
- Extensive experience gained from over 30 million procedures.
- Very low complication rate.
- No pain during the procedure.
- Rapid recovery of full visual acuity.
- Able to return to work after approximately 2 days.
- Very low risk of infection.