18.7.2024
Lesezeit:
3 minutes

Comparing laser eye procedures and lens surgery

Each refractive process has advantages and disadvantages, find the right method for your needs

Dr. Valéry Vinzent Wittwer

These four procedures are currently considered standard in refractive surgery. Areas of application, advantages and disadvantages meet the criteria of Refractive Surgery Commission (KRC)

Femto-LASIK

(LASIK)

Short and painless for small to moderate vision defects in normal cornea

1. LASIK flap
2nd electric bed
3. Laser ablation
4. Corrected focal point
benefits
  • Very short and painless recovery time
drawbacks
  • The eyes may become drier
  • Unsuitable for policemen and martial artists due to the risk of the flap slipping due to a blow to the eye

PRK/Trans-PRK

(Smart Surface/"No Touch”)

For small to moderate vision defects in thin or irregular corneas

1st electric bed
2. Laser ablation
3. Corrected focal point
benefits
  • Also for thin and irregular corneas
  • Not a flap that could slip due to a blow (suitable for policemen and martial artists)
  • The eyes become less dry after treatment (suitable for patients with reduced tear production)
drawbacks
  • Longer recovery time (1-2 weeks)

PIOL

(ICL/IPCL)

For severe vision defects and weak corneas

1. Natural lens
2. cornea
3. Artificial PIOL
4. Corrected focal point
vantage
  • Larger defective vision (especially short-sightedness and astigmatism) can also be corrected
  • Even with weakened corneas (e.g. keratoconus)
  • Reversible surgery
drawback
  • Internal eye surgery with greater risks than laser eye procedures
  • Higher costs

laser lenticule extraction

(Smile/Clear/SmartSight)

State-of-the-art procedure for minor and medium vision defects with more risks and less long-term experience

1st lenticule in the cornea
2. Corrected focal point
benefits
  • Eyes tend to be less dry than after Femto-Lasik/LASIK
drawbacks
  • No correction of farsightedness
  • fewer long-term values
  • Longer recovery time than LASIK/Femto-LASIK and PIOL (2-3 days)
  • greater risks of complications
  • Can't be repeated or post-corrections as PRK or conversion to LASIK