What is Excimer Laser?

Wearing prescription glasses or contacts for many years can create a feeling of boredom in many people. Due to the physical and emotional strain of wearing glasses and contacts, many people may want to kick the habit. For this reason, modern treatment options such as the excimer laser are becoming increasingly popular. The excimer laser is a type of laser used in eye surgery that reshapes the outer surface of the eye, called the cornea. This technology is used to treat eye disorders such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The excimer laser changes the shape of the cornea by vaporizing a thin layer of tissue from the cornea.

How is Excimer Laser Treatment Performed?

Excimer laser treatment offers an effective solution for those who want to get rid of using glasses or lenses. Certain points should be considered before and after this treatment process. So, how is excimer laser performed?

Numbing with Eye Drops: Before starting the treatment, the ophthalmologist applies local anesthetic drops to both eyes. These drops eliminate the sensation of pain or discomfort during the procedure, making the process more comfortable.
Flap Creation or Vaporization: The ophthalmologist removes a section of the top layer of the cornea, allowing access to the tissues underneath. This process is called flap creation. Alternatively, it is also possible to vaporize the top layer of the cornea without creating a flap in the excimer laser.
Excimer Laser Procedure: The doctor focuses on a specific area of the cornea using the excimer laser. It reshapes the corneal tissue with laser beams. In this step, the cornea is properly flattened or curved to correct vision defects such as hyperopia, myopia or astigmatism.
Flap Repositioning: After the laser procedure is complete, the flap created in the cornea is repositioned and left to the natural healing process.
Use of Eye Drops: After the procedure, the ophthalmologist prescribes appropriate eye drops to support the healing process. Regular use of these drops speeds up healing and reduces the risk of infection.

Who is Suitable for Excimer Laser Surgery?

Excimer laser is a common treatment method for people with visual impairments such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It can also be preferred for individuals with age-related macular degeneration.

Especially people who are uncomfortable with wearing glasses or contact lenses, who do not want to lose or dirty their glasses, and who are engaged in sports and other physical activities prefer excimer laser treatment. People who are suitable for excimer laser surgery are as follows:

Age: Candidates must be over 18 years of age. This ensures that the eyes have completed the growth and development period.

Vision Problem: Candidates who are eligible for treatment should be wearing glasses or contact lenses due to vision problems.

Eye Health: Candidates should not have serious eye diseases such as keratoconus and eye pressure. Such conditions can make excimer laser treatment risky.

Stable Eye Number: The eye number of individuals eligible for treatment should not have changed for at least one year. This ensures that the treatment is effective in the long term.

Systemic Diseases: Individuals who do not have systemic diseases such as diabetes are more suitable candidates for excimer laser treatment. Such diseases can negatively affect the healing process.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Period: Individuals who are not pregnant or breastfeeding are more suitable for treatment. During these periods, hormonal changes and fluid balance in the eye may affect the results of the treatment.

Excimer laser treatment offers a safe and effective solution for individuals who meet the above criteria. This treatment is an excellent alternative for those who want to move more comfortably and freely in daily life. For those who do not want to wear glasses or lenses due to visual impairments, excimer laser is an important treatment method that improves quality of life with its potential to provide clear and clear vision.

In Which Diseases is Excimer Laser Applied?

Excimer laser treatment is a reliable and effective method for the correction of visual impairments such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Excimer laser is one of the most ideal options for individuals who are not satisfied or do not want to use glasses or contact lenses.

Excimer Laser Device

Excimer laser treatment is a procedure performed using advanced devices equipped with computer systems. This method corrects visual defects by aiming to change the shape of the cornea, the transparent layer of the eye. The excimer laser device used during the procedure breaks the carbon bonds that hold the corneal tissue together and destroys the vaporized tissue.

This process is accomplished by directing the excimer laser device, which is tuned with perfect accuracy, to specific areas of the cornea. By thinning the surface of the cornea, the excimer laser device changes the refractive properties of the transparent layer of the eye. In this way, light is focused accurately on the retina and visual defects are eliminated.

Excimer Laser Surgery Results

Excimer laser surgery results allow people to get rid of eye defects such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. In this way, patients who say goodbye to the use of glasses or contact lenses get the look they desire. Excimer laser surgery patients undergo a painless treatment process. Patients who follow the doctor’s recommendations after the surgery, which is completed in a short time, can resume their normal lives after a short time.

Blurred Vision After Excimer Laser

After excimer laser treatment, patients may see blurred or dull for a few days. This is a common and temporary side effect of laser treatment. Therefore, there should be no cause for concern.

Blurred vision after excimer laser usually resolves on its own. However, as each individual’s healing process is different, some people may experience blurred vision for several weeks. During this period, it is important to follow the care instructions recommended by your doctor to speed up recovery.

Excimer Laser Healing Process

The excimer laser healing process varies depending on many factors such as the patient’s general health, age, post-procedure care, corneal thickness and the severity of the refractive error. The healing process begins immediately after the operation and visual clarity begins to improve within a few hours.

However, it may take several days or weeks for the flap area of the cornea to heal completely. During the excimer laser healing process, following the doctor’s recommended care instructions and protecting the eyes will ensure faster and smoother healing.

Excimer Laser Costs

Another curious issue about excimer laser treatment is the cost of this operation. Excimer laser costs may vary depending on the procedure applied and the health institution where the procedure is performed.

Individuals considering this method should consider their own health status and risk factors. Therefore, it is important to have a detailed consultation with a specialist. The information and support you will receive from health institutions and experts will help you make the best decision about excimer laser costs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Excimer Laser Surgery

Is There Pain After Excimer Laser Surgery?

There may be pain after excimer laser surgery. However, this may vary from person to person.

What Should Be Considered After Excimer Laser?

Things to pay attention to after excimer laser:

Eye Protection: Protect your eyes from external factors after the procedure. Especially for the first few days, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from sunlight.

Rest: Rest your eyes for the first few hours after the procedure and avoid heavy lifting.

Avoid Touching the Eyes: Do not rub your eyes to avoid stinging or burning sensation that may occur naturally after surgery.

Follow Doctor’s Recommendations: Use eye drops regularly and follow all care instructions recommended by your doctor.

Excimer laser treatment can significantly improve quality of life by providing clear and crisp vision when performed correctly and following care instructions.

Who Cannot Have Excimer Laser?

Excimer laser is not performed on pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. In addition, people with severe dry eye, increased spectacle degrees, cataract problems, herpes, diabetes and congenital corneal problems cannot undergo excimer laser treatment.

Can Excimer Laser Be Detected During Examination?

Yes, excimer laser can be detected during the examination.