This article is all about laser vision correction – a modern and effective solution for correcting vision problems. Many people are tired of having to wear glasses or contact lenses and are looking for alternative ways to improve their vision.
Here we offer you a comprehensive overview of the various treatment methods and help you to find out whether laser vision correction is suitable for you.

What is laser vision correction?

Laser eye treatment, also known as refractive surgery, is a medical procedure to correct vision defects such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
The aim of this treatment is to reduce or even completely eliminate dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
The basic idea of refractive surgery is based on the precise modification of the cornea of the eye to refract the incoming light so that it hits the retina correctly, resulting in improved visual acuity.
Modern technologies such as the Schwind Amaris eye tracker and precise laser devices from Carl Zeiss Meditec enable extremely accurate adjustment of the corneal surface.
Refractive surgery has evolved over the years and now offers various treatment methods that are tailored to the individual needs of patients.
These methods are characterized by high precision and safety and, in most cases, enable vision to be restored quickly after the procedure.
Patients who opt for laser vision correction can often see a significant improvement in their vision immediately after treatment and can do without visual aids.

Are you suitable for laser vision correction?

Whether you are suitable for laser vision correction depends on various individual factors.
Each person has unique eyes and therefore a thorough preliminary examination by an experienced ophthalmologist is essential.
Factors such as the
thickness of the cornea, the presence of
corneal curvature, myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia as well as your general eye health and lifestyle habits play an important role.
Find out more about how these and other factors affect suitability for laser vision correction and which treatment method is best for you.

General contraindications for laser eye surgery:

• Insufficient thickness of the cornea: A cornea that is too thin can make laser eye surgery unsafe.
• Active eye infections: Infections such as conjunctivitis or keratitis must be treated first.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Hormonal changes can influence the results.
• Severe dry eyes: A strong foreign body sensation and dryness can be aggravated by laser eye surgery.
• Uncontrolled diabetes: High blood sugar levels can impair healing and affect the eyes.
• Autoimmune diseases: Diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of complications.
• Non-refractive visual defects: Severe and variable visual defects are more difficult to correct.
• Scars on the cornea: Previous eye injuries or scars can make laser treatment more difficult.
• Insufficiently stable vision: Stable vision values over at least one year are important for successful correction.
• Glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure can pose additional risks.

Femto-LASIK laser eye correction:

The
Femto-LASIK is a modern and precise method of laser eye correction that is used in particular for short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
This procedure combines the advantages of the femtosecond laser and the excimer laser to precisely reshape the cornea and improve visual acuity.

How Femto-LASIK works

• A femtosecond laser is used to prepare a thin flap in the cornea.
• The flap is carefully folded to the side to expose the underlying tissue.
• An excimer laser shapes the cornea so that the light hits the retina correctly.
• The flap is then folded back, where it grows on by itself without seams.

Eligibility criteria for Femto-LASIK

• Short-sightedness: up to about -10 diopters
• Farsightedness: up to about +4 diopters
• Astigmatism: up to 5 diopters

Femto-LASIK is particularly suitable for patients who suffer from one of the aforementioned visual defects and whose cornea is sufficiently thick.
This method offers high precision and reduces the risk of complications, as the femtosecond laser enables extremely fine incisions.

Trans-PRK for myopia, hyperopia & astigmatism

The
Trans-PRK (Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy) is a proven and gentle method of laser eye correction that is used particularly for short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
This technique does not require the creation of a corneal flap and offers a safe alternative to other procedures.

How the Trans-PRK works

• In trans-PRK, the top layer of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed with an excimer laser.
• The underlying cornea is then precisely sculpted to correct the visual defect.
• After the laser treatment, the epithelium grows back within a few days, supported by special eye drops and bandage contact lenses.

Eligibility criteria for the Trans-PRK

• Short-sightedness: up to about -8 diopters
• Farsightedness: up to about +3 diopters
• Astigmatism: up to 4 diopters

Trans-PRK is particularly suitable for patients who suffer from one of the aforementioned visual defects and whose cornea is too thin for procedures with flap formation such as LASIK.
This method is gentle and is also suitable for people who are very active in sports or work in professions where a flap could be problematic.

Laser eye surgery without flap with PRK

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is one of the oldest and most proven methods of laser eye correction. This method offers a safe alternative for patients who are not suitable for other laser procedures.

How the PRK works

• In PRK, the top layer of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed manually or with a special solution.
• The underlying area of the cornea is then precisely sculpted with an excimer laser to correct the visual defect.
• After the laser treatment, the epithelium grows back within a few days, supported by eye drops and bandage contact lenses.

Eligibility criteria for the PRK

• Myopia: up to about -6 diopters
• Farsightedness: up to about +3 diopters
• Astigmatism: up to 3 diopters

Why trans-PRK is usually better than PRK:

Trans-PRK (transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy) offers several advantages over classic PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), making it the preferred choice in most cases.
A key advantage of trans-PRK is that it is gentler on the eye, as the top layer of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed evenly with a laser, without the need for manual work or the use of a solution.
This reduces the risk of unevenness and ensures more precise correction of defective vision.
In addition, the healing process is often faster and less painful with Trans-PRK, as the laser removes the corneal surface more smoothly and evenly.
This results in less foreign body sensation and faster regeneration of the epithelium.
The
Trans-PRK can therefore provide an improved Visual acuity faster and reduce the risk of complications

ReLEx SMILE or SmartSight: Innovative treatment methods

ReLEx SMILE and SmartSight are minimally invasive laser eye correction procedures.
In both methods, a small piece of lens (lenticule) is removed from the cornea to correct vision defects such as myopia and astigmatism.
The main advantage is the gentle treatment without a flap, which speeds up the healing process and reduces the risk of complications.
Both procedures are particularly precise and offer rapid restoration of visual acuity.

Not suitable for laser eye surgery: Lens surgery as an alternative

Lens exchange / cataract surgery

Lens exchange, also known as cataract surgery, is a surgical procedure in which the natural lens of the eyeis replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
This method is often used for patients with
cataracts, but can also be used to correct visual defects such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Lens implantation with ICL phakic lenses

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Lens implantation with ICL phakic lenses (implantable Collamer lenses) is an innovative method of laser vision correction that is particularly suitable for patients whose defective vision cannot be correctedusing laser procedures.
In this procedure, a special lens is implanted in the eye without removing the natural lens.

Suitability criteria for the ICL phakic lenses:

• Myopia up to about -20 diopters
• Farsightedness up to about +10 diopters
• Patients with thin corneas who are unsuitable for LASIK or PRK
• Stable vision and no serious eye diseases