Things you should know before you get SMILE surgery done for your eyes

Smile stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. Also known as femtosecond Lenticule Extraction (Flex), it is a laser-assisted technique used to treat refractive errors like myopia and astigmatism. The procedure was developed by Carl Zeiss Meditec and has gained a lot of popularity all over the world. Smile Eye Surgery in Delhi is offered at all the leading eye hospitals.

Dr Prashaant Chaudhry is the most trusted name in the field. Listed among the besteye doctors in Delhi, he specialises in a variety of ophthalmic procedures and is highly acknowledged for the efficiency and high success rate of his treatments.

Smile is a bladeless procedure which means minimal pain and discomfort. It involves the use of a femtosecond laser which is used to create a small opening (around 3 mm) in the cornea through which a certain amount of the corneal tissue is removed.

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction is also suitable for patients who are not considered to be eligible for LASIK surgery as it does not cause much damage to the corneal nerves. This is partly the reason why SMILE surgery is given preference over LASIK surgery.

The recovery period in case of SMILE is very short and it does not require any stitches. The cornea heals on its own. However, some precautions are to be taken in order to avoid infection.

The procedure can only be used to treat myopia and astigmatism and cannot be used in case of patients suffering from presbyopia and hypermetropia.

Although myopia and astigmatism can be temporarily corrected by the use of spectacles and lenses but using these on a regular basis can be quite hectic. Provided you cannot use these while playing contact sports or swimming. Patients using contact lenses and glasses can opt for SMILE surgery to get rid of their lenses and spectacles permanently.

Things to keep in mind:

• Ø  The procedure hardly takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Ø  Remember to wear warm clothes during the procedure as the laser technology requires the room to remain at a low temperature.
• Ø  Before carrying out the procedure, the doctors will use some sedative eye drops to numb your eyes. In the case of anxiety, you might even be given some oral sedatives. In case you are allergic to any of these, inform your surgeon beforehand.
• Ø  Once your eyes are numb, you will be asked to lie down straight on your back and the laser will be adjusted accordingly.
• Ø  Doctors use a special instrument known as speculum to keep your eyes open throughout the procedure.
• Ø  The femtosecond laser used during the procedure is robotically assisted thereby ensuring higher precision and accuracy. It is used to create a thin flap through which the lenticule is removed. The flap is then placed back.
• Ø  After the surgery, you might feel dizzy for some time due to the effect of the sedatives.
• Ø  You will be required to take certain medicines, mostly eye drops, as prescribed by your doctor, to avoid any sort of infection.
• Ø  Even after the surgery, you need to visit your ophthalmologist on a regular basis to ensure that there is no complication.
• Ø  Although you might feel slight discomfort or itching sensation in your eyes, do not rub your eyes as this can give rise to complications
• Ø  Make sure to keep water away from your eyes unless the wound heals completely.
• Ø  Take complete rest for at least 2 to 3 days post surgery.
• Ø  Avoid going out in direct sunlight and remember to wear sun shades while going out.
• Ø  In case of persistent pain or irritation, immediately inform your doctor. Do not try any medication on your own.

Read More

Eye Diseases Which Can Cause Blindness?

Eyes are one of the most sensitive organs of the human body that enable us to see. Our eyes are prone to a number of problems that can severely affect our vision. Some of these problems can be treated by the use of eye drops whereas others require surgical intervention and if not treated on time, they can even lead to complete blindness. The use of laser technology in the field of ophthalmology has led to the rise of procedures like LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) which is a minimally invasive procedure. You can find some of the best LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery hospital in Delhi. Doctors hailing from the best eye disease treatment hospital of India also recommend such procedures as they have higher success rates and are hassle-free. Blindness is an ailment that can physically disable a person as well lead to depression and other such problems. Even minute eye problems should be tended to immediately and brought under medical supervision. The leading Eye hospitals in Delhi are equipped with all sorts of machines and equipment to help the patient regain his normal eyesight.

Doctors hailing from the best ophthalmic hospital in Delhi, India suggest immediate medical intervention for the below-listed eye problems as these can prove to be very harmful and also lead to blindness if not treated on time.

• Head injuries that include injuries or blow to your brain, skull or scalp which leads to the formation of mild bumps and bruises.
• Glaucoma which is caused by severe damage to the optic nerve.
• Retinal detachment caused by the separation of the retina from the back of the eye. It can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.
• High blood pressure can also damage the nerves of your eyes leading to partial or complete blindness. Hence it is better to keep your blood pressure under control.
• The formation of a white, cloud-like layer on the surface of the eye, known as a cataract.
• Central vision loss due to macular degeneration.
• Just like high blood pressure, diabetes can also prove to be fatal for your eyes and lead to loss of vision.
• Retinal Vascular Occlusion which is caused by the blockage in the blood vessels carrying blood to the retina. This may also be caused due to clot formation.
• Stroke can also severely affect your eyesight and lead to blindness.
• Abnormal inflammation in the optic nerve also leads to blindness. This problem is known as optic neuritis.
• Blindness can also be triggered by the accidental contact of your eyes with chlorine which leads to chlorine poisoning.
• Intracranial Hemorrhage may also lead to blindness. The problem is marked by excessive bleeding inside the patient's skull.

Other serious problems that can lead to total or partial blindness include Albinism, Krabbe disease, Sarcoidosis, Basal Cell Nevus syndrome, Eye emergencies etc.

Read More

Difference between Laser surgery and PRK Laser surgery

Both PRK and laser eye surgeries aim at correcting certain defects of vision that might otherwise affect our ability to see clearly and may even lead to partial or total blindness. You can find the best LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery hospital in Delhi which is equipped with all kinds of latest machines and equipment that help to give very precise and satisfactory results. Both the surgeries are offered by the best ophthalmic hospital in Delhi, India along with various other procedures. Also, the services provided here are quite cheap and at par with International standard. With the growth of the use of laser-based technology for the treatment of various eye-related problems, there has been a considerable increase in the number of refractive laser surgery hospitals in Delhi. This has also led to the rise of many Lasik eye surgery hospitals in Delhi as well.

One of the most common types of laser surgery is LASIK surgery which stands for Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses. The procedure is quite new and highly effective for patients suffering from myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism. The surgical procedure involves the use of a corneal flap containing the epithelial as well as deeper stromal tissue. This is done with the help of a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. The flap is lifted to expose the underlying tissues of the cornea which are then removed carefully to reshape the cornea, with the help of an excimer laser. The recovery period after laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis technique is very short and the procedure is essentially painless.

PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy and it is a type of refractive surgery that helps to correct refractive eye defects like Myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism. The surgery involves the use of laser technology and was first conducted in the year 1986, approximately 13 years prior to the approval of LASIK Eye Surgery. Just like other laser based eye surgeries, photorefractive keratectomy involves the use of excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct eye defects like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK Eye surgery which involves the use of a flap to reshape the corners, photorefractive keratectomy involves the complete removal of the thin upper layer of the cornea, known as the epithelium. Since the use of flap is completely eliminated, so are the risks associated with it. Also, the risks of removing too much cornea are also greatly minimised. Custom PRK has also become quite popular nowadays. The technique helps your ophthalmic surgeon additional data regarding the requirements of your vision using customised wavefront technology. Although PRK surgery has a lot of benefits over LASIK Eye Surgery, however, there are certain disadvantages as well. The most highlighted disadvantage is that the recovery period following PRK treatment is quite longer than LASIK Eye Surgery. This happens because the epithelial cells need time to regenerate themselves. PRK surgery is highly recommended for patients having large pupils, dry eyes, and thin corneas.

Read More