Any type of operation is performed as an outpatient procedure.

PRK
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is the first operation made with excimer laser. PRK is used to treat low to moderate amounts of nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness. It lasts about 20 minutes and is painless!

Stages of operation:

• Anaesthetic (numbing) eye drops are put in the eye;
• Then a surgeon removes epithelium, the surface thin layer of the cornea, with a special blunt instrument;
• In less than a minute, a computer controlled excimer laser removes the proper amount of tissue and reshapes the surface of the cornea. After flattening the cornea, the light rays, passed through the optical system, converge to a focal point on the retina;
• A bandage contact lens is placed on the eye for 3 days. Since the epithelium was removed, the patient experience blurred vision, light sensitivity, foreign body sensation and discomfort for three days. Medicine and topical drops are administered to reduce the symptoms. Once the epithelium grows back (usually in 3 days), the vision quickly returns to useful levels and the pain subsides. Most people return to work in seven to ten days.

PRK advantages:

• Quick;
• No intraoperative complications;
• No flap created, so there is no chance of flap dislocation: safer postoperative period;
• Less restrictions of activities;
• Advantageous in patient's with thin corneas or corneal surface problems.

Disadvantages of PRK:

• Healing is longer than after LASIK, longer discomfort (tearing, light sensitivity, foreign body sensation);
• Slower improving of final visual acuity ( sometimes 1-2 months);
• Slight risk of haze formation in the cornea (chances of about 1:500).

FEMTO - LASIK
LASIK is a shortened term standing for "Laser In Situ Keratomileusis". In Greece language that means "in situ" – in natural site, "kerato" – cornea, and "mileus" – change of the shape. Now it is the most popular refractive surgery procedure. With LASIK nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness of different degree can be corrected.

Course of the procedure:

• Anaesthetic (numbing) eye drops are put in the eye.
• Surgeon signs the site where the flap will be laid down at the end of the procedure.
• A flap is maid by Femtosecond laser in cornea
• The flap, about 20% of corneal thickness, is created with a portion of the cornea left uncut to provide a hinge.
• The surgeon fixates the head and eye position of the patient.
• In less than 60 seconds, the computer-controlled excimer laser removes necessary amount of tissue and reshapes central part of the cornea. The amount of tissue removed depends on the degree of myopia or hyperopia that is being corrected. The accuracy of the laser is 0,25 microns: each impulse of the laser removes 0,25 microns of the tissue.
• The hinged flap is folded back into its original position. The surgeon waits for several minutes to insure that the flap is well bond on the corneal surface. No wound is left on the surface of the eye, so discomfort is minimal.
• Eye drops are used after the operation. The regime is individual for each patient.

The advantages of FEMTO - LASIK:

• More comfortable postoperative period;
• Short period of postoperative discomfort (4-5 hours);
• Faster vision improvement;
• Faster working recovery;
• No risk of haze formation.

PTK
PTK, Phototherapeutic Keratectomy, is considered when there is a need to remove scars in corneal surface or to treat recurrent corneal erosions:

• Anaesthetic (numbing) eye drops are placed in the eye;
• The surgeon removes surface epithelium;
• Laser is used to remove surface scars, caused by injuries or inflammation;
• Contact lens is laced on the eye; eye drops are administered.

Corneal surface heals in about 3 days. During that time, pain, tearing, light sensitivity and foreign body sensation can be experienced.

Any type of operation is performed as an outpatient procedure.