What is refractive surgery?

Refractive surgery is a set of surgical procedures that aim to eliminate the need for glasses. They are designed to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia. Their goal is to improve patients’ quality of life.

Types of Refractive Surgery
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): This technique uses a laser to reshape the cornea, allowing light to focus correctly on the retina.

Patients: must have the necessary medical tests to qualify for this procedure.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): Similar to LASIK, but instead of creating a flap in the cornea, the outermost layer is removed.
Patients: with thin corneas or in certain special conditions.

ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): This involves inserting a lens inside the eye, which corrects vision without altering the cornea.
Patients: Those who are not candidates for LASIK or PRK.
Phacorefractive (Intraocular Lens Surgery with Multifocal Lens Implantation): This involves removing the natural lens and replacing it with a lens inside the eye, which corrects both distance and near vision without altering the cornea.
Patients: Those who wear glasses for distance and/or near vision and wish to stop wearing them.

Who is a good candidate?

Most people over 18 years of age with stable vision and no significant eye diseases may be eligible for refractive surgery. A comprehensive evaluation by an ophthalmologist will determine your candidacy.

What to expect during the process?
Preoperative Evaluation: Comprehensive examinations will be performed to assess your eye health and determine the most appropriate technique. During surgery: Most procedures are quick, lasting 10 to 30 minutes on average, and are performed under local anesthesia.
Recovery: Many patients notice improvements in their vision almost immediately, although vision may continue to improve in the following weeks. Most return to their daily activities within one or two days.