Standard and customised Lasik are extremely popular corrective procedures. In custom Lasik, vision will be better than with glasses and is being discussed extensively in today’s changing scenario. Advanced laser treatment is designed specifically to suit an individual’s eye and a person’s visual demands. It is like wearing a readymade suit, which fits very well for about 60 to 70 per cent of clients.
There are many types of custom Lasik, and one of the latest is PresbyLASIK. This advanced laser vision correction modifies the shape of the cornea to create different power zones for different distances. Presbyopia is age-related vision change that affects one’s reading capabilities, affecting those above age 42. It is corrected with reading glasses, progressive multifocal spectacles, contact lenses, multifocal intraocular (IOL) lenses and now with PresbyLASIK. While many don’t need glasses all the time, near vision becomes a hassle. They cannot read on computers, read out a document in office or public and cannot read the medicines they take without reaching for their glasses!
There are several approaches for PresbyLASIK and after doing an advanced test called Pentacam HR, your doctor will decide what is best for you. Many tests like corneal and retinal examination, glaucoma and dry eye assessment are also done before suggesting Lasik. The procedure is done either under a flap or on the surface, called ASA or “advanced surface ablation”. Different techniques may be used for the two eyes, so that they can function in a synchronised manner. This increases the overall range of visual capabilities between the two eyes.
Custom Lasik is a mind boggling technological advancement in laser refractive surgery. It is designed to treat both lower order abnormalities such as short sight and astigmatism as well as higher order abnormalities. This corrects blurriness, halos, and night vision problems, driving difficulties, vision problems remaining after cataract with monofocal and multifocal IOL surgeries and older LASIK surgeries due to higher order aberrations (HOA). Patients with large pupils, sensitivity to low contrast and misshaped corneas will gain a lot with Custom Lasik. Low-contrast sensitivity makes it difficult to see details of an object in dimly-lit surroundings. People with large pupils have poor night vision, which is worsened with traditional Lasik. This was realised over a decade ago, and was corrected by the introduction of wavefront optimised Lasik by us for the first time in Bengaluru.
— The writer is the chairman and medical director of Karthik Netralaya
