What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery is popularly known in Türkiye as “göz çizdirme.” Today's modern individuals want to get rid of glasses and contact lenses for both distance and near vision and enjoy more comfortable vision and a better quality of life. One of the methods used for this is reshaping the cornea with a laser. While this is the most commonly used method worldwide for correcting nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism, a lens can also be implanted inside the eye in eyes that are not suitable for this surgery.

Laser Eye Treatment;

• Is a safe surgery.
• Aims to give you a comfortable life without glasses.
• The goal is for you to see without glasses as well as you can see with them. After laser surgery, 95% of nearsighted patients and 70% of farsighted patients no longer need glasses.
• If laser surgery is performed while the prescription is still changing, you may need to wear glasses again. For this reason, your prescription must not have increased for at least 1 year.
• If your prescription increases again, you may have a second operation, depending on the suitability of your eye.
• You can have cataract surgery after laser surgery.

Although various laser methods (such as PRK, No-Touch and SMILE) are available to correct refractive errors, the most widely used method in the world, and the one with the most accumulated experience, is LASIK. Using modern systems, LASIK surgery is performed without a blade, with the help of a femtosecond laser (i-LASIK). The most important advantages of this surgery are safety and precision.

PRK: In cases of refractive error where the cornea is not thick enough for LASIK, the epithelial layer on the corneal surface is removed and the underlying corneal tissue is reshaped with an excimer laser.

NO-TOUCH LASER– A laser treatment performed without touching the eye or making any contact with it.

Personalized laser treatment is also performed using a technology popularly known in Türkiye as “eagle eye” (Wavefront Technology).

Who Is a Candidate for Laser Eye Surgery?

• Being over 18 years of age
• A stable eye prescription
• Sufficient corneal thickness
• Myopia up to -10.0 D
• Hyperopia up to +6.0 D
• Astigmatism up to 6.0 D
• No eye conditions such as keratoconus or glaucoma
• No systemic diseases such as diabetes or rheumatic disease
• An eye structure found suitable for laser treatment in the assessments

Before Laser Eye Surgery;

• Contact lenses should be removed 3 days beforehand.
• First, a detailed eye examination is performed.
• Your eye prescription is determined.
• Next, detailed analyses are performed, including corneal thickness and topographic maps of the cornea.
• If the retinal examination reveals risk factors such as tears or holes, these areas should be treated with an argon laser before surgery, and excimer laser treatment should be postponed for at least 3 weeks.

How Do You Prepare for Laser Eye Surgery?

Before LASIK, you can discuss with your eye doctor what to expect before, during and after the procedure. Before the LASIK eye surgeries we perform at Can Hastanesi, your eye doctor will take your medical history and examine your eyes. During this examination, tests may be done to measure your corneal thickness, refraction and eye pressure. At Can Hastanesi, you can ask our specialists any questions you may have during your examinations, and they will be happy to help you. After the general examination and check-ups, you can schedule an appointment for surgery.

At Can Hastanesi, you can ask our specialists any questions you may have during your examinations, and they will be happy to help you.

If you wear rigid contact lenses, you may be advised to stop wearing them at least 3 weeks before your evaluation. You will need to stop wearing other types of contact lenses at least 3 days before your evaluation. Make sure you bring your glasses with you so the surgeon can review your prescription.

In addition, before laser eye surgery;

• Do not wear makeup
• Do not wear perfume
• Stop taking blood-thinning medications

What Happens During Laser Eye Surgery?

The operation is painless and comfortable. The eyes are numbed with drops only, and surgery on one eye takes a few minutes. The time spent in the operating room for both eyes is about 15 minutes. Your doctor will give you drops to numb your eyes. You may also ask for a mild sedative.

A device called a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser is used to create a thin flap in your cornea. After another laser is used to reshape the underlying tissue, the flap is put back in place and the surgery is complete.

The LASIK procedure itself usually takes about 20 minutes. You will need someone with you to take you home after the surgery; you can then go home and rest.

After Laser Eye Surgery;

• You can go home after laser surgery.
• Watering, a stinging sensation and pain in the eye for about 4–5 hours are normal.
• Drops should be used as recommended by your doctor.
• Do not rub your eyes; do not let water or soap get into them.
• Do not drive on the day of the laser surgery.
• For about a week, avoid any impact to the eye and do not rub it vigorously.
• For the first month, sports activities should be done wearing protective eyewear.
• Protect your eyes from UV light as much as possible and wear sunglasses during hours of strong sunlight.
• During the first week, avoid particularly strenuous, tiring work.
• The first check-up is the following day. After this check-up, you can return to work and social life.
• You may need to use eye drops for about 3–6 months.