Refractive surgery continues to improve and become more specialized. New technology results in improving vision in areas never considered before or age groups so keeping up with recent trends matter. What was not possible five years ago may become possible. The 2015 International Society of Refractive Surgery presented findings of preferences of doctors along with improvements in lens based surgery and premium IOLs.
Integration of surgical technique
Femtosecond laser assisted refractive cataract surgery has risen in recent years. Now more data exists on the procedure than before, and it showed surgeons increasingly use the technology, and implant more toric and presbyopia correcting IOLS than before. It has yet to reach a high volume in the refractive surgery niche but for presbyopia it may become the tool of choice. Hyperopia and myopia remain the same using LASIK as the main tool. LASIK started the trend, but the doctors continue to refine it for niche groups of patients needing a slightly different technique, but all within the realm of the LASIK surgery facilities. The best news became surgeons and their families used LASIK and PRK surgeries three times higher in their own families than the general population. Talk about a vote of confidence in a technique by recommending it to family members means it has deep approval.
Evolution
Since femtosecond lasers arrived doctors now prefer that method to create the flap for the LASIK surgery. Topography devices are increasing and the doctors use more than one device depending on the need. Zeiss Humphrey and Oculus are favorites. Some of the ranges of the minimal residual stromal bed thickness have changed. Surgeons prefer more than 250 ums. It gives better results.
After surgery care
To promote healing steroids, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs not of the steroid kind are prescribed. Antibiotics most often used continues to be trimethoprim sulfate, or polymyxin B sulfate that go by various brand names. The winner in the steroid category became difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion.
Astigmatism
The success of LASIK has resulted in surgeons more willing to tackle astigmatism in patients. Reports showed in Review of Ophthalmology that 2012 about 17% of doctors would offer to correct 0.5D of astigmatism. That has changed dramatically to a 39% willingness to correct it. It has been attributed to the femtosecond technology that makes it easier to correct.
The doctor matters
All the new technology makes it easier and more accurately to shape the cornea. None of it works well unless the doctors are well trained and caring. Choices exist even within the technology and the doctor’s thorough examination and the patient’s history make the most difference in the results. Take a look at the process at the Sugarland Eye & Laser Center in Houston. The staff offers counseling first to see if the procedures will work for your condition. They set up a consultation with a doctor to further develop a plan to get you better eyesight. With the new technologies and techniques explore the possibilities. Call today.
Sugarland Eye & Laser Center leads in providing premium LASIK technologies to Houston, Sugar Land, and the surrounding region. The center’s award-winning medical director introduced revolutionary technologies such as iLASIK to the region. This technology is used by NASA astronauts, Navy SEALS and Air Force fighter pilots. At Sugar Land Eye & Laser Center, you can now receive the same treatment. For more information, please call (281) 240-0478.
Via
http://ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologytimes/news/trends-us-refractive-surgery-2015-isrs-survey?page=0,0
https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/refractive-surgery-trends-of-the-isrs:
