Laser Eye Treatment

Dr. Yusuf Avni Yilmaz, ophthalmologist at Anadolu Medical Center

Laser technologies have been recently developing intensely in all areas of medicine. Ophthalmology, for instance, marks yet more success each day.

Experiments for vision defects correction began in the late 1800s. First attempts in the application of the modern laser techniques, however, started in the beginning of the 1980s. Needless to say, the technology has been constantly improving ever since. Nowadays, laser eye treatment has very little in common with what such a practice offered 40 years ago. Cutting edge techniques ensure higher levels of success, shorter recovery periods and minimum risk of complication or adverse effects.

What kind of vision defects is laser treatment applied for?

This technology has been used to correct all major refractive errors: near-sightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. In most cases it is possible to restore the patient’s vision to almost normal values. Therefore, the efficiency of this technique is very high.

When is laser treatment counter indicative?

Laser treatment methods are counter indicative for patients:

• with too thin or irregular structure of the cornea;

• with corneal degeneration;

• with corneal scarring,

• with other eye diseases save for refractive conditions such as uveitis, glaucoma, retinal pathology, etc.;

• who are too young, when refraction of the eye is still subject to changes due to natural maturation.

How does laser treatment work?

The procedure itself takes a little time. Before surgery, patients need to be examined in order to assess their visual function.

Depending on the type of surgery, the patient may go back to their normal life on the following day or in a week (e.g. following Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis /LASIK/). There are, however, techniques (such as Photorefractive Keratectomy /PRK/) which require long period of recovery comprising several months.

After the procedure, as in all eye surgeries, special attention must be paid to the eye hygiene. Generally, you should avoid touching eyes a lot, and rubbing or scratching them.  Your doctor will tell toy how to take proper care of your eyes following correction of sight.

The department of ophthalmology with Anadolu Medical Center is furnished with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment, and doctors apply a combination of conservative and modern treatment methods. This helps them to cope even with the toughest cases and most advanced stages of eye diseases.