Refractive Errors:

Refractive errors occur when the eye cannot focus light correctly onto the retina, leading to blurred vision. The main types include:

  • Myopia (nearsightedness): Distant objects appear blurry.
  • Hyperopia (farsightedness): Close objects appear blurry.
  • Astigmatism: Distorted or blurred vision at all distances due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens.
  • Presbyopia: Age-related difficulty in focusing on close objects.
Refractive Surgery:

Refractive surgery aims to correct these errors by reshaping the cornea or modifying the eye’s focusing ability. Common procedures include:

  1. Femto-LASIK (Femtosecond Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis):
    A flap is created in the cornea, and a laser reshapes the underlying tissue.
    Quick recovery, minimal discomfort, suitable for many patients.
  2. PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy):
    The cornea’s surface layer is removed and reshaped with a laser.
    Slower recovery than LASIK but suitable for thinner corneas.
  3. KLEx (Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction):
    A small piece of corneal tissue is removed through a tiny incision.
    Less invasive, potentially less dry eye risk than LASIK.
  4. Lens-Based Surgery:
    Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE): Replaces the natural lens with an artificial one, similar to cataract surgery.
    Phakic Intraocular Lens (IOL): An implantable lens added without removing the natural lens, often used for high myopia.
Considerations:

Not everyone is a candidate; suitability depends on corneal thickness, eye health, and vision stability.

Potential risks include dry eyes, halos, under- or over-correction, and rare complications.