(MENAFNEditorial) Demand for laser eye surgery is increasing dramatically around the world and today, this is one of the most common surgical procedures that is now so safe, accessible and affordable that patients may not think too carefully about the type of surgery, the doctor performing it, or the expected quality of outcome. Some of these correction procedures are irreversible and for others, further surgery may be needed if the results are not good. This is a cause for concern and prospective candidates for laser surgery need to be better informed about the options, possible complications, and the doctor's qualifications and experience, according to an expert at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai.
There are no official figures for the UK but it is estimated that 15,000 people undergo laser eye surgery every year. It is quick, painless, effective and affordable and for many spectacle and contact lens wearers, it will change their lives; but care is required to ensure that patients get the best possible outcome.
All laser vision correction surgeries work by reshaping the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, so that light traveling through it is properly focused onto the retina located in the back of the eye. But there are several different types of surgery – such as Lasik, Lasek and PRK - and prospective patients need to be clear on what procedure would best suit their needs, give them the desired outcome and improved vision, and they need to be sure that they are working with the right procedure, the best technology in expert hands, before committing. Every patient should be assessed thoroughly with a
comprehensive eye examination and a review of medical history to ensure they are appropriate candidates for the surgery.
"Laser eye correction is safe and complications are rare, as long as you are in expert hands," says Doctor Edmondo Borasio, Consultant Corneal and Refractive Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. "All laser surgeons should be qualified doctors but no further specialist qualifications are required to carry out the surgery and so a doctor may be relatively inexperienced in the correction procedure and technology he/she is using. This means that patients have to take greater responsibility for making sure they are in professional and experienced hands."
In the UK, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists advises anyone considering the operation to ask the surgeon for details of their training, qualifications, length of practice and results. Ideally, they should be a fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists or the Royal College of Surgeons.
"Patients only have – or should have – refractive eye surgery once in their lives and so they must make sure that they are getting the safest and most effective treatment and fully understand the surgical options, the probable outcomes and any potential complications or side effects. Doctors must also ensure that they help patients fully understand what improvements they can expect in their vision and whether they may still need to use reading glasses, for example. It is essential to agree the optimum outcome for the patient, based on age, vision, and lifestyle requirements (such as sports, working environment, need to read, or driving at night). The resulting vision for the patient should be an improvement on pre-treatment eyesight with glasses or contact lenses."
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, uses the most advanced technology for laser refractive surgery for vision correction, providing improved performance for patients in terms of speed, precision, safety and comfort, and often allowing faster visual recovery. Moorfields is among the first private hospitals in the Middle East to invest in the Schwind Amaris 750S - the leading technology for laser treatment.
Dr Edmondo Borasio concludes: "Unfortunately, some patients do not always get the results they wanted or expected from laser surgery and may have complications from other eye diseases or complications following previous laser surgery. Moorfields is also a referral centre for the management of complications following previous refractive surgery, so we do see these patients."
Moorfields is currently offering patients (minimum age 21) a saving of up to AED3,000 on vision correction surgery – subject to terms, an initial assessment and the treatment administered – until 31st October 2014.
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