Which laser eye surgery methods offer the best vision for your future?
Developments and trends in the world of laser eye surgery are exciting and always worth keeping an eye on. At LZW, we want to provide you with comprehensive information; our goal is to give you an overview of the various laser treatments and offer a critical analysis. Here, we will discuss LASIK, Femto-LASIK, and ReLEx SMILE in more detail.
Laser eye surgery with LASIK
LASIK, short for "Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis," has been recognized in Germany since 1999 as a scientifically valid procedure for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. With over 25 million successful treatments, it is the most frequently performed laser eye surgery in ophthalmology. This procedure belongs to the field of refractive surgery and enables a rapid, painless restoration of natural vision. The curvature of the cornea is precisely altered using a modern laser.
The following refractive errors can be corrected:
- Myopia up to -10 diopters >
- Farsightedness up to +4 diopters >
- Corneal astigmatism up to 6 diopters >
- presbyopia
Femto-LASIK: The gentle path to precision
Femto-LASIK is the further development of classic LASIK; the additional femtosecond laser prepares the required flap extremely precisely and without risk, without the use of a scalpel. As the gold standard in refractive surgery, Femto-LASIK offers new advantages over LASIK, such as being painless, even more precise and suitable for individual eyes.
Advantages of Femto-LASIK at a glance:
- practically painless
- extremely precise
- blade-free and risk-free
- Possibility of subsequent correction using the same procedure
- Solution for a variety of visual impairments, even at higher values
- Personalized stray lights (aberrations) can be corrected with
You can find more information about the method here.
ReLEx SMILE: Alternative method or expensive niche?
Developed by specialists in collaboration with Carl Zeiss Meditec, the SMILE procedure offers a minimally invasive solution, but only for nearsightedness and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK and Femto-LASIK, no flap is required. A femtosecond laser is used to create precise corneal incisions and a lens-shaped flap. Through a small incision, the lenticule is loosened and removed with a spatula to correct the refractive error.
Advantages of the procedure:
- Only a small cut of approximately 2mm is required.
- It eliminates the need for flap creation and the associated risks.
- painless treatment
Disadvantages of the procedure:
- Complications during lenticule removal can lead to significant distortions of the corneal surface.
- Achieving optimal visual acuity may take more time than with LASIK.
- A subsequent correction using the same procedure is not possible. It can then only be treated with LASIK, Femto-LASIK or PRK.
- Head movements or pinching by the patient can cause a loss of pressure, which can lead to the procedure having to be aborted and not being able to be continued/repeated in this way.
- The costs for laser eye surgery with SMILE are considerably higher than for LASIK and Femto-LASIK.
- The process is still relatively new, and long-term experience is limited.
- Aberrations cannot be corrected.
- Farsightedness cannot be treated with this method.
The promise of SMILE treatment: Will the future deliver on its promises?
The article „"Nothing to Smile About"“ Professor J. Bradley Randleman, a US expert (Journal of Refractive Surgery, Vol. 32 No. 7, 2016), criticizes the SMILE procedure after five years and questions the sustainability of the promises made by this supposedly most innovative laser eye surgery. The procedure was intended to achieve a more stable cornea and a lower rate of dry eyes. He refers to valid double-blind studies that failed to demonstrate a clear superiority.
A study published in the journal "Ophthalmology" also highlights that LASIK and Femto-LASIK offer greater precision and a wider range of applications. The American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasizes the high long-term satisfaction following LASIK surgery when comparing the two methods.
Our conclusion: Femto-LASIK will still be around tomorrow!
In the broad spectrum of laser eye correction, Femto-LASIK is the clear winner for the LZW. This method enables the most precise individualization ever possible – from exact diagnosis to correction accurate to 1/100 of a diopter.
At LZW, our focus has been on LASIK and Femto-LASIK for decades – methods that have proven reliable, precise, and painless over many years. The decision for the right vision correction method should be made individually, taking into account your personal needs, the healing process, and potential risks.
Let us advise you personally, for a clear view and unambiguous results.
We are always here to help with your request.