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 allows for a rapid restoration of natural vision. The curvature of the cornea is precisely reshaped using a modern laser.
The following refractive errors can be corrected:
- Nearsightedness (myopia) up to -10 diopters >
- Farsightedness (hyperopia) up to +4 diopters >
- Corneal astigmatism up to 6 diopters >
- Age-related farsightedness (presbyopia)
Femto-LASIK: The gentle path to precision
Femto-LASIK is the next generation of classic LASIK. The additional femtosecond laser creates the necessary flap with extreme precision and without a scalpel. As the gold standard in refractive surgery, Femto-LASIK offers new advantages over LASIK, such as a gentler procedure, even greater precision, and suitability for individual eyes.
Advantages of Femto-LASIK at a glance:
- gentle procedure under local anesthesia
- extremely precise
- Bladeless: The laser replaces the scalpel
- Corrective correction possible using the same method
- Solution for a variety of visual impairments, even at higher values
- Your individual stray light (aberrations) will also be treated.
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.
- gentle treatment
Disadvantages of the procedure:
- If something goes wrong when removing the lenticule, the corneal surface can become noticeably uneven.
- 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.
- Stray light (aberrations) remains untreated.
- SMILE is not an option for people with farsightedness.
The promise of SMILE treatment: Will the future deliver on its promises?
The article „"Nothing to Smile About"“ Professor J. Bradley Randleman, an expert from the USA (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 comparative 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!
Of all the laser eye surgery procedures, one clearly stands out for us at LZW: Femto-LASIK. No other method adapts so precisely to your eye, from the exact measurement to the fine correction down to 1/100 of a diopter.
At LZW, our focus has been on LASIK and Femto-LASIK for decades – methods that have proven reliable and precise 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.