MYOPIA, ASTIGMATISM AND HYPEROPIA: LASER, INTRAOCULAR AND INCISIONAL SURGERY
Eyesight defects
The aim of refractive surgery is that of focusing light rays precisely on the retinal surface without the need of artificial aids such as eyeglasses or contact lens.
Modern refractive surgery is perfectly capable of correcting all types of visual defects, such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism.
In case of myopia, since the light rays passing through the natural lens of the cornea become excessively convergent and they cannot focus on the retina, treatment will consist in the reduction of the power of the cornea that will reduce the convergence of light rays and result in precise focus of images.
In the opposite visual defect called hyperopia, the light rays passing through the cornea become insufficiently convergent and they cannot focus on the retina, treatment will consist in the increase of the power of the cornea resulting in precise focus of images.
In case of astigmatism the corneal surface does not have a regularly spherical convex shape, in this case, far and near vision may be both affected, treatment will consist in giving a more regular shape to the cornea so that images will focus correctly.
Refractive Surgery: laser, intraocular and incisional micro-surgery
A proficient surgeon that is dedicated to his patient’s well-being, must be well informed of various available surgical techniques, must continually update his knowledge, and chose the best technique of surgery for each patient considering the impairment he plans to correct.
Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can be treated on an outpatient basis using external eye surgery techniques providing that the visual impairment ranges from slight to medium/high (-1 diopter to -10/12 diopters).
Both myopic and hyperopic astigmatisms can be corrected with the same techniques used for myopia and hyperopia. The external surgical techniques include excimer laser surgery in its many variants, with or without femtosecond laser:
- PRK
- PTK
- LASEK
- LASIK
- i-LASIK (also known as FemtoLASIK or IntraLASIK)
- RK (incisional surgery)
- MARK (incisional surgery)
- AK (incisional surgery)
Higher refractive disorders may be corrected using internal ocular (intraocular) surgery, these techniques include:
- artificial intraocular lens implantation (IOL)
- phakic intraocular lens implantation (PIOL)
Dr. Abbondanza is one of the most experienced refractive surgeons, having learned incisional refractive surgery with its inventor, Prof. Svyatoslav Fyodorov, having introduced himself, among other things, PRK and excimer laser in Italy, Radial Keratocoagulation for hyperopia in Europe and having conceived himself the Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy (MARK) for keratoconus.
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