Refractive surgery is an ophthalmic surgical procedure which eliminates the glass or contact lens dependency of any patient who needs these devices to see far or near distance. The most common used method for today is Excimer Laser surgery to get free of glasses. By using special beam this system able the make microscopic changes on the corneal surface.

Excimer Laser refractive surgery may be performed every patient who have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism over 18 years and patients who have no immune system problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, glaucoma, yellow spot, keratoconus, herpetic keratitis, appropriate corneal thickness, and dioptre number is stable are considered inappropriate for this surgery. 21 years age as consider the most appropriate; this surgery can be done over 18 year if the patient has stable refractive error for the last one year. There is no upper age limit although we have lower age limit (18 years old). The reason why not preferred under 18 years because the dioptre numbers vary at those ages.

Even so this technique can perform as an exception for correction of anisometropia patients under 18.

Excimer Laser may be performed with one of 2 different methods;

Lasek-PRK

Surface layer of cornea will be removed after application of alcohol and Excimer Laser will be applied to the residual cornea. In Lasek this layer will be put back on top of the cornea, in PRK epithelium will be thrown. There is no superiority between Lasek and PRK. In both methods patients may have discomfort and visual acuity can recover with in time.

Lasik

Approximately 1/4-1/5 of cornea are cut and lifted (it is called fleb) by using Femtosecond Laser or microkeratome. Afterwards residual part is ablated with Excimer Laser application and lifted part of fleb will be replaced. After this method there will be no pain. Patient can return his or her daily activities in hours and achieves a good visual acuity.

Femtosecond Laser with Lasik; The most important stage of the Lasik is lifting a layer from cornea (fleb). For many years, fleb has been created with device called microkeratome. "Femtosecond Laser" creates desired fleb with laser beam without using blades. Femtosecond Lasik provides larger patient groups as result of flap can be prepared and personalized to desired size and corneal thickness for patients (thin cornea, high dioptre, eye with laser application, etc...). Both for patient and surgeon it offers safer surgical facilities.