Keratomy
The keratomy (better keratotomy ) is a surgical procedure in ophthalmology that affects the cornea of the eye and belongs to the area of so-called refractive surgery .
Radial keratomy
Here, 4 to 16 sections in the cornea made to the cornea to flatten the center, to change its radius of curvature and thus a visual defect to be corrected. This method is now considered obsolete because it is said to cause irreparable damage to healthy corneal tissue.
This surgical method was performed mainly in the USSR and the USA, in 1986 there were 60,000 in the USA.
PRK (photorefractive keratomy) and LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis)
These methods are preferred for patients whose cornea is too thin. Here also LASIK be (Lasik) is not applied; the desired correction of ametropia is low. In this procedure, the correction takes place on the corneal surface using an excimer laser . With LASEK, the superficial corneal layer (epithelium) is pushed away (abraded) and then pushed back (repositioned) after the laser application. With PRK, the cornea is treated with the excimer laser without prior manipulation. The PRK is the oldest excimer laser method.
Advantages:
- good predictability
- Long-term experience is available
- Correction is possible
Disadvantage:
- Pain and healing possible over a long period of time
- Slow healing process
- Correction is rare but time-consuming
- scarring of the cornea can rarely occur
Arched Lamellar Keratotomy (BLK)
Here high to extreme corneal curvatures are corrected, such as B. occur after corneal transplants or perforating eye injuries.
By making small peripheral relief incisions in the cornea, the curvature is balanced out and the corneal curvature corrected. The cuts are arranged in an arc.
After the operation, you may experience tenderness, slight pain, and fluctuations in vision for a few weeks.