Our commitment to you is to help you locate the finest providers in the following categories so that you can find the right doctor to fit your needs and make your “MedEscape” a positive, life changing experience. Premier MedEscape recommends that any of these procedures be carried out by doctors that are experts in the field of specialty you are interested in. They should also be board certified and carry an active medical license in the country where they practice. Issues arise related to safety and quality when a doctor does not carry the proper credentials or experience. Please be sure to contact us about the credentials as well as testimonials and pictures for the provider you choose.
Procedures carried out at our destinations cost, on average, 25 to 80% less than in the United States. Final determinations on cost and length of stay are done on a case-by-case basis and carried out with the provider of your choice.
LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) surgery is an operation that is done to correct nearsightedness (myopia) by using laser light.
The cornea is the clear/transparent film in the front of the eye that lies just in front of the colored part which is the iris. The cornea allows light to enter the eye and also refracts/bends the light and focuses it at the back of the eye which is the photosensitive area called the retina. If there is a problem with the shape of the cornea, the light focuses in front of and not exactly on the retina and this doesn’t allow you to clearly see objects that are away from you. In LASIK surgery, the cornea is properly reshaped by the laser to allow the light to focus on the retina. LASIK surgery can be used for people with mild, moderate or severe myopia. It's not indicated for people who:
- are aged less than 18 years.
- have not had stable vision for at least one year.
- have any other diseases of the cornea.
Although nearsightedness is the main indication for LASIK surgery, it has also been used to a much lesser degree for the correction of hypermetropia and astigmatism. In hypermetropia (farsightedness) the cornea focuses the light behind the retina, while in astigmatism the light has a split focus which results in blurred vision.
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The Procedure
The operation takes about 30 minutes and is carried out as a day surgery case, which means that you will go home on the same day of the operation.
The operation takes place in a room that has the Laser system. You will be on a special chair that is similar to a dentist's chair. You will be lying on your back and your eye will be numbed with some anesthetic eye drops. A special device is used to keep the eyelids open. A microscopic knife will be used to cut a small flap in the centre of the cornea. The cut is not complete; a small bridge of tissue is left to keep it in contact with the rest of the cornea. The flap is then lifted and folded back. Via this opening the laser light can get through to the inner aspect of the cornea. The laser system will then be positioned close to your eye and the laser light will be directed towards the inner aspect of your cornea. The laser light vaporizes the tissue of the inner aspect of the cornea and reshapes the cornea in such a way that after the operation it will focus the light on the retina allowing you to clearly see objects that are away from you. A computer which is very accurate controls the amount of laser light/energy that will enter your eye and the way it will reshape the cornea. After the laser treatment the flap of the cornea is put back in place but it is not stitched. A pad/shield will be placed over the eye at the end of the procedure to protect it.