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What is an optometrist?

An optometrist is a professional who studies optometry (five years in Colombia). Optometrists are not medical doctors and therefore do not perform eye surgeries or procedures.

They evaluate vision defects, specifically regarding the need for glasses or contact lenses. At our institution, optometrists and ophthalmologists have always worked together to complement each other to provide the best service to patients.

What is an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a doctor who, after completing general medicine, completes a specialization (in Colombia, 3 or 4 years) in the diagnosis and treatment (medical or surgical) of eye diseases.

Additionally, after completing this specialization period, the student completes one or two years of additional studies to further specialize in an area of ophthalmology.

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The great advantage of using lasers to correct visual defects is their maximum precision. Excimer laser surgery can be of two types:

Lasik: In addition to the Excimer Laser, an automated scalpel (microkeratome) is used to lift a layer of the cornea approximately 130 microns thick, allowing the laser to be applied within the thickness of the cornea.

Surface ablation: The first superficial layer of the cornea is scraped and the laser is applied directly to the surface.

It is reserved for cases where the cornea is very thin and cannot be cut with the microkeratome. The laser literally evaporates corneal tissue, thereby reshaping the cornea, making it flatter in cases of myopia and more curved in cases of hyperopia.

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In the hands of an excellent surgeon, with the most advanced technology, adequate experience, and compliance with all requirements, it is highly safe. However, like any other surgery, it carries inherent risks. These include infection, inflammation, and corneal scarring, among others. Fortunately, the likelihood of these risks occurring is very low, but if they do occur, they can leave visual aftereffects.

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Local anesthesia (drops) is used for the procedure, so the patient remains awake during the treatment, but since their eyes are anesthetized, there is no pain and, in general, only minimal discomfort.

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It lasts between 5 and 10 minutes per eye. It is an outpatient procedure that does not result in disability. Once the procedure is completed, the patient returns home.

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Laser correction of distance vision is long-term. When patients reach the age of 50 or 60, they are at normal risk of developing another vision-affecting disease: cataracts. In a small percentage of cases (less than 5%), the defects may progress or regress, but generally at levels well below the initial defect.

Regarding near vision (reading and other near vision activities), it is very important to understand that, due to the onset of presbyopia, every patient who undergoes surgery on both eyes for distance vision will require reading glasses after the age of 40.

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Yes, although there's no surgery to correct it in 100%, the best alternative is laser surgery called monovision, in which the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. This is achieved because the brain is able to select and adapt vision to the distance you need.

It is important to note that since not all patients are suitable for this surgery, a test is required to assess their tolerance for this type of vision.

It may take several months for the brain to adapt to seeing distance with one eye and near vision with the other. In rare cases, some patients fail to adapt and must wear glasses for certain activities after surgery or undergo a repeat procedure.

Monovision is arguably a very good alternative, allowing almost complete independence from glasses for most patients over 40. However, it does not offer perfect vision. Therefore, the patient must adapt to the inherent limitations of the procedure or wear glasses to assist with certain activities.

People who have to use microscopes (such as in microsurgery) are not good candidates for the procedure, which is why ophthalmologists cannot perform this surgery. Those who read a lot, work constantly on a computer, or perform very detailed close-up tasks may have greater difficulty and, at some point, may require reading glasses as an additional aid.

Those who drive a lot, especially at night, or who must perform demanding distance vision tasks (such as pilots) are not good candidates for monovision.

If you are unsure about your adaptation or the benefits of monovision surgery, the other option is to have both eyes operated on for distance vision, and wear glasses for near vision activities.

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SCHWIND AMARIS 1050rs

The great advantage of these high-tech devices is their remarkable capabilities, allowing them to track eye movements accurately during surgery, ensuring that laser beams are delivered precisely to the targeted area of the cornea.

Among the main advantages that modern lasers such as the Schwind Amaris 1050RS offer in refractive surgery are:

• Induction to lower spherical aberration,
• Inclusion of eye-tracking systems (called Eye-trackers),
• They provide better night vision, greater correction of refractive error, and better contrast vision.

FEMTO LDV Z6

• For the entire anterior segment
• All femtocorneal applications.
• Advanced multidimensional scanning system
• Prepared for future corneal applications
• Designed for OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography)
• Designed for future cataract applications
• Corneal Surgery (Intracorneal Rings)

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A penetrating corneal transplant involves removing the central 7 or 8 millimeters of the patient's cornea and replacing it with a donor cornea.

This surgery allows light to re-enter the eye, allowing the patient to see.

This surgery is performed when the layer of the cornea called the stroma is very opaque and cannot possibly become transparent again, or when it is very weakened, as in very advanced cases of keratoconus.

It's a surgery that has helped thousands of people regain their vision, and that's why it's so important for us all to be aware that donating our organs after our death is something we should share with our families so that other people in need can benefit from it, bringing a ray of hope to other lives.

This type of total corneal transplant requires a full-thickness circular incision, which can open in the event of trauma. It also carries certain associated risks, such as rejection by the recipient or the development of astigmatisms that distort the patient's vision.

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