How Lasik Surgery Came to Be

Lasik treatment in dubai needs no introduction. It is one of the most popular forms of treatment for eye afflictions and is increasing in demand by the day. Commonly known as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, the surgery performed to correct refractive errors of the eye is one of the safest, least time consuming surgeries today with a success rate of over 95 per cent. Its popularity is also due to its permanent nature and eliminating the need to use corrective eyewear such as glasses or contact lenses.

But how did this form of surgery come about? Here, we go back to the past to learn something about the history of lasik (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis).

Roots of lasik

The roots of Lasik go quite deep, much deeper than we may have thought, to the 1960s when an enterprising doctor in Colombia developed a technique known as keratomileusis to correct vision-related problems. The procedure involves a bit of corneal tissue being removed from the eye, reshaped to correct the error and replaced on to the eye. Modern Lasik surgery follows this basic technique where an ophthalmologist uses a laser or microkeratome to carry out the surgical procedure.

The discovery of the excimer laser in the late seventies/eighties was what speeded up the advancement of Lasik y leaps and bounds. The excimer laser left no scarring in animal tissue after incisions during the initial phase of testing and became a major leap forward in the surgical treatment of humans. It was capable of making clean cuts without causing any thermal damage to the surrounding tissue. The excimer laser and keratomileusis came together at this point to become Laser In Situ Keratomileusis or Lasik as it's commonly referred to today.

Modern surgery

The modern form of Lasik surgery, however, is very much more comfortable compared to these earlier versions and has less complications and faster recovery. The goal of Lasik refractive surgery is to avoid the cornea becoming permanently weak due to incisions and to deliver less energy to the tissues which surround the area.

Lasik surgery was formally introduced in the early nineties and became extremely popular in the early part of the new millennium. It received the formal approval of the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999, bringing with it global acceptance and recognition. Over 28 million surgeries had been performed worldwide up to year 2009. There are several patents which have been issued for various techniques related to laser eye surgery.

Many developments

From the early nineties, many developments in the area of Lasik surgery had taken place; some of the most notable including lasers which are faster, spot areas which are much bigger, flap incisions which don't require blades, intraoperative corneal pachymetry technology and wavefront-optimised and wavefront-guided techniques. Each of these advances have contributed to making the procedure simpler and safer. Modern microkeratomes even enable eye surgeons to custom-design flaps for each individual eye using different head and ring sizes, and different hinge positions.

For more information on lasik in dubai, contact Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center at Villa 32 A, Jumeirah , Jumeirah Beach Road (behind The Village Mall). This is the place to go to if you are considering the treatment in Dubai. It has a very high success rate, a safety record which is envied by others in the industry and a large number of satisfied clients who swear by the clinic. So, go ahead and book that appointment. We can guarantee that you won't be disappointed!

Treating Glaucoma in Dubai

Glaucoma... This is a word which can strike terror in the hearts of most people. Why is it so? Glaucoma can strike quite quickly without any warning. It can make a person lose sight completely over a short period of time, and though it could be controlled with proper care, it cannot be completely cured.

The danger associated with glaucoma is that sometimes, there is no warning. Some people may not experience any symptoms at all and might think their eyes and vision are perfectly normal. Some people may find their vision in one eye deteriorating. They may experience tunnel vision or the loss of peripheral vision which may prevent them from seeing what is in the sides while they continue to see well what is on the centre of their line of vision.

Glaucoma - the causes

How does glaucoma happen? It would be helpful to know the reasons, to minimise one's chances of getting it. There is a layer of cells behind the eye's iris which produce a fluid. If this fluid cannot be properly drained away or if there is too much fluid produced, it would cause the eye pressure to rise. This rising pressure starts creating strain on the optic nerve, which may see damage in the process.

Acute glaucoma can be very painful and quick, with the liquid in the eyes becoming completely blocked. Nausea and vomiting may also occur at these stages. If left untreated, the optic nerve could suffer permanent damage.

Glaucoma is of four main types. The most common is chronic glaucoma; secondary glaucoma occurs when another eye condition causes eye pressure to rise. Developmental or congenital glaucoma is another form which is relatively rare and may affect babies as a result of malformation in the eye.

Tackling glaucoma in the early stages

Glaucoma may be difficult to treat in the latter stages; the reason regular eye tests and visits to one's eye doctor are necessary. This is especially so as one gets older and also if one is suffering from conditions such as diabetes and/or hypertension.

Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center utilises technologies such as OCT Cirrus to detect glaucoma in the early stages. Treatment could be in the form of eye drops, tablets, laser treatment or surgery and are carried out to reduce the pressure in the eyes. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is a clinically proven method which treats glaucoma by safely and effectively reducing intraocular pressure during a single, one-day  procedure.

Eye drops may be prescribed for chronic glaucoma to reduce the amount of fluid in the eye and improve drainage.  However, acute glaucoma may call for immediate treatment in a hospital with drugs administered to reduce the pain and pressure while laser treatment or minor surgery may also be needed.

Accolades for Ebsaar

If you feel that you have the symptoms of glaucoma, or any discomfort and unusual signs in your eyes or vision for that matter, the best course of action is to book an appointment with one of the doctors at Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center. The clinic is conveniently located at Jumeirah Beach Road, and the top eye surgeons there will make the maximum effort to restore your vision.

Their hard work and dedication as well as the latest treatment methods and technologies at the clinic have earned Ebsaar a reputation as one of the top eye clinics conducting glaucoma and lasik surgery dubai. Their hard-earned and well-deserved name for lasik dubai is an accolade that the clinic much appreciates and values as it comes right from the hearts of their patients.

Meet One of the Top Eye Surgeons in Dubai

For anyone considering eye treatment in the United Arab Emirates,  Dr. Hani Sakla would be no stranger. He is the Head of the Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center in Dubai and is renowned across the UAE and the Middle East as a top eye surgeon in dubai.

Dr. Sakla's association with ophthalmology runs three generations back. His father, Dr. Fouad and grandfather, Dr. Ragheb were also involved in it, all three of them having graduated from the oldest medical school in the Middle East,  Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. Thus, it can even be said that medicine and ophthalmology run in Dr. Sakla's blood.

Academic progression

The Spanish Dr. Sakla was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1963. Having graduated with top honours from Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine in 1986, he completed his training in ophthalmology at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) in Giza, Egypt.  He marked another important milestone in his academic progression by obtaining his Masters Degree in Ophthalmology in 1991, the same year he was appointed as an assistant lecturer at RIO.

A government scholarship from Spain was bestowed on him in 1994 to follow the Doctorate Degree in Ophthalmology and in 1997, he obtained the degree from the University of Miguel Hernandez in Alicante with the highest note of Apto Cum Laude.

Dr. Sakla worked with the pioneer group in Spain that developed the Lasik procedure in Spain and globally as well under the supervision of Prof. Jorge Alio and Dr. Perez-Santonja at the Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology; he also contributed to the first book published in the world about Lasik in 1997.

Contribution to publications

Among the acclaimed publications to which he has contributed are Journal of Ophthalmology of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and Journal of Refractive Surgery of the International Society of Refractive Surgery.

His specialties include cataract and intraocular implant surgeries, corneal surgeries, keratoplasties, refractive procedures with excimer laser such as Lasik, epilasik, Ultralasik, femtosecond lasik, implant refractive surgeries and phakic lenses ICL, clear refractive lens exchange, glaucoma diseases and medical retina.

Having moved to Dubai to perform as a consultant eye surgeon, Dr. Sakla introduced the phacoemulsification technique and sutureless cataract surgeries in the region. He was elected Chairman of the Scientific Committee in the Emirates Medical Association in 2001, which position he holds to date. Today, he is one  of the top surgeons offering Lasik treatment in dubai.

Promoting new technologies

A very enthusiastic promoter of new technologies, Dr. Sakla was the first to implant the Restor Multifocal lenses in 2003 outside the US and Europe; he was part of the international study group to evaluate the lens. He was the first to implant the Toric Acrysof lens in the Gulf region during live surgery at the EOC 2008 in Dubai and was also the first to use the Toric implantable contact lenses to correct visual problems among those suffering from keratoconus in the UAE.

Among the other firsts he has under his belt are intravitreal injections of lucentis to treat diabetic macular edema in 2006, photodynamic therapy to treat age related macular degenerations in 2000 and Zeimer LDV Femtosecond laser to perform ZLASIK safely in 2009.

NOT SUITABLE FOR LASIK? OTHER OPTIONS

If you are looking for a way out from your glasses or contact lenses, you are not alone. With an increasing percentage of the world population experiencing declining vision thanks to prolonged exposure to artificial light emanating from our laptops, desktops and mainly mobile phones, the need for more advanced medical options are necessary. Fortunately, technology and education has advanced considerably allowing for options only ever thought of before. Today, eye surgery options to provide permanent solutions for diseases and to improve sight are widely available, and safely so. Some of these include LASIK, Cataract surgery, Keratoconus surgery and PRK.

ABOUT LASIK

Due to hereditary or other reasons, people experience fluctuations in their vision especially as they grow older. Age is a major contributing factor, and treatment the older you are can be harder. However, many eye surgeries such as LASIK have displayed extremely positive results in terms of restoring vision. Although 20/20 vision is never a guarantee, it has been noted for its success in regaining vision as much as possible. LASIK can be performed either Blade or bladeless, and involves the correction of the corneal tissue. It does not take long, and recovery period is also quick enabling you to get back to your daily routine in next-to-no time.

SUITABILITY

As highly demanded as LASIK is, unfortunately not everybody can be considered a suitable candidate for the surgery. For safety reasons, there are pre-set guidelines every doctor and clinic must follow. If the criteria is not met, your doctor will discuss options with your for alternate treatments. Some of these include presence of other eye diseases such as glaucoma, age, other illnesses such as diabetes (open wounds take longer to heal or sometimes never do if diabetes is a factor), or if you had to have your prescription changed within the last year. Fluctuating eyesight will not allow your surgeon to make an accurate decision and you could jeopardise your vision for good.

ALTERNATE TREATMENT

All hope is not lost. Thanks to man’s adaptability, other methods of obtaining the same results are available which are often suggested for those who are not suitable candidates for LASIK. PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy, Implantable Collamer Lens, and Refractive Lens Exchange are all such alternatives and are suitable for those with the above issues as well as those who may have thin corneas. As certain occupations also do not allow LASIK treated employees, surgeries such as PRK are suitable. LASIK surgery involves the creation of a corneal flap to treat the tissues underneath, while PRK treats the outer layer of the cornea. What suits you is a decision best left to your doctor.

RESEARCH

Research is a good way of clearing up most doubts, or for information in generaL; however, be careful to obtain trustworthy and reliable sources. A lot of the data is not verified which can make it inaccurate. Book an appointment with your doctor so you can discuss your questions and be entirely clear on the subject before you make a decision. LASIK is permanent, and though repeat treatments are possible to correct vision in stages, reversing the procedure is not an option therefore analyse your situation carefully.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LASIK TREATMENT IN DUBAI

Our vision differs on many factors. Age is one. Family history is another. The two combined, can have negative effects especially if the history displays signs of deteriorating eyesight and manifests itself during old age. The older you are the harder it could be to treat a health issue. More complications can arise as a result of old age from prolonged recovery to other medical issues that could hinder treatment. Lasik treatment in Dubai is one such procedure, and many reasons play a role in determining it as a treatment option for you.

 

Lasik treatment is used to treat problems with vision focus. Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are some of the main issues that are targeted by this procedure. It concerns improper refraction which means light is not entering the eye as normal making images blurry and unfocused. Lasik treatment in Dubai is centred on the cornea as adjustments are made to its tissues to permanently fix visual acuity for the better.

 

Those under eighteen years of age cannot be considered for the treatment and will have to rely on glasses or contact lenses to see well. Even if you are over the age limit, there are obstacles to qualifying as a candidate for LASIK treatment in Dubai. These include other eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract to name a few. Your ophthalmologist should be able to guide you in the right direction in deciding whether another surgery is required prior to LASIK treatment in Dubai.

 

You should also have a stable prescription of a year, but your doctor will let you know exactly how long when going in for your consultation prior to LASIK treatment in Dubai. They will also examine your cornea as this is the focal point of the surgery. If the cornea is too thin, they may deem it too risky although the use of a laser as opposed to the traditional blade treatment could help combat this.

 

Before you book yourself in for LASIK treatment in Dubai, ensure you take enough leave from work beforehand. Following the surgery, though some go back to their daily activities, if you feel you would need proper recovery time at home then do so. Going back to a computer screen for hours on end is not the best way to help your eyes heal. You are advised from avoiding any form of eye strain which includes just that.

 

As the surgeon will use anesthesia and numbing drops during your lasik treatment in Dubai, pain is not something that people report following the surgery. You may feel some discomfort such as dry eyes and inability to be out in light. However, these disappear with time provided you follow the aftercare instructions given.

 

Most eye surgeries that cater to LASIK treatment in Dubai also treat cataract, keratoconus, retinal issues as well as glaucoma. When booking a doctor, ensure they have enough experience for you to be comfortable with. Hygiene is very important in the clinic as are state-of-the-art equipment to keep up with industry standards.

 

Some eye surgeons are renowned in their field and are a frequent part of conferences and other events related to the field. It would be worthwhile to read up on them and if you could book a consultation.

KERATOCONUS TREATMENT PROVIDED AT LASIK TREATMENT SURGERIES IN DUBAI

People have long been battling the problems of diminishing eyesight. It is a tiresome problem as it tends to infiltrate into all aspects of your daily life, reducing its quality by hindering your day-to-day activities. It is often stressed that the maintenance of a healthy diet is essential not just to overall health, but eyesight in particular. However, sometimes these issues stem from genetic conditions in which case, matters are rather out of your control. Thankfully, modern advancements in technology have enabled us to turn towards medical help that can alleviate these issues, some of which are cataract treatments, lasik treatment in Dubai, and help for those with keratoconus.

 

Cataract is the clouding of one or both eyes in some instances, which make one’s vision blurry and unfocused. A thing milky layer forms in the eye, directly obstructing any form of clear vision. While this is an aspect that tends to disqualify people from being able to turn to lasik treatment in Dubai to treat other eye related issues, there are surgeries that are specialised in the treatment of cataract. Lasik treatment in Dubai and around the world, is popular for alleviating conditions of short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.

 

Keratoconus is an issue that commonly occurs in teens and those in their early twenties, and research has shown that the condition is genetic. Therefore, it is advised that is keratoconus is in fact prevalent in the family, you get children checked regularly for it from the age of around 10. Generally, eye surgery clinics that offer lasik treatment in Dubai are also able to treat problems with keratoconus and help correct the situation.

 

If you are not entirely sure about this condition, it is a good idea to get to know it better so you can be aware of its early signs and symptoms. Collagen fibers in the eye are what holds your cornea together. Collagen is also what is responsible for supple and youthful skin and can be found as a promotional gimmick in many beauty products. The weakening of these fibers cause the cornea to bulge out as they are not strong enough to hold it in place. Surgery for keratoconus just as with lasik treatment in Dubai, is able to correct the loss of vision as a result of this.

 

The condition tends to be less common as you grow older. People in their 40s are rarely ever diagnosed with keratoconus, but on the contrary, lasik treatment in Dubai addresses issues across all ages. Although keratoconus starts off in one eye, it can spread to both and is unpredictable. In some cases, it has been known to abruptly stop, or even go on for years. Either way, it is an uncomfortable period as keratoconus can cause swelling and result in corneal scars.

 

Lasik treatment in Dubai has had many successful results, and the same applies to surgeries performed for keratoconus. If you schedule regular appointments with your general eye doctor, they will be able to pick up the slightest sign of a problem and refer you to a surgeon who will be able to offer you further assistance. Keratoconus treatments are done in stages which the doctor will let you know in detail. You will see a drastic improvement in your visual acuity after the first treatment, and some have even gotten rid of their dependence on glasses following keratoconus surgery.

 

Whether you are looking for options for lasik treatment in Dubai, cataract treatment or keratoconus treatments, it is important that you find out how much experience the surgeon has had in this field, as well as how well reviewed the clinic is. This gives you peace of mind, and assurance of responsibility and accountability as eye procedures are one of the most delicate surgeries that are being performed. As you will receive an initial consultation, you can ask any questions you have and move forward from there.

LASIK TREATMENT IN DUBAI: FROM BLADE TO BLADELESS SURGERY

LASIK treatment in Dubai is widely used to correct the three main issues related to focusing on objects close-up or at a distance; near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism. Presbyopia is also an issue addressed with the assistance of LASIK eye surgery. With an increase in the number of participants for LASIK treatment in Dubai each year, needless to say the procedure has come a long way since its advent and has transformed the vision of thousands for the better.

In the present day, LASIK is performed in two ways: Blade and Bladeless. LASIK treatment in Dubai was initially performed with the blade method as was done in many other parts of the world that also adapted LASIK treatment. This blade also known as a microkeratome is very thin, and is used to make a cut of microscopic precision in the cornea known as the corneal flap. It is here that the cornea is then adjusted through shaping and sculpting. Bladeless (also called IntraLase) on the other hand, is the use of an extremely precise laser known as femtosecond laser which functions as the blade. Both have their own distinct characteristics and it is usually the doctor who will make a judgment call on which method would be suitable to you.

If you are going for Blade LASIK treatment in Dubai, there are some things you need to bear in mind so you can discuss these with your doctor and make an informed decision. The use of the microkeratome for instance which is the blade utilized in Blade LASIK treatment in Dubai and other eye surgeries offering the same, is a practice that has been losing its significance over time given that its risks far outweighed Bladeless LASIK treatment. During its peak, it was considered useful as it enabled surgeons to get to the heart of the problem by fixing the cornea. However after-effects such as corneal flap infection and the serious case of epithelial growth which is the growth of tissues under the flap, became reasons for doctors to look towards less risky options. As a result, the use of the microkeratome system is steadily being removed.

Bladeless technology for LASIK treatment in Dubai and most other eye surgery centres around the world, has proven to be more efficient, safer and far easier to use than its less favoured counterpart. Firstly, the use of the Bladeless method greatly decreases one of the risks mentioned above which is epithelial growth. As the flap is created using a precise laser, the risk of the blade is minimized. Additionally, Bladeless LASIK treatment in Dubai operates through the use of a computer which controls the laser speed. This allows maximum control and precision which means the surrounding tissues suffer minimal impact.

Bladeless LASIK treatment in Dubai also allows patients to heal fairly quickly comparative to the Blade method. As the laser sculpts away at tissues on a molecular level, the flap is thinner and easier to fall back into place for healing. Blades tend to create irregular edges in the flap which result in an uneven cornea leading to possible astigmatism as a side-effect of the surgery. The downside to Bladeless surgery however is that patients have reported extreme light sensitivity following procedure. Having said that, it may come as somewhat of a relief that doctors have regarded this as a temporary side-effect and are able to treat it with eye-drops.

When considering LASIK treatment in Dubai, thoroughly weigh out these two options and then discuss them with your doctor for a surgery that is most suitable and comfortable to you. Done rightly, LASIK can help gain your vision acuity back by a large percentage and is worth considering.