Surgical treatment for myopia

Abstract

This article briefly explains surgical treatments of myopia. Laser refractive surgery using the excimer laser and/or femtosecond is the most commonly operated one. As the cornea has the greatest refractive power out of the ocular structures, the laser refractive surgery ablates the corneal stroma. Laser refractive surgeries are categorized by the surgical procedures basics: photorefractive keratectomy, laser in situ keratomilieusis (LASIK), laser epithelial keratomileusis, and Epi-LASIK. There are also some surgical treatment of myopia that does not use the laser ablation of the stroma. Intrastromal corneal ring segments implantation changes corneal shape which leads to the change of refractive power. Clear lens extraction reduces refractive power of crystalline lens by removal, and phakic intraocular lens implantation adds negative refractive power by implantation of intraocular lens. Patients are recommended to have a detailed consultation before choosing the surgical treatment based on their ocular status. There are several methods to treat myopia surgically, Laser reftractive surgery on cornea is most common method currently. © Korean Medical Association.