(02) 8-898-2020
(02) 8-898-2020
There is no doubt that LASIK is a very popular procedure. In fact, former volleyball player and now TV host Gretchen Ho recently had her LASIK surgery, after years of wearing contacts lenses. But what is LASIK and why are a lot people are interested in it?
“LASIK frees you from the hassles or inconveniences of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses,” says Asian Eye Institute LASIK/Refractive Service Director Dr. Robert Ang, “It lets you have sharp vision, so it is a lot easier for you to do things – from as simple as doing your day-to-day tasks at home or at work, to playing sports or achieving your dream job. I actually have had patients who do LASIK because they want to become an athlete, go for military training, become a flight attendant and even a pilot.”
It also offers you the perks of looking young, and if you are a contact lens wearer, you no longer have to suffer from recurring eye redness, dry eyes or infection. While you have to be awake during the surgery, LASIK is quick and painless. It typically takes 10 minutes per eye. It makes use of an excimer laser to reshape the cornea or the clear surface layer of the eye, and correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. With minimal downtime, you can have surgery today and be able to get back to work in 2-3 days.
Asian Eye is the only eye institute in the Philippines that makes use of the latest generation Victus Femtosecond Laser and Teneo 2 Excimer Laser, both from German manufacturer Bausch and Lomb. These top-of-the-line machines are equipped with unique features, such as ultrafast laser speed, Active Control Eye Tracker and Iris Registration.
“Having an ultrafast laser speed shortens the treatment time,” explains the multi-awarded Dr. Robert Ang, “This means that we lessen the evaporation time and drying of the cornea. This also means that patients don’t have to be anxious during surgery and there are lesser chances that they will move during the procedure.”
“The Active Control Eye Tracker detects and adjusts to all eye movements. So even if your eye moves up or down, left or right, the laser pulses will be fired in the correct location each time, while Iris Registration ensures that your treatment will never be applied to another patient’s eyes,” he adds.
Can everyone undergo LASIK?
LASIK is usually recommended for patients with eye grade ranging from 100 to 600, with astigmatism up to 400 and are between 18 to 39 years old. This is because the eye grade stabilizes once you reach 18 years old. By the time you reach 40, you start to develop an age-related condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia or the loss of near vision requires you to wear reading glasses, so you can comfortably see while doing near work activities like reading or sewing.
Apart from eye grade, there are other factors that are considered, to ensure the success of the surgery. Dr. Ang says, “Our main goal is to ensure the safety and satisfaction of our patients. That is why we require them to undergo a 3 to 4-hour LASIK screening, so we can thoroughly check their corneal thickness and curvature, and if they have other eye conditions that may be affecting their vision. If in case they have a retinal problem or cataract, we need to address it first before we proceed with the surgery.”
Pregnant or nursing mothers will also have to put off their plan as their hormones may cause their vision or eye grade to fluctuate.
Asian Eye offers the most thorough LASIK screening as well as the most complete range of refractive options. “If a patient does not qualify for LASIK, we can recommend transepithelial PRK or Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL). ICL are for patients with very high grade, up to 1800 or astigmatism up to 600 who cannot qualify for any laser procedure. Supracor LASIK for those with presbyopia, so they can see clearly without wearing reading glasses.
At present, ICL (Implantable contact lens) offers the highest quality vision among all refractive options. It is similar to a contact lens, but is inserted inside the eye. It does not require maintenance like regular contact lenses do, and is best for night driving as it has minimal glares and haloes.” Dr. Ang has the most extensive experience in Lasik, ICL and Supracor in the Philippines.
To protect its patients, Asian Eye practices strict safety protocols. A negative Antigen test is required before the surgery, and the operating room is equipped with a laminar airflow system with HEPA filters. This airflow system ensures minimal passage of bacteria and contaminants inside the room.
Everyone uses their eyes during every waking hour. So, to answer the question — LASIK is definitely worth the investment for anyone who needs clear vision for work, or leisure, or simply for enjoying time with your loved ones.
Want to find out if Lasik is right for you? Book a screening at our Rockwell Makati, Trinoma or Mall of Asia clinics. Call us at 8898-2020 or send us an email through [email protected].
We deliver to all our patients the highest quality eye care on a par with the best in the world. We make high-quality eye care available and accessible to the Filipinos. We advance the science and practice of ophthalmology and optometry in Asia and the Pacific Rim.
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