Is refractive surgery justified?

ABSTRACT

Refractive surgery may be defined as any kind of eye surgery in which attempt is made to produce a level of spectacle error that is accepted to the patient. Cataract surgery with lens implantation is the most often done refractive surgery on the eye. The following kinds of refractive surgery are being practised With normal crystalline lens, phacic intra-ocular lens, surgery with cornea, using excimer laser, other newer techniques. Radial keratotomy is one procedure of refractive surgery with cornea. In this operation, radial cuts are made on the cornea starting near the edge of the pupil and reaching up to the limbus. Number of cuts vary from 4 to 24 depending upon the seventy of myopia. Its advantage is its cost effectiveness and can be performed in a remote area. There are two ways of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The processes are elaborated in the article. Before any refractive surgery is performed, it is imperative that the whole of the eye receives full and detailed attention. The patient needs to be explained of the procedure. Utmost care should be taken to observe sterilisation of the instruments and the environment.