ifteen thousand laser procedures to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are performed every year in Greece. This method, that has already existed for three decades, “changes our way of life within a few minutes”, says to “THEMA” the ophthalmologist surgeon Dr. George Chronopoulos and clarifies that only “presbyopia cannot yet be treated with laser”.

Fifteen thousand laser procedures to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are performed every year in Greece. This method, that has already existed for three decades, “changes our way of life within a few minutes”, says to “THEMA” the ophthalmologist surgeon Dr. George Chronopoulos and clarifies that only “presbyopia cannot yet be treated with laser”.

“With the use of this remarkable technology we can eliminate our dependence on corrective glasses or contact lenses”, underlines Dr. Chronopoulos and points out: “There are two methods of effective correction of low or high degrees of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism:PRK and LASIΚ.

The difference between these two methods lies in the fact that, in the first, the correction occurs on the surface of the cornea, while in the second in its interior. In PRK there is some minor discomfort the first 2-3 days, while in LASIK the discomfort is insignificant and eyesight restoration happens almost immediately, on the very first day. The final result is the same in both cases”. The procedure lasts only a few minutes and it is never longer than 5 or 6 minutes for both eyes. As Dr. Chronopoulos says, “The doctor uses local anesthesia and the patient feels no pain. After the procedure it is advisable for the patient to sleep for a couple of hours and to avoid washing his hair with the eyes open, driving on the first day, swimming for the next four weeks and exerting himself for about a week”.

The important thing is that it is a permanent correction. In the very few cases where some degrees of the condition remain, then an additional laser procedure can be done to achieve full correction. The chances for complications are minimal. Now the interests of ophthalmologists are focused on presbyopia, which cannot yet be corrected with laser, since such a procedure will affect distant vision as well, and the results cannot yet be controlled.

Published in the newspaper PROTO THEMA on 7 December 2008