HEALTHMedical

About Lasik: Is femto Lasik safe? Is the success rate high?

By Dr Lee Mun Toong

Femto-lasik: The recent innovation in laser assisted refractive surgery.

FEMTO-LASIK is considered safe if compared to blade surgery. The eye has no contact with a blade. The separation of the cornea from lower layers is more accurate and safe with a laser than with a microkeratome (blade) like LASIK.

There were not many clinical studies done regarding femto-lasik. However there were a lot retrospective studies regarding Lasik success rate.

The LASIK success rate – or LASIK outcomes – is well understood with literally thousands of clinical studies looking at visual acuity and patient satisfaction. The research reports show 99 percent of patients achieve better than 20/40(6/12) vision and more than 90 per cent achieve 20/20 (6/6) or better. In addition, LASIK has an unprecedented 96 per cent patient satisfaction rate – the highest of any elective procedure.1

The success rate is considered high .The latest peer-reviewed meta-analysis of worldwide scientific literature for LASIK shows the satisfaction rate for the procedure is up to 98% and nearly 90% of patients achieve vision around 20/20 (6/6). 2

Several studies have shown the efficacy of LASIK on improved vision outcomes, The PROWL-1 study showed 97.5% of patients achieved 20/20 vision or better, while the PROWL-2 study showed 91.5% of patients achieved 20/20 vision or better.3

Hence, LASIK outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive. According to one study, only one in 112,500 patients required medical disability retirement due to complications from laser vision correction during an eight-year period.4 However According to the JPJ data, Malaysia registered death rate from motor vehicle accidents of about 23 per 100,000 population per annum.5

In short, I think basically femto-lasik is considered safer than motor vehicle transportation as per data mentioned above.

Reference:

  1. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Vol. 42, Issue 8, August 2016, Pages 1224-1234
  2. Donnenfeld ED. The best for LASIK. Presented at AAO Cataract & Refractive Subspecialty Days; Nov. 10-11, 2017; New Orleans.
  3. Eydelman M, Hilmantel G, Tarver ME, Hofmeister EM, May J, Hammel K, Hays RD, Ferris F 3rd. Symptoms and Satisfaction of Patients in the Patient-Reported Outcomes With Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (PROWL) Studies. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017 Jan 1;135(1):13-22. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.4587.
  4. LASIK Risks And Complications.By Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery
  5. Malaysian Institute Road Safety Research (MIROS)
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