Laser eye surgery in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe

Many people with corneal curvature or a very thin cornea ask whether eye lasering is even possible. If you have a very thin cornea, the PRK/LASEK method may offer a treatment option. The ophthalmologist’s examination will determine whether laser eye surgery is feasible. If the cornea is too thin, laser eye surgery cannot be performed. In such cases, surgical lens exchange is offered as an alternative. Read more: Laser eye surgery for thin corneas

During laser eye surgery, the laser changes the eye’s refractive power so the retina can produce a sharp image again. After the operation, visual aids are usually no longer necessary. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes and is computer-controlled. Including preparation and post-operative checks, you should expect a total visit time of around two hours.

LASIK & Femto LASIK differences

• LASIK stands for laser in situ keratomileusis, often called flap surgery. In LASIK, a wafer-thin corneal flap is created with a microkeratome – a highly developed, computer-controlled microscalpel that prepares the flap and thus the top layer of the cornea.
• In Femto LASIK, the flap is created with a femtosecond laser.
• With both methods, the flap is lifted and the refractive correction is performed with an excimer laser. After the laser treatment, the flap is repositioned and the healing process begins. The flap grows back on its own and is not noticeable.

The laser treatment with the SMILE® Pro method

• Alongside Femto LASIK (femtosecond laser), SMILE® Pro is another effective and commonly used method that corrects vision without creating a corneal flap. The choice depends on the type and degree of refractive error. SMILE® Pro is often used for higher diopter numbers, particularly for nearsightedness.
• During SMILE® Pro, the laser creates a refractive lenticule and a small access incision of about 4 mm.
• The lenticule is removed through this small incision.
• Removing the lenticule produces a targeted change in the corneal tissue.

Advanced PRK & LASEK

• A-PRK (Advanced Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) are suitable for people with a thin cornea. Both techniques treat the corneal surface using an excimer laser to remove corneal layers.

Before undergoing laser eye treatment, the attending physician will perform a thorough pre-examination. You will be informed about the exact procedure and potential risks. This is followed by extensive measurements to diagnose your eyes and determine your visual impairment (measurements such as biometry, pupillometry, pachymetry, wavefront measurement, refraction determination, IOL Master). The ophthalmologist will recommend the best treatment path for you. Please note the following:

• Contact lenses: stop wearing soft contact lenses 2 weeks before the appointment (3–4 weeks for rigid lenses)
• The pre-examination for laser eye surgery takes about 2 hours.
• You must not drive yourself after the examination due to the eye drops used.

On the day of the laser operation: During laser eye surgery, the laser changes the eye’s refractive power so the retina can produce a sharp image again. The actual procedure takes only a few minutes and is computer-controlled. Including preparation and follow-up checks, expect around two hours. Be sure to plan a few hours of rest at home after your laser eye operation.

Read more:
How long before laser eye surgery should you stop wearing contact lenses?

After the treatment, we will examine you again following a short rest. Even at this stage you should notice an improvement in your vision. Full visual acuity, however, is not immediate. Arrange for someone to accompany you home so you can relax and recover.

It is normal for the eyes to burn slightly, itch, or feel like there is a foreign body present. This should subside three to four hours after the operation. Your visual acuity will improve during this time. By the next day at the latest you should notice a clear difference. During the healing process, avoid activities such as reading or watching TV; let your eyes regenerate and rest.

The required rest time after laser eye surgery varies by person. In general, the initial recovery takes only a few hours, so be patient. Do not rub your eyes during this period.

Read more:
Can I drive after laser eye surgery?
Can I use my mobile phone after laser eye surgery?
How long should you wear sunglasses after surgery?
What not to do after laser eye surgery?

What does the follow-up check look like?

• Whether or not you experience complaints after treatment, careful follow-up examinations are of utmost importance. We ask you to attend them. Only through these checks can we be certain that your eyes are healing perfectly.

• In general, follow-up examinations take place at these intervals:
  • 1 day after treatment
  • after 1 week
  • after 3 months

SMILE® Pro treatment results

With the SMILE® Pro method, results can be achieved quickly and gently. It can provide a lasting correction of visual impairments with relatively low risk. For example, flap displacement is not a concern because no flap is created. The minimally invasive procedure allows fast healing so patients can return to daily life without visual aids quickly. While achieving an exact 0 diopters cannot be guaranteed, SMILE® Pro achieves near perfection with an average residual of 0.07 diopters per eye. In most cases, contact lenses or glasses are no longer needed after SMILE® Pro.

Read more:
Experiences with laser eye surgery
Are there any negative experiences with laser eye surgery?

As an alternative to laser eye surgery, ICL lens implants can be used. These are permanent contact lens implants placed in addition to your natural lens, positioned between the iris and the natural lens. The implant can correct visual defects permanently and can be removed if necessary. ICL stands for implantable Collamer lens and can be used for nearsightedness and farsightedness. The principle is similar to cataract surgery, where the cloudy natural lens is replaced by a new one.

Laser eye correction is generally long-lasting. However, in younger patients whose eyes are still growing, changes can occur over time. These are usually minor and can be corrected with a simple follow-up treatment. Read more: Long-term consequences after laser eye surgery

Thanks to high technical standards, skilled specialists and strict hygiene measures, the risk of side effects is minimised. Side effects vary by method and type of refractive error. Each patient’s eyes are different, so no blanket statement can be made. For example, corneal surface condition and corneal thickness vary between individuals. It is likely that the eyes will sting mildly immediately after treatment. A foreign-body sensation in the first hours after surgery is normal. Eyes may be light-sensitive and produce more tears; this improves during the healing process, typically after about 2 weeks. It can take up to 3 weeks for the cornea to fully settle. Vision may fluctuate during this time. The tear film usually normalises within 3 months. Please attend all follow-up appointments, even if you have no complaints.

How often re-lasing is possible depends mainly on corneal thickness. Eyes with a normal, average corneal thickness can sometimes be re-treated more than once. In most cases, however, repeat laser treatment is not necessary.

The worst possible complication is a very rare, nonspecific immunological reaction triggered by an infection from contaminated instruments, glove powder or lubricants. Such events are extremely rare.

Laser eye surgery is a very safe procedure when performed by the right surgeon. This type of treatment has been performed and continuously improved for over 20 years, reflected in the high success rates of German laser eye centres (over 90%). The minimum age for laser eye surgery is 18 years. Read more: Is laser eye surgery safe? and From what age is laser eye surgery recommended?

No, you cannot become blind from laser eye surgery. That is a myth. The laser only acts on the front layers of the eye, so injury to the retina, optic nerve or lens is not possible.

No, laser treatment of the eye is not painful. Before the procedure, the eye is numbed with anaesthetic eye drops. The effect takes a few seconds, and only then is the treatment started. More on this in the article: How painful is laser eye surgery?

After laser surgery, blurred vision should last no longer than three weeks; otherwise a correction may be necessary. During several follow-up checks, your vision will be monitored over a period of weeks or months. Read more: Blurred vision after laser eye surgery

Ophthalmologist Doctor-medic Liliana-Iulia Bányai and her experienced team perform over 3,000 eye operations per year. She is one of the top specialists in the field of laser eye treatment.

In addition, the technical equipment in our laser centres in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe is state of the art. We offer the world’s most modern and gentle laser eye methods and provide treatments for visual problems and dry eyes.

There are several promising laser methods for eye correction, some of which are further developments of established procedures. In our centres we use, among others, the Zeiss VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser. We offer SMILE PRO (formerly ReLEx SMILE), Advanced LASEK & PRK, FEMTO LASIK, as well as Presbyond and SMILE Monovision for presbyopia.