puntos clave para el cuidado estándar en cirugía de miopía

Title: Key Points for Standard Care in Myopia Surgery

Profile: Refractive surgery for myopia requires patient collaboration and encompasses key pre, intra, and postoperative stages.

Keywords: ['Ocular Health', 'Postoperative Care']

Dear friends considering undergoing myopia surgery, do not be misled by short videos claiming "get rid of your glasses in 5 minutes, and immediately have 4K vision." Myopia surgery has never been something that can be achieved simply by "lying down and winning"; rather, it is more of an "ocular renewal plan" in which you must actively participate. Each stage, whether before, during, or after the procedure, must be taken very seriously. Currently, myopia surgeries are divided into two major categories: one is corneal refractive surgery, commonly known as laser surgery, which includes techniques such as femtoLASIK, LASIK, and surface surgery; the other is intraocular refractive surgery, which refers to the well-known ICL lens implant procedure. These two types of surgeries have quite different key care points.

Before the surgery: do not rush to "have the operation"; let your eyes be "natural" for a few days.

Want to undergo surgery? First, remove your contact lenses and set them aside!

Many people ask me, why stop wearing them for so long? The reason is quite simple: wearing contact lenses for a long time can cause the cornea to be "deformed". If you do not wait for the cornea to return to its natural state before undergoing examinations, the data measured will certainly not be accurate, and the surgical plan cannot be accurately adjusted.

Then, you must go to the hospital for a comprehensive eye examination: vision test, corneal thickness measurement, corneal mapping, eye pressure examination, fundus photography... The doctor must perform these tests to confirm that you do not have keratoconus, glaucoma, or severe dry eye syndrome, which are "risk areas" for surgery, before confidently scheduling the procedure.

Here are some useful tips:

During the surgery: you are not a spectator; you are a "key actor".

The surgery time is actually not long; it lasts about 10 minutes. There is no need to stay in the hospital and the entire procedure is painless: a little anesthesia is applied, and you will not feel any pain in your eyes. During the process, you will feel your eyelids gently opening; do not worry, that is what the eyelid separator does. Then, a small green light will appear before you.

Pay attention here! Regardless of whether the light later becomes blurred, dim, or even seems to "disappear," you must keep your eyes firmly fixed on that spot, and your eyeball must not move! Do not suddenly cough, sneeze, or speak, even if you feel nervous. Rest assured, the doctor and nurses will quietly guide you; you only need to: lie back, relax, and keep your eyeball stable.

Postoperative: Recovering quickly does not mean that everything is fine; care must be standardized.

After the surgery, symptoms such as tearing and photophobia may appear in the first few hours, and it may feel like there is sand in your eyes. This is especially common after surface surgery, where it is normal to experience pain during the first two days; it is important to take painkillers when you feel pain. You must not rub your eyes after the surgery! Dry eye is a very common phenomenon after the operation, so it is recommended to use artificial tears continuously for 3 to 6 months, prioritizing those that do not contain preservatives, as they are safer for the eyes.

This surgery causes almost no pain after the operation, and by the next day, you can see almost clearly, but it is very important to be alert to the problem of "elevated eye pressure." If symptoms such as swelling in the eyes, headaches, nausea, or seeing lights with a rainbow halo occur, you should go to the hospital immediately. During the first week after the surgery, avoid bending, lifting heavy objects, straining during bowel movements, or moving your head abruptly to prevent a sudden increase in intraocular pressure.

For friends who have had ICL surgery, please note: unless under special circumstances, this lens will remain in the eye for life, so regular check-ups for eye pressure, corneal endothelium, and lens position are necessary every year!

Two types of general standards for operations (recommended to keep).

1. Eye drops should be applied punctually and in the correct amount; never interrupt treatment on your own!

After the surgery, during the first week, when washing your face, it is necessary to do so with your eyes closed, and when washing your hair, it is recommended to tilt your head back to avoid water entering your eyes.

3. When looking at your phone or computer, remember to look up every 20 minutes and focus on an object 6 meters away for 20 seconds, that is, the "20-20-20" rule to care for your vision.

4. Do not swim or bathe in hot springs for the 6 months following the surgery; avoid engaging in high-risk sports like basketball and boxing that could cause impacts to the eyes during the same period.

5. Do not forget postoperative checks: one day, one week, one month, three months, six months, and one year after the surgery, you must promptly go to the hospital for check-ups. If there are any special circumstances, follow the doctor's instructions.

In conclusion, myopia surgery is not extraordinary magic, but rather a silent collaboration between the doctor and the patient. The doctor is responsible for ensuring safety with his professional skills, while you must actively cooperate at all times. If you want to have clear vision, it is necessary to pay a little more attention at each stage of the process.

Author:

Dai Lijuan, head nurse of the Refractive Surgery Center at the People’s Hospital of Henan Province.

Reviewer:

Li Jin, chief physician of the Refractive Surgery Center at the People’s Hospital of Henan Province.

Note: The cover image is a stock image with copyright, and its reproduction may lead to copyright disputes.