A new form of keyhole laser eye surgery has come to the UK. The SmartSIGHT procedure uses an advanced laser, the Schwind ATOS, to make a tiny incision in the eye’s surface and remove a small disc of the cornea.
There are only 20 of the German-designed lasers and this is the first in the country. The procedure takes just minutes to perform and enables the surgeon to track the patient’s line of sight precisely. The operation is painless and, because the incision is smaller than that made in traditional laser surgery, the healing process is even quicker.
Allon Barsam, ophthalmic surgeon and co-founder of OCL Vision, which has acquired the device, said: “Laser eye surgery technology is advancing in leaps and bounds, and the sophistication – and sheer range – of the procedures now available enable specialist surgeons to offer every patient a treatment perfectly tailored to their needs.
“The SmartSIGHT procedure won’t be right for everyone, but for patients who play sports or who require a rapid recovery time, it may be preferable to more familiar forms of laser eye surgery.”