Refractive Surgery Trivia Quiz

Answer: microkeratome

The mechanical microkeratome was developed over 50 years ago in Colombia for use in corneal surgery. LASIK was developed in the early 1990s and combines a corneal flap with excimer laser ablation to the underlying corneal bed. The weed whacker has no therapeutic applications in ophthalmology but can be a culprit in ocular trauma. Always wear protective glasses when weed whacking.

Answer: false

In PRK the epithelial cells are removed, usually with laser or alcohol or a mechanical brush, prior to excimer laser ablation. In LASEK, the epithelium is loosened with alcohol or viscoelastic, rolled back in a sheet, and then replaced after laser ablation. A bandage contact lens is applied afterward in both LASEK and PRK as the cornea heals.

Answer: presbyopia

Sjogren syndrome involves severe dry eyes. Accutane affects corneal wound healing. Keratoconus is a cone-shaped cornea. Presbyopia is a normal physiologic part of the aging process which affects the ability to focus on near objects. That's why people over 40 often need reading glasses or bifocals. Presbyopia is not a contraindication to LASIK.

Answer: femtosecond

The femtosecond laser is based on the principle that reducing the pulse time of the laser increases its power. A femtosecond is only 10^-13 seconds. The femtosecond laser energy can be delivered at a precise depth in the cornea without affecting the corneal surface. Making LASIK flaps is only one of its many developing applications in ophthalmology.

Answer: phakic intraocular lens

RK is effective for low levels of myopia but is now less frequently performed since treatment accuracy is greater with LASIK/LASEK/PRK. CK and LTK are for treating hyperopia and sometimes presbyopia. Phakic intraocular lenses (also known as implantable contact lenses) will soon be widely available to treat high myopia.

Answer: monovision

Monovision is a way to reduce the need for reading glasses in people over 40 with presbyopia. Some people love it and some people don't. It's often good to test it out with contact lenses before getting it surgically with LASIK/LASEK/PRK.

Answer: excimer laser

Excimer stands for the "excited dimer" of halogen gases used to produce the laser energy. Argon and YAG lasers are used in ophthalmology but not to reshape the cornea. Photon torpedoes as yet have no ophthalmic applications.

Answer: wavefront

Wavefront-guided ablation goes beyond correcting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism to treat more subtle irregularities in the optical system of the patient's eye.

Answer: true

LASIK should be performed only on eyes that are healthy. Cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration develop most often in older patients. People over 60 may be fine candidates for LASIK but should be certain that their eyes are otherwise in good shape.

Answer: true

In some children with, for example, one very nearsighted or farsighted eye and one relatively normal eye, refractive surgery can make the two eyes more equal. That way the child uses both eyes together and doesn't develop a "lazy" or amblyopic eye.