What is Silk Eye Surgery in Full Form?

Explore the in-depth details of Silk Eye Surgery. Unravel its full form, procedure, benefits, risks, and recovery process.

Silk Eye Surgery (ELITA), also known as Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis (SILK), is a revolutionary laser vision correction procedure that offers a minimally invasive, bladeless, and flap-free approach to correcting refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism. Developed by Johnson & Johnson Vision, SILK utilizes the state-of-the-art ELITA femtosecond laser platform to create a precisely shaped lenticule within the cornea, which is then carefully extracted through a small incision. This unique technique eliminates the need for a corneal flap, reducing the risk of complications and promoting faster healing times.

• Silk is an acronym for Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis. It is a term used to describe a specific type of laser vision correction procedure.
• Smooth Incision: This refers to the fact that the procedure is performed without the use of a blade; instead, a femtosecond laser is used to create a smooth and precise incision in the cornea. Blade can cause microkeratome-related complications (MCRCs) like epithelial ingrowth.
• Lenticule: A lenticule is a small, round-shaped fragment of corneal tissue that is precisely shaped and removed during the procedure to correct refractive errors.
• Keratomileusis: Keratomileusis is a surgical procedure that reshapes the cornea to improve vision. The word "keratomileusis" is derived from the Greek words "keratos" (cornea), "milos" (to reduce), and "leusis" (to loosen).

ELITA is an acronym for Endothelial Lenticule Interaction Technology Advanced. Here's a breakdown of the acronym:

• Endothelial: The endothelium is the single layer of cells that lines the inner surface of the cornea. It plays a crucial role in maintaining corneal clarity and hydration.
• Lenticule: A lenticule is a small, disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue that is removed during the Silk Eye Surgery procedure. The shape and dimensions of the lenticule are precisely determined based on the patient's refractive error.
• Interaction: The ELITA technology employs a unique interaction between the femtosecond laser and the corneal tissue to create the lenticule. This interaction allows for precise control over the shape and depth of the lenticule.
• Technology: ELITA represents an advanced technological advancement in the field of laser vision correction. It offers a minimally invasive, flap-free approach to correcting refractive errors with enhanced precision and accuracy.
• Advanced: ELITA signifies a cutting-edge technology that incorporates the latest advancements in femtosecond laser technology and corneal tissue interaction.

Procedure Details

The Silk Eye Surgery procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis in an ophthalmologist's office. The process involves the following steps:

• Preoperative Consultation: An eye exam is conducted to determine the patient's candidacy for Silk Eye Surgery and evaluate their overall eye health.
• Anesthesia: Topical anesthetic eye drops are administered to numb the eyes.
• Lenticule Creation: Using the ELITA femtosecond laser, the surgeon creates a precisely shaped lenticule within the cornea.
• Lenticule Extraction: The surgeon gently extracts the lenticule through a small incision.
• Post-Procedure Care: Eye drops and protective shields are provided to promote healing and protect the eyes.

Benefits of Silk Eye Surgery

Silk Eye Surgery presents several compelling benefits over traditional laser vision correction methods such as LASIK and SMILE:

• Flap-free procedure: Unlike LASIK, which involves creating a corneal flap, SILK is a flap-free procedure, minimizing the risk of flap-related complications such as flap dislocation or epithelial ingrowth.
• Minimally invasive: SILK's bladeless and flap-free approach reduces the invasiveness of the procedure, leading to less discomfort and a faster recovery time.
• Precision and Accuracy: The ELITA femtosecond laser employs high-precision technology to create a perfectly shaped lenticule, ensuring accurate vision correction and minimizing the risk of overcorrection or undercorrection.
• Suitable for Thin Corneas: SILK is particularly well-suited for patients with thin corneas who may not be eligible for traditional LASIK due to insufficient corneal tissue.
• Quicker Recovery: Silk Eye Surgery typically offers a faster recovery time compared to LASIK, allowing patients to resume their normal activities sooner.

Risks and Complications

As with any surgical procedure, Silk Eye Surgery carries potential risks and complications, albeit with a very low incidence. These may include:

• Temporary dryness or discomfort
• Sensitivity to light
• Overcorrection or undercorrection
• Halo or glare around lights
• Infection
• Rare complications such as corneal ectasia or vision loss

Recovery process

Silk Eye Surgery typically offers a quick and comfortable recovery process. Patients may experience mild discomfort, such as dryness or sensitivity to light, which usually resolves within a few days. Vision improvement is typically noticeable within 24 hours, with continued improvement over the next few days to weeks. Most patients can return to work or school within a day or two, and full recovery is generally achieved within a few weeks.

Is Silk Eye Surgery Painful?

Find out if silk eye surgery is right for you with this unbiased assessment.

Silk (Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis) eye surgery, also known as ELITA, is a type of laser eye surgery that corrects vision problems such as nearsightedness and astigmatism. Although it is an emerging treatment, its numerous benefits over traditional vision correction surgeries have led to its rapid rise in demand.

The fact that Silk eye surgery is almost painless is one of its main benefits. The patient is given eye drops, including local anesthetic, to help calm their eyes throughout the procedure. This ensures that the person undergoing surgery will not be in any discomfort during the procedure.

Another advantage of Silk eye surgery is that it is a very quick procedure. The entire surgery typically takes less than 22 seconds per eye. This means that patients can get their vision corrected and be back to their normal activities within a short period.

Ultimately, silk eye surgery is a safe and successful treatment. It has a good success rate, and the risk of complications is very low.

Factors that can affect the level of pain or discomfort

Here are some of the factors that can affect the level of discomfort you may experience during and after Silk eye surgery:

• Individual pain tolerance: Everyone has a different pain tolerance, so what one person finds to be mild discomfort, another person may find to be severe pain.
• Complexity of vision correction: The more complex your vision correction, the longer the surgery may take and the more discomfort you may experience.
• Type of anesthesia used: There are two types of anesthesia used for Silk eye surgery: topical anesthesia or local anesthesia. Topical anesthesia is less invasive and results in less discomfort, but it may not be strong enough for some patients. Local anesthesia is more is more effective at blocking pain.
• Surgeon's experience and skill: A more experienced and skilled surgeon is less likely to cause discomfort during the procedure.

What to expect during Silk eye surgery?

On the day of the surgery, the patient will be asked to arrive at the surgeon's office early. This will give the surgeon time to prepare the patient for the surgery and to answer any questions they may have.

Once the patient is ready, they will be taken into the surgical area. The surgeon will then apply the local anesthetic eye drops and place a lid speculum to keep the eyelids open.

SILK Eye Surgery is a bladeless laser vision correction procedure that uses a femtosecond laser to create a thin disc of corneal tissue called a lenticule. The lenticule is then removed through a micro-incision, reshaping the cornea to improve vision.

Usually, the procedure is completed in under 25 seconds for each eye. After the surgery, the patient will be taken to a recovery room, where they will be monitored for a short period.

After Silk eye surgery:

After Silk eye surgery, the patient will experience some mild discomfort or sensitivity in the eyes initially. This discomfort can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain medication and the use of prescribed eye drops.

The patient will also need to follow some postoperative instructions to ensure proper healing and minimize any potential discomfort. These guidelines can include using safety goggles, avoiding massaging one's eyes, and avoiding swimming and sauna use for a while.

Most individuals are able to return to their routine activities within a few days following Silk eye surgery. It is crucial to remember that the vision may not entirely stabilize for a few weeks.

Overall, Silk eye surgery is a relatively painless, quick, and safe procedure that can be used to correct a variety of vision problems. If you are considering laser eye surgery, Silk eye surgery is a great option to consider.

Why is SILK Eye Surgery painless?

SILK Eye Surgery is painless for two main reasons:

1. Numbing eye drops are administered to the eye before the procedure begins. These eye drops contain a local anesthetic that numbs the surface of the eye. This prevents the patient from feeling any pain during the surgery.
2. SILK Eye Surgery is a minimally invasive procedure. The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create a small incision in the cornea and remove the lenticule. This incision is self-sealing and does not require stitches. As a result, there is very little pain or discomfort associated with the procedure.

In addition to being painless, SILK Eye Surgery is also a very safe procedure. The risk of complications is very low, and most patients recover quickly.

Here are some additional reasons why SILK Eye Surgery is painless:

• The femtosecond laser is very precise, which minimizes the amount of tissue that needs to be treated.
• The surgeon uses specialized instruments that are designed to minimize trauma to the eye.
• The surgery is performed in a sterile environment to reduce the risk of infection.
• SILK Eye Surgery is a safe and painless procedure that can correct vision problems and improve quality of life.