FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, any of the current techniques, both laser and lens-based procedures, allow both defects to be corrected simultaneously.

It is important to keep the eye as still as possible. To achieve this, the patient lies back on a stretcher and focuses their gaze on a red light located in the excimer laser device.

A safety device called an “eye tracker” compensates for small involuntary eye movements by monitoring the eye’s position at intervals of a few milliseconds and adjusting the direction of the laser pulses accordingly. In the event of sudden eye movements, the safety system completely stops the treatmen

It is a quick procedure. On average, the patient spends 15–20 minutes in the operating room. Only a few of those seconds are for the application of the excimer laser; the rest of the time is for preparing the patient and the eye.

Refractive surgery procedures are performed under topical local anesthesia (drops), so you will not feel any pain during the procedure.

Laser procedures like LASIK and PRK have a very simple postoperative period—just a few eye drops and some artificial tears.

After the surgery, it is recommended to rest for at least 24 hours. Most work activities can be resumed after 48 hours, and for sports, you should wait at least a week.

Depending on the characteristics of each patient’s cornea, laser surgery may or may not be possible. Since this technique “reshapes” the cornea, it is necessary to estimate its postoperative thickness and shape. If certain safety criteria are not met, intraocular surgery should be chosen instead, which does not modify or alter the eye’s structures.

No. The development of cataracts is linked to aging and progresses irreversibly, so the only effective treatment is surgery.

Yes. There are several techniques to correct astigmatism during cataract surgery. One method involves making relaxing incisions that reduce astigmatism, while another uses special toxic lenses designed to correct it. In this case, the outcome is not as predictable as when correcting myopia or hyperopia, but astigmatism is generally significantly reduced.

Yes. Nowadays, lenses are made from very advanced materials that provide enough assurance to say they last a lifetime.

Each case must be evaluated individually so that, depending on the location of the scar (central or peripheral), its depth, and the visual impairment it causes, a decision can be made between a more conservative observational approach, laser treatment (PTK), or a partial or full corneal transplant.

Each case must be evaluated individually so that, depending on the location of the scar (central or peripheral), its depth, and the visual impairment it causes, a decision can be made between a more conservative approach of observation, laser treatment (PTK), or a partial or full corneal transplant.

Retinal detachment is considered a semi-urgent condition, meaning it is advisable to undergo surgery as soon as possible, although not necessarily at the exact moment of diagnosis. It is essential to have an experienced team specializing in retinal pathology to address it.

Depending on the type of retinal detachment and the surgery performed—which will not be the same in every case—the vitreous (the gel that gives shape to the eye) may be replaced with gas or silicone, or it may not be replaced at all. Based on this, considering the densities of these substances and the location of the tear, your ophthalmologist will indicate the most suitable position in each case, which is vital for an optimal post-surgical outcome.

Indeed, high myopia has a significant hereditary component, and it is common for several members of the same family to be affected.

Since high myopia—defined as myopia above six diopters—can lead to significant conditions during adulthood (especially vitreoretinal disorders), it is essential to prevent or slow its progression in the early stages of life. To achieve this, there are several treatments aimed at slowing down or at least minimizing the progression of myopia in children whose annual increase is very significant and who have a family history of high myopia. Through the use of certain eye drops or contact lenses, we can achieve this goal with very satisfactory results. The myopia control department is one of the priorities at Clínica Rahhal.

No. In these cases, the patient develops double vision (diplopia) because the visual system has already fully developed in early life, and the brain cannot “suppress” the image from one eye as it does in childhood. Since it cannot ignore one of the two images or fuse them, double vision occurs.

Acquired cases must be evaluated with special care, as not all of them will require surgery. Some will resolve spontaneously, others with a session of botulinum toxin, and in other cases through the use of prism glasses. The severity of the strabismus and its cause will be decisive when choosing the best therapeutic option for these patients.