Surgical treatment of presbyopia (Supracor)

Supracor method - the laser method of correcting the dioptre for near vision (reading)

Laser vision correction surgery has been successfully performed for the last 25 years all over the world and in our country. It implies the use of the excimer laser for the purpose of correcting the distance dioptre, that is, short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism. In that sense, two methods are performed the most, LASIK and PRK. These are two very successful and safe methods by which a person is freed from wearing glasses for distance. However, the shortcoming of these methods is that with them, in a person older than 45 years, the dioptre for near vision (presbyopia) cannot be corrected, that is, the person cannot be freed from reading glasses. In order to solve this problem as well, in laser vision correction surgery the latest generation of excimer laser was constructed (Teneo laser) which, by its action, leads to such a remodelling of the corneal tissue that in an optical sense multifocality of the cornea is achieved, that is, in the same act both the distance dioptre and the near dioptre can be corrected in a person. That new method is called the Supracor method.

The way the Supracor method is performed

The Supracor method is performed similarly to the LASIK method. Under drop anaesthesia, first a thin superficial layer of the cornea, which is called the “flap”, is separated with the femtosecond laser. After that the flap is lifted and beneath it the stroma of the cornea is remodelled with the Teneo excimer laser and in only about 10 seconds, depending on the dioptre value, the correction of the dioptre both for distance and for near is carried out. After that the flap is returned to its place and very quickly positions itself stably. Antibiotic drops are applied and sometimes, at the surgeon's assessment, a therapeutic contact lens is placed, which is removed the day after the intervention.

Who is a candidate for the Supracor method

Every person who is older than 45 years, who wears reading glasses and who does not suffer from more serious eye and more serious general diseases is a candidate for the Supracor method, on condition that he has a regularly built cornea, that is, a cornea of adequate thickness. This is assessed by imaging the topography of the cornea on a special diagnostic device (Orbscan). A candidate is also a person who, in addition to reading glasses, uses glasses or contact lenses with which he corrects the dioptre for distance as well (short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism).

What can be expected after the intervention by the Supracor method

The Supracor method is a successful and safe method. Its effect in terms of correcting the near dioptre is such that the person, immediately upon the completion of the intervention, can read at near even the smallest letters. If, in addition to the correction of the near dioptre, the distance dioptre is also corrected in the person, the effect of achieving full visual acuity at distance is slightly prolonged and usually after the intervention a couple of months are necessary for full visual acuity at distance to be achieved. A couple of days after the Supracor intervention the person may feel stinging in the eyes, which is solved by the postoperative use of artificial tears and antibiotic drops.