14 DAY TRIAL // Patients undergoing Laser-Assisted in SItu Keratomileusis (LASIK) surgeries to address their myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism could soon benefit from a new medical glue, which was designed specifically to seal the flaps in the cornea following surgery.
By using the glue, surgeons will be able to improve the safety and reliability of vision corrective surgeries extensively, the team behind the work says. The substance will reduce the cases where corneal transplantation is needed following LASIK surgeries.
During this operation, the cornea needs to be reshaped, so that light focuses correctly on the retina. In order to do this, doctors first cut a flap in the cornea, so that the laser can remove some of the extra tissue. The flap is then put back into place, but is held in place exclusively through surface tension.
From now on, the glue may be used to secure the flap. Previously, any blunt trauma to the eye before the cut healed could have resulted in the flap coming loose, but not anymore, Innovation News Daily reports.