Defective vision

Refractive surgery is the name given to eye operations that correct visual defects of up to ten dioptres. There are two procedures: LASIK and lens surgery. In the former, the doctor uses a tiny plane or a femtosecond laser to make a mini incision in the cornea, then folds it up and corrects the defective vision with the laser. This treatment is performed on an outpatient basis and is relatively painless for the patient. In refractive lens surgery, a lens is placed in front of the patient's own lens or completely replaced.

Cataract

This disease, also known as cataract, is often a symptom of old age. The lens becomes cloudy and the affected person sees as if through a veil. These patients are also given a new lens, often a trifocal lens, with which they can see wonderfully in the distance and also up close. In rare cases, they still need glasses for reading or driving.

Glaucoma

Here, the internal pressure is increased because aqueous humor in the eye no longer drains properly. Instead of major eye surgery, a new microinvasive technology - the "iStent inject" - can help. Two tiny titanium implants are implanted in the anterior chamber of the eye. They work in a similar way to a stent in the coronary arteries. This allows the blocked fluid to flow out again. And patients hardly need any pressure-reducing eye drops afterwards.

Retinal detachment

Because this disease can lead to blindness, action must be taken immediately. The symptoms: black dots and flashes of light in front of the eyes. Those affected often compare them to a swarm of mosquitoes. Sometimes a shadow moves across the field of vision from below. Treatment: In mild forms, a silicone seal is sewn onto the eye to prevent further detachment; in more severe cases, a tamponade is placed during an eye operation to push the retina back into place. The vision remains intact.