Bioptics
In order to achieve the desired focus for an eye it is sometimes necessary to use more than one type of procedure. This may be necessary if the focus error of the eye is too large or complex to be fully corrected by one procedure alone. Combining procedures in this way is called Bioptics.
Different procedures may be used at the same time during a single operation, or used in a sequence of two or more surgeries over time.
An example:
An eye may have too large a degree of short or longsighted-ness to correct with laser (e.g. LASIK or LASEK). Lens Exchange surgery may be performed to correct the majority of the focus error, i.e. to debulk it. Once the eye has recovered from this surgery the eye can be assessed to see what degree of focus error remains. If necessary a laser procedure can then be used to refine the focus of the eye. The relatively small focus error left after the Lens Exchange being within the range for laser treatment.
Another example is when a patient undergiong lens exchange has a significalt amount of astigmatism. The astigmatism cannot be accurately or fully corrected without the aid of laser surgery as a separate procedure, usually 6 to 12 weeks following the lens exchange surgery.
Combining procedures means a specific (bespoke) treatment plan can be devised for individual eyes and focus corrections can be achieved that would otherwise be beyond the boundaries of any single procedure used alone.
Theoretical combinations of procedures involving Lens Exchange include:
Lens Exchange followed by LASIK, epi-LASIK or LASEK
Lens Exchange combined with or followed by Limbal Relaxing Incisions