Laser-free 'cure' for short sight
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A new method of correcting short sight could be better and safer than laser eye surgery, experts say.
A quarter of Britons are short-sighted and the popularity of laser surgery to correct the condition has soared. A procedure involving insertion of an artificial lens may be set to challenge its dominance.
In laser surgery, a razor-thin layer is shaved from the outer surface of the eye, the cornea, to focus light from an image in the right place on the retina. The new surgery achieves the same effect by inserting an artificial intra-ocular lens, known as a "phakic", in front of the natural lens.
In the first systematic review comparing the two methods, published online by the Cochrane Library, researchers say the insertion of the lenses had advantages. Allon Barsam, of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, said: "The worst outcome of either procedure is that after treatment, even with glasses, your vision is worse.
"We found that patients who had lenses inserted were less likely to have lost vision than patients who had laser treatment. One problem with lasers is that you can't go back and [restore a layer of the cornea] but you can remove the lens."
The lens method has a slightly higher risk of cataract and further tests are needed, Dr Barsam said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments