CLEAR

CLEAR refers to Corneal Lenticule Extraction for Advanced Refractive Correction. CLEAR is a laser eye surgery procedure performed exclusively by the Ziemer Z8 femtosecond laser, to correct myopia and astigmatism. The laser precisely creates a small, disc-shaped piece of tissue called a lenticule within the cornea, which the surgeon then removes through a small incision. This gentles reshaping of the cornea corrects refractive errors while preserving the natural corneal structure, often leading to a quicker visual recovery.

What’s involved?
The Ziemer Z8 laser uses low-energy, overlapping pulses to create a precisely shaped lenticule within the corneal stroma. One or two small incisions are made in the cornea to access the lenticule. The surgeon uses instruments to separate the lenticule’s edges and then removes it from the eye. By removing the lenticule, the cornea’s curvature is altered to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness and astigmatism. The laser system includes an intra-operative optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time corneal applanation and safety during the procedure. The system offers various centration methods (pupil, manual, and marker-based) for precise alignment and can perform cyclotorsional compensation. The combination of low energy and a short working distance allows for a precise focus, making the procedure tissue-sparing.

CLEAR benefits:
Precision: The Ziemer Z8 laser provides high precision for lenticule creation.
Efficiency: The entire lenticule extraction process is quick, taking only a few minutes per eye.
Painless: The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic.
Preserves Cornea: The method removes a lenticule and preserves the overall
corneal structure.
Improved Visual Recovery: CLEAR can lead to quicker visual recovery and a lower inflammatory response compared to other lenticule extraction methods.