Eye Surgeries and Treatments in Egypt: A Complete Patient Guide

Laser vision correction and refractive surgery

Corneal refractive procedures include conventional LASIK, FemtoLASIK, PRK, TransPRK, wavefront-guided and topography-guided treatment such as compatible Contoura workflows. They reshape the cornea to treat suitable myopia, hyperopia and regular astigmatism. SMILE uses a different small-incision lenticule approach on a compatible platform.

Lens-based refractive options include phakic implantable collamer lenses (ICL) while the natural lens remains in place, and refractive lens exchange in selected patients. Choice depends on age, prescription, cornea, anterior-chamber measurements, natural-lens clarity, retinal health and visual priorities.

Cataract surgery and implanted lenses

Modern cataract surgery usually removes the cloudy natural lens by phacoemulsification through a small incision and implants an intraocular lens. Options include monofocal, toric, enhanced monofocal such as Eyhance, extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) designs such as Vivity, and multifocal or trifocal designs such as PanOptix and selected TECNIS families.

Other lens interventions include secondary IOL implantation, repositioning or exchange of a displaced or unsuitable lens, management of retained lens fragments and YAG laser capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery. Each has different risks and may require a vitreoretinal or anterior-segment surgeon.

Corneal transplantation: PK, DALK, DMEK and DSAEK

Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) replaces the full corneal thickness. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) replaces diseased front and stromal layers while retaining healthy endothelium. Endothelial keratoplasty replaces the back layer: DMEK uses a very thin Descemet membrane and endothelial graft, while DSAEK or DSEK includes additional donor stromal tissue.

A tectonic or patch graft may be used to restore structural integrity in thinning or perforation rather than primarily to improve refraction. Graft selection depends on which layer is diseased, scarring, previous surgery, glaucoma, lens status and the surgeon’s assessment. Transplant surgery needs long follow-up because rejection, pressure change, infection and refractive change can occur.

• PK: full-thickness graft
• DALK: anterior lamellar graft
• DMEK: Descemet membrane and endothelium
• DSAEK/DSEK: endothelium with posterior stromal tissue
• Patch graft: structural support for selected defects

Keratoconus: cross-linking, rings and rehabilitation

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) aims to reduce progression of keratoconus by applying riboflavin and ultraviolet light. Standard epithelium-off protocols have the longest evidence base; accelerated and epithelium-on approaches use different treatment parameters and should be discussed by exact protocol rather than as one identical procedure.

Intracorneal ring segments (ICRS or corneal rings) can regularize corneal shape in selected eyes but do not cure keratoconus. Glasses, rigid or scleral contact lenses, cross-linking, ring segments, selected customized surface treatment and corneal transplantation address different goals and may be combined only after careful planning.

Retinal surgery and retinal laser

Vitreoretinal surgery includes pars plana vitrectomy for conditions such as non-clearing vitreous haemorrhage, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, complicated diabetic eye disease, infection or selected retinal detachments. Retinal-detachment repair may use vitrectomy, scleral buckle, pneumatic retinopexy, laser or cryotherapy depending on the breaks, lens status and retinal findings.

Retinal laser can seal selected tears, treat areas of ischaemia or proliferative diabetic retinopathy and manage specific vascular problems. Macular surgery and detachment repair are time-sensitive in some situations; new flashes, a shower of floaters, a curtain or sudden loss of vision need urgent retinal examination.

Medical retina and intravitreal injections

Medical-retina care includes OCT imaging, fluorescein angiography when indicated, systemic-risk review and treatment of diabetic macular oedema, wet age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and inflammatory or vascular disease. Intravitreal anti-VEGF medicines are commonly used; steroid injections or implants and retinal laser suit selected diagnoses.

The drug, number of injections and interval are not interchangeable. Treatment is based on diagnosis, OCT activity, response, eye pressure, lens status, infection risk and systemic context. A clean injection pathway and a clear plan for pain or reduced vision afterward are essential.

Glaucoma procedures

Glaucoma treatment may include pressure-lowering drops, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), laser peripheral iridotomy for selected narrow angles, trabeculectomy, drainage implants, cyclophotocoagulation and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). The target pressure and procedure depend on the nerve damage, angle, previous surgery and rate of progression.

Lowering pressure cannot restore optic-nerve tissue already lost, so monitoring with pressure, optic-disc assessment, OCT and visual fields remains important after treatment.

Eyelid, lacrimal and cosmetic eye procedures

Blepharoplasty removes or repositions selected eyelid skin and fat for functional or cosmetic reasons. Other oculoplastic procedures include ptosis repair, entropion or ectropion correction, eyelid-lesion removal, chalazion treatment, trauma reconstruction and surgery for blocked tear drainage.

Dryness, lid closure, tear drainage, brow position and ocular surface should be assessed before cosmetic eyelid surgery. Aesthetic goals never replace evaluation of function, asymmetry and the risk of exposure-related dry eye.

Strabismus and paediatric eye surgery

Strabismus surgery adjusts the position or effective pull of selected eye muscles using recession, resection or related techniques. Adjustable sutures are used in some adult or complex cases, and botulinum toxin has a role in selected patterns. The operation changes alignment; glasses, amblyopia treatment or prisms may still be needed.

Children with squint need assessment of vision in each eye, refraction and amblyopia because timing can affect visual development. Sudden adult double vision requires diagnosis before any alignment procedure is planned.

Dry-eye treatment and in-clinic sessions

Dry eye is treated according to its cause and severity. Options include preservative-free lubricants, lid hygiene, warm compresses, treatment of blepharitis or allergy, prescription anti-inflammatory drops, punctal plugs and environmental or screen changes. Systemic medicines and autoimmune disease may also need review.

In-clinic sessions can include controlled warming and meibomian-gland expression, lid-margin cleaning or intense pulsed light (IPL) for selected evaporative dry-eye and rosacea patterns. No device is suitable for every dry eye. Tear stability, gland structure, corneal staining, eyelid anatomy and contraindications should guide the plan.

Which of these services are available at Cairo LASIK?

Cairo LASIK’s core focus is refractive, cataract and lens surgery under Dr Mohamed Anis. This guide also explains treatments performed across ophthalmology so patients understand possible pathways. Contact the clinic to confirm whether a specific examination or intervention is provided directly, arranged at an affiliated hospital or referred to the appropriate subspecialist.

A broad article should never imply that every procedure is suitable or available in one clinic. Bring previous reports and scans so the first step can be correct diagnosis and routing rather than choosing an operation name from a list.