Great Information On Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery is a medical procedure consisting of the use of laser for reshaping the surface of the cornea. It is used to improve myopia (shortsightedness), hypermetropia (long sightedness) or astigmatism. The first information on laser eye surgery dates back from over twenty years ago.

During laser eye surgery, an excimer controlled by a computer is used to remove tiny amounts of corneal tissue. The aim of the procedure is to restore normal vision, relieving the patient from wearing glasses or contacts.

In one type of laser eye surgery, the outer layer of the cornea, also called epithelium, is removed and an excimer laser is used to reshape underneath tissue. This procedure is called photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

In a newer procedure, a microkeratome is used to cut a flap in the corneal tissue, which is then lifted and an excimer laser is used to reshape underlying tissue. In the end, the flap is put back to its place. This type of laser eye surgery is called laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Nowadays, it is more commonly used than PRK.

Information on Laser Eye Surgery Procedure

The excimer laser is a special type of laser that does not burn the corneal tissue, but vaporizes a small quantity of the cornea each time a beam is pulsed onto the eye surface. The number of pulses and diameter of the beam are carefully controlled by a computer to enhance accuracy.

Local anesthetic eye drops are used before the surgery. The procedure takes a few minutes per eye. The actual time when the laser is used for reshaping the corneal tissue is generally less than a minute.

Various eye conditions require different types of treatment:
l Myopia – the central peak of the cornea has to be flattened in order to reduce short-sightedness and improve vision.
l Hypermetropia – the central peak of the cornea has to be made steeper in order to improve vision. The laser is applied to the edges of the cornea.
l Astigmatism – this is a condition where the cornea is not evenly curved. The laser is applied more linear to improve vision.

Information on Laser Eye Surgery – Post Surgery

After laser eye surgery, you should expect some minor discomfort. However, you should be able to see, although not very clearly. You won’t be able to drive on your own, so you need to have someone drive you home or take a cab.

Information on Laser Eye Surgery Possible Side Effects

Just like any operation, laser eye surgery involves a few risks as well. You should have some information on laser eye surgery and its possible complications and side effects before deciding you want to have this type of surgery.
l Treatment not successful – this may be the result of either under treatment and over treatment. You may need another surgery to enhance vision.
l Dry eyes – you might have to use eye drops.
l Delayed healing – the flap or the outer layer of the cornea might not heal properly and require follow-up treatment.
l Infection – in case of an infection, you may need to follow an antibiotic treatment.
l Superficial scarring – a second procedure might be needed to repair scarred tissue.
l Excessive thinning of the cornea – vision problems may return and you might need to use contacts or have another surgery.
l Sensitive eyes – some patients experience excessive sensitivity to glare, which makes driving more difficult.
l Blurred vision – ‘halos’ might result from the surgical procedure, but usually they fade out over time.

Before deciding on a certain type of laser eye surgery, you should consult a doctor to examine your eye condition thoroughly, provide you with information on laser eye surgery risks and benefits and give you some advice on which procedure is best for your specific problems.

Important Information on Laser Eye Surgery

The pair of glasses that you recently purchased reflects a stronger prescription, have no-line bifocals and have been coated with a special substance to reduce glare. You would think that after wearing eyeglasses the majority of your life you would get used to them, but that does not seem to be the case.

The stronger prescription seems to be working out, however the bifocals are taking some getting use to and you have already noticed some scratches on that coating that was applied to reduce the glare. Also, when using the computer and reading your favorite magazine, you notice that you still have to make some frustrating adjustments in trying to read the pages.

Perhaps, you think to yourself, that it is time to get some information on laser eye surgery. You have heard quite a bit about this procedure and had even talked to some acquaintances that have undergone this surgery. You are hopeful and interested after hearing their testimonials of being able to see better and using glasses only for reading.

Information on laser surgery begins with an understanding of what this procedure is, how the surgery is performed and what are the advantages.

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

Education is a valuable and powerful tool when it comes to being personally involved with issues that directly affect you. These issues could be politics, finances, health, medical procedures, etc. Especially important, when considering any surgery, it is always prudent to be informed. Gathering information on laser eye surgery holds the same level of importance.

Information on laser surgery will reveal that this surgical procedure is conducted on both eyes to improve the refraction condition of your vision. Refraction refers to how the light is captured by the cornea of the eye. Successful laser eye surgery has been shown to be effective in the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. After effectively treating these possible vision impairments, the patient often reports less dependence upon the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The Surgical Procedure

Knowing about the surgical procedure is an important part of gathering information on laser eye surgery. Through the use of a surgical instrument called a microkeratome, a slight flap, that is circular in shape, is created on the part of the eye known as the cornea. This flap is then pulled back which in turn reveals the cornea.

The qualified surgeon then uses a laser to eliminate a portion of the tissue. This procedure results in the shape of the cornea being changed. This structural change of the cornea then allows for the light entering the eye to be refocused onto the retina. This entire process then allows for the vision of the patient to be improved. The surgical procedure is then completed when the circular flap is restored.

Advantages of Laser Eye Surgery

Your gathered information on laser eye surgery will reveal many advantages to this procedure. One of those advantages is the minimal amount of pain experience. In addition, results are almost instantaneous as the majority of patients report that their vision is improved the following day.