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What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

With the continued development of computers and lasers in the field of corrective eye surgery, patients have a greater palate of surgical procedure choices than ever before. So let’s take a look at some of the vision problems you may be experiencing and follow up with some of the newest procedures available to solve those problems.

For the most part, laser eye surgery is used to correct three types of eye problems:

* Myopia – near sightedness
* Hyperopia – far sightedness
* Astigmatism – distorting vision at any distance

These three conditions are the result of the patient’s inability to properly focus an image on the retina. This inability to focus is affect by three contributing factors: the distance from the back of the eye to the front, the shape of the cornea, and the shape of the lens. The cornea is the dome-shaped window of the eye that covers the iris and the pupil. It provides approximately two thirds of the eye’s ability to focus.

During laser eye surgery, the surgeon changes the shape of the cornea using a device called Excimer Laser. This produces a laser beam that vaporizes the tissue. It’s also referred to as a “cold” laser because it removes targeted areas of the eye tissue without harming the surrounding areas.

Laser Procedures

The most common types of laser eye surgery are PRK (Photo-Refractive Keractomy), available since early ’90s and Lasik (Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis), first introduced in the mid-’90s.

PRK – This is an outpatient procedure generally performed with local anesthetic eye drops. This type of refractive surgery gently reshapes the cornea by removing microscopic amounts of tissue from the outer surface with a cool, computer-controlled ultraviolet beam of light. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes, and patients are typically back to daily routines in one to three days.

After PRK laser eye surgery, the patient may have blurry vision throughout the healing process. However, this generally will clear up in time. Another possible outcome is referred to as “regression,” which means the eye will return to its original state within about six months. When this happens, you’ll either require a second procedure or you’ll have to go back to wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Lasik – This is a more complex procedure, generally performed for degrees of nearsightedness. Unlike PRK, which is performed by a machine, Lasik eye surgery requires a surgeon, using a knife called a microkeratome, to cut a flap of corneal tissue, to remove the targeted tissue beneath it with a laser, and then replace the flap.

Lasik surgery generally involves fewer negative side effects and the eye heals faster. However, since it involves cutting part of the eye tissue, the risk of severe complications is greater.

Benefits and Risks

Laser eye surgery is always performed by highly skilled and well-prepared specialists. For most patients, the results are positive and their lives are significantly improved. They no longer have to wear glasses or contact lenses.

However, laser eye surgery is not the solution to all vision problems, so it’s important to keep realistic expectations. Patients over 40 may still have to continue wearing reading glasses. And the eye will continue to change after the surgery, meaning you may still end up wearing prescription glasses or lenses at some point in your life. You might also require a second procedure if your first laser eye surgery proves less than entirely successful.