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What is Laser Eye Surgery?Laser eye surgery, or refractive surgery, involves the use of a laser to correct vision. Laser vision correction can be used to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Although many retinal procedures are performed with a laser, when people talk about laser eye surgery, they are most likely referring to refractive surgeries such as LASIK, PRK, and LASEK. These surgeries involve the use of a laser to reshape the cornea. LASIKThe most popular and most common form of laser eye surgery is a procedure known as LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). LASIK can be used to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. During the procedure, a corneal flap is created and a laser is used to ablate the underlying tissue. There are a few things to consider before undergoing LASIK eye surgery: The cost of LASIK varies depending on the degree of refractive error and the area of the country in which it is performed. As with any surgery, there are risks associated with LASIK. These should be thoroughly discussed with a LASIK doctor before deciding to have the surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. If you discover that you are not a candidate, there are other options available to you, such as PRK. PRKA precursor to LASIK, PRK is often used in patients that are not good candidates for LASIK eye surgery. PRK is used to treat low degrees of myopia and astigmatism. During the procedure, the laser is applied directly to the surface of the eye, unlike LASIK where a corneal flap is created before the laser reshapes the cornea. There are a few things to consider before undergoing PRK eye surgery: Because the laser ablates the top layer of the eye, as well as the underlying corneal tissue, healing time takes longer and is generally more uncomfortable than with LASIK. Improved vision is usually not noticeable for one to two weeks. PRK eye surgery is not without risk. The risks of PRK should be thoroughly discussed with a laser eye surgeon before deciding to have the surgery. LASEKLASEK is a combination of LASIK and PRK. It is often used for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK because they have thin corneas. During the procedure an epithelial flap is created with an alcohol solution (unlike the flap created with a microkeratome in LASIK) and a laser is applied to the underlying tissue. There are a couple of things to consider before undergoing LASEK eye surgery: There are risks associated with LASEK. These should be thoroughly discussed with a laser eye surgeon before deciding to have the surgery. This procedure is an “off-label” use of the excimer laser. This means that although the FDA has not yet approved this use of the laser, many ophthalmologists consider LASEK the best option for some patients. In addition to LASIK, PRK, and LASEK, there are several other laser eye surgeries used to treat age-related eye diseases. While these treatments cannot reverse damage already done, they can prevent further vision loss. Glaucoma can be treated with three different laser eye treatments, macular degeneration can be treated with photodynamic therapy, diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser photocoagulation, and presbyopia can be treated with monovision therapy. If you are interested in learning more about laser eye surgery for refractive errors and age-related eye disease, contact a qualified refractive surgeon in your area. |