When you think of laser eye surgery, you probably imagine a painful process that involves burning your cornea with intense light. The reality is much different.LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a one-time surgery that can improve your vision by changing the way light enters your eye. The procedure involves removing a thin layer of corneal tissue and replacing it with a laser-etched flap to correct vision.LASIK is one of the most common types of eye surgery, with more than 10 million procedures performed each year. The surgery is most commonly used to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. It can also be used to treat certain corneal diseases like severe dry eye syndrome and corneal infections. With LASIK, you can correct your vision at the source of the problem: the way light enters your eye. This article explains everything you need to know about LASIK – from the different types of LASIK to which factors determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.
What is LASIK?
LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a one-time surgery that can improve your vision by changing the way light enters your eye. The procedure involves removing a thin layer of corneal tissue and replacing it with a laser-etched flap to correct vision.LASIK is one of the most common types of eye surgery, with more than 10 million procedures performed each year. The surgery is most commonly used to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. It can also be used to treat certain corneal diseases like severe dry eye syndrome and corneal infections. With LASIK, you can correct your vision at the source of the problem: the way light enters your eye. This article explains everything you need to know about LASIK – from the different types of LASIK to which factors determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.
What are the different types of LASIK?
There are three types of LASIK: - Traditional LASIK: Traditional LASIK is the most common type of LASIK. It involves removing a thin layer of corneal tissue from the center of the cornea and replacing it with a laser-etched flap to correct vision. - Femtosecond laser LASIK: Femtosecond laser LASIK is a more recent variation of LASIK that uses a laser to vaporize the cornea. This is a more advanced and effective option for correcting nearsightedness. - Small incision LASIK: Small incision LASIK is a variation of LASIK that uses a smaller corneal flap. This is an excellent option for patients with thin corneas.
Needs assessment before LASIK
Before undergoing LASIK, you will be asked to complete a needs assessment to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure. The assessment will determine whether you have an irregular cornea, thin corneas, or other eye conditions that could make LASIK unsafe for you.During the assessment, you will be asked about your medical history, medications you take, any pre-existing eye conditions, and other factors that could affect your vision. Some of the questions you may be asked include: - What are your visual needs? - Are you nearsighted or farsighted? - What is your refractive prescription? - What is your prescription for near vision? - What is your prescription for distance vision?
Nearsightedness
Nearsightedness, also called myopia, is a common vision disorder that makes objects appear blurry. Nearsighted people see things clearly only if they are very close to the eye. It is estimated that about 90% of people in the US are nearsighted. A refractive error is the reason why a person is nearsighted. It is a mismatch between the prescription for near vision and the prescription for distance vision. The prescription for near vision is usually weaker than the prescription for distance vision.The cause of nearsightedness is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the shape and size of the eyeball, the length of the eyeball, and the amount of light refraction in the eye. Nearsighted people have extra light entering their eye, which is why they can see things so clearly when they are close to the eye.The treatment for nearsightedness is LASIK. It is one of the most effective ways to correct this vision disorder.
Farsightedness
Farsightedness, also called hyperopia, is a vision disorder that makes you see distant things clearly but have difficulty seeing things that are close to your eyes. It is estimated that about 2% of people in the US are farsighted. A refractive error is the reason why a person is farsighted. It is a mismatch between the prescription for distance vision and the prescription for near vision. The prescription for distance vision is usually stronger than the prescription for near vision.The cause of farsightedness is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the shape and size of the eyeball, the length of the eyeball, and the amount of light refraction in the eye. Farsighted people have too little light entering their eye, which is why they have trouble seeing things that are close to their eyes.The treatment for farsightedness is LASIK.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a vision disorder that makes you see objects in a distorted way. It is a combination of nearsightedness and farsightedness. It is estimated that about 80% of people in the US have some degree of astigmatism.A refractive error is the reason why a person has astigmatism. It is a mismatch between the prescription for distance vision and the prescription for near vision. The prescription for near vision is usually weaker than the prescription for distance vision.The cause of astigmatism is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the shape and size of the eyeball, the length of the eyeball, and the amount of light refraction in the eye. Astigmatism is usually caused by a misshapen cornea or an irregular curvature of the cornea. The cornea is the transparent layer of cells at the front of the eye.The treatment for astigmatism is LASIK.
Summing up
LASIK is one of the most common types of eye surgery. It is used to correct vision by changing the way light enters your eye. The procedure involves removing a thin layer of corneal tissue and replacing it with a laser-etched flap to correct vision.The procedure is one of the most common types of eye surgery, with more than 10 million procedures performed each year. The surgery is most commonly used to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. It can also be used to treat certain corneal diseases like severe dry eye syndrome and corneal infections. With LASIK, you can correct your vision at the source of the problem: the way light enters your eye. This article explains everything you need to know about LASIK – from the different types of LASIK to which factors determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.