Your doctor has recommended that you undergo Laser-In-Situ Keratomileusis - or LASIK Laser
surgery - to correct a vision problem.
But what does that actually mean?
The human eye is constructed like a camera ... with a clear lens in the front and light-sensitive
tissue at the rear.
This tissue makes up the retina which acts like photographic film.
Patient Education In an eye that has perfect vision, light rays
passing through the pupil are focused by the lens to fall precisely at the center of the
retina.
There are many common problems that can affect the eye and prevent light rays from focusing
properly on the retina.
Three of these problems, myopia - or nearsightedness; hyperopia - or farsightedness; and astigmatism
can often be corrected or reduced with the use of LASIK laser surgery.
Patient Education Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the
shape of the eye is too long or the curve of the cornea is too extreme.
In this case, light rays are focused on a point in front of the retina - instead of
on the retina itself.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, occurs when the shape of the eye is too short.
In this case, light rays are focused on a point behind the retina.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is unevenly curved,
causing light rays to fall off center or not to focus properly at all.
In either case, LASIK laser surgery can be used to flatten all or part of the cornea
... allowing your doctor to cause the focal point of light entering the eye to fall more
closely to the center of the surface of the retina.
LASIK laser surgery is a relatively simple and nonintrusive procedure that is designed
to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.
LASIK laser surgery generally does not have any effect on a patient's overall health and
there are no risks in choosing not to have the surgery.
When the operative field is numb, the doctor will use
an automated microsurgical instrument called a microkeratome.
This tiny instrument will carefully create a thin corneal flap which remains hinged to
the eye.
Underneath this flap the inner layer of the cornea, called the stroma, is exposed.
Next, your doctor will use a computer to control pulses of cool laser light.
These pulses will delicately remove microscopically thin layers of cells from the stroma
By removing tissue in this manner, your doctor will tailor the new shape of your cornea according
to the exact nature of your vision problem.
The entire procedure usually takes about 5 minutes and is painless.
The corneal flap is then closed and the surface is rinsed.
Following surgery, you'll be given protective contact lenses to wear for a few days while
the corneal flap heals.