Laser eye surgery - Best option for you?

Laser eye surgery, as its name implies, is a surgery performed on the eye with the assistance of laser technology.  These surgeries are typically performed to improve vision by repairing or reshaping the cornea, though other laser eye surgeries are performed to treat cataracts or glaucoma.  Over the last couple decades, laser eye surgery has improved dramatically to the point where many consider it a somewhat routine procedure.

The most common type of laser eye surgery is refractive surgery, and the most popular and effective method for performing refractive surgery is LASIK.  LASIK stands for "laser assisted in situ keratomileusis."  Put simply, it's a surgical procedure that uses lasers to cut flaps in the cornea.

 

As mentioned above, reshaping the cornea can significantly improve vision, especially in patients with hyperopia, myopia, and even astigmatism.  The laser cuts a nearly microscopic flap in the tissue over the cornea, and then corrects defects in the anatomy of the eye.  This procedure has become very quick and easy and helps many patients to achieve perfect vision.

The key tool in any LASIK procedure is the excimer laser.  This unique medical device was designed specifically for LASIK operations.  It offers precision and accuracy above and beyond what a surgeon alone can provide.  There are actually several types of excimer lasers too, and each one comes with its own set of advantages that make it ideal for specific procedures.  For example, spot scanning excimer lasers use a very small and refined beam, making them the most popular choice for irregular astigmatism cases. 

Regardless of which type of laser your surgeon prefers or recommends, you can rest assured that all types of lasers approved by the FDA have undergone rigorous testing with consistently positive results and are safe for use on approved patients.  One of the concerns many patients have about laser eye surgery is that they will involuntarily move their eye during the procedure.  Fortunately modern excimer lasers address this problem with a technique called "eye tracking."  Eye tracking systems allow the laser to identify and stay focused on a specific part of your cornea, so that even if your eye moves the laser stays on target.

While early laser eye surgeries had mixed success rates and required overnight hospital stays, modern LASIK procedures are highly effective, virtually pain-free, and can be performed in just hours.  Patients can leave the clinic immediately after their operation, and the post-op recovery period is usually no more than two weeks with patients experiencing improved vision within 24-hours of their LASIK surgery.  If you are contemplating laser eye surgery, then we highly recommend speaking to your eye doctor about what procedures would be a good fit for you.