Lasik eye surgery is performed by using a laser to reshape the cornea from under the corneal flap. A very specific type of laser is used in this procedure. The purpose of having this surgery done is to improve vision and correct refractive errors. Having Lasik eye surgery performed can reduce or eliminate the need for eyeglasses or the need for contact lenses. In the procedure, the front covering of the eye (the cornea) is reshaped.
The eye surgeon makes a hinged flap in the cornea and pulls back the flap, exposing the tissue of the cornea. This tissue is then reshaped to correct the patient’s vision problems. The flap is simply allowed to shut and no sutures are ever used in the procedure.
Lasik eye surgery is beneficial to patients with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Myopia causes near objects to be clearly viewed, while distant objects become blurry because of a mismatch between eye length and focusing strength. Hyperopia the same mismatch causes distant objects to be viewed clearly, while near objects become blurry. People who have astigmatism suffer from a corneal or lens distortion that makes everything appear blurry. It is common for someone to suffer myopia or hyperopia with astigmatism.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses adjust light to compensate for refractive errors from myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Eyeglasses and contact lenses do not fix the problem with the eye; they simply bend light to make up for the distortion. Lasik eye surgery is a physical correction to the eye that can result in the elimination of the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Conventional surgery uses a direct pattern based upon the patient’s prescription to correct refractive errors.
If you suffer from vision impairment due to myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, it would be a good idea to consult an eye doctor about the benefits of Lasik eye surgery. This treatment is becoming a commonplace substitute for convention eyeglass and contact lens prescription. Like any sort of surgery there are risks involved. Conventional Lasik eye surgery can result in halos in vision, night vision issues, or glare. There are other types of laser eye surgery wherein these risks are somewhat more mitigated. You should consult with an experienced eye surgeon to decide what sort of procedure, if any, might be most beneficial to you.
There are many surgery centers where surgeons work specializing in these procedures. There is bound to be one near you where you can discuss treatment options and costs. Some people feel that Lasik eye surgery is just a matter of vanity for people who no longer wish to wear glasses, or a matter of convenience for those now using contact lenses. When you consider, however, that Lasik eye surgery is a physical correction to a distortion, you can make the argument that it is better to treat the condition rather than just the symptoms. Lasik eye surgery has the ability to physically correct a problem that contacts and glasses do not.