Laser Eye Correction Technologies
by Mathew in Laser Eye Correction
Many people don’t realize that LASIK eye correction is not the only option available in eye correction. In fact, there are several techniques used by eye surgeons, with newer and more accurate ones being developed every day. There are essentially two steps to the laser eye correction procedure. First, the surgeon must gain access to the cornea. The cornea is the part of the eye that bends light, producing our vision. To get through the outer surface of the eye to the cornea, the surgeon has several options:
1. For the LASIK method, the surgeon cuts a flap in the surface of the eye using a tiny handheld blade.
2. IntraLase, or Custom, LASIK uses a computer-guided laser beam to create the same type of flap used in traditional LASIK. This is more precise than the blade technique, so it usually heals faster than traditional LASIK flaps.
3. LASEK vision surgery does not involve the creation of a flap. Instead, the surgeon carefully lifts the outer layer of your eye with a fine blade, and then uses alcohol to loosen the tissue underneath. Then, the laser can access the underlying cornea.
4. PRK vision surgery uses a special laser to “vaporize” the outer surface of the eye. Because so much of the outer surface of the eye is affected, this method takes longer to heal than the other methods.
Once the surgeon has gotten past the outer surface of your eye, it is time to reshape the cornea. This precise reshaping is what changes your vision. Most laser eye surgeries use a computer-guided laser beam to accomplish this reshaping. Current laser technologies include:
1. Excimer lasers. In use since the early 1990’s, these lasers use light to remove a small amount of tissue from the centre of the cornea. Unlike other surgical lasers that burn the tissue or produce a shock wave to separate the tissue into pieces, Excimer lasers are a cool beam of light. By removing the tissue one thin layer at a time, this laser is able to be much more accurate when reshaping your cornea.
2. Wavefront Custom LASIK lasers are even more accurate. First, special lasers measure your eyes, creating a 3-dimensional map. This map is then used by the computer-guided lasers that actually reshape your cornea, creating a much more accurate surface.
New technologies, both for entering the eye and for reshaping the cornea, are being developed every day, leading to much more accurate laser eye surgeries. Choosing one procedure over another should involve careful discussions with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to help you decide based on your specific eye condition and your personal preferences. The different technologies vary in the eye conditions they are able to fix, as well as the required recovery time.
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