Menu

How Does Laser Eye Correction Work?

laser eye correction

I am sure there are many of you who are curious to know how laser eye correction works, especially if you are considering having the surgery performed. You are probably wondering, "How does LASIK work?" as this is one of the better-known laser eye correction methods.

Before I can answer how LASIK and other laser eye correction procedures work, it is important to understand that laser eye correction is used to primarily treat vision impairments such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

During an initial consultation with your eye surgeon, your eyes will be tested for their suitability and compatibility for laser eye correction. Patients who suffer from certain conditions such as dry eyes, glaucoma, diabetes and cataracts may be advised against going for the surgery.

Now, we come to the main question which is How does laser eye correction work? How does LASIK work? Basically, there are a few phases involved, as we will be showing you below:

Phase One: Patients will be placed in a reclining chair and anesthetic drops will be placed into the eyes to numb them. Once the drops have taken effect, the surface of the eye will be cleaned. The eyelids will be kept open using an instrument that is known as the speculum, this will prevent you blinking. Suction will then be used around the cornea area. This will cause blurring and dimming of the vision, and while it may be a little uncomfortable and unnerving there will be no pain. The last step of this phase involves the surgeon cutting a thin, circular flap in the surface of the eye, to gain access to the cornea, with a surgical knife known as the microkeratome.

Phase Two: The patient's corneal tissue is cut and reshaped using a preprogrammed laser. After the required reshaping, the corneal flap will be replaced. A preventative shield may also be used to protect the eyes from irritants.

The actual operation will normally last only a few minutes, as only one eye will be treated at a time. Patients will start to experience improved vision in 24 hours. It is important for laser eye patients to take necessary postoperative eye care steps for a smooth and effective recovery process. Visit your eye surgeon on a regular basis or as needed.

Laser eye correction is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most people. There are many preoperative as well as postoperative do's and don'ts to be adhered to. Follow the eye surgeon's advice for more effective laser eye correction recovery. When in doubt, consult your regular eye surgeon. I hope I have helped to shed some light on the question of how laser eye correction works.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1715053