Laser vision correction, or refractive surgery, is the latest technology used for the treatment of vision loss. High success rates and the involvement of minimal surgical procedures have made laser correction a popular choice. It is now considered a simple and safe alternative form of surgery.
‘Laser in situ keratomileusis’, also known as LASIK, is the latest trend in refractive surgery. A microkeratome, or surgical knife is used to cut the cornea, leaving a flap. This flap is then folded, exposing the middle layer of the cornea. A computer-guided laser is then used to vaporize the tissue. The flap is then repositioned in place. This procedure permanently changes the shape of the cornea. The laser emits an ultraviolet light that vaporizes corneal tissue without heat. Another method of LASIK involves usage of a femtosecond laser that bypasses the top layer, targeting only the cornea’s middle layer.
In Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK, instead of creating a flap, the top layers of the cornea’s cells are removed. An ultraviolet light is directed onto the surface of the cornea. Myopia or nearsightedness is corrected by removing tissues in a particular pattern. This allows light rays to focus on the right spot of the retina. Hyperopia or farsightedness is treated by engraving the cornea. This allows light rays to focus on a deeper area of the cornea. The procedure takes only a few minutes and normal activities can resume within a week.
Conductive keratoplasty is the latest form of refractive surgery. It is used to treat hyperopia and presbyopia, or aging eye. Under this treatment, radio frequency waves are passed through a probe, the size of a human hair. It is applied in a circular sequence of dots around the cornea. Mild heat from the radio waves shrinks the glue-like connective tissue around the cornea. This strengthens the cornea and gives patients better near and distant vision. Conductive keratoplasty is not used on people with myopia.
Medical research is focused making corrections inside the eye, directly in front of the iris. The FDA is considering two internal lenses namely, Staar Surgical’s Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) and AMO’s Verisyes. It is believed that these lenses may provide a better quality of vision without the removal of tissue. Laser treatment is currently the hope of millions of visually impaired patients and in recent times, it has also become more affordable than it was when it was first introduced.
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Vision Correction
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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From ordinary spectacles to contact lenses and laser surgery, vision correction has come a long way since the first pair of spectacles was made in the 13th century. These new methods of correction can potentially restore vision back to normal. They attempt to reduce any...
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Corrective Laser Eye Surgeries
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The use of technology in medicine is becoming increasingly common. As a result, there are numerous high-tech surgical options for those wanting to correct defects in their vision. Laser eye surgery is used principally to correct three vision defects, namely long sight or hyperopia, short...
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Laser Eye Surgery
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Good vision and eyesight can make or mar the quality of a person’s life. The conventional method of correcting vision is through spectacles or contact lenses. In recent times, however, laser surgery has become a much-sought-after alternative. The laser is aimed at the cornea, the...
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An Introduction To Laser Eye Surgery
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Laser eye surgery essentially falls into two categories: PRK, or PhotoRefractive Keratectomy, and LASIK, or laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis. These two types of laser surgery have been modified to create variations on the same theme. LASEK as opposed to LASIK is a more modern version...
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Lasik Laser Eye Surgeries
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Lasik surgery is done on the cornea of the eye, with the aim of correcting vision. Lasik has been around since the mid-90s and uses a special tool to slice a part of the cornea in order to create a thin flap of tissue from...
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Lasik
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Lasik, which stands for ‘laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis’, is a kind of laser treatment or refractive laser eye surgery for individuals with a high degree of myopia, that is greater than 5 diopters. It is also known by alternate names like ‘Laser Vision Correction’. The...
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What Is Lasik?
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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LASIK is an acronym referring to the medical procedure of Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, which is intended to correct the vision of those who depend on glasses or contact lenses for flawless vision. It is a refractive laser eye surgery performed by ophthalmologists and...
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Lasik Surgery Complications
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea using an excimer laser. A specially designed knife called microkeratome is used to cut a flap in the cornea, with a hinge being left open at...
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Laser Surgery
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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It’s been over 30 years since laser surgery was first used on humans to treat them for various diseases. Since then, its popularity has soared even higher because it can cure a number of problems quickly, and without causing much pain. Laser surgery is most...
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Lasik Expectations After Surgery
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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LASIK eye surgery has been the latest addition to the wonders of Medical Science in the vision front, and has been operated successfully on a number of patients. However, just as all the other medical treatments there have been evidences where people have suffered from...