Lasik Profiling On Your Cornea

Lasik Profiling on your Cornea

Lasik vision correction surgery is a very popular method for surgically improving eyesight. For individuals who rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses, the Lasik procedure often significantly reduces or completely eliminates the need for corrective lenses. When a Lasik procedure is performed, the Lasik surgeon will carefully screen all patients and do a thorough eye exam.

After a complete health history and eye exam to determine whether or not a particular patient is a good candidate for Lasik, the Lasik surgeon will discuss options. There are several techniques used for Lasik vision correction surgery. The most common procedure uses a laser called an excimer. The excimer laser has been used to help correct vision during Lasik procedures since 1987. The laser profiles the cornea to give the surgeon and patient the best possible outcome for the surgery.

For the most part, Lasik vision correction surgery is done to help improve vision in patients that experience low to moderate vision problems. Both farsightedness and nearsightedness can be improved with the Lasik surgery. Improved vision is usually immediate and there is very little pain associated with this procedure.

The ability to profile the cornea using the excimer laser drastically improves the outcome of the surgery. While no Lasik doctor can promise perfect vision after the surgery, it is estimated that around 90 percent of Lasik patients do have a good outcome. Lasik does not always completely eliminate the need for corrective lenses. It does for some patients, but this should not be expected. Some Lasik patients still need to wear some form of corrective lenses after the procedure.

During surgery, an instrument called a microkreatome can be used instead of the excimer. This instrument is used to create a very thin, circular flap in the cornea. The excimer does they same thing as the microkreatome, but the excimer often gives a more precise cut and has a higher success rate. After the flap has been cut, the cornea is profiles. This means that the Lasik surgeon will fold the flap out of the way and remove corneal tissue using the excimer. This laser uses cool ultraviolet light rays to remove very small pieces of tissue. The doctor will remove more or less depending of the severity of the vision problem. Sometimes, a patient only needs a very small amount of tissue removed.

After the corneal tissue is removed, the Lasik surgeon will then reshape the cornea. This reshaping procedure causes the cornea to focus better and results in improved vision. The flap is then placed back over the area and is left to heal. The entire procedure only takes a minute or two. For patients that need both eyes corrected, the doctor will perform Lasik on one eye, wait for a little while and then do the second eye. Some patients choose to have the second eye a few weeks after the first eye is healed.

There are many advantages to profiling the cornea using the excimer laser. Besides being extremely accurate, the excimer laser often results in a better surgical outcome. Also, when using the excimer, the Lasik surgeon is always in control. The laser has a control unit that controls the movement and intensity of the laser beam. The laser will always fall on the right area of the eye even when there is slight movement of the eye. This is a huge benefit for the patient and the doctor because there are often uncontrollable eye movements during surgery that will influence the outcome of the procedure. The surgeon can also stop the procedure at any time using the excimer laser.

There are many benefits of have a Lasik vision correction surgery. For patients that must depend on glasses or contacts everyday, Lasik can often give people the freedom of doing without. Although some patients still must wear corrective lenses after surgery, most can experience clear vision without glasses or contacts. There are only a few risks of the Lasik procedure, too. Only a fraction of Lasik patients experience difficulties with low light vision, such as halos after surgery. Even fewer experience pain or reduced vision. Many times, these complications clear up on its own without further intervention. Some patients may require a second surgery.