Laser eye surgery is a medical procedure consisting of the use of laser for reshaping the surface of the cornea. It is used to improve myopia (shortsightedness), hypermetropia (long sightedness) or astigmatism. The first information on laser eye surgery dates back from over twenty years ago.

During laser eye surgery, an excimer controlled by a computer is used to remove tiny amounts of corneal tissue. The aim of the procedure is to restore normal vision, relieving the patient from wearing glasses or contacts.

In one type of laser eye surgery, the outer layer of the cornea, also called epithelium, is removed and an excimer laser is used to reshape underneath tissue. This procedure is called photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

In a newer procedure, a microkeratome is used to cut a flap in the corneal tissue, which is then lifted and an excimer laser is used to reshape underlying tissue. In the end, the flap is put back to its place. This type of laser eye surgery is called laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Nowadays, it is more commonly used than PRK.

Information on Laser Eye Surgery Procedure

The excimer laser is a special type of laser that does not burn the corneal tissue, but vaporizes a small quantity of the cornea each time a beam is pulsed onto the eye surface. The number of pulses and diameter of the beam are carefully controlled by a computer to enhance accuracy.

Local anesthetic eye drops are used before the surgery. The procedure takes a few minutes per eye. The actual time when the laser is used for reshaping the corneal tissue is generally less than a minute.

Various eye conditions require different types of treatment:

l Myopia - the central peak of the cornea has to be flattened in order to reduce short-sightedness and improve vision.

l Hypermetropia - the central peak of the cornea has to be made steeper in order to improve vision. The laser is applied to the edges of the cornea.

l Astigmatism - this is a condition where the cornea is not evenly curved. The laser is applied more linear to improve vision.

Information on Laser Eye Surgery - Post Surgery

After laser eye surgery, you should expect some minor discomfort. However, you should be able to see, although not very clearly. You won’t be able to drive on your own, so you need to have someone drive you home or take a cab.

Information on Laser Eye Surgery Possible Side Effects

Just like any operation, laser eye surgery involves a few risks as well. You should have some information on laser eye surgery and its possible complications and side effects before deciding you want to have this type of surgery.

l Treatment not successful - this may be the result of either under treatment and over treatment. You may need another surgery to enhance vision.

l Dry eyes - you might have to use eye drops.

l Delayed healing - the flap or the outer layer of the cornea might not heal properly and require follow-up treatment.

l Infection - in case of an infection, you may need to follow an antibiotic treatment.

l Superficial scarring - a second procedure might be needed to repair scarred tissue.

l Excessive thinning of the cornea - vision problems may return and you might need to use contacts or have another surgery.

l Sensitive eyes - some patients experience excessive sensitivity to glare, which makes driving more difficult.

l Blurred vision - ‘halos’ might result from the surgical procedure, but usually they fade out over time.

The days in which eyeglasses and contact lenses were the only option to those with impaired vision came to an end in 1991 when Lasik eye surgery was first performed in the United States. Today, with more than a million patients having undergone the procedure, Lasik has become commonplace among eye patients who wish to minimize the long term expense and inconvenience associated with eye care. Lasik is something of a miracle for those who have struggled with compromised vision. And while it may be something that is relatively new to us, it utilizes technology that has actually existed for quite some time.

Lasik eye surgery focuses on the reshaping of the eye’s cornea - the transparent tissue that covers the iris (the colored segment of the eye) and the lens (the part that rests behind the iris). The lens is the part of the eye that bends or refracts light to the retina - cells that exist in the lining of the back of the eye. The retina’s job is to then take that light and convert it to messages that can be received by the optic nerve in the brain.

When the eye experiences refractive difficulties - such as what is experienced in nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and a host of other issues - the light that our eye receives is not refracted properly and the message that our brain receives is that of a blurry image. Traditionally, eyeglasses and contact lenses have been utilized to correct how light is refracted by our eye. But modern times have seen the rise in popularity of Lasik eye surgery - that makes such corrections with the aid of a laser.

Experimentation with surgically correcting the cornea first began in the late 1940s when a Columbian ophthalmologist was able to successfully treat patients by removing over half of their cornea, freezing it, resurfacing it once it was frozen, and then replacing it in the patient’s eye. In the 1960s, an ophthalmologist in Russia was able to elevate the technology by making adjustments to the cornea while it remained in the patient’s eye; such adjustments were made using a scalpel.

In 1990, Lucio Buratto and Ioannis Pallikaris developed Lasik eye surgery; the first of which was performed in the United States in 1991. Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and makes correction to the cornea to improve light refraction. During Lasik eye surgery, the patient is first given numbing drops to anesthetize the eye. The patient lies down and the eye is held open with a speculum and immobilized with a cornea suction ring. The surgeon then cuts a thin flap into the top layer of the cornea. The flap is folded back to reveal the underlayer of the cornea - the stroma. Using low-powered laser technology, the surgeon then resurfaces the stroma to improve light refraction. When the procedure is completed - normally in less than 10 minutes - the flap is replaced over the cornea and allowed to heal naturally.