What Is Laser vision correction surgery?

by | May 30, 2013 | Healthcare

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Laser vision correction surgery is a surgical procedure that is conducted using a laser to correct issues with eyesight. It can correct farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism, or any combination of the three. If you have suffered with wearing contacts or glasses and are tired of the hassle, laser vision correction surgery may be the solution you are looking for. Here you will find information regarding what laser vision correction surgery is, the different types and how to determine whether or not you qualify for the surgery.

How Laser vision correction surgery Is Performed

During laser vision correction surgery, a certified and licensed surgeon will use either a femtosecond laser or a microkeratome blade to create a thin flap in your cornea. This flap will then be folded over and you will have a specific amount of tissue in and around your cornea removed. This will be done using an excimer laser. The surgeon will then place the flap back in its original position to serve as a bandage. For individuals who are nearsighted, the surgeon is working to flatten your cornea, which is currently too steep. The reverse is true with individuals who are farsighted, wherein the surgeon works to create a steeper cornea. Lastly, individuals with astigmatism will need their irregularly shaped cornea smoothed out, in order to achieve 20/20 vision.

Types of Laser vision correction surgery

As technology has changed over the years, so has laser vision correction surgery. There are a variety of different types of laser eye surgery and a wide array of technologies used to perform the procedure. One of the most commonly used forms of laser eye surgery is custom wavefront LASIK surgery, wherein the surgeon takes three-dimensional measurements of your eye trying to determine how it processes images. This guides the laser to help reshape your eye. The measurements that are taken are very precise, provide you with individualized surgery and can produce some of the best results with laser vision correction surgery. Another type of laser eye surgery is called bladeless LASIK, where the surgeon does not use a blade at all, and instead uses only a laser. There are two different types of lasers used in this procedure – femtosecond laser and an excimer laser.

Qualifying For Laser vision correction surgery

If you are thinking of having LASIK eye surgery performed, you will first need to find a qualified surgeon who can evaluate your eyes and determine whether or not you are a candidate for laser vision correction surgery. When examining your eyes, the surgeon will be looking at how healthy your eyes are and figuring out what type of vision correction you need, as well as determining the amount of corneal tissue that will be needed. Your surgeon will also ask you questions regarding your overall health, including any medical conditions you have. This could possibly disqualify you for having LASIK eye surgery. However, you could be a candidate for other types of laser vision correction surgery, including LASEK, PRK or  epi-LASIK. Your qualifications will be determined by your surgeon.

Find out patients happy with their laser vision correction surgery results at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley. If you want to find out more about laser vision correction surgery, the types of laser eye surgery or schedule a consultation, contact at 877-438-2020 today.

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