The Facts About LASIK Surgery
Alternatives to LASIK
- PRK
Photorefractive Keratectomy reshapes the cornea by removing a small amount of tissue instead of creating a flap (as in LASIK). - LASEK (Laser-assisted Sub-epithelial Keratectomy)
A hybrid procedure combining the advantages of both LASIK and PRK. - Refractive Lens Exchange
Similar to cataract surgery, the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens impact. (Used to treat extreme refractive errors.) - Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation*
An intraocular lens is implanted in the eye in conjunction with the natural crystalline lens.
* Pending FDA approval in the United States, expected in the upcoming months.
March 2004 — Tired of reaching for your glasses or dealing with the daily maintenance and occasional discomfort of contact lenses? If so, it may be time to consider LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) eye surgery to correct your vision problems. LASIK is the most popular form of vision correction surgery in the United States today.
The Eyes Have It
To see clearly, your eyes must refract or bend light rays to focus on your retina in just the right way. When light is focused improperly, it is called a refractive error — and problem vision results. The most common refractive errors are:
- Myopia — or Nearsightedness
Light rays entering the eye are focused to a point in FRONT of the retina. This condition makes it easier to see more clearly up close than at a distance. - Hyperopia — or Farsightedness
Light rays entering the eye are focused to a point BEHIND the retina. This condition makes it easier to see more clearly at a distance than up close. - Astigmatism
Light rays entering the eye are focused at two different points. This condition causes blurred vision.
LASIK surgery provides an alternative for vision correction by reducing and, in most cases, eliminating the need for glasses and contact lenses.
A New Shape
“In LASIK, the ophthalmologist uses an excimer laser to reshape the surface contour of the cornea,” says Nelson Preschel, MD, ophthalmologist on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital and Memorial Hospital West. “A thin flap of the cornea is lifted and the laser treatment is performed beneath. When the procedure is complete, the flap is replaced and adheres to the corneal bed. No stitches are required.”
Performed on an outpatient basis, the only anesthetic is an eye drop that numbs the surface of the eye. LASIK surgery takes approximately five minutes for each eye, although some surgeons may wait to see the results of the procedure on the first eye before moving on to the second eye. Recovery time is minimal, and patients typically report an improvement in the way the eye feels and sees by the next day. Most visual recovery takes place in the first few days and is fully complete within one to three months.
Are You a Candidate for LASIK?
A complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist who performs LASIK will help determine whether the procedure is right for you.
According to Dr. Preschel, there are certain criteria LASIK candidates must meet. “Most importantly, we want to be sure that the refractive error is stable. If the error is not stable and the eye is still changing, surgery will not be as effective and may need to be repeated.”
Most candidates must be at least 18 years old, since vision may continue to change in people younger than 18. Individuals with developing cataracts may not be considered candidates either, as their refractive error may continue to change. Patients also should be in good general health. LASIK may not be appropriate for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma or herpes infections of the eye.
To meet with an ophthalmologist that performs LASIK surgery, call the Memorial Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS.