Facts About Laser Vision Correction

Laser vision correction is a form of laser treatment that helps restore sight to near sighted (myopia) and far sighted eyes (hyperopia) as well as to individuals who have other problems like astigmatism (distorted vision when looking at objects from any distance). The reason that a laser is able to correct so many different types of conditions is because it is able to reshape the surface of the eyeball so that the sight is restored.

Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are caused by problems with the way the eye focuses an image on the retina. The ability to focus depends on the length of the eyeball from back to front, the lens, and the shape of the cornea.  During laser eye surgery, a surgeon uses a device called an Excimer Laser to change the shape of a patient’s cornea permanently. This laser produces a beam of ultraviolet light that is used to vaporize tissue. This type of laser is nicknamed a "cold" laser because it can remove targeted layers of tissue without causing heat damage to the surrounding tissue. The targeted tissues are often pinpointed by a computer, which helps the computer in guiding the laser to correct your vision.

There are two main types of laser treatment for vision. The first type is PRK (Photo-Refractive Keractomy), which uses a laser beam guided by a computer to vaporize tissue on the cornea. After this type of laser treatment the healing is completed in about a week. The second type, LASIK (which stands for Laser Assisted in situ Keratom) is more complicated. A surgeons makes an incision in the cornea lifts it and then uses a laser to remove amounts of tissue form the inside layers of the cornea. The healing process for this also takes about a week.

It is important to approach laser eye surgery with reasonable expectations. After PRK surgery some people have hazy vision, which can last for about a month. After Lasik surgery there is greater risk of infection as the cornea is actually cut into. After both types of surgery you could suffer halos in your vision or lose your night vision completely, which can affect your ability to drive at night. If you are over the age of 40, you will probably need reading glasses anyway after laser eye surgery. There is a chance that you may need a second surgery if you don’t get the right amount of correction during the first procedure. It is actually quite common to have to get it done twice.

There are certain individuals who should not go for this type of eye laser treatment. This includes people with conditions such as lupus or diabetes. You should also not consider it if you have a history of herpes simplex, glaucoma, dry eyes or eyelid infections. People who take steroids or certain prescriptions for acne may not heal from laser vision surgery so they do not make good candidates for this treatment.  Also if you are in occupations such as a pilot or a police officer laser eye surgery could affect your prospects for employment so make sure you discuss this with your doctor before you get it done.