How LASIK Works - Different Types Of LASIK Explained
It is important to understand how LASIK works if you consider the possibility of LASIK surgery to relieve your myopia or other vision problems.
For people who have the condition known as myopia, the hassle of wearing contacts or glasses every day can be more than they can bear.
For such individuals, LASIK eye surgery seems like an attractive solution, since it gives many people who have myopia the ability to see again without corrective lenses.
Although this can seem like a touch of heaven on earth for myopic patients, the procedure is not without some risk and is not always covered by insurance.
Precautions
Myopic patients should thoroughly discuss with their doctor whether or not the LASIK eye surgery is the best solution for them.
The most common reasons that people cannot have the surgery are these following conditions:
Are under 18 years of age
If they have diabetes
If they have glaucoma
If they play contact sports
Again, these are just the most common reasons that people are not eligible to have LASIK surgery, but there are other health issues that should be discussed with a medical doctor before deciding to move forward with the procedure.
To understand how LASIK works we should specify what kind of LASIK procedure we are talking about. There are three different types of LASIK surgery available today.
Types of LASIK Procedures
Standard LASIK surgery - in which the aberrometer measures how the eyes alter the light as it travels into the eye.
By using high tech equipment doctors are easily able to make the necessary corrections with simple surgery techniques.
Standard LASIK is meant for simple prescriptions whether you have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism.
It is the cheapest of LASIK procedures but it has a serious deficiency: it takes care of your day vision while completely ignoring your night vision. Night vision often becomes worse after undergoing a standard LASIK operation.
Custom LASIK is a form of standard LASIK which uses more advanced technology (WaveFront) to achieve a higher definition of day and night vision. This technique ensures a more accurate vision correction compared to standard LASIK and allows to treat a wider range of myopia.
Intralase LASIK - the final type of LASIK. This type does not use a blade during the procedure, but relies entirely on the laser to do the work.
The benefit of using the laser rather than a blade to cut the flap in the cornea is that the metal blade is rougher and does not create an even slice, thus increasing the risks of complications for the patient.
How LASIK Works - What To Expect
During the short, thirty minute procedure, the eye is numbed and cleaned, and is held open by a device called a lid speculum.
Once numb, the doctor will cut a flap in the cornea which will in part be used as a natural band aide to protect the eye while healing.
Then the laser will then be controlled by a computer to make the corrections to the cornea by vaporizing some of the tissue.
Once complete, the flap will be replaced and the eye will be covered in order to protect it while it heals.
LASIK surgery is generally considered to be very safe and it allows the patient to be back to his normal routine almost immediately.
The risks of infection and dry eyes are two of the chief LASIK complications that someone may encounter. You will need to have an eye examination and consultation to determine the exact LASIK procedure that is best for you.
Before you commit to surgery, be sure to research all possible side effects that may occur.
