How Can Lasik Surgery Help You?
When you have visual impairments such as near- or farsightedness, the common solution is usually to get a pair of glasses or contact lenses. These two options have been common for years, but, as many users can attest, wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses has a number of disadvantages. These include the following issues:
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Eyeglasses often feel uncomfortable.
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Eyeglasses alter a person's appearance.
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Contact lenses are easy to misplace.
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Regular contacts have a short lifespan.
However, there is a permanent solution that can correct damaged vision quite well; laser eye surgery. Lasik is the most commonly performed form of laser eye surgery, and the results are promising.
How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?
Laser eye surgery is a refractive surgery that is performed by ophthalmologists. A laser is used to reshape the cornea in the eye. There are different types of laser eye surgery. These include the following types:
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Laser in-situ keratomileusis
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Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK
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Epithelial keratomileusis or LASEK
What is Laser Eye Surgery Used to Treat?
Lasik is used on three main eye problems:
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Myopia (Nearsightedness): This is a condition where near objects are clear while distant ones are blurry. This can be caused by the eyeball being longer than normal or if your cornea curves too sharply.
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Hyperopia (Farsightedness): In this case, near objects are blurry while distant ones are clear. This is caused by a cornea that is too flat or having an eyeball that's shorter than average. This causes the retina to focus light behind the retina.
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Astigmatism: This is a condition where the cornea is unevenly curved or flat resulting in both distant and near vision being disrupted.
Glasses and contacts correct the above problems by refracting the light as required. However, laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea to ensure that it provides the desired level of refraction instead.
Can You Get Laser Eye Surgery?
As with other forms of surgery, before laser eye surgery, an ophthalmology expert will have to do an assessment to know if laser eye surgery is an option for you. Measurements of the eye will be taken, and you'll also have to answer a variety of questions regarding the healthiness of your eyes. People with certain conditions may have to go for other types of laser eye surgery.
People with eye injuries or even larger than normal pupils may not be good candidates for Laser in-situ keratomileusis. Glaucoma can also be worsened by laser eye surgery.
For more information on laser eye surgery, contact a local ophthalmology service.
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