|
|
August 27, 2008
|
LASIK Eye Surgery & PRKLaser Vision CorrectionLaser eye surgery has taken giant leaps in technological advancements in recent years. As laser eye surgery improves in efficiency and safety, it is also increasing in popularity and coming down in price! LASIK (which stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is actually only one of several laser eye surgery options available. Granted, LASIK is by far the most popular, people who find that they are not adequate candidates for LASIK surgery have the option of trying their luck with a different laser eye surgery. Below, you will find a list of the most popular laser vision correction options available: LASIKLASIK can be used to treat vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. In LASIK, a flap consisting of corneal epithelium and corneal stroma is created, below which, stromal tissue is ablated (removed) in a pattern that changes the shape of the cornea. The LASIK procedure takes less than one minute per eye. Custom LASIKCustom LASIK is the latest and greatest in laser eye surgery. In fact, Custom LASIK is so new that it's still under such close scrutiny by the FDA that patients are approved on an individual basis. Custom LASIK takes advantage of wavefront technology and adaptive optics to produce a 3-dimensional map of an eye's optical system. As a result of this new imaging technique, laser corneal reshaping can take into account some higher order aberrations that can impair vision. Patients who have undergone custom LASIK report lower incidence of glare, haloes, and better night vision. Custom LASIK holds much promise for improving contrast sensitivity and improving vision beyond what a patient may begin with. Imagine being able to see better than 20/20! Another advantage of custom LASIK is its ability to correct vision for people who have had previously unsuccessful laser surgery. PRKPRK, or PhotoRefractive Keratectomy, is very similar to LASIK, except for the fact that in PRK, the corneal epithelium is completely removed and there is no flap to place down after the excimer laser reshapes the corneal stroma. For this reason, recovery from PRK takes much longer. The benefit, however, is that PRK may be an option for people who have a corneal thickness that makes them ineligible for LASIK. PRK can also be used as a treatment for recurrent corneal erosion. LASEKLASEK, which stands for Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis is also very similar to LASIK, except for the fact that the flap which is created is only made up of corneal epithelial cells (unlike in LASIK, where the flap is somewhat thicker and made up of both epithelial and stromal tissue). Like PRK, LASEK is an alternative option for people who have a corneal thickness that does not meet the standard for LASIK. Healing time after LASEK is somewhat longer than for LASIK. DisclaimerThe information provided by KnowYourEyes.com is intended for educational purposes only and in no way replaces the advice and diagnosis of a licensed eye care professional. KnowYourEyes.com disclaims any and all liability for injury or other damages that may result from use of the information obtained from this website. |
|
|||||
|
|
© 2008 http://www.knowyoureyes.com
|