An Overview of Refractive and Laser Eye Surgery May 2014

An Overview of Refractive and Laser Eye Surgery
The vision correction surgery is also known as refractive or laser eye surgery. It is used to correct vision
problems precipitated due to various causes and necessitating the need for wearing glasses or contact
lens. This is uncomfortable and use of contact lenses also increases the risk of infections and injury to
the cornea. In recent years a lot of development has been made in lasik eye surgery in New York and
patients have reported that there has been a marked improvement in the quality of life due to better
sight and the doing away of eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Most of the vision correction surgery including laser eye surgery in Manhattan basically envisages the
reshaping of the cornea which is the front part of the eye and in conjunction with the lens is tasked with
the function of focusing the light perfectly on the retina. Other forms of vision correction surgery
include the replacement of the natural eye lens.

Lasik procedure means in short for laser in-situ keratomileusis and is used for correcting vision problems

like nearsighted, farsighted, and/or have astigmatism. Lasik treatment involves reshaping the cornea so
that light is properly focused on the retina. LASIK surgery is a bit different from other forms of refractive
correction surgery since a flap is made of the overlying tissue. This helps the underlying tissue to be
accessed and worked upon. Latest innovation like computer imaging called wavefront technology helps
to create a detailed image of the cornea which helps to guide the laser procedures properly.

Another form of refractive corrective surgery is the PRK, which stands in short for photorefractive
keratectomy. This form of laser eye surgery is used to correct mild to moderate Hyperopia, Myopia,
and/or astigmatism. In photorefractive keratectomy, the eye surgeon uses the laser to reshape the
cornea. This laser is used on the surface of the cornea, not underneath a flap of the cornea, like in LASIK
eye surgery. PRK may also be done with computer imaging of the cornea.

LASEK is an acronym for laser epithelial keratomileusis. It is a variant of photorefractive keratectomy. An
epithelial flap is first created followed by the loosening of the epithelial cells by using an alcohol
solution. The cornea is reshaped using a Laser and then the flap is replaced and secured with a soft
contact lens while it heals. LASEK surgery is used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and
astigmatism.

EpiLasik is similar to PRK, a very thin layer is separated from the cornea and then the cornea is reshaped.
The thin layer may be left off or replaced. The area is protected with a soft contact lens while it heals.