Lasik Eye Surgery: An Overview

Sometimes, dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses can become so strenuous that individuals turn to alternative methods of repairing and correcting their vision. Lasik eye surgery is becoming increasingly popular because of its high success percentages. LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, and is a surgery by which the shape of the cornea - the clear covering of the eye - is permanently altered to improve the quality of vision.

A device called an excimer laser is used in Lasik surgery to repair problems in the stroma of the eye. The doctor will use a tiny knife called a microkeratome to make a small incision in the cornea. This creates a hinge through which the stroma is visible to the surgeon. The doctor will then use a computer-controlled laser to remove a section of the stroma before replacing the flap created by the incision.

Lasik surgery improves the quality of vision by adjusting the way in which the cornea focuses and bends light, which is called refraction. The cornea is almost never perfectly shaped, which causes an imperfection in the way that the eye accepts and refracts light from various sources.

Many times Lasik surgery can correct multiple problems with the eye, such as astigmatism, short-sightedness, far-sightedness and others. People who have suffered from debilitating vision impairments all their lives can greatly increase the quality of vision from Lasik surgery, assuming that the problem can be corrected with the adjustment of the cornea and stroma.

While tools such as glasses and contacts are meant to compensate for a lack of vision or for an impairment, refractive surgeries such as Lasik surgery actually correct the problem, eliminating the need for glasses or contacts. Patients whose eyes are irritated by contacts or glasses can find relief through Lasik surgery. So far, this method is the simplest and least dangerous surgery for repairing corneal tissue, and therefore is the one most often sought by patients.

Before Lasik surgery became an option, Photoreactive Keratectomy surgeries were most common refractive procedures, and involved the scraping of the corneal layer in order to get to the stroma. The same laser was used as in Lasik surgery, but it was a more painful and invasive procedure. Many patients have fears of pain concerning the eye, which would lead an individual to scratch surgery from their list of possibilities.

Lasik surgery is possible for almost all patients, though some vision problems cannot be corrected by this procedure. Individuals who are pregnant or who suffer from diabetes should consult a specialist before pursuing Lasik surgery. Further, many companies prohibit their employees from undergoing refractive surgery, which may endanger your employment status at work. Consult with all applicable parties before going forward with Lasik surgery.

There are risks associated with Lasik surgery, as there are with any invasive medical procedure, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the possible side effects and consult extensively with your doctor before going forward. It is unlikely that your medical insurance will cover Lasik surgery, so cost should also be a determining factor.