LASIK Eye Surgery Choices
LASIK eye surgery uses a laser beam to sculpt your cornea so it is better able to refract light rays and thereby improve your vision. LASIK can be used to treat common vision problems like astigmatism, presbyopia, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. There are a few different types of LASIK; your doctor determines the appropriate one based upon your vision problem and condition of your cornea.
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With traditional LASIK surgery, the doctor uses a laser or blade to make a flap in your cornea. This flap is lifted up so the doctor can work on the tissue underneath with an excimer laser. To treat nearsightedness, he flattens tissue that is too steep, for astigmatism, he smoothes out irregularities in the cornea tissue, and to treat farsightedness, the doctor alters the tissue that has become too flat. Afterwards, the flap is put back into place and left to heal.
Epi-LASIK
The Epi-LASIK procedure was devised to help overcome some of the risks associated with creating the corneal flap. In the Epi-LASIK procedure, the surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea using an oscillating blade and removes this layer with an epithelial separator rather than the traditional alcohol. This procedure may be appropriate for you if you have low myopia or less steep corneas. After the cornea tissue is sculpted, the top layer is placed back on your eye with a special spatula and a contact lens is put in place until the epithelium grows back.
Wavefront Guided LASIK
If your cornea is of appropriate thickness, you may be a candidate for wavefront guided LASIK. This procedure is much more precise and can be customized for each individual’s eyesight needs. It relies upon a 3-D map that is created using wavefront technology. When the surgeon performs the procedure, he follows this 3-D map that allows him to customize the procedure just for you based upon your vision correction needs.
Bladeless LASIK
Bladeless LASIK is known by the names IntraLase, VisuMax, and Femtec. With these procedures, lasers have replaced traditional cutting tools for creating the corneal flap. Therefore, this surgery uses two types of lasers. The first one, the femtosecond laser, is used to cut a thin flap on the cornea. The second one, or the excimer laser, is used to sculpt the shape of the cornea. After the sculpting, the flap is put back in place to form a natural bandage that promotes healing.
Multifocal LASIK
Multifocal LASIK is a procedure being developed to treat presbyopia. It is sometimes called Bifocal LASIK. It creates different vision zones on your cornea so you can see both far away and up close when you have a vision problem combined with presbyopia.
What To Consider
Your doctor can help you decide which type of LASIK is right for you. Traditional LASIK is generally performed the same way by various surgeons but the type of laser used can vary according to the manufacturer. Therefore you should ask your doctor about the type of laser he uses and the advantages and disadvantages of using it in your procedure.
You should also understand the potential risks associated with LASIK surgery so you can weigh the potential benefits against the possible risks. It is possible to develop problems with the flap like infection and swelling. Your doctor could also remove too little or too much cornea tissue and leave you with over corrected or under corrected vision. By finding the right doctor and discussing your concerns, you will have better peace of mind that you have made the right choice.
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