Archive for September, 2008
Welcome to Laser Eye Treatment
by Mathew in Laser Eye Treatment
Thank you for visiting the Laser Eye Treatment Guide. Our intention is to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the different types of laser eye treatment techniques currently available. There are many aspects involved when choosing which procedure is the right one for you. We plan to provide you with the information to help you decide for yourself, which is the best eye treatment center.
Laser eye treatment is most commonly associated with vision correction procedures to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and the need for reading glasses (presbyopia). It is also used to treat diabetic retinopathy and detached retinas.
The three main laser vision treatment procedures available are Lasik, Lasek and PRK. They are all slightly different techniques and while none of them require an overnight hospital stay, their recovery times and the discomfort felt do vary.
Lasik (Laser in Situ Keratomileusis)
Lasik is the most popular type of laser eye surgery. A laser eye surgeon (ophthalmic surgeon) reshapes the cornea using a special laser known as an excimer laser. Lasik has the shortest recovery time compared to Lasek and PRK.
Lasek (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis)
Lasek is a slightly different procedure to Lasik, in that a flap is cut from the protective tissue over the eye and not in the cornea beneath. Though Lasek has a slightly longer recovery time than Lasik, it can be used on patients with with unusually thin or flat corneas.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
PRK was the first corrective vision procedure to use excimer lasers. With PRK an outer layer of cells from the surface of the cornea are removed, instead of a corneal flap. This lengthens the recovery time and discomfort felt after the procedure.
Suitability for Laser Eye Treatment
Not everyone will be suitable for laser eye treatment, which is why anyone wanting to undergo laser treatment to correct their vision will be given a thorough examination before any eye surgery will be performed. One alternative is implantable contact lenses. These are, as the name suggests, contact lenses that are permanently implanted into the cornea. The recovery time from this procedure may be longer than that of laser eye surgery, but unlike standard contact lenses do not require any maintenance.