The Development of Lasik Eye Surgery
Lasik eye surgery is a refractive surgery that using the assistance of lasers. The lasers produce small incisions along the edge of cornea to flatten it and change the shape. "Lasik" is an anagram for "Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis."
Changing the Shape of the Cornea
In 1998 I had the chance to "throw away my glasses" and undergo LASIK. At the time, LASIK was not an FDA-approved procedure, but was being performed "off-label" on lasers that had been approved for another refractive procedure called PRK. LASIK is performed by cutting a flap into the cornea, flipping it back, burning tissue from the middle layer of the cornea (called the stroma), returning the flap to its original position, smoothing it into place and wait for healing to take place.
LASIK and other corneal refractive procedures (PRK, RK) have popularized to the point that most people either know someone who's had the procedure, or have had the procedure themselves. For the most part these procedures are successful and life-changing in the positive direction, reducing or eliminating the dependence on glasses or contact lenses for vision. However, about three percent suffer from visual complications that are not regarded as official "complications", but can be life-altering in a negative way.
There are two basic types of laser eye surgery, PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). There are different varieties of each of the surgeries based on different surgical techniques. Both surgeries correct vision problems through surgical manipulation of the cornea. A certified eye doctor can help you choose which surgery is right for you.
Anyone with a vision problem is going to want to consider the technologically advanced Lasik eye surgery procedure that is available. This is a precise surgery on the eyes that involves the use of lasers and which is used to correct a patient's vision.
It is a type of refractive surgery that is now known as being the most popular of its kind, because it offers the best results and for an affordable price, compared to the other options that you have to choose from. Only certain people are considered as being good candidates for this procedure.
