laser eye surgery.

What is Laser Eye Surgery & Refractive (LASIK) Surgery?

Even though "laser surgery" and "refractive surgery" are commonly used as if they were interchangeable, they are two different surgeries for two seperate purposes. If you have a refractive error, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism or presbyopia, refractive surgery is a way to correct or improve your vision by adjusting your eye's focusing ability. This is acchieved by reshaping the cornea. Other procedures involve implanting a lens inside your eye.

LASIK surgery (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is the most common refractive surgery, where a laser is used to reshape the cornea. For nearsighted patients, specific refractive surgery techniques can reduce the curvature of a cornea that's too steep, allowing the eye's focusing power to lessen. Images that are focused in front of the retina, due to a longer eye or steep corneal curve, are pushed closer to or directly onto the retina after the proedure. Farsighted people have refractive surgery procedures that reult in a steeper cornea to increase the eye's focusing capability. Images that are focused beyond the retina, caused by a short eye or flat cornea, will be pulled closer to or directly onto the retina after the surgical procedure.

An astigmatism can be corrected with refractive surgery techniques by selectively reshaping portions of an irregular cornea to make it smooth and symmetrical, resulting in images focusing clearly on the retina rather than being distorted due to light scattering through an irregularly shaped cornea.

Laser Eye Surgery might be a good option for you if you:

• Want to decrease your dependence on glasses or contact lenses
• Are free of eye disease
• Understand that you may still need glasses or contacts after the procedure to achieve your best vision

For more information about this or any other eye procedures, please click here for a list of all the fine surgeons who work out of Albany Regional Eye Surgery Center.

 

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