Eye surgery options
One of the most popular surgeries now is corrective eye surgery. For many people, the appeal of not having to wear contacts or glasses and being able to see clearly is an attractive option and well worth the money and temporary discomfort.
If you are considering eye surgery, it's important to know the options you have for eye surgery. Each type has its pros and cons. And while there are different types, they all serve the same function-to reshape the cornea in order to help you see better.
Although you will want to get a full exam from your eye doctor to find out which type of eye surgery is best for you, the following is an overview of some of the different eye surgery options:
|
|
Lasik
This type of surgery is the most popular eye surgery to correct vision. Lasik surgery is performed with a laser, sometimes in conjunction with a small blade. With Lasik, the eye surgeon first adjusts the laser to the patient's eye prescription. Then, he or she makes a cut in the cornea with the blade or the laser to create a flap. Then the eye surgeon uses the laser to reshape the cornea to the prescription. Then, the flap is replaced and serves to act as a bandage over the cornea.
The whole procedure takes approximately 15 minutes per eye, during which the patient is awake but numbed through special drops. Normal activities are usually resumed within 48 hours, with more strenuous activities resumed after a couple of weeks.
A more advanced for of Lasik is also referred to as wavefront Lasik. With this type of Lasik, which is also more expensive, microsensors take detailed pictures of the eye, which are then used to map out the eye's precise irregularities. This makes for a much more accurate prescription.
PRK
PRK (or Photorefractive keratectomy) is another type of eye surgery that is often performed on people who are not candidates for Lasik. People with thinner corneas, large pupils, or other eye conditions typically have better results with PRK than Lasik.
With PRK, the surgeon removes the outermost layer of the eye, called the epithelium, with the laser instead of making a flap, which Lasik does. Then the surgeon uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea.
PRK is an older form of eye surgery and not as common as it once was, especially with the advancement of laser technology for vision correction. The healing time for PRK is longer than with Lasik, but for some people it is the best option.
LASEK
Lasek eye surgery is similar to Lasik, but makes a much thinner cut in the cornea, making it a better option for people with corneas that are too flat or too thin for traditional Lasik surgery. In addition, Lasek only cuts the thin outer tissue of the eye, whereas Lasil makes a thicker, deeper cut.
The healing time for Lasek is longer than other types of eye surgery; Lasek patients heal in about a week and don't have clear vision until the second month.
These are a few of the most common types of eye surgery that are used to correct common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It is important to get a full eye exam and discuss your options with your doctor to find out the best form of eye surgery for you.
