Laser eye surgery - types and benefits

Posted in Laser Eye Surgery on October 26, 2008

Laser eye surgery is a surgical procedure that is designed to correct common vision disorders. This disorder is referred to refractive disorder in ophthalmology and includes myopia and short-sightedness.

In laser eye surgery, a laser is aimed at the cornea - the outer and clear round structure which covers the iris, coloured part of eye and pupil. This surgery gently reshapes the cornea by changing the thickness of tissue. Whether you are long-sighted or short-sighted does not matter, it helps your eyes to bring the images into proper focus.

There are three types of laser eye surgery you can choose from depending upon the type of eye problem and your budget. LASIK surgery is the most popular type of eye surgery and uses the most advanced technological equipment.

It is a procedure that involves carving out a thin layer of cornea to create a flap. The purpose of this corneal flap is so that a laser can be directed on the tissue lying underneath. The flap, when replaced, heals naturally and you get improved vision.

EPIFLAP eye surgery is next in the line. In this type of surgery, the outer layers of cells oon the eye are partly separated to expose the cornea. After that, a laser is applied to flatten the cornea and the outer cells are pushed back. Within a few days, your vision is improved. The last and oldest method is PRK. This is performed on outpatient basis with the help of anaesthesia.