Laser eye surgery glossary
B
Bandage contact lens
This is a soft contact lens which the surgeon inserts in the eye directly after LASEK laser eye surgery treatment to reduce discomfort. The lens is removed after 4-7 days.
Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
The best possible vision a person can achieve with corrective lenses.
Bi-focals
Glasses or contact lenses with a different power for distance vision at the top and a prescription for reading at the bottom of the lenses (sometimes you can see the dividing line on the glasses if you look closely). Patients with bifocal lenses will need reading glasses if fully corrected by laser eye surgery, unless monovision treatment is opted for.
Bilateral
Referring to both eyes. Laser eye surgery is usually bilateral.
Blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids, usually with redness, swelling, and itching. This needs to be controlled before the eye can be treated with laser eye surgery. Further reading
Bowman's membrane
The non-regenerative layer of tissue between the epithelium and the stroma (5-10 microns thick). Further reading
Broad beam laser
A medical instrument that produces a powerful beam of light that is focused at close range to remove corneal tissue. A broad beam laser uses a relatively large beam diameter (from 6.0 to 8.0 millimeters), which can be manipulated to ablate the cornea.
Broad spectrum
The description of an antibiotic that is designed to kill most strains of bacteria. Further reading
Buttonhole flap
A flap complication where the flap that is created has a central hole. This complication only occurs with mechanical methods, and is eliminated by laser flap creation. Treatment is abandoned and the flap is put back to heal. The cornea is allowed to heal (normally 3 months) and laser eye surgery treatment can be redone.
