All About Laser Eye Surgery

All About Laser Eye Surgery
By E. Drummond

For those who aren't familiar with laser eye surgery, it can seem like a very daunting prospect. However, if you are a long time sufferer of an eye condition, laser eye surgery may be the ultimate solution for you as it will enable you to enjoy life without the restrictions of glasses and contact lenses.

Laser eye surgery can literally transform your life - after the procedure you will be free of the hassles associated with corrective eyewear and the headaches caused by eye strain. A once off laser treatment can also save you money in the long run - no more visits to the optometrist, no more worrying about breaking or forgetting glasses and no more spending on contact lenses and expensive solutions.

Are You a Suitable Candidate for Laser Surgery?

Suitable candidates for laser eye surgery include those who suffer from refractive errors, which occur when the eye cannot focus on the image on the retina. The most common refractive errors are present in patients who suffer from myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism.

Conditions Treatable by Laser Eye Surgery

Short-sightedness occurs when your eye is too long compared to the curvature (focusing power) of your cornea. It is also present when the cornea is more curved that it should be, resulting in light focusing short of the retina. This results in difficulty in focusing on distant objects. This ocular condition is corrected can be treated with laser eye surgery whereby the surgeon will reshape the cornea so that its focusing power is matched to the length of the eye.

Long-sightedness is a refractive error that occurs when your eye is too short compared to the curvature of your cornea, or when it is less curved, resulting in light focusing behind the retina. With laser treatment, this condition can be corrected by reshaping the cornea, enabling you to free yourself from the restrictions caused by glasses or contact lenses.

Everyone develops the refractive error known as presbyopia during the latter part of their lives, some even begin to experience symptoms from a young age that gradually worsen as they age. Presbyopia is a condition prevalent in patients that wear reading glasses. As you get older, the zoom system that allows your eyes to change focus from distance to near viewing becomes weaker, diminishing the ability to read small print. Patients suffering from this natural ageing condition will be glad to know that it can be permanently treated with lens replacement surgery. That means no reliance on more bifocals or varifocals, just a new outlook on the world (and the newspaper!).

Types of Laser Eye Surgery in Yorkshire, UK

LASIK and LASEK are the two most commonly performed laser surgeries in Yorkshire in the UK.

LASIK laser surgery is a treatment performed by creating a thin flap through the top layer of the cornea, which is gently folded over. The laser eye surgeon then performs the laser treatment on the layer underneath. This process vaporises away some of the corneal tissue, creating a slightly different shape which ultimately corrects the refractive error. This treatment requires no stitches and is virtually painless, offering a rapid recovery.

LASEK laser eye surgery in the UK is performed by removing the epithelium with a drop of weak alcohol solution. Just as in LASIK laser eye surgery, the laser is applied to the layer underneath. A temporary contact lens holds the epithelium in place for a few days before being removed. This form of eye treatment is bladeless, resulting in a painless operation with almost instantaneous improvement.