Lasik And Photorefractive Laser Eye Surgery
People with vision problems have considered laser eye treatment as the ultimate solution in correcting and improving their vision. However, not all patients experience the exact eye-related problem, so not all laser eye surgery types would prove to be effective in correcting their eye vision problem. Thus, it is necessary for people to fully comprehend the types of laser eye surgeries available, while at the same time understanding the benefits and possible risks and complications attached to these procedures. In this article, Lasik and Photorefractive laser eye surgery would be evaluated to assist you understanding its benefits and effects.
The LASIK laser eye surgery can be used to correct refractive errors such as distorted vision (astigmatism), far sightedness (hyperopia), and near sightedness (myopia). The LASIK laser surgical procedure can correct and improved the patient’s vision, removing the hassle of wearing spectacles and contact lenses permanently. This can be very luring considering the costs and inconvenience those eye glasses and lenses can bring to your lives.
However, you should also consider the possible risks and complications that may arise from the LASIK laser eye surgery. Victims of the LASIK treatment have indicated that they experienced a reduced vision, blurry vision, dry-eye syndrome and night vision problems. Additionally, some of these risks can pose a permanent threat to your eyes. It can also exacerbate and worsen your present eye condition. So it is imperative that you consult your professional eye doctor for guided advice relating to this issue. Your doctor would then determine whether you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery or not and would assist you in choosing the most suitable laser eye surgical procedure depending on your eye-vision problem.
The Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK laser eye procedure, involves the measurement of the patient’s eyes by an eye surgeon before the procedure is performed. The doctor then uses ‘local anesthetic eye drops’ and after reshapes the patient’s cornea. Additionally, calculated amount of the cornea’s tissues are eliminated from its outer surface. The surgeon then uses a light of ‘ultra violet beam’ which cuts ‘notches the size of a hair’. Each light pulse can eradicate a ‘39 millionth of an inch of corneal tissues in a space of second’. It is estimated that only 5 per cent of patients use spectacles after the PRK laser eye surgery.
The PRK treatment can be suitable for different patients depending on their eye condition. This particular laser eye procedure does not guarantee a 50/50 vision correction though. As with all other surgical procedures, there are possible risks and complications attached to it. For instance, studies have indicated that 15 per cent of patients who undergo the PRK laser eye surgery are required to use visual aids when driving.
LASIK and Photorefractive laser eye surgery are two common procedures used to correct and improve vision problems. However, before undergoing such procedures, it is recommended that you consult your eye doctor for advice on laser eye surgery based on your eye-vision problem. If he recommends you as a suitable candidate, then he would assist you in choosing between LASIK and Photorefractive laser eye surgery, while at the same time considering the potential risks and complications attached to each procedure.