Laser eye surgery, also known as refractive surgery, is a surgical procedure where doctors use lasers to reshape the front surface of the eye. Doctors use this procedure to correct eye problems. It may help improve patients’ vision and allow them to see without visual aids like contact lenses and spectacles. Learn some of the eye conditions you can treat with laser surgery below:
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a condition where patients have an unevenly shaped cornea. People with astigmatism have blurred or distorted vision at all distances. The distorted vision is especially visible at night when there are bright lights. People with astigmatism have to wear glasses with corrective lenses to be able to see.
Laser eye surgery provides a permanent solution to astigmatism, ridding you of the need to wear glasses. The surgery reshapes an uneven cornea, creating a more symmetrical shape and uniform surface. When the cornea’s surface is even, it can refract light more accurately onto the retina, allowing you to see better.
Nearsightedness
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a vision problem where people can see near objects, but have difficulty seeing things further away. A nearsighted eye is more elongated than a normal eye or has an excessively curved cornea. The cornea focuses light in front of the retina instead of at the back of the eye.
Myopia can be genetically transmitted and develops as a child grows. This issue may only be evident after several years. If you have vision difficulties and your parents or siblings are nearsighted, get your eyes checked to determine if you have myopia. Doctors use a laser surgery called LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) to reshape the cornea’s curvature, allowing it to refract light correctly.
Farsightedness
Farsightedness, or hypermetropia, is the opposite of nearsightedness. Farsighted people can see objects farther away more clearly than those nearby. A farsighted eye is shorter than the average or has a cornea with a flatter curvature. The flat cornea refracts light at the back of the retina, and none or very little at the front, causing objects viewed up close to look blurry.
During laser surgery for hypermetropia, doctors use a laser to reshape the cornea’s curvature, making it less flat. The final result is that your eye can better focus the light on your retina, enabling you to see clearly at all distances without glasses or contact lenses.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is an age-related condition that results in the decline of the eye’s ability to focus on objects both near and far. While laser surgery does not treat presbyopia directly, doctors use techniques such as monovision LASIK to improve a patient’s vision. Monovision LASIK works by correcting one eye for near vision and the other for distance vision, improving visual function at different distances.
Multifocal LASIK is a better procedure used to correct presbyopia. During multifocal LASIK, doctors use a laser to reshape different focal zones in your cornea for far, near, and immediate vision. Your brain then chooses which zone to use at different times to see clearly. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe presbyopia eyedrops if you prefer a less invasive procedure.
Candidates for Laser Eye Surgery
Laser surgery is a suitable treatment for patients with moderate refractive eye conditions. When you visit an eye doctor for the best laser surgery in London, they must examine you to determine the severity of your condition. Your doctor may ask questions about your eye health to determine whether you have a condition that might cause complications.
Your doctor might warn you against laser surgery if you have the following conditions:
- Eye injuries or disorders
- Autoimmune diseases and other diseases that slow down healing
- Inflammation and infections that affect the eyes
- Keratoconus and other eye diseases that cause cornea deterioration
- Glaucoma, as this might increase your eye pressure and worsen the condition
- Reduced corneal sensation
- Large pupils, since the surgery may cause conditions like glare, starbursts, and halos
Improve Your Vision Today
If you are tired of struggling to see clearly or wearing glasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery might be a good option. Research the risks and benefits before moving forward with the procedure. Talk to an experienced eye doctor for more information and recommendations on permanent solutions for your visual problems.
