LASIK is one of the most well-known vision correction procedures. Because it is so prominent, people assume it treats a wide range of eye conditions.
However, LASIK only corrects the refractive errors nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. All these conditions cause improper focusing of light on your retina, which results in blurry vision.
Other vision issues like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, are different. They require a completely different treatment approach.
Keep reading to learn more about LASIK, how it works, and the refractive errors it corrects.
How Does LASIK Work?
LASIK fixes refractive errors by reshaping your cornea. The cornea is the part of your eye that is most responsible for focusing light onto your retina.
It is the transparent tissue at the front of your eye covering your pupil. However, the process is not as simple as just sculpting away at the tissue.
The cornea contains several layers. The thickest layer is in the middle.
To safely reshape the cornea, your surgeon can only work with this thick middle layer. Reshaping other layers of your cornea can be dangerous because they are thin and fragile.
Your surgeon accesses the middle layer of your cornea by creating a flap in the top layer. They use a special laser called a femtosecond laser to do this.
This flap then gets pulled back but left attached so your surgeon can replace it at the end of the procedure. They reshape the middle layer of your cornea using a second laser, called an excimer laser.
This laser uses precise beams of light to remove specific amounts of corneal tissue. Computer software guides the excimer laser to remove particular amounts of tissue from exact spots in your cornea.
After reshaping your cornea, your surgeon replaces the flap over your eye. It covers the middle layer of your cornea and takes the underlying tissue’s shape.
The flap rapidly attaches to the tissue below it. Full recovery from LASIK can take several months. But it only impacts your lifestyle in the early stages.
How Do You Know What Treatment Will Improve Your Eyesight?
The type of treatment you get depends on the vision problem or problems you are experiencing. The only way to know that is by having a comprehensive eye exam.
A comprehensive eye exam tests a wide array of your visual capabilities. Simple visual acuity, depth perception, color identification, and motion tracking all get tested.
Your eye doctor may also test for specific eye diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration. Any additional conditions they check for depend on how at-risk you are for those conditions.
Once they make a diagnosis, they will discuss potential treatments with you. The best treatment for you depends on other factors not examined in an eye exam. They will test these during a LASIK consultation.
Comprehensive eye exams take a couple of hours because they are incredibly thorough. But, they are a vital part of maintaining healthy vision.
You should get a comprehensive eye exam regularly. Exactly how frequently depends on your age and risk factors.
But it should be at least every few years. That way, your eye doctor can track any potential problems as they develop.
Do you think LASIK could help improve your eyesight? Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare in Garden City, NY today! See if LASIK could be right for you!
