LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery intended to reduce a patient’s dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK is the most prevalent of all refractive surgery types. LASIK aims to reshape the cornea in order to allow for accurate refraction, which results in the light rays falling exactly on the retina (a series of light sensing cells). This enables crystal clear vision.

In general, common refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are caused due to the irregularities of the corneal surface. These anomalies can be corrected by reshaping the cornea. LASIK procedure makes use of an advanced laser called excimer, which is an ultraviolet chemical laser. The laser is controlled by sophisticated computer software. The computer-controlled sensors measure the eye position a few thousand times per second, and then redirect the laser to make precise incisions in the cornea. The reshaped cornea allows for the desired refraction and therefore results in enhanced visual acuity.

Conventional LASIK procedure makes use of a microkeratome, a diminutive surgical blade, to cut a flap in the corneal surface. However, variations of the traditional LASIK procedure may employ a laser to accomplish the same. Whatever may be the procedure to cut the flap, after it’s done, the excimer laser is used for precise ablation of the stroma – the middle layer of the cornea. The flap is then folded back so as to act as a natural bandage. The cornea may take a few days to heal. During this period, the patient may experience blurry vision and certain minor side-effects like halos or glare. However, these complications normally subside within a few days or weeks, when the cornea has completely healed.

Other common types of surgery, apart from traditional LASIK, are photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), radial keratotomy (RK), and LASEK. There is also a rather new procedure and it can be considered as an enhancement of the traditional LASIK procedure. It is called custom LASIK or wavefront-guided LASIK. It is a more advanced procedure and is capable of treating other vision impairments as well, apart from the common vision disorders specified above.

About the Author:

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and provides news, views and information about laser eye surgery at http://www.Your-LASIK.info. The LASIK Surgeons Directory http://www.find-lasik-surgeon.com is a useful resource. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Lasik... Laser Eye Surgery Is the world a complete blur for you without your glasses or contact lenses? And when you do get your glasses on, do you resent the lack of freedom in all your movements? Perhaps it’s time you went in for corrective eye surgery. Most corrective eye surgery is technically known as refractive eye surgery, an elective procedure intended to correct common eye disorders, or refractive errors, such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism (distorted vision). Where does laser eye surgery come in? Laser refractive surgery is rapidly becoming the most technologically advanced and popular method available today to correct refractive errors, primarily because it provides near-total precision and predictability. However, there are still a relatively small number of ophthalmologists in the US who are trained in laser refractive surgery and in the calibration and operation of the laser. The excimer laser, which is used in this type of surgery, received...

Lasik, Lasik Eye Surgery News

Icon LASIK Announces Sunglass Trunk Shows at Its Cherry Creek Eye Care Center DENVER, CO-- - ICON LASIK announces several eye wear and sunglasses Trunk Shows in Denver during early 2012. The Trunk Shows feature major sunglass designers including Fendi sunglasses, Roberto Cavalli ... Avedro Announces Canadian Approval for Lasik Xtra™ Avedro, Inc. announced today that the Company’s proprietary Lasik Xtra procedure has received Canadian Approval. Lasik Xtra is a two minute procedure used in conjunction with standard Lasik to restore biomechanical integrity and strength to the cornea after a standard Lasik procedure. Lasik surgery improves vision for almost everyone DEAR DOCTOR K: I’ve worn glasses and contact lenses for years. I just scheduled LASIK surgery. What will happen during this procedure? Ask Dr. K: LASIK improves eyesight for most Dear Dr. K: I've worn glasses and contact lenses for years. I just scheduled LASIK surgery. What will happen during this procedure? Dear Reader: LASIK is a type of eye surgery for people, like you, who want to avoid wearing glasses or contact lenses.