Refractive Procedures
How Excimer Laser Works
Laser eye surgery works by pulsing a precise, focused beam of cool light (laser) onto the outer corneal tissue, the external surface of the eye. The laser gently removes tissue while reshaping the cornea to allow better focusing. This microscopic remodeling can be precisely controlled by varying the size, location, and number of laser pulses. The excimer laser reliably removes a calculated amount of the corneal thickness, allowing the surgeon to customize the treatment for each patient.
The Eye and Vision
The cornea is the front part of the eye that acts as a powerful focusing lens to create an image on the retina, much in the same way a camera lens focuses light to form an image on film. This bending and focusing of light is called refraction. Often, the shape of the cornea is not perfect and the image projected onto the retina is distorted or out of focus (blurred). These imperfections are classified into three categories of refractive error.
Myopia: Commonly known as nearsightedness, this condition is caused by an overpowered eye that focuses the visual image in front of the retina. This results in a defocused and therefore blurred image at the retina. People with myopia have difficulty seeing far objects clearly without refractive correction. Close objects are more easily seen without additional focusing or correction. Learn More
Hyperopia: Commonly known as farsightedness, this condition is caused by an underpowered eye that focuses the light behind the retina. The result can be a defocused and therefore blurred image at the retina. Hyperopic individuals unknowingly compensate for this by focusing the intraocular lens to bring the image into focus at the retina. Some “hyperopes” benefit from refractive correction at a young age; others only require refractive correction as they age a bit. As we age, we lose the ability to change the shape of the intraocular lens (presbyopia). Individuals with hyperopia first notice that they have more difficulty seeing near objects than farther ones. Over time, the hyperopia is fully evident and these individuals even need correction to see their best at a distance. Learn More
Astigmatism: Commonly confused for a disease of the eye, astigmatism refers to a misshapen cornea or lens of the eye causing images to be focused in different focal planes or locations. This variable refractive power of the eye results in a distorted image at the retina regardless of the distance of the object viewed from the eye. Astigmatism often accompanies near and farsightedness. Learn More
Presbyopia: No one is spared the aging effects on the intraocular lens of the eye and we all lose the ability to change the shape of this focusing lens in the eye. Known as presbyopia, this condition is a separate process independent of the general refractive status of the eye (myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism). While correction of this condition is currently an exciting field of study, corneal refractive procedures cannot correct this problem directly. Monovision is a technique to address this age-related visual challenge.
Excimer Laser Refractive Procedures
LASIK
In LASIK (Laser In-situ Keratomileusis) surgery, precisely controlled removal of corneal tissue under a surgically created flap by a special laser reshapes the cornea while changing its focusing power. This usually eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses. Learn More
LASEK
LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) is a relatively new procedure that is used mostly for people with corneas that are too thin or too flat for LASIK. It was developed to reduce the chance of complications that occur when the flap created during LASIK is not the ideal thickness or diameter. Learn More
PRK
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) was the first excimer laser refractive correction procedure approved by the FDA. This procedure is similar to LASIK but entails applying the excimer laser to the surface of the cornea without creating a flap. Learn More
Laser Technologies
Excimer Laser technology is highly developed and has provided precise treatment for all the refractive procedures discussed above since inception of their use in America. Newer advances continue to expand the number of patients eligible for the outstanding results achieved in simpler refractive errors. These advances also continue to complement the abilities of the operating surgeon and enhance the experience of the patient undergoing the procedure.
At the Auker Eye Institute, we embrace technologies as soon as they are clinically proven and approved by the FDA. We use the latest tracking lasers available to assure the highest level of safety and best results for our patients.
