Laser Eye Surgery Explained: A Closer Look at a Life-Changing Procedure
It’s hard to believe that Laser Eye Surgery has been around for around four decades. Of course, significant developments and advances in technology meant that modern Laser Eye Surgery is often very different to the earliest procedures. And yet, the theory behind this life-changing treatment remains the same.
But despite being the most popular elective procedure in the world, many people don’t really know how the treatment works. So, we’re putting Laser Eye Surgery under the microscope. Keep reading for a detailed guide to how Laser Eye Surgery works.
The Theory Behind Laser Eye Surgery
The first visual aids are thought to date back to the Ancient Greeks. Written evidence suggests that Greek and Roman scholars would use glass globes filled with water to magnify words and pictures.
It wouldn’t be until the 13th century that the first pair of glasses would appear – and these were significantly different to the spectacles we wear today. Artwork from the period depicts these early iterations as being glass-blown lenses connected by wood or leather frames. And there were no earpieces, either. Instead, they would be held to the face or perched on the nose!
But these early versions of visual aids used the same theory we still use today – both in the production of prescription lenses and in Laser Eye Surgery.
That is, refractive errors are caused by an abnormality in the way light is refracted into the eye. As such, correcting this will allow the patient to see clearly.
External lenses are designed to manipulate how light enters the eye, making up for any error in the shape of the eye itself. In following this rule, glasses and contact lenses can be extremely effective at correcting myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism, are caused by an abnormally-shaped cornea. By adjusting the curvature of the cornea, Laser Eye Surgery can correct these errors. But this can only be done by removing tissue from the cornea itself. But how is this done?
Well, as you might have guessed, the treatment involves using high-precision lasers to access and remove the necessary corneal tissue from the eye.
There are three main types of Laser Eye Surgery procedures. Each one involves accessing the corneal tissue in a slightly different way. They are:
PRK/LASEK: These two procedures (known as the surface ablation procedures) represent the earliest form of Laser Eye Surgery. They involve removing a whole area of corneal epithelium to reveal the corneal tissue beneath. This surface tissue is then either disposed of (as in PRK) or pushed aside until the treatment is complete (as in LASEK).
In PRK, a protective contact lens is placed over the cornea until the surface tissue repopulates. This typically takes around a week; however, it can take a further few months for the eye to recover completely.
In LASEK, the earlier-removed tissue is put back in place where it will begin to fuse with the rest of the eye. Again, a contact lens is placed over the treatment area to protect the eye while it heals.
LASIK: LASIK is the most common Laser Eye Surgery procedure. It involves creating a flap in the surface of the cornea to allow access to the tissue beneath. Once the necessary tissue has been removed, this flap can be closed again. No protective contact lens is required, and healing begins almost immediately!
ReLEx SMILE: The latest innovation in Laser Eye Surgery. ReLEx SMILE is the least invasive of the Laser Eye Surgery procedures. It involves creating a “keyhole” incision in the surface of the cornea, through which corneal tissue can be removed. This treatment option offers the fastest recovery times and can be suitable for patients with thinner corneas and dry eyes
Each of these procedures produces good results in the right patients. The quality and thoroughness of the initial screening, in which your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery is assessed, is highly important in determining the best treatment option for you.
To learn more about these three procedures, read our article: LASIK vs LASEK vs ReLEx SMILE.
Why Have Laser Eye Surgery?
Now that we’ve covered how the procedure actually works, let’s consider why you might have Laser Eye Surgery. After all, glasses and contact lenses are an effective solution, right?
Well, as we mentioned at the start of this article (and as any glasses or contact lens-wearer will be more than aware of), external visual aids come with a number of drawbacks.
Glasses can be easily lost or broken, contact lenses can increase your risk of eye infections, and both can prevent you from taking part in a huge range of activities! In contrast, Laser Eye Surgery has the potential to free you from these burdens for years to come. It’s no surprise that many patients describe the procedure as life-changing!
If you’d like to learn more about our Laser Eye Surgery treatments, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators today. Alternatively, Book a Consultation to find out if you could be a candidate for treatment – up to 97% of people are!
