The era when wearing glasses was seen as a weakness has long passed, yet many people across the globe are still opting for laser eye surgery to correct visual acuity problems.
We take a look at how the surgery works, what it can do for our eyes and what we should take into consideration.
We take a look at how the surgery works, what it can do for our eyes and what we should take into consideration.
The basics
Laser surgery is the process in which tissue is cut using a beam of light as opposed to traditional scalpel and knife measures. In laser eyes surgery, the cornea is reshaped to enable sharper vision for the patient.
The first laser eye surgery was introduced in 1950 when ophthalmologist Jose Barraquer developed the technique allowing him to make incisions into the cornea and cut flaps to alter its shape.
Over the next 40 years, the technique was developed and perfected and now is widely used across the world to correct patients’ poor vision.
The process
During the relatively straight-forward operation, the eye is held open with a machine whilst the laser works on cutting flaps on the eye to be able to reach the cornea beneath the first layer in the eye and ultimately rework the tissue below the flap of skin with the laser.
During the relatively straight-forward operation, the eye is held open with a machine whilst the laser works on cutting flaps on the eye to be able to reach the cornea beneath the first layer in the eye and ultimately rework the tissue below the flap of skin with the laser.
Once the cornea has been worked on, the flap is carefully lifted back over the cornea and it heals over several weeks following surgery.
Check list
Always make sure you visit a reputable clinic for a pre-surgery appointment. Good, reputable clinics will offer a full consultation prior to going ahead with surgery and will inform patients of everything they will need to know to keep their eyes healthy after the surgical procedure has been carried out.
Laser eye surgery is only available to those aged 18 and over; so if you are under 18 and offered laser eye surgery never accept; your eyes are still changing. This is a sign that the surgery practice is NOT reputable and should be avoided.
The alternatives
If you have vision problems abut don’t want to undergo surgery, glasses and contact lenses may be the answer. There are so many different glasses styles available and they are a great way to show your personality and style sense.
If you are unsure about whether or not you want to go ahead with laser eye surgery, speak to your healthcare professional. Research is key: look online for other patients’ experiences and advice. Never rush in to any decisions.
Amy blogs for DirectSight - a leading online glasses retailer - about eye health.
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