Refractive errors are conditions that affect the eye’s ability to focus light which leads to blurred vision. LASIK is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting those errors. Millions of people worldwide have benefited from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation In-Situ Keratomileusis, more commonly referred to as LASIK. Significant improvements are made to vision, usually eliminating the need for prescriptive eyewear completely. So what is the science of LASIK and how does it correct vision?

From the perspective of the patient, LASIK is a simple outpatient procedure. In under 15 minutes, vision is notably improved. In most cases, the patient receives numbing eye drops, focuses on a special fixation light, a corneal flap is created, the cornea is reshaped by an excimer laser, and the corneal flap is repositioned. Voilá, vision is corrected, and the patient will be ready to go home soon. From the perspective of the doctor, the invention of LASIK, attributed to select scientists like Jose Barraquer dubbed “the Father of Modern Refractive Surgery,” is really a collected effort of thousands of scientists over hundreds of years working towards to advancement of what we know as modern-day LASIK.

LASIK uses an excimer laser to precisely change the focusing power of the amount you need for your eyes to see perfectly. The excimer laser alters the refractive state of the eye by removing tissue from the anterior cornea through a process called photoablative decomposition. The word excimer is a combination of the words “excited” and “dimer.” The term dimer refers to a combination of 2 atoms, fluoride and argon gas. The excimer laser creates a concentrated beam of ultraviolet light that is accurately focused to correct vision. With a specific wavelength of 193 nanometers, the beam of light passes through a series of mirrors and prisms within the instrument to enhance the optical qualities in the beam. With controlled laser pulses through a computer, the excimer creates the desired corneal shape. While it may seem off putting to have a laser directed into the eyes, virtually no heat is generated in the photoablation process as the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the molecules of the corneal tissue leaving no scarring to the cornea or deeper ocular tissue.

To learn more about various refractive eye surgeries and their benefits, visit WEBSITE. To improve your vision and to discuss in detail how LASIK is performed and to discuss if LASIK would work best to address your myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, call The Eye Clinic Surgicenter at 406-252-6608.