Eye Surgery

The different forms of eye surgery

Because of its popularity, it seems that lasik is the only refractive surgery that can correct various eye problems. Since its approval in 1996, more than 5 million lasik procedures has been done. In 2005 alone, there have been a total of 1.5 million lasik surgery and its patrons are continuing to grow.

Unknown to a lot of Americans, there are actually other surgical techniques that make use of the same principle as refractive surgery to improve vision or to correct eye problems. It is therefore important that you do not concentrate on lasik surgery alone when you consult your doctor or when you are shopping around for treatment. Ask your doctor about other procedures that may be performed on you in addition to lasik. Who knows, the other procedure may better fit your condition?

Below are some of the different types of surgical procedures for the eye.

Flap procedures
These procedures involve the cutting of a flap in the cornea in order to reach the tissue underneath. Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis or what is popularly known as lasik surgery falls under this category. Lasik surgery corrects myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness and astigmatism. This is done by cutting a flap in the corneal stroma and removing materials under the flap with the use of an excimer laser. Lasik surgery is relatively fast, usually taking less than one minute per eye.

Another kind of flap procedure is the Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis or the LASEK procedure, which is actually almost the same as the previous surgical procedure except that in Lasek, the doctor will cut a flap in the epithelium area instead of the stroma. The edges of the flap will then be loosened through the use of alcohol for about 30 seconds. After which, the surgeon will use a small hoe to lift the flap and fold it. An excimer laser is then use to scrape and sculpt the tissue underneath.

It is used with people who have thin or flat corneas and therefore will not be allowed to undergo lasik. A good amount of corneal tissue in the eye is needed in order to successfully perform lasik procedure. One of the disadvantages though of this procedure is the fact that it can really be painful. There will also be a lot of discomfort afterward. Patients who undergo lasek surgery take longer to heal compared to those who had lasik surgery done on them. The average healing period takes about four to seven days.

Another variation is the epithelial Lasik, which is very similar to the lasek procedure; but this time alcohol or blade is left in the tool box. Instead, the surgeon uses a plastic blade called epikeratome, a device used to separate an epithelial sheet from the eye. Because alcohol is not used, many patients prefer this over lasek because it is less painful and heals faster. After which, the flap is lifted and folded out of the way. With the use of an excimer laser, which is also used in lasek and lasik, the corneal tissue is sculpted. Then, the flap is palced with a spatula.

This procedure is recommended for people who have less steep corneas or those who have low myopia because it is much harder to create epithelial flaps in people with steeper corneas.