Friday, May 18, 2007

Lasik Eye Surgery in Review

The most interesting and informative article on eye surgery.

Why do you think a eye surgery was made? Do you have an answer to this?

Well, if not, you can very well find the answer here.

Lasik Eye Surgery in Review
Isn’t it amazing how much information can be transferred through a single page?
So much stands to gain, and to lose about eye surgery through a single page.
The value of this composition is achieved if after reading it, your knowledge on eye
surgery is greatly influenced. This is how we find out that the meaning of eye surgery
has really entered you!

The results of one reading this composition is a good understanding on the topic of eye
surgery. So do go ahead and read this to learn more about eye surgery.

Lasik is the acronym used to describe Laser in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a special type
of refractive laser eye surgery that can only be performed by ophthalmologists. The surgery
is intended to help correct poor vision.

Development
Dr. Jose Barraquer created a procedure that was the first step toward the

development of Lasik in 1970. At this time, he created a microkeratome, which was
used to change the shape of the cornea and to cut the thin corneal flaps.
This procedure was called keratomileusis.

In 1990, Dr. Lucio Buratto of Italy and Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris of Greece developed
Lasik surgery as it is known today. This was accomplished by combining

Dr. Barraquer̢۪s technique with photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK. PRK is a
form of laser eye surgery that permanently changes the shape of the anterior central
cornea by burning off a small amount of eye tissue from the corneal stroma. Today,
this procedure alone is not preferred because it takes longer for patients to recover
from surgery and is more painful than Lasik.

The combination approach, however, was shown to have a lower number of complications

and to be more precise in correcting vision. Dr. Stephen Slade and Dr. Stephen Brint first
performed the procedure in the United States in 1991. That same year, German doctors
Thomas Neuhann and Tobias Nuehann completed the first automated Lasik surgery in Munich.

Pre-Surgery
Before beginning Lasik surgery, the surface of the corneas must first be

examined using a computer controlled scanning device. This serves to determine
the exact shape of the cornea. Low power lasers are then used to create a topographic
map of the surface of the cornea. This allows the surgeon to also determine the degree
of astigmatism, if any, as well as other irregularities that might be present in the cornea's
shape.

This information helps the surgeon determine how much corneal tissue needs

to be removed, and from where. Generally, the patient is also prescribed antibiotics
beforehand. This helps to minimize the risk of developing an infection after the
procedure is completed. In addition, Lasik patients who wear contact lenses are
encouraged to stop wearing the contacts for days, or even weeks, prior to the
surgery. This is because the cornea needs to absorb oxygen in order to fully function.
Low-oxygen permeable contact lenses reduce the ability of the cornea to absorb oxygen.
This can result in blood vessels growing into the cornea in a process called corneal
neovascularization. This condition can cause an increase in the inflammation of the area
and lead to a longer healing time. It can also cause additional discomfort during surgery.
So after reading what we have mentioned here on eye surgery, it is up to you to provide
your verdict as to what exactly it is that you find fascinating here.

Now while reading about eye surgery, don’t you feel that you never knew so much

existed about eye surgery? So much matter you never knew existed.

The Procedure
The patient remains awake and fully functional throughout the entire procedure.

Usually, a mild sedative is used, along with anesthetic eye drops. The surgeon
will then use lasers to make all of the necessary incisions. As this takes place,
the computer system keeps track of the patient's eye position at a rate of 4,000
times per second. In this way, it can redirect laser pulses to maintain precise
placement of the laser. Using a blade or a femtosecond laser, the surgeon cuts
a flap in the cornea, but leaves a hinge on one end. The flap of corneal lining is
pulled back to uncover the stroma, which is the middle portion of the cornea.
Using an excimer laser, the surgeon reconfigures the corneal stroma by effectively
vaporizing tissue. This procedure does not, however, damage the adjacent
stroma.

Post Surgery
Lasik surgery does have potential complications, though these are fairly

uncommon.

Some potential complications include: dry eyes, halos or starbursts around
light sources, over or under correction, sensitivity to light, double vision, wrinkles
in the debris under the induced astigmatism, and epithelium erosion.

Many of the potential complications occur as a result of the flap detaching from

the rest of the cornea. For this reason, most doctors recommend going home to
sleep after the surgery, as this will decrease the likelihood that it will become
detached completely. In addition, it is possible to develop an infection under the
corneal flap.

Lasik eye surgery is an innovative procedure that utilizes cutting edge technology.

But, care should be taken to learn all of the potential risks, both short term and long
term, associated with the procedure before having it done.
These few words bring the ending of this beautiful article on eye surgery. The next

time there is more to write on eye surgery it is sure to be found here!

No comments: