Laser Corrective Surgery – would it work for you? Take this brief quiz
Laser Vision Correction (LVC) has come a long way since the first experimental procedures were done on human eyes many years ago. “Would laser surgery work for me?” is now one of the most common questions our doctors get asked. LVC involves surgically altering the shape of the cornea using a laser device. The cornea is the clear window on the front of the eye that helps to focus light. Changing the shape of the cornea changes the way light focuses, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for glasses.
For good candidates, our doctors regularly recommend LVC. The key question is – what defines a good candidate? Take this 2 minute online test courtesy of www.allaboutvision.com to get more information on whether you are a good candidate. Your results are printable – bring them in to your next eye exam for a more in-depth discussion with your eye doctor.
Another question commonly asked is what type of laser corrective surgery is the best? You may get different responses from different doctors on this one, but generally most people receive either LASIK, PRK, or one of the variants of these two procedures. LASIK involves creating a thin flap on the surface of the cornea, moving it aside, and operating on the tissue underneath, then replacing the flap. Advantages include faster recovery time and less discomfort during the healing process. With PRK, the laser is used to reshape the cornea without creating a flap. Advantages of this procedure are that it can be done on thinner corneas, and in many cases a more precise vision outcome is attainable over the LASIK procedure.
With the newer customized LVC procedures, some of the previous problems such as haloes or starbursts around lights, or poor vision in the dark or low contrast situations, have been greatly reduced. Other problems such as dry eye and regression (tendency for the eyes to drift back in the direction of nearsightedness or farsightedness) persist in some cases.
Take the time to ask us questions during your next visit if you’re interested in the option of laser vision correction. It’s not for everyone, but we’re here to help you make the most informed decision.
-Dr. W