It has recently gained popularity with more than one million
patients having the surgery done each year. Its demand lies in the
fact that it is an easy and convenient procedure that statistically
has few obstacles and yields permanent vision correcting results.
Clear vision depends on how well the cornea and lens allow light
rays to fall onto the retina. Light rays must be bent to focus on
the retina. The retina being light-sensitive, creates an inclination
from the light rays that are sent through the optic nerve to the
brain. If the shape of the cornea or eye is not normal, then vision
becomes blurred as light does not fall properly on the retina. This
is known as a refractive error. Such errors are usually corrected by
corrective eye surgery commonly known as reflective eye surgery.
Refractive errors can include myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and
presbyopia. There are several types of collective eye surgeries for
refractive errors, like:
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
Photorefractive keratectomy was the first corrective eye surgery
which used laser technology to remove tissue directly from the eye’s
surface to change the twist of the cornea. PRK received approval
from U.S. FDA in the year 1995. While PRK is still commonly used,
Lasik is by far the most popular laser procedure today.
Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK)/ wavefront-guided LASIK:
LASIK is a corrective eye surgery procedure, which should be
performed by a skilled eye surgeon. This involves reshaping the
cornea using an excimer laser. A promising new technology called
wavefront-guided Lasik is an advanced method for curing optical
disorders in the eye. This provides a patient with better vision as
well as reduction in night blindness..
Conductive keratoplasty (CK)
CK received initial FDA approval in 2002. CK uses low heat radio
waves to apply spots around the periphery of the eye’s clear front
surface. It provides near vision correction for people who are
farsighted. You can qualify for this corrective eye surgery
procedure only if you are 40 and above.
Radial keratotomy (RK)
It is used mainly to collect nearsightedness. RK is supposed to be
the oldest method of corrective eye surgery since 1980s. RK is now
practically outdated as the primary collective eye surgery
procedure, because of the advances in laser vision correction
procedure.
Astigmatic keratotomy (AK)
AK is a corrective eye surgical procedure, similar to radial
keratotomy, which is used to correct astigmatism. During the
surgery, the surgeon makes the opening in a curved pattern.
Intracorneal ring (Intacs)
Intracorneal rings or Intacs, is a thin intracorneal ring that is
implanted into the cornea, thus restoring vision. It is generally
used for low degrees of myopia.
Recovery from a corrective eye surgery can last anywhere from a
couple of days to a couple of months. Symptoms that follow
post-surgery include: sensitivity to light, blurry vision, minor
discomfort or dark eyes..
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