Question

LASIK procedures have become more accessible and much more common in recent years. Many patients are attracted to the idea of LASIK, as it can eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. Research LASIK and the associated risks and benefits.

For your original post, choose one of the vision problems that can be corrected by LASIK. Discuss how this problem affects the physiology vision and how LASIK can be used to correct this problem.

Answer 1

LASIK - Laser in situ Keratomileusis - it is a process by which

1. A hinged lamellar corneal flap is raised
2. After that, the excimer laser is used to make refractive cuts in the stromal bed

Risk -

1. Dry eye - due to reduced tear production
2. Glare, halos and double vision
3. Undercorrection - When less tissue of the cornea is resected
4. Overcorrection - Excess tissue of the cornea is resected
5. Astigmatism - due to improper healing of the cornea
6. Regression - the vision reverts back to pre-surgery level
7. Rarely vision loss

Benefits -

1. Ambulatory procedure
2. Short procedure
3. Results are seen early
4. Post-surgery patient achieve 20/20 vision
5. Glasses and contact lens are not required post-surgery
6. The improvement is permanent

Indication for LASIK:

• Myopia
• Hypermetropia
• Astigmatism

Physiology of myopia:

• There is excessive refractory power. The eye is long
• The parallel rays of light from the object situated at a far come to focus in front of the retina.
• The parallel rays of light from the object situated close to the eye come to focus on the retina.
• This condition is called near-sightedness.

In LASIK surgery, a corneal flap is raised. The underlying stroma is excised with the help of an excimer laser. This helps to reduce the refractory power of the cornea. As a result, the parallel rays of light coming from an object situated from a distant object come to focus on the retina. This helps to visualize the object.