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Understanding
the Eye
The key to
understanding refractive surgery, whether it is CK,
PRK, or LASIK is to
understand how the eye works. Sharp, clear vision is the result of
light rays passing through the cornea, pupil and lens and focusing
directly upon the retina. If the cornea is not round, or it is too
steep or too flat in relation to the length of the
eye, light
rays focus either in front of or behind the retina resulting in "refractive
errors" such as nearsightedness,
farsightedness and astigmatism.
Refractive surgery is a term for several procedures designed to treat
these vision abnormalities. The cornea is the clear surface of the
eye. Many people who are nearsighted place contact lenses on their
eyes to improve the way the cornea focuses light. Refractive procedures
simply are another way of improving the way the cornea focuses light.
Refractive procedures are done on an outpatient basis with most patients
returning to their normal activities the following day. Your doctor
will help you decide which procedure or combination of procedures
is best suited for you.
How well you
see depends, in part, on the shape of your cornea. The cornea focuses
light on the retina, which is at the back of the eye. In a normal
eye, light is focused correctly onto the retina. When the cornea is
not shaped correctly, the image may focus in front of, or in back
of the retina, resulting in blurry vision. Sharp, clear vision is
the result of light rays passing through the cornea, pupil and lens
and focusing directly upon the retina.
Nearsightedness
Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when the cornea is too rounded.
People with nearsightedness can see things close to them, but have
difficulty seeing distant objects. With nearsightedness, the eye’s
refractive power is too strong, or the eyeball is too long, thus forcing
the image to be focused in front of the retina of the eye rather than
upon it as would be with normal vision. When light focuses in front
of the retina, near objects can be seen clearly, but far objects appear
blurry. When LASIK is performed on nearsighted patients, the laser
removes tissue to flatten the cornea.
Farsightedness
Patients with farsightedness,
or hyperopia, have corneas that are too flat. People with farsightedness
can see distant objects but have a hard time seeing closer objects.
With farsightedness, the eye’s refractive power is too weak
or the eyeball is too short, thus forcing the image to be focused
behind the retina of the eye causing far objects to be seen clearly
and near objects to appear blurred. To treat this condition, the laser
beam is directed to remove tissue from around the center of the cornea,
making it steeper.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs in people whose corneas are not spherical or round
enough. The normal eye is shaped like a basketball. The football-shaped
or astigmatic cornea makes it difficult for light to focus on the
retina. By changing the pattern of the laser's beam, the tissue is
removed in one direction more than the other. Astigmatism can occur
in combination with nearsightedness and farsightedness. Some degree
of astigmatism does not negatively affect vision, and is of no visual
consequence. People with small degrees of astigmatism are still candidates
for LASIK.
Learn
more about how the eye works so you can be better educated to make a
decision about your vision correction. Check out our Internet Links
page, or visit a vision correction specialist.
For more
information on what IOL and other vision correction
procedures can do for you, Contact a Los Angeles eye surgeon
Schedule
a LASIK consultation with a Los Angeles eye doctor
LASIK
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