-- Different Types of Lasik --
Did you know that there is more than one kind of lasik eye surgery? There are several types of surgery that can be classified as types of lasik. If you have decided to have lasik performed on your eye(s), it′s good to know something about each.
To start out with, there is the conventional lasik surgery. In this surgery, a flap is cut in the cornea by using a microkeratome blade. The flap is pulled back and the laser is used with the aid of a microscope. The laser is used to reshape the cornea to correct vision.
There have been advancements made to this basic procedure. One of the newer innovations is wavefront technology. A wavefront analyzer can be used to map the eye. It makes measurements of the cornea that are like a topographical map.
This shows every dip and peak, and any other imperfection in the cornea. The information gleaned from this charting of the cornea is used in the lasik operation. The laser can be set up to automatically correct the imperfections according to the map made by the wavefront analyzer.
Wavefront guided lasik eye surgery is a good choice for anyone. It is especially beneficial to those with large pupils because it doesn′t use the same treatment for the whole cornea. It customizes treatment for the edges to be treated differently.
Another new development is the use of the IntraLase method. This uses a bladeless procedure to cut the flap into the cornea. This is done with the use of a second laser called the IntraLase laser. It is guided by a computer to remove the flap without cutting.
Patients can be treated with these methods that couldn′t be helped before. Those with thin corneas, for example, can benefit from IntraLase. Many clinics now offer "custom lasik" services. This usually involves the combination of wavefront technology with the use of an IntraLase laser.
Epi-lasik is a procedure that is similar to lasik. However, instead of a microkeratome blade being used to make a flap in the cornea, an epikeratome blade is used to make a small flap in the epithelial layer of cells. This is a good choice for those who need a lot of correction or who have thin corneas.
With all the advancements, there is a kind of lasik eye surgery that will suit almost everyone.
If you're interested, don′t hesitate to ask your doctor for more information.