LASIK eye surgery is becoming a common procedure, but for many people, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding it. If you're considering LASIK eye surgery, knowing the meanings of these five terms will remove some of the uncertainty and help you to decide if it's right for you.
- Astigmatism
A defect of the eye due to the irregular shape of the cornea or the corneal lens. This defect can cause blurred vision and an inability to focus on fine detail. Astigmatism, together with nearsightedness and farsightedness, are treatable with LASIK surgery.
- Cornea
The transparent part of the eye located at the front that refracts light onto the retina. The curve of the corneal lens is responsible for the eye's ability to focus. During LASIK surgery the cornea is partially cut away, leaving a flap, so the shape of the lens can be altered to produce better vision.
- Excimer Laser
A device used to produce an ultraviolet laser light. This light reshapes the cornea so that natural light will be able to pass through to the retina in proper focus.
- Microkeratome
A high-precision surgical tool with a mechanical blade that creates the corneal flap. It is used at the start of LASIK surgery to gain access to the lens. Surgeons may use this tool or perform bladeless surgery using a cutting laser.
- Refractive surgery
A type of surgery in which the surgeon alters the cornea of the eye to produce better vision. LASIK is a common example of this type of surgery.
