The
subject of eye surgery can be a little uncomfortable for some,
especially since the thought of cutting open the organ of sight is
enough to make people cringe. Yet the positive and lasting benefits
of such a medical procedure generally far outweigh the risks
involved. Medical science has indeed gone a long way, with
high-precision lasers taking the place of knives.
In
the past, eye surgery was typically performed with a microkeratome,
which is a diamond knife that rotates carefully around the retina and
allows surgeons to slice off a part of the corneal flap. Once a
portion of the corneal flap has been cut and exposed, surgeons can
then make incisions on the inner cornea. While countless patients
have benefited from traditional eye surgery, the incisions made using
a microkeratome can be irregularly shaped and may later affect
vision.
During
the 1980s, researchers discovered a way to make accurate eye
incisions using a safe and focused laser apparatus. This technique
doesn't result in excessive thermal damage and allows for more
precise cuts. The procedure, dubbed Laser-Assisted in situ
Keratomileusis, corrects the refractive power of the eyes and treats
such problems as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia
(farsightedness). Some who have undergone a LASIK treatment
reportedly don't need to wear glasses.
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