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Ablation
The surgical removal of tissue. In laser eye surgery, ablation is the process of removing tissue from the cornea in order to reshape it, thus correcting a refractive error such as farsightedness or astigmatism (see below).
Astigmatism
This is a condition where one or more of an eye's refractive surfaces is shaped irregularly (not spherical), resulting in visual distortion.
Bladeless LASIK
This usually refers to Intralase LASIK (see below), a type of LASIK where no blades are used to create the corneal flap during surgery. A laser is used instead, and this procedure is often referred to as "bladeless" or "all laser" LASIK surgery.
CK (Conductive Keratoplasty)
This is a refractive surgical procedure that uses radio waves to reshape the cornea. CK is typically used as a treatment for hyperopia and presbyopia.
Cornea
The cornea is a transparent outer covering over the eye that lets light enter, and helps with the focus of the eye. The cornea is the area of the eye where nearly all vision correction surgery takes place.
Corneal Flap
This is a flap in the cornea that is created in LASIK and other types of laser eye surgery. The corneal flap is cut with a blade or a laser, then pulled back so that an excimer laser can then abilate the cornea. Once this process has been completed, the flap is put back in place, protecting the surgical area and allowing the eye to heal.
Excimer laser
A surgical laser that emits a very thin, strong beam of ultraviolet light. An excimer laser is typically used to ablate tiny layers of the cornea to to reshape it and thus correct the patient's vision.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
A common visual defect that results in difficulty viewing objects close up, while more distant objects are in sharp focus.
Intralase LASIK
Also referred to as "bladeless LASIK," this is a more recent type of LASIK procedure where a laser is used instead of a blade to cut the corneal flap during surgery. Intralase is considered a more accurate type of surgery, and has fast healing times and very high post-operative success rates.
LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis)
LASEK is similar to LASIK in that it also uses a laser to reshape the cornea's inner layers. LASEK uses a different method of creating the corneal flap used during the surgery, however, and is a good option for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK because of thin corneas.
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis)
A popular and very effective vision correction procedure that utilizes a excimer laser to ablate and reshape the cornea of the eye. This reshaping improves or even eliminates common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Microkeratome
A bladed surgical instrument used to carve a thin, circular flap in the part of the eye known as the cornea.
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
This is a visual condition that results in a person's distant vision being blurred.
Pachymetry
This is a procedure used by doctors and eye surgeons to measure the thickness of the cornea.
Farsightedness (Presbyopia)
With this visual condition, the person has difficulty focusing on near objects, such as reading a book or performing up close work. Farsightedness is usually associated with aging.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
PRK is a laser vision correction procedure that differs from LASIK and LASEK surgery in that there is no corneal flap created during the surgery. Instead, the surgeon uses a laser to directly reshape the surface of the cornea. The results are the same, but PRK can be more painful, and lead to longer healing times.
Topography
A procedure used by eye surgeons to map the outer surface of the cornea.
Wavefront LASIK
In wavefront LASIK, a special "wavefront" sensor is used to measure the eye as the surgery is being performed. These measurements allow for a more precise eye surgery, and faster healing times and a higher overall success rate.
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Did you know that over one million laser vision correction procedures are performed in the US each year?
Becase of the accuracy of results, speed of recovery, and ease of treatment, lasik laser vision correction has become one of the most commonly performed surgeries throughout the US and the entire world.
