How Is Laser Eye Surgery Done? Understand How Does It Work

 

Laser eye surgery is a form of refractive surgery with the aim of providing you with clear vision without relying on glasses or contact lenses. Other than knowing that laser eye surgery is for people who no longer want to wear glasses or contact lenses, there’s a bit more to understand about it. So, how does laser eye surgery work? 

 

How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work? 

Refractive surgery encompasses a number of different operations. Laser vision correction is one subcategory of refractive surgery that uses a laser beam (a femtosecond laser and/or excimer laser) to modify your corneal tissue. Laser eye surgery is based on changing the curvature of your corneal tissue. The cornea is responsible for bending light rays as they pass through the front of the eye. If you have a refractive error such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or astigmatism, the light fails to focus clearly on the light-sensing retina at the back of the eye. In essence, there is an error in the focusing power of the eye.  By removing microscopic amounts of corneal cells, your surgeon fixes the way light bends through the cornea such that it comes to a sharp point on the retina and gives you clear vision. 

 

Types of Laser Eye Surgery

The most common forms of laser eye surgery include LASIK surgery (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), and SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction). 

All these procedures are performed under a topical anaesthetic.

You will have an instrument inserted to help keep your eyelids open, and a suction ring is typically applied to the cornea to keep the eye stable.

There is no discomfort associated with the operation, though some patients may report the sensation of pressure and a smell similar to that of burning hair. 

 

LASIK surgery

LASIK surgery is the most commonly performed and probably the most well-known. During LASIK eye surgery, a corneal flap is created from the top layer of cornea cells. This thin flap can be cut with either a bladed instrument or a femtosecond laser. Once this flap is opened to the side, an excimer laser reshapes the underlying layers. The corneal flap is then replaced in its original position. 

LASIK eye surgery can be used to correct vision with short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism. 

 

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) 

PRK is an older form of laser eye surgery but can be a valuable option for people with thinner corneas who are unsuitable for LASIK eye surgery. 

During PRK, the corneal epithelium is removed entirely in a process called debridement. An excimer laser is then used to reshape the underlying corneal cells. 

Similar to LASIK surgery, vision correction with PRK can be suitable for both long and short-sightedness and astigmatism. 

 

SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction)

The SMILE laser eye surgery procedure is the most modern technique, being introduced in 2007. During SMILE, a femtosecond laser separates a contact lens-like disc of tissue from the inner corneal cells. This is then extracted from the cornea through a keyhole incision, resulting in a modified corneal curvature with minimal disruption. 

Currently, SMILE is suitable only to correct blurred vision from short-sightedness or astigmatism. 

There are also other types of refractive surgery that aren’t reliant on adjusting the corneal tissue, such as implantable contact lenses or clear lens exchange. This can be more appropriate for patients with thin corneas who aren’t suitable for cornea-based laser vision correction.  

 

 

The Healing Process After Laser Eye Surgery

Your surgeon will give you guidelines on what to expect after your procedure in regard to recovery, returning to normal activities, and your vision. 

 

Expectations after Laser Eye Surgery

Immediately after your procedure, you may find that your vision is already much better, though still not perfect. You can also expect your eyes to be slightly red and sore, and you could have some light sensitivity. Over the following few weeks, you’ll find your vision changes as the cornea heals and stabilises. 

 

Post-Operative Instructions

While your eyes are healing, your surgeon will recommend:

• Eye drops to prevent infection and to control inflammation, as well as lubricating eye drops for any dryness 
• That you avoid contact sports for a few weeks, particularly if you’ve had LASIK surgery 
• That you protect your eyes from contamination and injury 

Depending on your occupation and the type of refractive surgery you’ve had, you may return to work in as soon as a few days to several weeks. 

You’ll be booked in for at least one follow-up appointment with your surgeon to ensure you’re on the right path to achieving clear, normal vision. 

If at any point you experience increasing pain or redness in the eyes, vision loss, or other vision problems such as flashing lights or floaters, contact your surgeon immediately. 

 

How Does Assessing Whether I’m Suitable for Laser Eye Surgery Work? 

Refractive eye procedures are for people who no longer wish to wear contact lenses or glasses, whether for convenience or cosmetic reasons. Laser-based refractive procedures are primarily designed for people whose refractive error prevents them from clearly seeing distant objects; patients who use only reading glasses will find little benefit from undergoing laser surgery. 

Your surgeon will assess whether your vision, eyes and overall health are suitable for undergoing laser vision correction. This takes into account several factors, including:

• Whether your refractive error falls within the treatable range
• The thickness of your corneas
• Your age
• Any other diseases affecting vision, such as lazy eye, corneal or retinal scarring, cataracts, or a condition involving high pressure in the eye called glaucoma
• Medical conditions, such as pregnancy, can be associated with hormonal changes and fluctuations in vision 
• Other health concerns that can impair healing or increase your risk of complications 

If you’re found to be unsuitable for the laser-based refractive procedures, it may still be possible to have a different technique, such as implantable contact lenses or clear lens exchange. Contact us now on (03) 9070 5788  to schedule a consultation for Laser Eye Surgery in Melbourne.

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. 

 

 

 

References

Eyes – laser eye surgery
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/eyes-laser-eye-surgery#immediately-after-the-laser-eye-operation

What to know about laser eye surgery
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/laser-eye-surgery