Understanding Lasik Eye Surgery
Dr. Anthony Roberts is an ophthalmologist practicing in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Roberts specializes in eye and vision care. As an ophthalmologist, Dr. Roberts can practice medicine as well as surgery. Opthalmologists can perform surgeries because they have their medical degrees along with at least eight years of additional... more
LASIK is a form of laser eye surgery. LASIK improves vision by reshaping the eye’s cornea (the thin outer covering of the eye) with the use of an excimer laser. LASIK is safely used for several common eye disorders:
- Myopia: Millions of Americans are myopic. This means they are “nearsighted:” objects closer to their eyes are easier to see than objects that are in the distance. The more nearsighted a person is, the more blurry distant objects become. This can make it difficult to drive or to watch your favorite TV shows or movies. Myopia relates to the curvature of the cornea and causes light rays to enter the eye in front of the retina, making distant images blurred
- Hyperopia: Hyperopia, also called “farsightedness,” happens when the eye is short in relation to the cornea’s curvature. Those with hyperopia see distant objects more clearly than objects that are near. This makes reading, and any necessary close-up work, more difficult
- Astigmatism: Astigmatism is the term used for corneas that are egg-shaped. With astigmatism, more than one of the eye’s focal points distort what a person is looking at something. This results in a tilting of images because light rays are entering the eye in unequal ways. Those with higher degrees of astigmatism experience blurry vision when looking at objects both near and far.
Is LASIK Right for You?
While many thousands of people request LASIK surgery every year, the procedure is not suitable for everyone. LASIK is not recommended for people under the age of 18 because the eyes are usually still developing. If you are pregnant or nursing, hormone imbalances can cause vision changes, so it’s best to wait after baby is born and mom’s eyes are more stable to have the laser procedure. Further, if there’s been a recent change contact lens or eyeglass prescription, vision may be considered too unstable for LASIK.
Those who suffer from dry eye may not be good candidates for LASIK either. This goes for a number of other eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, keratoconus, and others. Make sure to ask your doctor or ophthalmologist if LASIK is right for you.
