Understanding Laser Eye Surgery by Kathryn Dawson

In the past, glasses and contact lenses were really only the available options for those with eye problems and poor vision. Fortunately, times have changed and with the advent of laser eye surgery a host of degenerative eye conditions can be helped now. Eye surgery is generally a very quick and painless procedure, and often results can be instantaneous. It might even mean that the patient can throw away their glasses or contact lenses for good. For those looking to learn more about the different eye treatments available and what conditions can be cured or improved, then this article will help.

LASIK surgery is the most common type used. This is the ideal surgery for correcting common eye problems such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism (irregular shaped cornea) in particular. The procedure is extremely quick, the results are instant and healing time is extremely short. Patients often report feeling back to normal the following day with vastly improved sight. The results from having this procedure are long lasting too and it provides an affective alternative to wearing corrective glasses continuously.

Another common procedure is LASEK surgery. This is more suitable for those with relatively uncomplicated eye problems or for those who have thin corneas and therefore unable to undergo LASIK surgery. The lasers used in the surgery work to reshape the surface of the cornea thereby correcting the refractive problem in the eye. Although the procedure is simple and designed for correcting relatively minor problems, it takes a few days before improvement to vision is seen and can take a little while longer for patients to recover fully. Just like LASIK surgery however it is a very effective form of treatment with minimal risk and long lasting results.

Laser eye surgery is particularly affective in the battle against degeneration of sight caused by eye glaucoma and cataracts. Glaucoma develops through pressure within the eye. It develops slowly, over the course of many years but can lead to blurred vision, double vision and even blindness. It can be very damaging however treatment that is administered early can prevent further degeneration of the sight. It has a high success rate even in older patients and can dramatically increase a person's quality of life.

Cataracts are caused by the clouding of the lens in the eye. Although minor cases can often be dealt with by the use of eye drops or glasses, over time or as the condition worsens, often cataract surgery is the best course of action. This is a procedure to replace the lens of the eye with an artificial one which will restore vision and remove the problem altogether. This type of surgery has a very high success rate and can lead to completely restored sight.

To sum up then, surgical eye treatments in most cases are painless. They are also safe and quick and can be used to restore a whole variety of problems. LASIK surgery may provide a virtually instant cure for conditions such as myopia and hyperopia with patients in most cases having restored vision the very next day following surgery. LASEK surgery is also extremely safe and successful and a better option for patients with thin corneas but who need treatment for similar conditions. Eye glaucoma is a very serious condition that is treatable with surgery and although lost sight from the condition cannot be restored, treatment can prevent further degeneration. Treatment can also successfully be used to remove cataracts by surgically replacing the clouded lens and thus restoring full sight. It is no longer necessary to suffer in silence when it comes to eye conditions and problems. The advancement in technology and the procedures available today, such as cataract surgery, ensure that there are many conditions that can be cured through laser eye surgery.