What is Laser Eye Treatment For? by Kathryn Dawson

Laser eye treatment is appropriate for a large number of eye problems. The surgery itself is a very quick and painless procedure which doctors may use when carrying out tasks such as inserting a new lens or relieving pressure on theye. It does sound worse than it really is. The reality is patients feel nothing during the surgery due to an anesthetic being used beforehand and there is only very mild discomfort afterwards. There may be a few days when the patient is overly sensitive to bright lights and sunlight, but often patients are back at work just a day or two later.

The advancements in laser eye surgery have made it one of the most popular types of treatment for a range of eye problems. This article acts as a guide to some of the problems that laser eye surgery can help fix.

Cataracts

These occur as a person ages and are caused by clouding of the lens. It can lead to partial blindness if left untreated but the good news is that the cloudiness is removed by the replacing the lens with an artificial one.

Glaucoma

This is a serious condition caused when there is not enough space to allow fluid to pass freely from the eye. When this occurs pressure builds up which can lead to problems with sight, as well as nausea and headaches. Although surgery can prevent the condition worsening, it cannot help restore sight to how it was originally so if you are suffering from blurred vision or are seeing wavy lines then you should seek medical attention.

Macular Degeneration

There are two types of macular degeneration. Both involve the break down in the function of the retina and both are very serious. Surgery goes a long way however to fix these conditions and can be extremely successful in either restoring site or preventing the condition from getting any worse. Dry AMD is caused when the cells in the light sensitive area of the macular begin to break down and wet AMD is caused when there is abnormal tissue growth in the eye which leads the retina to start becoming detached. There is treatment available for both conditions and should be taken if possible as leaving either of these conditions could result in blindness, particularly the rarer of the two conditions, wet AMD.

Diabetic Retinopathy

This is a problem for sufferers of diabetes as the illness affects the blood vessels in the eye, prompting the retina to become detached or at the very least become affected by weak and leaking vessel walls. This is extremely serious and regular check ups should be made so this can be diagnosed early on. Laser eye surgery can help restore sight and can be a very effective treatment.

Other conditions that can be treated are Blepharospasm, Dry Eye Syndrome and Pterygium, none of which are very serious but all of which can cause problems with sight and affect a person’s everyday life.

The technology of laser eye surgery has advanced greatly over the years and it is a safe and straightforward procedure that is capable of correcting a host of conditions. Outlined above are some of the most serious conditions that if left untreated can cause blindness so if you or a member of your family are suffering from poor vision or eyesight then there could be help at hand. It is very important that regular eye checks are made throughout your life. About once a year when you are younger but increasing as you age. There are a number of eye conditions that can be prevented with good diet and exercise during your lifetime too so make sure you eat well and stay healthy. Laser eye treatment is available however for a variety of problems including wet macular degeneration.