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History
In 1960,
South American surgeon Jose Barraquer performed an operation in which he
removed a thin section of the cornea, reshaped it like a contact lens, then
replaced it. Encouraged by his experience, surgeons introduced the procedure
to the United States in 1980. However, a number of factors kept this
original procedure from becoming widespread.
Creation of a sophisticated
instrument call a microkeratome made the removal of very thin layers of
tissue easier and more successful. A treatment evolved called automated
lamellar keratoplasty (ALK). With this procedure, surgeons used t he
microkeratome to simply create a flap of tissue, instead of completely
removing the thin layer from the cornea. With the flap lifted out of the
way, a second pass of the instrument then removed a microscopic amount of
underlying tissue to correct the focusing problem. When the treatment was
completed, it was easier to align and reattach the hinged flap.
With the highly advanced
excimer laser, surgeons have combined the microkeratome's ability to create
a precision flap with the accuracy of the laser in removing underlying
tissue. The combination of ALK and PRK is called LASIK. It is a treatment
option that has overshadowed traditional PRK.
Range of correction
LASIK can
treat nearsightedness and farsightedness (if the first number on your
glasses prescription is between +5.00 and -20.00. Astigmatism up to -8.00
can also be treated).
Possible risks and side
effects
Even though LASIK is a
relatively safe procedure with a history of very few complications, these
risks and temporary side effects should be considered:
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Infection
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Corneal Flap Problems
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Undercorrection or
Overcorrection
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Corneal Surface
Irregularities
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Contact Lens Intolerance
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Halo Effect ยท Light
Sensitivity
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Fluctuating Vision
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Eye Coordination |
