LASIK is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to change the shape of the cornea to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. In San Clemente, your surgeon creates a thin flap in the cornea, folds back the flap, then removes some corneal tissue underneath using an excimer laser. The flap is then laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is the inability to focus clearly at any distance due to an irregular or misshapen cornea. With astigmatism the cornea is shaped more like a football than a basketball and light rays focus at differing points on the retina, causing images to overlap and causing blurred vision. LASIK corrects this oval shape, making the cornea rounder and achieving clear vision.
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Nearsighted people see close objects clearly – but not distant objects. In nearsightedness the curve of the cornea is too steep, or the eye itself is somewhat elongated, resulting in images being focused in front of the retina. LASIK corrects this condition by flattening the curvature of the cornea which allows the cornea to focus images exactly on the retina thus achieving clear vision.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Farsighted people see distant objects better than up close ones, however objects at all distances are blurred. In farsightedness the shape of the cornea is too flat, causing light rays to focus behind the retina. LASIK corrects this condition by shaping the outer area of the cornea so that it focuses images correctly.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a condition that tends to occur to most people after age 40. As we age, our once supple lenses begin to stiffen, making it difficult to focus on objects close-up. This starts slowly but can gradually become worse over time. Traditional LASIK cannot correct presbyopia; however, a technique called monovision LASIK may help. In this technique, one eye is corrected for close-up vision and the other eye is left for distance vision.
Contact Harvard Eye Associates today at 949-951-2020 or harvardeye.com to schedule your LASIK Evaluation and see if LASIK is an option for you.
