| Out of all our 5 major senses, it is perhaps our | | | | changes are made inside the cornea. PRK surgery |
| eyes that are most important. It is the eyes that | | | | has proven highly beneficial for patients with low |
| serve as a window to the outside world, which is | | | | to moderate farsightedness or nearsightedness. |
| why it is pertinent that we take good care of | | | | This procedure is diagnosed particularly to those |
| them. | | | | with recurrent corneal erosion. However, it takes |
| Unfortunately, time and disease are probably | | | | much longer to attain the desired result with PRK |
| man's greatest enemies and they can take a toll | | | | surgery because there is a much greater amount |
| on one's vision as well. | | | | of tissue that needs to be healed. |
| Fortunately, however, eye surgery procedures | | | | Another new eye surgery technique to go in for |
| have made massive progress over the last few | | | | especially when the patient is too nearsighted or |
| years and it's not surprising to see more and | | | | farsighted to be helped by the Lasik procedure is |
| more people opting for some of the newer eye | | | | Intraocular Lenses or IOLs. This method involves |
| surgery procedures to correct and improve both | | | | the insertion of a small lens behind the pupil and |
| their ability to see as well as their appearance. | | | | just in front of the existing natural lens of the |
| Here is a brief look at some of the latest options | | | | eye. However IOLs are yet to be approved by |
| in eye surgery procedures: | | | | the FDA but have a great potential to become |
| For most people looking to correct their eyesight, | | | | popular once approved. |
| Lasik eye surgery has been a boon. It is a type | | | | Apart from the above mentioned types of |
| of refractive eye surgery and the name LASIK is | | | | surgery, one of the most important surgeries is |
| actually an abbreviation for "Laser assisted In situ | | | | Cataract surgery which enjoys a high success |
| Keratomileusis." It involves a controlled and precise | | | | rate of 98%. In this procedure, the lens which has |
| removal of the corneal tissue and reshaping the | | | | been clouded due to cataract is removed and |
| cornea to correct its focusing ability. The | | | | replaced with an artificial one. |
| procedure itself is very short and can take | | | | Another type of Cataract surgery known a |
| anywhere between 20 to 50 seconds. Probably | | | | Phacoemulsification uses ultrasound to break-up |
| the best aspect of Lasik eye surgery is that | | | | the cataract. In Extracapsular surgery, which is |
| people can expect to go home within half-hour of | | | | yet another technique of removing the clouded |
| surgery and can resume normal life after a short | | | | lens, a longer incision is made on the side of the |
| recovery period of 3 to 5 days! Although the cost | | | | cornea and the core of the lens is removed in |
| of Lasik surgery has steadily risen over the last | | | | one piece and the remaining part of the lens is |
| few years due to its growing demand, the | | | | removed by suction. However, no matter what |
| advantages still far outweigh the cost factor for | | | | technique is used, cataract eye surgery patients |
| most people. | | | | still need to use prescription glasses unlike Lasik |
| Even though Lasik surgery is a proven technique, | | | | surgery. |
| it is still an elective procedure and not medically | | | | Thus we can understand that no matter what the |
| necessary and therefore not all people maybe | | | | technique of surgery, doctors and physiologists |
| ideal candidates for the same. One of the most | | | | continuously strive to better existing techniques |
| popular alternatives to LASIK is PRK or | | | | or create newer efficient procedures to cure |
| Photorefractive Keratectomy which involves the | | | | different types of eye maladies, so that we can |
| use of laser to make changes to the exterior | | | | live a more complete and fulfilling life. |
| surface of the cornea as opposed to Lasik where | | | | |