If you’re experiencing vision problems at any age, you’ll be pleased to know that medical advancements have progressed to the point that there are many options available to you. If you’re thinking about laser eye surgery Orange County CA, you should consult with your eye doctor about which procedure might be right for you. In this article, we’ll discuss how laser eye surgery has evolved.
Corrective Eye Surgery Advancements
In the past quarter-century, corrective eye surgery has grown by leaps and bounds. Radial Keratotomy, or RK, was pioneered during the 1980’s. It involved incisions to flatten the surface of the eye, and it was used to correct nearsightedness. Some of the individual results didn’t work out so well in the long term, though. Regression and fluctuating vision were the most common problems. RK is now considered to be obsolete, as new and better techniques have come along.
Photorefractive Keratectomy, or PRK, was then developed. It was the first laser vision procedure to remove tissue directly from the surface of the eye to change the cornea’s curvature. It is still used somewhat today, but LASIK has replaced it as the most popular corrective eye surgery.
LASIK was developed not long after PRK, and it reshapes the cornea so that light entering the eye can be properly focused on the retina. The result is clearer vision. The reason that LASIK has taken over as the most popular procedure from amongst these is that it is very safe, and it can be used to treat so many conditions, including astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness.
Which Is The Right Procedure For Me?
You will need to talk with your doctor about which surgery is right for you, or if surgery is a viable option at all. Even if you and your eye doctor decide to pursue LASIK as the avenue through which you will regain clearer vision, there are several different versions of it, depending on your age and the exact nature of your vision problem. There is LASEK, epi-LASIK, bladeless LASIK, and PRK. Your doctor should be able to go over each of these in detail, and between you both, you should be able to figure out which option is most likely to be beneficial.