eye laser surgery : The Excimer Laser

The modern method of using the Excimer Laser to correct refractive errors is a breakthrough which can benefit millions of patients who are shortsighted or have other refractive errors. The technique has advanced to a point where we can reliably predict that Excimer Laser treatment will, in suitable patients, provide good vision without glasses or contact lenses. For people who undergo Excimer Laser procedures, less dependency upon corrective lenses is a major benefit.

Excimer Laser treatment is an elective procedure and, as with any form of surgery, deserves careful consideration prior to proceeding. Please contact us and we will answer any questions that you may have. We offer a free screening test and we also have educational videos for you to watch. If you are a good candidate for the Excimer Laser procedure, then the decision to go ahead is entirely yours to make.

The Excimer Laser was originally developed for the manufacture of computer microchips, where it was used to etch the circuits. However, its extreme accuracy resulted in it being developed as an eye laser. It is now used to re-sculpture the corneal surface of patients with refractive errors.

The Excimer Eye Laser is extremely accurate and removes only 0.25 microns (1/4000 th millimetre) of tissue per pulse. During the re-sculpturing the Laser gently "evaporates" tissue; there is no burning or cutting involved. In most cases the Laser treatment takes only 20 to 45 seconds depending on how severe your refractive error is. The Excimer Laser accurately re-sculptures the cornea to make the curve of the cornea balance the length of the eye, light rays are then focused normally on the retina.

In myopia the cornea is flattened (as shown above), whereas in hyperopia the cornea is made more curved. With astigmatism the surface of the cornea is re-sculptured to a regular curvature. This advanced surgical technique using the Excimer Laser can accurately re-sculpture your cornea thus permanently correcting your myopia or other refractive error - allowing you to be independent or less reliant on glasses and contact lenses.

In the original method of treatment the Laser was used on the surface of the cornea. This method is known as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Although still sometimes used for low degrees of myopia and hyperopia, PRK has been largely superseded by the Lasik method in which the Laser treatment is applied under a protective corneal flap

This is a modern adaptation, using the Excimer Laser, of a technique that has been in existence for almost 30 years. A thin protective corneal flap is raised, rather like a trapdoor. The front surface of the exposed cornea is resculptured by the Excimer Laser. At the end of the procedure the protective flap is simply replaced. The Lasik technique leaves the original surface of the cornea virtually intact, the mild healing process results in minimal regression and no scarring. The Lasik procedure is now regarded as the most advanced refractive surgery technique.

copyright: dr john hill; © 2003-2006