Laser Surgery
Alternatively utilizing scalpel, laser is used to cut tissues on a surgery. The application of a laser scalpel is a new course of surgical operation as a good example, and soft tissue laser surgery, in which the laser beam meltssoft tissue with high water content. A method in which the molecular bonds of something are melted with the use of laser is called Laser resurfacing.
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a kind of refractive surgery for improving myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. LASIK is carried out by ophthalmologists using a laser. LASIK is similar to other surgical curative process such as photorefractive keratectomy, PRK, (also called ASA, Advanced Surface Ablation) though it grants advantages such as faster patient recovery. Both LASIK and PRK symbolizes improvement over radial keratotomy in the surgical treatment of vision problems, and are hence practicable options to wearing corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses for many patients.
The LASIK technique was made probable by the Colombia-based Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Barraquer, who, around 1950 in his clinic in Bogotá, Colombia, developed the first microkeratome, and developed the craft used to cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape, in a procedure he called keratomileusis. Barraquer also researched the question of how much of the cornea had to be left unaffected to provide stable long-term consequences.
The typical indication for changing a patient's optical measurements by means of an operation is Refractive Surgery. The beginningof lasers in refractive surgeries rose from Rangaswamy Srinivasan's work. In 1980, Srinivasan, working at IBM Research Lab, discovered that an ultraviolet Excimer laser could cut living tissue in a definite approach with no thermal damage to the surrounding area. He named the phenomenon Ablative Photodecomposition (APD). The use of the excimer laser to ablate corneal tissue for the amendment of optical errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, was first suggested by Stephen Trokel, MD, of the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY. Dr. Trokel, who along with Dr. Charles Munnerlyn and Terry Clapham, founded VISX, Incorporated. The first human eye was treated using a VISX laser system by Dr. Marguerite B. MacDonald, MD in 1989.
Recently, faster lasers, larger spot areas, bladeless flap incisions, intraoperative pachymetry, and wavefront-optimized and -guided techniques have considerably enhanced the credibility of the procedure compared to that of 1991. However, the basic limitations of Excimer lasers and offensive carnage of the eye's nerves have produced research into many alternatives to "plain" LASIK, including LASEK, Epi-LASIK, sub-Bowman's Keratomileusis aka thin-flap LASIK, wavefront-guided PRK and modern intraocular lenses.
The most constant obstacle from refractive surgery is the tendency of "dry eyes." According to an American Journal of Ophthalmology study of March 2006, the incidence rate of dry eyes from LASIK after the six month post operative healing period was 36%. The FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) website states that "dry eyes" may be for keeps.
The strong tendency of dry eyes commands a proper preoperative and post operative evaluation and treatment for dry eyes. There are a number of successful treatments for dry eyes including artificial tears, prescription tears and punctal occlusion. Punctal occlusion is accomplished by placing a collagen plug in the natural drain of the eye. Dry eyes, if left untreated can endager the visual outcome and result in regression of the effect of LASIK or PRK, or in severe cases result in "chronic dry eye" where permanent chronic pain and visual impairment is a possible outcome. It also must be noted that some incidences of dry eye cannot be successfully mitigated using the above mentioned techniques, so a potential lasik patient must consider that dry eye can be a permanent outcome and untreatable.
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a kind of refractive surgery for improving myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. LASIK is carried out by ophthalmologists using a laser. LASIK is similar to other surgical curative process such as photorefractive keratectomy, PRK, (also called ASA, Advanced Surface Ablation) though it grants advantages such as faster patient recovery. Both LASIK and PRK symbolizes improvement over radial keratotomy in the surgical treatment of vision problems, and are hence practicable options to wearing corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses for many patients.
The LASIK technique was made probable by the Colombia-based Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Barraquer, who, around 1950 in his clinic in Bogotá, Colombia, developed the first microkeratome, and developed the craft used to cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape, in a procedure he called keratomileusis. Barraquer also researched the question of how much of the cornea had to be left unaffected to provide stable long-term consequences.
The typical indication for changing a patient's optical measurements by means of an operation is Refractive Surgery. The beginningof lasers in refractive surgeries rose from Rangaswamy Srinivasan's work. In 1980, Srinivasan, working at IBM Research Lab, discovered that an ultraviolet Excimer laser could cut living tissue in a definite approach with no thermal damage to the surrounding area. He named the phenomenon Ablative Photodecomposition (APD). The use of the excimer laser to ablate corneal tissue for the amendment of optical errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, was first suggested by Stephen Trokel, MD, of the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY. Dr. Trokel, who along with Dr. Charles Munnerlyn and Terry Clapham, founded VISX, Incorporated. The first human eye was treated using a VISX laser system by Dr. Marguerite B. MacDonald, MD in 1989.
Recently, faster lasers, larger spot areas, bladeless flap incisions, intraoperative pachymetry, and wavefront-optimized and -guided techniques have considerably enhanced the credibility of the procedure compared to that of 1991. However, the basic limitations of Excimer lasers and offensive carnage of the eye's nerves have produced research into many alternatives to "plain" LASIK, including LASEK, Epi-LASIK, sub-Bowman's Keratomileusis aka thin-flap LASIK, wavefront-guided PRK and modern intraocular lenses.
The most constant obstacle from refractive surgery is the tendency of "dry eyes." According to an American Journal of Ophthalmology study of March 2006, the incidence rate of dry eyes from LASIK after the six month post operative healing period was 36%. The FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) website states that "dry eyes" may be for keeps.
The strong tendency of dry eyes commands a proper preoperative and post operative evaluation and treatment for dry eyes. There are a number of successful treatments for dry eyes including artificial tears, prescription tears and punctal occlusion. Punctal occlusion is accomplished by placing a collagen plug in the natural drain of the eye. Dry eyes, if left untreated can endager the visual outcome and result in regression of the effect of LASIK or PRK, or in severe cases result in "chronic dry eye" where permanent chronic pain and visual impairment is a possible outcome. It also must be noted that some incidences of dry eye cannot be successfully mitigated using the above mentioned techniques, so a potential lasik patient must consider that dry eye can be a permanent outcome and untreatable.
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