What is a Laser?

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The first word is a good place to begin. A laser is a light. Not a light like the one in your living room, but a special kind of light. It has unique qualities.

Monochromaticity – A laser has only one wavelength or color. A regular light bulb has a range of wavelengths.

Directionality – A laser has a narrow beam which does not diverge. Compare a laser pointer with a regular flashlight.

Intensity – A laser is an extremely powerful light. A simple laser can produce light which is a hundred times more intense than sunlight.

These properties make the laser useful in light shows, war games, and incidentally, health care. Within medicine, lasers were first adapted for eye surgery.

The Excimer Laser

Lasers are differentiated from each other by the wavelength of their light beam. A laser generated from krypton gas produces light with a wavelength of 647 nanometers (nm). This wavelength falls within the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation and is seen as red. An argon laser which is used in retinal surgery has a wavelength of 514 nm and is green. A holmium:YAG laser with a wavelength of 2.13 micrometers is useful in the treatment of hyperopia.

The excimer laser uses a combination of argon and fluoride gases to produce radiation in the ultraviolet range (193nm) which is invisible to the naked eye. This laser light has the ability to break molecular bonds in a process called photoablation.

In 1983, it was first realized that this laser could be useful for corneal surgery. Why? Because this laser was different. Unlike other lasers, the excimer had the ability to remove corneal tissue with a high degree of precision, and equally important, without causing thermal damage to the remaining tissue. Sculpting of the cornea entered into the realm of possibility.

It is difficult, yet desirable, to comprehend the degree of precision exhibited by the excimer laser. A millimeter is one thousandth of a meter or four hundredths of an inch. A micron, or micrometer, is one thousandth of a millimeter. That is, one millionth of a meter. For the sake of comparison, a potato chip is about 500 microns thick, a human hair is about 50 microns thick and a single red blood cell is seven microns in diameter. The excimer laser has the ability to sculpt the cornea within a fraction of a micron.

Advocates of laser eye surgery point out that the steadiest hands in the world cannot even approach that level of surgical precision.

There are other kinds of lasers on the horizon which act in a similar fashion to the excimer. The light from these solid state lasers is produced from a crystal, whereas the excimer beam is created from a gas. Technically, solid state lasers are not excimer lasers, but that’s a whole new area to explore.

Before you have laser eye treatment, are you certain you fully understand the risks and implications of the procedures, and have you selected the right type of corrective eye surgery for your specific condition? Get all the facts that the ads don’t tell you here.

It will take a very comprehensive article begin to show realistically the promise of laser eye surgery and other refractive surgery treatments – the power of these highly-technical, life-changing procedures to correct focusing errors such as common nearsightedness. Unfortunately, many people are learning about the popular state-of-the-art LASIK operation through mass advertising campaigns. Some marketing methods can be misleading. Although “sound-bite” commercials help make people aware of this innovative technology, they are unable to tell the whole story.

For example, TV and radio advertisements seldom explain refractive surgery’s effect on age-related presbyopia (a condition causing blurry near vision that affects middle-aged and older people). Nor can short commercials present details about potential complications.

Many LASIK eye surgery newspaper articles begin with a happy story about a thrilled patient praising their new miracle vision and end with a sad case about a different person with a poor result. While most people get excellent results, problems absolutely do occur.

Complication rates can vary considerably among doctors, depending upon their surgical skill, their training, and their understanding of their laser. A corneal surgeon – an ophthalmologist specially trained to operate within the cornea’s multiple layers – may have an advantage performing LASIK. The newer flying-spot lasers may decrease the chance of problems.

Statistics can be confusing. You may wonder what is covered in the “complication rate.”

Does it include “undercorrections” where the patient’s eyesight after surgery remains a little near- or far- sighted?

What is the rate of rare serious infections that must be treated immediately with antibiotics?

Are the complications temporary or permanent?

Can they be surgically corrected?

Some complications can be managed immediately during the surgery, some are temporary, and some can be permanent.

You need to be able to select a doctor with the lowest possible complication rates for the procedure that you are considering.

Keep in mind that a physician may have a distinguished career in general ophthalmology, yet still be inexperienced at performing LASIK. LASIK eye surgery looks deceptively easy to perform, but it requires great technical finesse. The surgeon’s learning-curve is steep and endless. LASIK has the potential to help millions of people, but the reputation of a procedure is only as good as its worst results. As much as humanly possible, doctors and their informed patients must reduce surgical risks to a minimum.

You may be fascinated with the idea of improving your vision, but you probably fear an operation on your eyes – especially after reading about a poor outcome in the popular press. Knowing the right questions to ask can help you achieve your goals and reduce your anxiety. Of course, caution is always prudent. But I believe that patient education is the key to managing the fear of refractive laser eye surgery.

Such knowledge should enable you to use this sophisticated medical technology to your benefit.

After researching your options you should begin to think more as an expert does. You will gain a better understanding of how your remarkable eyes work. You will have more insight into the benefits and risks of the operations mentioned above. You will know key questions to ask your doctor to see if you are a good candidate for refractive laser eye surgery. My goal is to help you make an informed decision about your eyes. Only then can you decide if the benefits are worth the risks, considering your lifestyle.

Do you want to have refractive surgery? Which kind? Are you a good candidate? If so, which procedure is right for you? And of paramount importance to your future vision, who should be your doctor?

Laser eye surgery is becoming an extremely popular method of correcting vision problems, but do you fully understand the implications and risks of opting for laser eye correction? Arms yourself with the facts about corrective eye surgery to help you make an informed decision before you risk the health of your eyes.

For millions of nearsighted people and those with other refractive errors, laser eye surgery offers a way to eliminate or reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

Today, several million people around the world can see better as a result of the advances in computerized excimer laser technology. Over the past twenty years, many people have improved their vision with the older, non-laser-based procedure called radial keratotomy, or RK. In the near future, laser refractive surgeries, which are more accurate, may become the most popular of all ophthalmic procedures.

Before having any refractive operation, patients need expert answers concerning all the potential benefits and risks of these ever-evolving surgical techniques. Today, people want to know precisely what happens when a surgeon permanently refocuses their eyes. No longer do patients merely ask their ophthalmologist, “Can you help me see better?” They want the tools to be able to participate in their health-care decisions. They want to know how their eyes work. They want to understand their diagnosis. They want to know exactly how excimer laser eye surgery can improve their vision and why it might work better than RK. And, most important of all, they want detailed answers about their individual chances for better eyesight.

To find answers to these questions, patients need a physician who is experienced in corrective eye surgery – a doctor who follows the latest developments in this complex, technology-based field. If you are considering eye surgery, the relationship between you and your doctor is a special one. Your eyes are as unique as your fingerprints. Your surgeon and your individual healing response will determine your vision for the rest of your life.

Your doctor must help you understand the surgery that is designed to allow you to overcome poor vision. Not only should you have a thorough eye examination with the latest ophthalmic instruments, but you also deserve your physician’s complete attention during his time with you. You must make absolutely certain that he clearly understands your visual goals and needs.

Though your eye doctor and his staff may be totally committed to answering your questions, the spontaneous spoken word is seldom as well thought out and detailed as the written word. Hence, even if your physician spent hours explaining refractive laser eye surgery to you, he probably would be unable to present a totally clear and comprehensive picture of these procedures.

For this reason there are many books, articles and websites designed to help you make informed decisions concerning your eyes. They want you to have an absolutely realistic grasp of what can and cannot be done to try to improve your vision. Offering clear explanations in easy-to-read language, most doctors “sit down” with you and present an in-depth look at all the latest life-changing breakthroughs in this highly specialized field.

A well researched article will answer your questions about the newest laser eye surgery, known as LASIK, and about all of the other types of refractive eye surgery, including the original laser-based PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) procedure and the older RK (radial keratotomy) operation. Ideally you also want information that is devoted to comparing the merits of these procedures, and the chances of attaining better vision during an enhancement procedure to fine-tune the first refractive operation.

Laser vision correction procedures are becoming ever more popular these days, and consequently are getting cheaper and therefore within the budget of a lot more people. Before you take the plunge make sure you fully understand the different types of corrective eye surgery and all the risks involved.

So you’re searching for 20/20. And you’ve heard about laser eye surgery. Maybe a friend told you about it or perhaps you saw an ad on television. Now let us go out on a limb. Somewhere, at the tip of your tongue, or at the very least at the back of your mind, there is a question. Should you have laser eye surgery? It’s a very simple question, really. A yes or no question. And you’re hoping for a quick answer, so you can get back to making important decisions like what to have for dinner tonight.

Should I have laser eye surgery? Everywhere we go, people ask us this. Should I have laser eye surgery? It’s a loaded question. In fact, it’s an excellent question to ask, only a difficult one to answer. And although it is cleverly disguised, it really isn’t a yes or no question. It’s like asking someone, “Should I buy a car?”

A car. Well, do you really need a car? What about public transportation? Or bicycles or cabs? Or even walking? Can you afford a car? And what kind of car are we talking about here? A sports car or a sedan? What’s more important to you, comfort or style? Speed or reliability? Are airbags really necessary? And if you’re so scared of what can happen to you in a car, then maybe you shouldn’t even be on the roads.

Similar issues can be raised about laser eye surgery. Do you really need it? What are the alternatives? When it comes to your eyes, what’s more important to you, appearance or function? Safety or style? As you can see, there are a number of questions which need to be addressed before you’re anywhere near making a decision. And everybody is different. Each person has different priorities, different expectations and goals, and importantly, different eyes. So whether you’re in search of a perfect car or perfect vision, it is a decision you have to make and to live with.

With due respect to car dealers and manufacturers, we are talking about your eyes. This is serious business and you know it. There are no 100% guarantees in medicine and there is no chance of getting replacement eyes if yours are in the shop. The most important thing is to make the best decision you can.

When you are in the market for a new car, you do some research. You talk to friends and family, even car salesmen. You read consumer reports. And once you have all of the information you need, you make a decision.

In car-shopping, however, you have a bit of a head start. You already know that a car has four wheels, a steering wheel, and runs on gasoline. And you also have a little perspective, knowing that brakes shouldn’t be an optional accessory. Last but not least, you have the benefit of having driven a car before and also being able to test drive before you buy.

The same principles apply when considering laser eye surgery. The difference is here, you’re starting from scratch. In all probability, you don’t know very much about laser eye surgery. You don’t know about its history, its results, its inherent risks. Chances are you don’t know much about the different kinds of laser eye surgery and what is the best kind for you. Perhaps you don’t even know very much about eyes in general and your eyes in particular.

You are not alone. Greater than a quarter of the population is nearsighted. An additional percentage is farsighted. It is estimated that by the end of this year three million Americans will have had laser eye surgery. And two million more will undergo the procedure every year after that. Countless more will consider it. That means that each person like you, who endures glasses or contact lenses, is today confronted with a difficult decision. With the health of your eyes at stake, not to mention the issues of money, pain, risk, and unknown chances of success, how do you make such a decision?

That is why we are asked questions at social gatherings. Intelligent, motivated, responsible people like you are attempting to acquire all of the information they can in order to make the right decision. The problem is figuring out who to ask. You can seek the advice of people at cocktail parties, but anecdotal accounts can be misleading. You can ask your eye doctor, but that is not unlike asking a car salesman if you should buy his or her car.

You can search the archives of medical literature in search of relevant, accurate, information. Buried under mountains of statistics and obscured by clouds of bias you may discover useful facts.

Or you can read this free report about the pros and cons of laser eye treatment. We have attempted to compile a summary of everything you need to know about laser eye surgery. The information you will read is as accurate, objective, and up-to-date as possible. Some of the reports are fairly technical. That is the nature of eye surgery.

You will find everything surprisingly easy to understand. And that is the goal. For only if you understand your eyes and your options, will you be able to make the best possible decision. It is, after all, your decision.