Common Vision Problems Can Be Corrected
The frustration associated with eyeglasses and endless contact lens purchases affects millions of North Americans. But finding a viable long-term solution for common vision problems including farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), or astigmatism isn’t as difficult as you think.
Laser vision correction procedures can correct your vision problems permanently. The most common LASIK procedure uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. The laser’s pinpoint reshaping of the cornea allows light to focus directly onto the retina, providing 98% of patients with 20/40 vision—the level required to drive a car without glasses or contacts. This percentage improves to 100% for the few people who undergo an enhancement procedure. Many patients exceed expectations and achieve 20/15 vision, which is better than 20/20.
The two-step process first uses a microkeratome to create a corneal flap, giving the laser access to the layer of the cornea that needs to be corrected. Then, the excimer laser reshapes the cornea, removing tissue from its middle layer.
The excimer laser is a “cool laser”, both literally and figuratively. The “coolness” scientifically implies that it does not heat up the surrounding surface of the eye. The ultraviolet light beam is sharply focused and absorbed by the upper layer of the surface that it contacts, penetrating only a microscopic amount of the cornea. Each laser pulse removes one micron of tissue, and the average hair on a human head is 100 microns thick. So a LASIK surgeon would be able to etch your name on a strand of hair using an excimer laser. Now that’s accuracy!
The LASIK procedure is safe, virtually painless, and over within minutes. Patients experience better vision within hours of the procedure and notice dramatically improved vision the following day. With over 35 million cases and more than 20 years of proven results, laser vision correction has become the go-to remedy for people fed up with the day-to-day annoyance of glasses and contacts.
Why be among the millions of people still suffering from the grief and expense associated with less than perfect vision? The remedy for common vision problems is available, and it’s more accessible, affordable, and effective than ever.