Eye Laser Surgery – How does the eye work ?

The CORNEA is the only transparent tissue in the human body and is on the SURFACE at the front of the eye in front of the IRIS (the colored part of the eye). The CORNEA is curved and acts like a lens providing two thirds of the eyes focusing power. The remaining focusing power is supplied by the LENS which is situated just inside the front of the eye behind the IRIS. The two work together like a camera, allowing light rays from an image to pass through onto the back of the eye, the RETINA, where it is captured and upside down ! From an early age the brain learns to automatically turn the image up the right way. As the lens changes shape the focus is adjusted according to whether the image is close or in the distance.

The ABILITY to FOCUS clearly is commonly compromised through one of TWO reasons.

1) if the eye is abnormally short or long

2) If the curvature of the cornea is too steep or too flat

Both cause the point of focus to fall short of or outside the retina. Often people who suffer with far or short-sight have either 1) or 2) or a combination. The degree of their prescription is determined by the amount of the abnormality (length of the eye & curvature of the cornea)

Obviously it is difficult to change the length of the eye. The CORNEA on the other hand is on the surface and by changing its CURVATURE(as Lasik does) - we can correct REFRACTIVE ERROR(Shortsight,Farsightand Astigmatism).Eye Laser surgery and the majority of refractive eye surgery works by altering corneal shape.

To be suitable for eye laser surgery, it is important that the eyes are stable. As we grow our eyes also grow and change so it isn't until we reach our twenties that a steady prescription can be calculated. Most clinics prefer to wait until then to perform eye laser surgery as it is unlikely that the patient will receive the full benefit of correction before the eye has finished developing. However for some professions quality of sight is essential and people hoping to enrol may be considered at a younger age. Most official bodies such as the Police force and Fire department now also formally accept laser corrected vision.

Lasik eye laser surgery is amongst the most common procedures of any kind performed worldwide and has a phenomenal success rate. Lasik has transformed the lives of many - find out how refractive eye surgery can be of benefit to you by coming to one of our free seminars.