Laser eye centers are available all across the nation.Most laser eye centers offer much more than LASIK or another form of laser vision correction.Lasers are also used to help correct or improve conditions resulting from cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and much more.
Cataracts are formed during the normal aging process, so they are most common in older adults.A cataract is a “gradual clouding of the eye’s natural lens.”Because they form gradually they are harder to spot.While lasers are not yet used in surgery to physically remove cataracts, a laser like the YAG laser can be used after cataract surgery to help clear up blurred vision that may have resulted from the original cataract removal.
In a glaucoma patient, pressure is created the build up of fluid to an abnormally high level in one or both eyes.This pressure can lead to damage of delicate visual structures in the eye.If left untreated, glaucoma often causes blindness.If caught before the optic nerve is too badly damaged, laser surgery can help release the pressure caused by the fluid buildup.The laser is used to make several tiny scars in the eye’s drainage system to increase the flow of fluid out of the eye.
Macular degeneration occurs when the tissues inside the central area of the retina, called the macula, begin to break down and separate.Though there is no known cure for macular degeneration, lasers can be used to help repair weakened areas of the retina and to remove damaged tissue, allowing for the growth of healthy tissue in those areas.
For people who suffer from diabetes, a condition called diabetic retinopathy can occur.Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels that nourish the retina begin to deteriorate, often leading to blindness.The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her chance is of developing diabetic retinopathy.Laser treatments are used for some patients to halt the progression of this disease, but early detection is vital for treatment.
Retinal tears can also be treated at a laser eye center.Symptoms of retinal tears include the sudden onset of seeing “floaters” or unexplained flashes of light in one’s vision.Laser coagulation performed using a laser such as the Argon laser can be used to treat retinal tears.
If left untreated, a retinal tear can lead to retinal detachment.Nearsighted individuals are most commonly affected by retinal detachment due to the thinning of the retina that occurs with myopia.When the retina detaches completely surgical reattachment is necessary.
Another common procedure at many laser eye centers is cosmetic surgery, or oculoplastics.Oculoplastics is plastic surgery surgery involving the eyes as well as surrounding bones, skin, and tissue.Since our eyes have the ability to make us look old and tired, many people desire to keep a more youthful appearance through cosmetic eye surgery.A procedure known as blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, uses a laser to remove excess skin and loose muscles as well as erase the appearance of bags on both the upper and lower eyelids.This can result in a more youthful appearance for the patient.
Other common cosmetic eye surgeries are performed to improve conditions such as ectropion, which is an outward turning of the lower eyelid away from the eye; entropion, which is an inward rotation of the lid such that the lashes tend to rub against the eye; and ptosis, which is the medical term for “drooping of the eyelid.”
Of course, one of the most frequently performed procedures at laser eye centers is LASIK or a similar form of laser eye surgery.LASIK is the most common form of refractive surgery available today.Because of high demand, some laser eye centers are devoted entirely to performing refractive surgeries.
In conclusion, a local laser eye center can benefit a wide variety of patients suffering from visual and other ocular complaints.If you are concerned about your vision, talk to your doctor to see if there is a laser surgery option available that is right for you and your individual eyes.