An excimer laser is a concentrated beam of ultraviolet light that can be precisely focused. The beam is so accurate that it can cut notches in a human hair. It removes one billionth of an inch of tissue per pulse. Laser light can be directed and controlled more precisely than normal light, and it can be delivered in extremely brief, intense pulses.
The laser produces a beam of ultraviolet light in pulses that last only a few billionths of a second. Each pulse removes a microscopic amount of tissue by evaporating it. And because the excimer laser produces very little heat, the surrounding tissue is not damaged. The Alcon LADARVision CustomCornea® corrects low to extreme myopia, astigmatism, and farsightedness.
Your Excimer Experience:
You're awake during treatment, but your eye is numbed with drops so that you feel no pain. An oral sedative, usually Valium, is given preoperatively to reduce anxiety during the procedure. You lie flat in a reclining chair so that your eye is aligned with the laser beam. Your eyelid is held open with a special instrument.
During LASIK, the epithelial layer is preserved by making a thin, hinged flap of superficial corneal tissue. The flap is then opened and reflected to the side. Then you look at a light to keep the laser beam centered over your eye. You'll hear a sound as the laser reshapes the surface of your cornea. The laser treatment typically takes less than one minute. You'll probably be in and out of the Laser Center in about an hour.
How the Laser Reshapes Your Eye:
To correct vision, your surgeon uses the excimer laser to reshape the curve of the cornea. Your refraction is entered into a computer, which calculates the depth and the pattern of tissue to be removed.
The laser then delivers a programmed number of overlapping pulses of ultraviolet light. Each pulse removes a microscopic layer of the cornea over the pupil. Pulses are directed at various locations on the cornea to sculpt the curve. Overlapping the pulses creates a smooth surface.
When the center of the cornea is sculpted, light rays are focused more directly on the retina and images are clearer.
A Refractive Surgery Procedure
The Laser Center
Dr. Val Zudans
Note: The information on this website is not a substitute for professional care. If you are having any problems with your eyes, you should see your ophthalmologist or optometrist for diagnosis and treatment.
