1. Which common vision problems are corrected with laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery corrects common refractive errors, including:● Nearsightedness (myopia): close objects are clear; distance vision is blurry● Farsightedness (hyperopia): distant objects are clear; close-up vision is blurry● Astigmatism: blurry vision at any distance● Presbyopia: farsightedness caused by age-related loss of lens elasticity
For most patients, laser surgery restores normal vision, so they don’t need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.

2. Which eye conditions are treated with laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is used to treat many different eye conditions, whether they affect the retina, cornea, or other structures within your eye, including:● Cataracts: lasers precisely make the incision and soften the cataract for easier removal● Glaucoma: laser trabeculoplasty improves drainage to normalize eye pressure● Diabetic macular edema: laser surgery seals or eliminates leaking blood vessels
A detached retina and other retinal problems may also be treated with laser eye surgery.

3. What is LASIK?

LASIK, the most common laser eye surgery, uses a laser to reshape your cornea and correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
The first step of LASIK surgery is to create an opening to gain access to the cornea. In standard LASIK surgery, the doctor uses a mechanical blade to create the flap. The specialists at UltraVision use the IntraLase® femtosecond laser to cut the flap, ensuring that the cut is smooth and a consistent thickness.
Then your doctor uses the Allegretto WaveLight® EX500 excimer laser to remove microscopic areas of your cornea. This gentle sculpting restores the cornea’s shape so it can properly focus light onto the retina.
Once the corneal reshaping is finished, your doctor folds the flap back over the cornea. The precision-cut of the laser ensures that the flap fits the cornea exactly, which promotes faster healing.

4. Which other types of laser eye surgery are available?

The eye specialists at UltraVision also offer two other forms of laser eye surgery to correct refractive errors:
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)Corrects refractive errors by removing a piece of the outer cornea, rather than making a flap. The layer naturally regrows after your surgery, which extends your recovery time.
Laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK)The flap is created without cutting by separating cells from the cornea and gently pushing them off to one side.