Wearing contacts or eyeglasses eventually becomes tiresome for many of the people who rely on corrective lenses. Each has certain advantages as well as disadvantages that can impact daily living. If you’ve ever lost a contact lens in the middle of a busy day, you know what we’re talking about. If you are an active individual whose life is inhibited by glasses that slide down your nose, you get it: corrective eyewear can be a drag. The notion of not needing to wear glasses anymore may sound exciting. If it does, you may be considering the benefits of LASIK eye surgery. This is something worth discussing with your Ocala eye doctor.
LASIK: A Track Record of Success
For several years now, LASIK has been a conventional technique used to correct refractive errors (more on that in a moment). According to patient follow-up after LASIK, a large percentage of those treated with this laser procedure achieve vision of at least 20/25. This is good enough to perform a variety of tasks without relying on external lenses to do so. The exception that researchers have noted is night-driving, for which most patients still like to wear glasses.
How LASIK Works
LASIK is a recognized name that is associated with laser eye surgery. Many people know what it is; they just don’t know exactly how it works. To understand LASIK, we need to discuss the natural function of the eye.
Vision is all about light. Light rays enter the front of the eye and pass through to the back. It is when these rays of light land on the retina that an image is formed. Instantaneously, when light meets the retina, information is transferred through the optic nerve to the brain. It is here where objects are processed and recognized in clear image form.
If there is an abnormal curve to the cornea, light rays cannot travel straight through the eye to the retina. This results in difficulty seeing either up close, far away, or at all distances. The purpose of eyeglasses and contacts is to bend light for the eye so vision can be clear. LASIK doesn’t bend light for the eye; it reshapes the cornea so light can enter the eye appropriately.
Predictability
LASIK’s success rate has historically been high for cases of mild to moderate nearsightedness. Coinciding errors such as farsightedness and astigmatism or eye disease like glaucoma may downgrade the predictability factor of this eye surgery. However, most patients do enjoy noticeable visual improvement even with subsequent conditions.
At Central Florida Eye Institute, you have options. In addition to LASIK, Dr. Croley performs various other corrective procedures to meet the needs of our patients. Discover the right path for your visual needs. Call (352) 237-8400.