Laser in situ keratomileusis (ie, LASIK) is a surgical procedure designed to reshape the surface of the cornea with laser to focus visual images directly onto the retina, which improves visual acuity. The word keratomileusis is derived from the Greek root words keras (ie, hornlike cornea) and mileusis (ie, carving). It is the general term for surgical procedures that can improve or correct the eye's focus by permanently changing the shape of the cornea to bend light rays onto the retina and enhance the optical power of the eye. Refractive lamellar corneal surgery attempts to either remove, add, or modify the corneal stroma or structure so the anterior corneal curvature is altered as desired.
The cornea is the main refracting element of the optical system of the human eye, and small changes in the anterior curvature will produce relatively large changes in the patient's overall refraction.
The cornea is the main refracting element of the optical system of the human eye, and small changes in the anterior curvature will produce relatively large changes in the patient's overall refraction.
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Last Updated: Sep 2009
Last Updated: Sep 2009
What is Lasik?
The term keratomileusis refers to refractive keratoplasty techniques that combine a lamellar (ie, horizontal, platelike) resection of the cornea performed to change the corneal radius of curvature with a microkeratome (ie, a knife that is used for incising the cornea) or other instrument and cryolathe, microkeratome excision, or excimer laser ablation. Refractive corneal surgery is a cornerstone for invasive vision correction from which subsequent surgical techniques and innovations are evolving.
The LASIK surgery procedure uses the excimer laser for photoablation of the corneal stromal bed to alter the corneal curvature, bending admitted light onto the retina and generating a refractive change. The reported benefits of the procedure are rapidly improved visual acuity and minimal postoperative recovery. The LASIK surgery procedure leaves the corneal surface nearly intact, resulting in minimal healing from the excimer laser light sculpting of the cornea. The LASIK surgery procedure is an effective outpatient procedure that is suitable not only for patients with strong lens prescriptions but also for patients with moderate to weaker prescriptions.
Approximately 62 million people in the United States are myopic (ie, nearsighted) and require eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction. There is a greater number of the population who are farsighted, have astigmatism, or have a combination of astigmatism with either farsightedness or nearsightednes. In 1998, approximately 420,000 LASIK procedures were performed in the United States. This number was almost double the number of LASIK procedures performed in 1997. Two million people throughout the world have benefited from the LASIK procedure.
An elective surgical procedure, the LASIK surgery procedure often is performed at the patient's expense, as many insurers will not reimburse the costs for an elective procedure. Consumer demand, generated by timely, satisfactory postoperative results, has made this procedure one of the fastest growing elective surgical procedures in the United States. As such, perioperative nurses should be familiar with LASIK and the implications of this innovative ophthalmic surgical procedure.
The LASIK surgery procedure uses the excimer laser for photoablation of the corneal stromal bed to alter the corneal curvature, bending admitted light onto the retina and generating a refractive change. The reported benefits of the procedure are rapidly improved visual acuity and minimal postoperative recovery. The LASIK surgery procedure leaves the corneal surface nearly intact, resulting in minimal healing from the excimer laser light sculpting of the cornea. The LASIK surgery procedure is an effective outpatient procedure that is suitable not only for patients with strong lens prescriptions but also for patients with moderate to weaker prescriptions.
Approximately 62 million people in the United States are myopic (ie, nearsighted) and require eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction. There is a greater number of the population who are farsighted, have astigmatism, or have a combination of astigmatism with either farsightedness or nearsightednes. In 1998, approximately 420,000 LASIK procedures were performed in the United States. This number was almost double the number of LASIK procedures performed in 1997. Two million people throughout the world have benefited from the LASIK procedure.
An elective surgical procedure, the LASIK surgery procedure often is performed at the patient's expense, as many insurers will not reimburse the costs for an elective procedure. Consumer demand, generated by timely, satisfactory postoperative results, has made this procedure one of the fastest growing elective surgical procedures in the United States. As such, perioperative nurses should be familiar with LASIK and the implications of this innovative ophthalmic surgical procedure.
