Many modern methods of laser eye surgery revolve around the excimer laser, a special kind of laser that emits ultraviolet chemicals. This type of laser was first seen and used in manufacturing semiconductors way back in the 1970s, but, more recently, the excimer laser has been incorporated in treatment methods. In 1982, Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasin and his team, who were employed at the research laboratories of IBM back then, came up with the idea of studying how excimer lasers interact with human tissues. Dr. Steven Trokel, an ophthalmologist, explained it and applied it to the corneal tissue. From the marriage of their ideas, the LASIK technique of laser eye surgery was born.
Different methods of laser eye surgery use unique types of lasers, but for corrective eye surgeries, the excimer laser is almost always what surgeons prefer. Excimer has the advantage of being the most modern and innovative type of laser currently available. Unlike other lasers, the mechanism of the excimer laser allows it to cut or remove tissues without having to heat up or damage other surrounding tissue. Thus, it was nicknamed as the “cool laser.” In addition, the excimer laser exhibits such precision that it is able to cut 0.5% of the width of a human hair. This fact is enough to convince some patients that excimer lasers are no joke. Rather, they are the real deal and they can produce very real improvements in their vision.
This LASIK technique is also receptive to more innovation and technology advancement, making it a dynamic technique that evolves according to the times. Because of its precision, more and more patients prefer LASIK laser eye surgery to other corrective surgery treatments. The operation room during a LASIK procedure is typically occupied by the patient, the LASIK surgeon or ophthalmologist, and a technician who can manipulate the laser beams according to the needs of the patient.
Vision is one of the senses that can give us the most information about the world. It is undoubtedly important, and vision problems may hinder our capability to perform simple tasks, or even effect our decision making. Thus, a person must take the utmost care of their eyes, and choose the procedure that can guarantee little or no side effects. LASIK gained its popularity precisely because of the minimal risks of side effects and the reliability of the procedure over time. If you plan to address your vision problems through LASIK, contact your ophthalmologist first to seek his or her expert opinion about what laser eye surgery treatment will work best for you.
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