How does laser eye surgery work?
When you think of laser eye surgery, you probably also think of a ‘scary’ operation on your eyes. We would like to explain to you how laser eye surgery works and why it is not scary.
Why laser eye surgery
There are many people who have to wear glasses or lenses every day to see clearly. Maybe you recognize yourself in this. How nice would it be to just get out of bed in the morning and see clearly right away? And to be able to do all your daily activities again without those awkward glasses or lenses? Think of sports, driving, DIY, reading and so on. With laser eye surgery we can often get your vision sharp again.
What is laser eye surgery?
There are different techniques when it comes to laser eye surgery, but the goal is always to adjust the curvature of the cornea so that the light falls perfectly on your retina again. The higher your prescription, the more the eye shape needs to be adjusted. Both nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be corrected.
How does laser eye surgery work?
Laser eye surgery consists of 2 steps. First, the correct layer in the cornea must be reached. How this is done depends on the chosen laser eye technique. Your eyes are numbed with eye drops, so you feel no pain during the treatment.
Step 1 – Reaching the correct layer in the cornea
Lasek
: in this technique, the top layer of the cornea is loosened with a type of alcohol solution.
TransPRK
: the top layer of the cornea is evaporated with the laser.
IntraLasik
: the top layer is not removed, but folded aside.
ReLEx SMILE
: a tiny incision is made in the cornea. Most of it remains intact.
Step 2 – Correct Vision
When the correct layer is reached, tissue must be removed with the laser to correct the strength. This is to get your eye back into the right shape so that the light falls perfectly on your retina again and you see sharply again.
Benefits of laser eye surgery
- You no longer need glasses or contact lenses;
- Safer than wearing contact lenses for life (risk of infection when wearing contact lenses is greater than with laser eye surgery);
- One-time investment (cheaper than wearing contact lenses for life).
Want to know more?
There are various treatments . Which one suits you best depends on your own eye situation, age and lifestyle. In our eye clinics, spread across central and southern Netherlands, we determine which treatment method suits you best during a
free and non-binding preliminary examination