How to Perform Laser Eye Surgery

Short and long sightedness and stigmatism are all due to light not focusing precisely on the retina. Surgeons and there surgical instruments can fix this by using a laser to reshape the curvature of the front surface of the eye. The doctor will not use retractors for surgery in this case.

The surgeon operates on the eye one at a time. He cleans the eye, the lid and the lashes with antiseptic and administers antiseptic drops to freeze the eye and lid. He opens the lid wide with a speculum. The surgeon rinses the eye with a saline solution from his surgical instrument set. Everything is frozen so the patient doesn’t feel a thing.

Next are anti-biotitic drops which prevent infection. Before every operation the surgeon tests the equipment. He fires the laser on a metal plate to test its energy level. The surgeon administers a few more antiseptic drops then inspects the micro-carotene. The device used to lift a very thin layer from the outer surface of the eye. The patient’s cornea is measured using an ultra sonic surgical equipment.The surgeon uses the speculum again to prop the lid open then begins the operation. The eye is marked with a sterile ink. It’s a reference to mark to be used later.

Next a metal ring is position around the cornea. The ring is attached to a suction pump so it clings to the eye. Like holding a tomato steady when you slice it. It holds the eye steady while the surgeon cuts the tissue. The surgeon lubricates the eye with sterile water then mops up the water with a small absorbent sponge. Then the micro-carotene is slipped into the grooves in the metal suction ring. Within a matter of seconds the device moves across the eye cutting open a thin piece of tissue. The same way a carpenter’s blade shaves a layer of wood.

The Surgeon uses a sterile sponge to keep tears from contaminating the cornea. He folds back a piece of tissue exposing the cornea. Then mops up the excess liquid, and finally starts up the laser. Meanwhile the tiny sponge keeps the piece of thin tissue moist. The laser is an invisible beam of light fires in 50 pulses a second. Each pulse vaporizes a one-quarter microbe of corneal tissue. The laser is controlled by a computer program so it knows exactly how to reshape the cornea to give most patients 20/20 vision.

In less than a minute the laser has done its job. The surgeon removes the sponge and then using the ink marks he used earlier as a reference folds the flap of tissue back to its original position. If the flap doesn’t go back exactly where it was before then the patient will have distorted vision. Using a syringe that flushes the area with sterile water the surgeon carefully smoothes the flap. Within 45 seconds the negative pressure inside the cornea sucks the flap back on. The flap literally seals itself. Anti-biotitic drops are applies as a preemptive measure and the micro-carotene is applied once again to verify once everything is OK before moving on to the other eye.

When that’s done the surgeon uses a high power microscope to make sure the thin tissue is wrinkle free. Finally the patient wears protective shields overnight for just a week.

… And that’s how you do laser eye surgery