Laser Eye Surgery
Knoxville laser eye surgery can give you the vision you always wanted. It is also called LASIK. LASIK stands for Laser in Situ Keratomileusis. The keratomileusis is the cornea, the transparent front of the eye which refracts light. LASIK eye surgery corrects refractive errors which occur when the curve of the cornea is irregular. There are three types of refractive errors, and a person can have more than one type. In myopia (near sightedness), a person cannot see well up close. In hyperopia (far sightedness), a person cannot see well far away. Presbyopia (astigmatism) is caused when the cornea is irregular and light rays entering the eye have more than one foci. A person with staigmatism may see well when turning the eyes in one direction, but not another.
Laser eye surgery uses a excimer laser, which is highly specialized, to alter the shape of the cornea. During the operation, the surgeon uses either a microkeratome (a surgical instrument with an oscillating blade) or a laser called IntraLase. This latter is a newer procedure which cuts the flap with more precision and the patient ends up with fewer complications. The incision from the IntraLase leave vertical, not tapered, edges which makes healing occur faster. A surgeon who is highly skilled with the microkeratome can do a better job than a surgeon who is less skilled with the IntraLase. Surgical skill is an important factor in good patient outcomes. Another factor to consider is cost. It is more expensive to have the IntraLase used.
In Knoxville, our clinic has the most highly trained doctors and uses the most up-to-date techniques for laser eye surgery.
