Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
BOOKS
Brint, Stephen F., Dennis Kennedy, and Corinne Kuypers-Denlinger. The Laser Vision Breakthrough. Roseville, CA: Prima Health, 2000.
Caster, Andrew I. The Eye Laser Miracle: The Complete Guide to Better Vision....
New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1997.
Slade, Stephen G., Richard N. Baker, and Dorothy Kay Brockman. The Complete Book of Laser Eye Surgery. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2000.
ORGANIZATION
American Academy of Ophthalmology. P.O. Box 7424, San Francisco, CA 94120-7424. (415) 561-8500.
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 4000 Legato Road, Suite 850, Fairfax, VA 22033-4055. (703) 591-2220. E-mail:
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance. 8543 Everglade Drive, Sacramento, CA 95826-0769. (916) 381-0769. E-mail:
OTHER
Bethke, Walt. "Surface Procedures: The State of the Art."Review of Ophthalmology, February 2003 [cited March 16, 2003]. <;www.revopth.com/index.asp?page=1_283.htm>.
"Identify Allergies Before Performing LASIK, PRK."OcularSurgery News. October 25, 2002 [cited March 16, 2003].
"PRK: Photorefractive Keratectomy."EyeMdLink.com. [cited March 20, 2003].
Sabar, Ariel. "Laser Gives Kids Vision to Fly."The BaltimoreSun. February 27, 2003 [cited March 16, 2003].
Segre, Liz. "PRK: The Original Laser Eye Surgery."All AboutVision. [cited March 16, 2003].
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Other Information
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy (or Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) (LASEK) are laser eye surgery procedures intended to correct a person's vision, reducing dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The first LASEK procedure was performed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1996 by ophthalmologist, refractive surgeon, Dimitri Azar. The procedure was later popularized by Camellin, who coined the term LASEK for laser epithelial keratomileusis. LASEK and PRK permanently change the shape of the anterior central cornea using an excimer laser to ablate (remove by vapourization) a small amount of tissue from the corneal stroma at the front of the eye, just under the corneal epithelium. The outer layer of the cornea is removed prior to the ablation. A computer system tracks the patient's eye position 60 to 4,000 times per second, depending on the brand of laser used, redirecting laser pulses for precise placement. Most modern lasers will automatically center on the patient's visual axis and will pause if the eye moves out of range and then resume ablating at that point after the patient's eye is re-centered.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photorefractive_keratectomy
Other Information
Surgeons aim for results of 20/20 or better so that you can perform most daily activities without your glasses. However, there is a possibility that after surgery, you may need to wear reading glasses or corrective lenses for at least some activities.
-Eye Surgery Education Council
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