Canadian Laser Eye Surgery

The Issue

Thousands of Canadians are turning to laser eye surgery to correct their vision and replace their glasses or contact lenses.
Background

The use of computers and other technology in medicine is growing by leaps and bounds. There are now a number of advanced surgical options available for people who need correction of their vision.

Laser eye surgery is most commonly used to correct three vision problems - myopia (near-sighted), hyperopia (far-sighted) and astigmatism (distorted vision when looking at objects at any distance).

These conditions are caused by problems with the way the eye focuses an image on the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. The ability to focus depends on three factors: the length of the eyeball from back to front, the lens, and the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye that covers the pupil and iris. It is curved and provides about two-thirds of the eye's focusing power.

During laser eye surgery, a surgeon uses a device called an Excimer Laser to change the shape of a patient's cornea permanently. This laser produces a beam of ultraviolet light that is used to vaporize tissue. It is called a "cold" laser because it can remove targeted layers of tissue without causing heat damage to the surrounding tissue.

Common Laser Procedures

The two types of laser eye surgery commonly performed in Canada are PRK (Photo-Refractive Keratectomy) first introduced in the early nineties, and LASIK (Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis) which was introduced in the mid-nineties.

PRK - the surgeon uses a laser beam, guided by a computer, to vaporize tiny amounts of tissue on the surface of the cornea. The procedure removes just enough tissue to reshape the cornea in a way that corrects vision. The healing process is complete in about a week.

LASIK - this surgery is more complicated. The surgeon first cuts a flap in the cornea, lifts it, and then, uses a laser which is guided by a computer to remove calculated amounts of tissue from the inside layers of the cornea. Afterwards, the flap is closed and the eye heals quickly by itself.

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