Laser Eye Surgery

• About the Surgery
• Preparing for Surgery
• Risks
• Clinic Information
• Complete List of Surgical Procedures at Kellogg

---

About Laser Eye Surgery
A laser is a concentrated beam of light energy created when an electric current passes through special material. There are several different ways that lasers can be used to treat eye conditions.

Thermal lasers convert the light to heat when it reaches the eye. This heat can then be used to seal blood vessels (veins and arteries) that are bleeding or leaking fluid; or to destroy abnormal tissue such as a tumor; or to bond the retina to the back of the eye.

Photodisruptive lasers use the light to cut or sculpt tissue. This sculpting beam can be used inside the eye to cut thin membranes that are blocking vision.

Photoablative lasers can be used to change the shape of the surface of the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmation.

Laser surgery of the eye gives the surgeon great precision and control, lowering the risk of infection and reducing the damage to other tissues. Laser surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting, without an overnight stay in the hospital.

Conditions That Can Be Treated Using Lasers
Lasers can be used to correct refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmation.

More info on refractive surgery using lasers.

Retinal tears or holes can be treated with lasers. If the retina tears, it can separate from the back wall of the eye. This is called a retinal detachment, and it can cause you to lose your vision. Symptoms of retinal tears include sudden flashes of light, or "floaters" (specks) in your vision. Most retinal tears can be treated with the argon or krypton laser, if the tears are found before the retina detaches. The laser helps bond the retina to the back wall of the eye, preventing a retinal detachment. If retinal detachment has already occurred, the laser cannot be used and an operation is usually necessary to repair the detachment.

Sealing leaky retinal blood vessels, such as those found in diabetic retinopathy, can also be done with a laser. Diabetes can cause blood vessels in the retina to grow abnormally. These vessels can leak fluid (macular edema) or bleed inside the eye. Laser surgery can seal leaking blood vessels to reduce macular edema and help prevent further vision loss. Laser surgery can slow or stop the growth of abnormal retinal blood vessels and decrease the chance of bleeding inside the eye.

The macula is the small, central area of the retina that allows us to see fine details clearly. Degeneration of the macula therefore affects your central or reading vision. Most macular degeneration is "dry" and can not be helped by laser surgery. Occasionally, macular degeneration is "wet" and can be treated with laser surgery. In this case abnormal retinal blood vessels cause bleeding and scarring of the macula. These blood vessels may be treated with the argon or krypton laser to prevent further damage to the macula.

Other retina problems that can be treated with the laser, include retinal vein occlusions; histoplasmosis; central serous retinopathy; some tumors of the eye.

Lasers can be used to treat glaucoma. Glaucoma can affect the optic nerve when the intraocular pressure is elevated for an extended period of time. Loss of vision from glaucoma can often be prevented if your ophthalmologist discovers this disorder before much damage occurs to the optic nerve. Eye drops or pills are the usual way to treat glaucoma. If that does not control pressure within the eye, laser surgery may be used to create a tiny opening, allowing excess fluid within the eye to drain to reduce pressure on the optic nerve.