How the Eye Works

The key to understanding refractive surgery, is to understand how the eye works. Much like with a camera, sharp, clear vision is the result of light rays passing through the cornea, pupil and lens and focusing directly upon the retina. If the cornea is not round, or it is too steep or too flat in relation to the length of the eye, light rays focus either in front of or behind the retina resulting in "refractive errors" such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Laser Vision Correction is a term for two separate procedures designed to treat these "refractive errors." The cornea is the clear surface of the eye. Many people who are nearsighted place contact lenses on their eyes to improve the way the cornea focuses light. Laser vision correction simply is another way of improving the way the cornea focuses light by modifying the curvature of the cornea. Laser vision correction is done on an outpatient basis with most patients returning to their normal activities the following day. Your Professional Eye Associates doctor will help you decide which procedure or combination of procedures is best suited for you.

Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when the curvature of the cornea is too steep. With nearsightedness, the eye's refractive power is too strong, forcing the image to be focused in front of the retina of the eye, rather than upon it as would be with normal vision. When light focuses in front of the retina, near objects can be seen clearly, but far objects appear blurry.

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is caused when the curvature of the cornea is too flat and hence causes light to focus behind the retina. With farsightedness, the eye's refractive power is too weak forcing the image to be focused behind the retina of the eye, causing far objects to be seen clearly and near objects to appear blurred.