What Is Laser Refractive Surgery?

Refractive surgery is a laser treatment to reshape the cornea (clear window of the eye) to correct refractive error that usually correction with glasses or contact lens.

Refractive error include:

nearsightedness (myopia)

farsightedness (hyperopia)

astigmatism

For people who are nearsighted, their natural focusing power of the eye is too strong, therefore the refractive surgery will aim to reduce the curvature of their cornea to lessen the eye's focusing power. Farsighted people have focusing power of their eyes being too weak, therefore refractive surgery procedures will achieve a steeper cornea to increase the eye's focusing power.

Astigmatism can also be corrected with laser refractive surgery at the same time by selectively reshape portions of an irregular cornea to make it smooth and symmetrical.