Laser Surgery

Laser Vision Correction

Conditions Treated
Preparation
Treatment

Conditions Treated

A number of vision problems can be treated with laser refractive surgery, including:

Nearsightedness – Also known as myopia, a nearsighted eye is somewhat longer than the normal eye. This causes the light rays to focus at a point in front of the retina, resulting in a blurry view of distant objects. Approximately 70 million people in the United States – one in four – have some degree of myopia.

Farsightedness – Also known as hyperopia, a farsighted eye is shorter than normal. Light rays are aimed at a focus point behind the retina causing a blurring of objects viewed up close.

Astigmatism – With astigmatism, the curvature of the cornea is uneven, causing a distortion of images and objects at all distances to be blurred. This distortion is especially noticeable after dark with bright lights.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007