Glossary of Terms Used In Laser Eye Surgery
 

Astigmatism – Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is distorted or elliptical rather than round. This creates a blurred image for both distant and near objects.

Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) - The best possible vision a person can achieve with corrective lenses measured in terms of Snellen lines on an eye chart.

Bilateral LASIK - Surgery performed on both eyes on the same day.

Cornea – The cornea is sometimes referred to as the “window of the eye”

It provides most of the focusing power when light enters the eye. The cornea is composed of five layers of tissue. This is the part of the eye reshaped by laser vision correction.

Custom LASIK – A custom treatment is a wavefront-guided procedure.

However, every procedure we perform at Queensland Laser Vision is a “customised” procedure as your examination is a highly detailed, personalised evaluation. We carefully assess your eyes with our wavefront technology, which is the NIDEK OPD III, and then we adjust and customise your treatment depending on your pupil size, refraction, corneal topography and all other test results.

The ability to adjust the NIDEK Quest Excimer Laser’s optical zone size and transition zone allows for a truly customised treatment. The adjustability of the laser is one of the most important factors in providing a customised treatment for each individual patient.

Dioptre – A measurement of the degree to which light converges or diverges; also a measurement of lens refractive power.

Epithelium – The outer layer of the cornea that acts as the eye’s protective layer

Higher-order Aberrations – The ideal eye would have no aberrations, with light entering the eye focusing to a perfect point on the retina. Higher order aberrations are very subtle aberrations.

Our objective in your treatment is to minimise your resulting aberrations. With the NIDEK Quest Excimer Laser technology, we can reduce or minimise halos and glare and higher order aberrations. Higher-order aberrations do not always affect vision.

ICL – Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) is often used to correct vision in patients unsuitable for LASIK (thin corneas, high near-sightedness, etc)

They are designed to correct visual problems much the same way as an external contact lens. Unlike the external contact lens, Implantable Contact Lenses are placed inside the eye behind the iris (coloured part of the eye) and in front of the eye’s natural lens.

Unlike LASIK, the ICL is a reversible procedure. Useful Link – Visian ICL  

LASIK – LASIK (Laser-In-Situ Keratomileusis) is currently one of the most frequently performed elective procedures.

It is a highly effective procedure that is suitable for treating patients with short-sightedness and astigmatism.

In LASIK, a protective hinged flap is created and lifted by the surgeon. A computer controlled cool beam of light from the Excimer laser is then used to reshape the front surface (cornea) of the eye.

Lens – The lens is the clear structure located behind the pupil. Its primary function is to provide fine-tuning for focusing and reading, which it accomplishes by altering its shape.

Lensectomy – is the removal of the natural lens of the eye and replacement with an artificial lens. Normally, the natural lens is removed only when it has become cloudy enough to obstruct vision, for example, when a cataract has formed in our latter years of life. The lensectomy procedure, however, can also be used to reduce the dependence on spectacles before cataract formation. Longsightedness and presbyopia can be treated by this procedure.

Lid Speculum – An instrument, placed in the eye before surgery, to hold the lids apart, eliminating the possibility of blinking.

Long-sightedness (Hyperopia) – Long-sightedness is a refractive error in which you see better from a distance than close. An eyeball that is too short to focus light on the retina causes hyperopia.

Lower-Order Aberrations – Also called refractive error; includes myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

Monovision – Myopic and astigmatic people who are suitable for Laser surgery, may be suitable for monovision correction.

With monovision, one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye is corrected for near, providing clear vision for both distance and near vision.

This kind of correction is usually done for people around 40 years of age to reduce the need for reading glasses.

Presbyopia – as the eye ages, it naturally loses focusing power and reading glasses are required from about 40yrs of age onward.

PRK – Photo Refractive Keratectomy The surface layer of the eye (the epithelium) is first removed and the laser then ablates the deeper stromal tissue. The amount of corneal tissue to be removed is directly dependant on the size and type of refractive error.

PRK has been used successfully on thousands of patients worldwide.

Pupil – The pupil is the black circle in your eye.

The primary function of the pupil is to control the amount of light entering your eye. When you are in a bright environment, the pupil becomes smaller to allow less light to pass through. When it is dark, the pupil expands to allow more light to reach the back of your eye.

Retina – The retina consists of fine nerve tissue that lines the inside wall of the eye and acts like the film in a camera.

Its primary function is to capture and transmit images.

Short-Sightedness (Myopia) – Short-sightedness or myopia is the result of the eye’s lens system being too powerful relative to the length of the eye.

Myopic people can see well up close but distant objects like street signs or the television appear out of focus.

Our laser and computer technology can correct low, moderate and high levels of short-sightedness.

Uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA) – The best possible vision a person can achieve without corrective lenses measured in terms of Snellen lines on an eye chart.

Wavefront Diagnostic Equipment – Wavefront is helpful in determining if you have significant pre-operative higher order aberrations and this information can be used to determine the best way for treating your eyes.

At Queensland Laser Vision we use the Nidek OPD III-Scan as it very accurately measures higher order aberrations and corneal topography. These results can then be used in conjunction with the NIDEK Quest Excimer Laser to minimise the creation of new aberrations.
 

We provide a thorough assessment process

We only perform the right procedure that is right for you.

 Contact Queensland Laser Vision Today - Book Your Assessment

1800 66 2020 or 07 3831 8299

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