Result
The result of the Lasik surgery is a thinned cornea, which due to the changed shape or thickness now has a different refractive power, so that the original refractive error is corrected. An excimer laser is a special type of laser used in Lasik surgery. The word is derived from the English terms “excited” and “dimer” and means “dimer excitation”.
The term “dimer” is used for a molecule composed of two parts. As gas lasers, which include excimer lasers, they produce the actual laser radiation in the form of pulses. This is a form of radiation that is not emitted continuously, but with short interruptions (intermittently).
This pulsed radiation is produced by exciting gas molecules to a higher energy state. When these excited gas particles decay, energy is produced which is emitted as laser beams in Lasik. These beams also have a certain amount of energy (fluence).
Indication
The indications for performing a Lasik operation are manifold. These include insufficient visual acuity despite correction of the visual defect with glasses or intolerance of contact lenses. Such an incompatibility occurs, for example, in dry eyes as part of an underlying disease (so-called sicca syndrome, “sicca” = Latin for “dry”).
Even if a laser operation has already been performed, but the result does not correspond to the desired one, the indication for another Lasik operation is given. Furthermore, the indication for a Lasik operation is the occupational necessity to do without glasses or lenses, as is the case with pilots or police officers, for example. Last but not least, the patient’s wish must also be mentioned in this context, which is considered an indication for Lasik surgery.
