A laser eye clinic is a medical facility in which laser eye surgeries are performed. A laser eye clinic may perform a range of eye surgeries to correct vision. For example, it may perform laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), epithelial laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (Epi LASIK), and laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) surgery to correct a person's vision. Some laser eye clinics even offer lens implants as an alternative option for those who are not good candidates for other surgeries. In most cases, a laser eye clinic is an outpatient facility, as people do not usually need to remain in a doctor's care overnight following such a procedure.
A laser eye clinic typically provides care for people who are hoping to have their vision corrected via laser eye surgery. Often, such people have spent years wearing glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. Laser eye surgery provides a way to have good vision at all times, without the use of contact lenses or eyeglasses.
Often, laser eye clinics provide consultations and evaluations before a person commits to a procedure. Such consultations may help a doctor evaluate whether or not a person is a good candidate for laser eye surgery as well as which type of surgery may be most beneficial. They also provide a patient with an opportunity to have his questions about laser eye surgery answered. After surgery, a laser eye clinic may provide follow-up care as well.
One of the common procedures performed at a laser eye clinic is referred to as LASIK eye surgery. This surgery is used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and age-related changes in one’s vision. The surgery involves the laser removal of tissue from a patient's cornea. Removing this tissue is done for the purpose of changing the shape of the person's cornea, which translates into a change in his vision.
LASEK eye surgery is another common surgery for correcting a person's vision. Like LASIK eye surgery, LASEK can be used to correct the vision of those who are nearsighted or farsighted, have astigmatism, or are dealing with changes in vision that are associated with aging. Often, this surgery is used as an alternative to LASIK for people who have less corneal tissue with which a surgeon can work.
A laser eye clinic may perform only one type of laser eye surgery or a few different types. Interestingly, there are even some that offer lens implants to those who are not good candidates for other types of laser eye surgery. Lens implants are inserted into a person’s eye to correct his vision. This differs from other types of eye surgery that involve altering the patient's cornea.
