Dr. William Boothe Lasik Surgery

What is a laser?

“Laser” is a word now, but originally it was an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. It’s a kind of light beam that we specifically create for a purpose, and can be ultraviolet, infrared, or within our vision range. There are many kinds of lasers, named according to how they’re created: solid-state lasers, gas lasers, semiconductor lasers and excimer lasers, for example.

All laser beams are a single color (as opposed to regular white light, which contains all colors), and they’re directional, meaning that the photons (light particles) contained in the beam are in lockstep, so the beam is highly focused and concentrated. If you’ve ever seen a laser pointer used in a classroom, for instance, you’ll get the picture.

Which lasers does LASIK surgery use?

LASIK surgery uses ultraviolet beams called excimer lasers.

Traditional LASIK surgery

In traditional LASIK surgery, a round, thin flap is cut from the cornea’s surface in a way that leaves part of it still connected. It’s gently folded back to expose the stroma, the next level of tissue. Then an excimer laser is directed precisely onto the stroma to vaporize tiny areas, thus removing irregularities that are causing defective vision. The little flap is then replaced and the eye heals itself in a day or two.

All Laser LASIK

Many LASIK surgeons use the IntraLase laser to create the LASIK flap.