Laser eye surgery

July 18, 2007

An interesting look at the risk of laser eye surgery From the New

Zealand Herald Nov.26,

2006

" Laser eye ops could ruin sight "

12:00AM Tuesday November 28, 2006

By Miles Erwin

Concern has been raised about the long-term effects of laser eye

surgery after a new study has shown that tens of thousands of Kiwis

are likely to suffer defective vision from the surgery in their

later years.

Studies from Otago and Oxford Universities have shown that laser

surgery for short-sightedness could cause haze, glare and blurred

vision as people reach their 60s and 70s.

Given that around 25,000 New Zealanders have had the surgery, Otago

University head of ophthalmology Anthony Molteno said there could be

significant legal class actions in the future, an issue that is

causing major concern among eye surgeons.

" When we presented this work at the local conference, there was a

stunned silence and some anxious questions, " said Molteno.

In the procedure the central cornea is flattened. That provides

better eyesight, but research shows that it seriously affects the

movement of corneal cells, which affect sight. In a normal eye, the

cells start at each end of the eye and migrate towards the centre.

The top cells move quicker and meet the lower cells below the pupil.

Where they meet, called the Hudson-Stahli Line, they create pigment,

scattering light and causing glare, haze and blur.

AdvertisementAs people age, that area increases and moderately

affects eyesight but isn't a real problem, as the line is below the

pupil.

" But after the surgery, the top cells move slowly down the flattened

cornea, meeting the lower cells in front of the pupil. That causes

haziness immediately, and most people who have the surgery see as

though they're " looking through hazy spectacles " , according to

Molteno.

c_id=204 & objectid=10412475 & pnum=0 tHANKS vINCE

Recommended Posts