Anatomy of the Eye

Presented by Dr. Antoine Garabet, Ophthalmologist Cornea: The front skin layer of the eye. The normal cornea is transparent and its shape is subject to manipulation during laser surgery. Iris: The colored part of the eye. It is a round colored tissue placed in the inner chamber of the eye behind the cornea. Pupil: A hole in the iris necessary to allow light to travel into the eye and transmit images. The pupil is the window into the eye. The natural size of the pupil varies from one person to another. Individuals with larger pupils are more like;y to have visual side effects following refractive procedures. Lens: The natural lens inside the ey. It is located behind the iris. With age the lens becomes opaque; a condition known as cataract. The natural lens is sometimes replaced by an artificial one for the purpose of permanently adjusting the focusing power of the eye. Retina: A thin layer of tissue in the back of the eye. It acts as a screen to received focused images projected from the outside and trasmit them as signal to the brain for interpretation. CK and the Surgical Correction of Presbyopia CK is an FDA-approved technology designed to lessen patient’s dependence on reading glasses. This is specifically designed for individuals over the age of 45 that have normal vision at the distance, but poor vision up close. These individuals suffer from an age related condition called Presbyopia. CK improves the near vision by reducing the prescription necessary for reading but not necessarily eliminating it. This allows patients to become more independent with tasks requiring near vision. CK is a procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to cause a change in the shape of the cornea. The cornea following CK is steeper in the center than before, hence it allows it to act like a magnifier. The unique change in the configuration of the cornea can improve the near vision with limited effect on the distance. The drawback of CK is that in some individuals, the effect can regress over months or years.