Suppose you are watching television
one day and notice that you have to squint
to see the screen clearly. You decide to visit
an optometrist for a vision screening. After
the screening, the optometrist tells you that
you have a vision problem called myopia -
nearsightedness. Does this mean you will have
to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses in order
to see? In the past, the answer to your question
would have been yes. However, there is another
option that you may decide is a better alternative
than wearing corrective lenses: laser eye surgery.
You may have noticed printed advertisements
and television commercials that advertise a
type of laser eye surgery called LASIK. What
is laser eye surgery? Can laser eye surgery
correct myopia? Is laser eye surgery something
that you should have done to correct your vision
problem?
Top
Your job in this WebQuest
is to learn all about laser eye surgery. You
will learn what types of vision problems can
be corrected by laser eye surgery. You will
explore the many different types of laser eye
surgery and identify the ones that are used
to correct myopia. Because not every patient
is a candidate for laser eye surgery, you will
determine if you are a potential candidate
for this type of vision correction. You will
also find out about the advantages and disadvantages
of laser eye surgery. Finally, you will answer
a set of questions to demonstrate what you
have learned about laser eye surgery, and make
a decision about whether or not you would choose
to have this surgery.
Top
Look at the web sites given
here to find the information that will enable
you to answer questions about laser eye surgery.
- Laser
Eye Surgery: Is it worth looking into?
Visit this site to read an article from the FDA
Consumer Magazine about laser eye surgery
to correct vision problems. The site includes
a description of how vision works, and a
description of both laser-assisted in situ
keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive
keratectomy (PRK) surgeries. Scroll down
to learn who is a candidate for laser eye
surgery and for answers to frequently asked
questions about these procedures. This is
an excellent, comprehensive, and unbiased
site.
- Comprehensive
Info on LASIK and Other Vision Surgery
Techniques.
At this site you can learn all about the
various types of surgery available to correct
vision problems. Scroll down and click on
types of corrective surgery to read about
flap procedures such as LASIK, LASEK, and
ALK; photoablation procedures such as PRK;
and corneal incision procedures such as RK,
HK, and AK. Each procedure is covered in
detail at this site.
- The
LASIK Procedure.
Go to this site for a basic description of
the LASIK eye surgery. Scroll down and click
on detailed description to see photos of
this procedure.
- Laser
Eye Surgery, PRK, LASIK: The Inventions
of Sight.
Visit this site to read about the history
of the development of vision correction devices.
Then read about the newest ways to treat
vision problems by clicking on is PRK for
me.
- LASIK
Eye Surgery: What is LASIK?
Go to this Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
site for information on the eye and vision
errors and to learn about the types of surgery
to correct those errors. In the menu bar
at the top of the page, click on when is
LASIK not for me to find out who is not a
candidate for this type of surgery.
- Introduction
to Refractive Errors.
At this site by the Cornea and Laser Eye
Institute you can find out what causes vision
errors and how laser surgery can correct
these errors.
Top
1 class period for research
and answering the set of questions
Top
Read through the following
set of questions before you begin your Internet
research. As you explore each site, look for
answers to the questions.
Questions about Laser
Eye Surgery
- What common vision problems can be corrected
using laser eye surgery?
- What type of laser is used in laser eye
surgery?
- What do the letters LASIK stand for? What
do the letters PRK stand for?
- What kinds of vision problems can be corrected
by LASIK surgery? By PRK surgery?
- Who should NOT have laser eye surgery?
- Suppose you have myopia. Explain why you
would, or would not, choose to have laser
eye surgery in order to correct your vision
problem. Use information from your Internet
research to support your position.
Top
In the process of completing
this WebQuest, you've become familiar with
the types of vision problems that can be corrected
with laser eye surgery, and become informed
about the types of laser eye surgery available.
You have learned about both LASIK and PRK procedures
in particular, and have identified who might
be candidates for such surgeries. You have
developed research skills as you explored the
web sites given and identified the relevant
information to answer the set of questions
above. Did your research convince you that
laser eye surgery is an effective treatment
for vision problems? If you have vision problems
that can be corrected through laser eye surgery,
would you choose this form of treatment?
Top
