Role in Physics
Optics is the study of light and its behaviors with objects.
Role of Physics:
Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser eye surgery requires the use of lasers, physics of refraction and focal points which relate to physics. The main point of laser eye surgery is to change the focal point of where the light reaches in the eye using a laser called an excimer laser, a form of ultraviolet laser. This type of laser that is used to reshape the cornea of the eye uses a combination of a noble gas and a reactive gas to form a beam that vaporizes the corneal tissue.
Physics of Refraction:
The deficiency of the eye can be be examined using the physics of refraction. The cornea and the lens combine to focus the light at the retina. The eye adjusts the curvature of the lens in order to alter the focal length, enabling it to focus objects at varying distances. A normal eye is able to converge light properly by changing the lens shape so that objects both near and far appear clearly.
Myopia: the cornea is overly curved resulting in a greater index of refraction. The light converges, and the image forms in front of the retina.
Solution: A laser is then used on the eye to remove small amounts of the cornea. The result being a flattened cornea has a lower index of refraction compared to the original, allowing the focus of the image on the retina instead of in front of the retina.
Hypermetropia: the cornea is not curved enough, and thus, the refractive index is lower. This causes the image’s focal point to be located behind the retina.
Solution: A laser is used to remove the outer edge of the cornea, steepening it. As a result of this surgery, the eye is able to focus the image directly on the retina, due to the greater index of refraction resulting from the curvature of the eye being increased.
Astigamatism: light rays entering the eye do not focus at a single point, causing distorted vision.
Solution: To correct this eye problem, the cornea curve must be made more even, eliminating the astigmatism in the eye. This allows light rays to focus directly onto the retina for clear vision.
Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser eye surgery requires the use of lasers, physics of refraction and focal points which relate to physics. The main point of laser eye surgery is to change the focal point of where the light reaches in the eye using a laser called an excimer laser, a form of ultraviolet laser. This type of laser that is used to reshape the cornea of the eye uses a combination of a noble gas and a reactive gas to form a beam that vaporizes the corneal tissue.
Physics of Refraction:
The deficiency of the eye can be be examined using the physics of refraction. The cornea and the lens combine to focus the light at the retina. The eye adjusts the curvature of the lens in order to alter the focal length, enabling it to focus objects at varying distances. A normal eye is able to converge light properly by changing the lens shape so that objects both near and far appear clearly.
Myopia: the cornea is overly curved resulting in a greater index of refraction. The light converges, and the image forms in front of the retina.
Solution: A laser is then used on the eye to remove small amounts of the cornea. The result being a flattened cornea has a lower index of refraction compared to the original, allowing the focus of the image on the retina instead of in front of the retina.
Hypermetropia: the cornea is not curved enough, and thus, the refractive index is lower. This causes the image’s focal point to be located behind the retina.
Solution: A laser is used to remove the outer edge of the cornea, steepening it. As a result of this surgery, the eye is able to focus the image directly on the retina, due to the greater index of refraction resulting from the curvature of the eye being increased.
Astigamatism: light rays entering the eye do not focus at a single point, causing distorted vision.
Solution: To correct this eye problem, the cornea curve must be made more even, eliminating the astigmatism in the eye. This allows light rays to focus directly onto the retina for clear vision.
Importance:
Much like our knowledge of biology, our understanding of how light rays shine in and out of our eye, the use of lasers and how images are produced allowed many new opportunities to arise. Due to our understanding of physics not only are people allowed to rearrange the focus point of their eyes and see clearly, but they are also able to do it in a very quick, easy and almost painless way using the laser.
Much like our knowledge of biology, our understanding of how light rays shine in and out of our eye, the use of lasers and how images are produced allowed many new opportunities to arise. Due to our understanding of physics not only are people allowed to rearrange the focus point of their eyes and see clearly, but they are also able to do it in a very quick, easy and almost painless way using the laser.