All About Lasik

As with any other type of procedure, you should make sure that you are absolutely positive that you want to have lasik laser eye surgery done before going through with it, and that means that you need to weigh all of the advantages and disadvantages, and consult with your physician as well before going through with the procedure.

What are the Advantages of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery?

There are many advantages that can be gained from having the lasik eye surgery done, for example many patients who are considering refractive surgery done are interested in comparing the advantages of lasik eye surgery over the other available types of eye surgery, due to the incredible benefits that are thought of as coming from the lasik laser eye surgery.

As well, with this surgery there is a much faster recovery time, and there will also be a smoother corneal surface and better optical quality even furthermore. There is also a reduced risk of infection with this procedure when compared to that of others, and this is because there is less need for potentially hazardous prophylactic steroids to be used, and in addition, this procedure has a much greater range of vision correction.

The Risks and Complications

The risks and complications of this procedure would basically be considered as being the disadvantages, and in regards to this, as with any surgery, there are certain risks and complications that are present that must be taken fully into consideration.

For instance, there are certain flap complications that could occur, which would include such things as: irregular or incomplete flaps, flaps that are too small or too thin, buttonholes which are small holes or tears in the center of the flap, or free caps which are flaps without a hinge – these are just some examples, as there are more possibilities.

However it should be known that in most cases, flap complications will pose no threat and truly cause no permanent damage or decrease in that of that patient’s visual activity. Furthermore, if and when a flap complication does occur, the surgeon will then typically halt the procedure in order to reposition the flap properly.

Overall, if you have weighed all of the advantages and the disadvantages, and still want to go forward, then that decision is obviously up to you; lasik is an elective procedure, meaning that it is not medically necessary to have done.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/lasik-laser-eye-surgery-weighing-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-120493.html

Overall traditional lasik procedures still cost roughly $1,000 to $3000 to complete. If you pay less than $1,000 per eye treated, you may want to question your surgeon and verify his or her credentials. You should also see if there are hidden fees you are not aware of you may have to pay for later. When it comes to your eyes, a first and then a second opinion is best. Don’t choose your surgeon on cost alone.

The laser known as the excimer is categorized as an ultraviolet chemical laser. This type of laser is widely used in laser surgery. It was initially used to make semiconductors during the 1970s, but later moved into the realm of eye surgery. Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasin, along with his team of researchers, realized how effective the excimer laser could be in working with biological tissue. Another doctor, an ophthalmologist named Dr. Steven Trokel, was instrumental in explaining the way it could be used to work on corneal tissue. Thus, LASIK eye surgery was born.

While a few different kinds of lasers exist, the excimer laser is usually chosen for corrective eye surgery. The reason for this is that it is the most advanced technologically of the lasers in existence. It’s known as a “cool” laser, meaning it can remove a specific part of the corneal tissue while avoiding damage to other tissues next to it. Incredibly, the excimer has the precision to cut away one-half percent of the width of a human hair. This is proof enough that this laser is no mere gimmick, but rather a real technological breakthrough.

Computer technology, coupled with the precise ability of this laser, has made LASIK surgery emerge as the most popular choice for people with refractive error. It is operated by a technician who focuses the tiny, cool laser beams to incise the corneal surface, while the surgery itself is performed by an ophthalmologist. The procedure is done with extensive safeguards, and great care is taken. The combination of specialists ensures that the treatment is both highly effective, and safe.

Eyesight is surely the most treasured of our five senses. After all, your eyes provide a window to our world. That’s why it’s so important to get the right kind of surgery using the most precise instruments, and with a minimum of side effects. LASIK surgery can offer you just that. It’s a technological marvel that will perform operations precisely and reliably. That’s why it has gained a foothold as the most common form of corrective eye surgery.

Sarah Thomas
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/lasik-surgery-the-way-the-excimer-laser-does-the-job-79740.html

I underwent lasik laser surgery on Dec. 24, 2008. Now 6 months have passed. I still face glare problem, my eyes get tired early and also eye sight is not totally improved like a normal person. Should i wait more for better results. Doctors say eye sight will continue to improve day by day and all the side effect i am facing will go away with the time. How much i have to put medicines in my eyes.
Please help me.

I had 20/20 the next day, I have heard of people having dry eye problems, but 6 months seems like too long for all that to be an issue. I would go back, or talk to a different lasik Dr. and see what they say about it.

If it is safe then please let me know which hospitals in Bangalore are good, & what will be the cost?

What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?

Most patients are very pleased with the results of their refractive surgery. However, like any other medical procedure, there are risks involved. That’s why it is important for you to understand the limitations and possible complications of refractive surgery.

Before undergoing a refractive procedure, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits based on your own personal value system, and try to avoid being influenced by friends that have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so.

* Some patients lose vision. Some patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery as a result of treatment.
* Some patients develop debilitating visual symptoms. Some patients develop glare, halos, and/or double vision that can seriously affect nighttime vision. Even with good vision on the vision chart, some patients do not see as well in situations of low contrast, such as at night or in fog, after treatment as compared to before treatment.
* You may be under treated or over treated. Only a certain percent of patients achieve 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts. You may require additional treatment, but additional treatment may not be possible. You may still need glasses or contact lenses after surgery. This may be true even if you only required a very weak prescription before surgery. If you used reading glasses before surgery, you may still need reading glasses after surgery.
* Some patients may develop severe dry eye syndrome. As a result of surgery, your eye may not be able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist and comfortable. Dry eye not only causes discomfort, but can reduce visual quality due to intermittent blurring and other visual symptoms. This condition may be permanent. Intensive drop therapy and use of plugs or other procedures may be required.
* Results are generally not as good in patients with very large refractive errors of any type. You should discuss your expectations with your doctor and realize that you may still require glasses or contacts after the surgery.
* For some farsighted patients, results may diminish with age. If you are farsighted, the level of improved vision you experience after surgery may decrease with age. This can occur if your manifest refraction (a vision exam with lenses before dilating drops) is very different from your cycloplegic refraction (a vision exam with lenses after dilating drops).
* Long-term data are not available. LASIK is a relatively new technology. The first laser was approved for LASIK eye surgery in 1998. Therefore, the long-term safety and effectiveness of LASIK surgery is not known.

Additional Risks if you are Considering the Following:

* Monovision

Monovision is one clinical technique used to deal with the correction of presbyopia, the gradual loss of the ability of the eye to change focus for close-up tasks that progresses with age. The intent of monovision is for the presbyopic patient to use one eye for distance viewing and one eye for near viewing. This practice was first applied to fit contact lens wearers and more recently to LASIK and other refractive surgeries. With contact lenses, a presbyopic patient has one eye fit with a contact lens to correct distance vision, and the other eye fit with a contact lens to correct near vision. In the same way, with LASIK, a presbyopic patient has one eye operated on to correct the distance vision, and the other operated on to correct the near vision. In other words, the goal of the surgery is for one eye to have vision worse than 20/20, the commonly referred to goal for LASIK surgical correction of distance vision. Since one eye is corrected for distance viewing and the other eye is corrected for near viewing, the two eyes no longer work together. This results in poorer quality vision and a decrease in depth perception. These effects of monovision are most noticeable in low lighting conditions and when performing tasks requiring very sharp vision. Therefore, you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses to fully correct both eyes for distance or near when performing visually demanding tasks, such as driving at night, operating dangerous equipment, or performing occupational tasks requiring very sharp close vision (e.g., reading small print for long periods of time).

Many patients cannot get used to having one eye blurred at all times. Therefore, if you are considering monovision with LASIK, make sure you go through a trial period with contact lenses to see if you can tolerate monovision, before having the surgery performed on your eyes. Find out if you pass your state’s driver’s license requirements with monovision.

In addition, you should consider how much your presbyopia is expected to increase in the future. Ask your doctor when you should expect the results of your monovision surgery to no longer be enough for you to see near-by objects clearly without the aid of glasses or contacts, or when a second surgery might be required to further correct your near vision.

* Bilateral Simultaneous Treatment

You may choose to have LASIK surgery on both eyes at the same time or to have surgery on one eye at a time. Although the convenience of having surgery on both eyes on the same day is attractive, this practice is riskier than having two separate surgeries.

If you decide to have one eye done at a time, you and your doctor will decide how long to wait before having surgery on the other eye. If both eyes are treated at the same time or before one eye has a chance to fully heal, you and your doctor do not have the advantage of being able to see how the first eye responds to surgery before the second eye is treated.

Another disadvantage to having surgery on both eyes at the same time is that the vision in both eyes may be blurred after surgery until the initial healing process is over, rather than being able to rely on clear vision in at least one eye at all times.

LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery

A single procedure for correcting vision rather than a lifetime of corrective lenses. However, many have found that Lasik eye surgery is not the perfect solution for them.Visit today http://fda-lasikeyesurgery.blogspot.com

To help determine whether you might be a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery, you will need to do your homework to determine exactly what this procedure consists of. And to understand the procedure, you will need to know why vision becomes less than perfect to begin with.

It all comes down to the cornea of the eye. When the cornea assumes a different shape, whether it becomes too domed or less domed, the eyesight is affected. Lasik, which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, will reshape the cornea with the help of a laser for precision purposes, bringing vision back to a normal range.

How exactly is Lasik eye surgery done? In reality, the procedure that is known as Lasik eye surgery is a relatively quick and painless one for the majority of the patients who have it done.

You leave the clinic the same day that the surgery is done, meaning that you do not have to spend any nights away from the comfort of your own bed at home. The surgery only takes a few minutes to complete, but you will need to allow for plenty of extra time before to prepare for the procedure and to rest afterward. Your doctor will want to make sure that the procedure was successful before releasing you to go home.

If you have certain types of chronic conditions, or you take some medications, this procedure may not be right for you.

If you think that Lasik eye surgery is the right choice for you, the next logical step is to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss whether Lasik will be a safe procedure for you based on your medical history. He can also help you to find a surgeon who is skilled in the Lasik procedure, to ensure that you surgery is a success. Say goodbye to your eyeglasses or your contact lenses forever with Lasik eye surgery. Better vision may indeed be on the horizon for you. Visit today http://fda-lasikeyesurgery.blogspot.com

Boris Tomson
http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/lasik-laser-eye-surgery-752721.html

These are my questions:
~How long does the surgery range to and from?
~What is the average cost?
~What are some other options?
~Does the patient remain awake or asleep during the operation?
~Is it worth it?

i work at a Lasik eye surgery place with one of the most respected OD doctors in my area, good thing i came across your question.

1.) the surgery takes about an hour, it doesnt take that long.
2.) where i work its about $2,000 per eye.
3.) glasses and/or contacts
4.) awake, they need your eyes to be open, duh. but you can ask to be put to sleep, haha.
5.) i think it is. ironically, i wear glasses, and in the future i wll for sure get Lasik eye surgery. all of the patients are happy that they got it.

good luck.

? I mean I know some people cant afford it but most ppl would just charge it or get a loan or family to help them mean seeing is a big asset to have worth wasting money you dont have. Is there some other reason besides money?

Lasik eye surgery can’t repair everything.

Even people who are not blind, if their vision is pretty bad, lasik can’t correct it to 20/20.

There are many reasons why you might want to consider LASIK laser eye surgery. To start with, it is a known truth that putting on glasses and contacts every day is troublesome. It is a pain to wake up and require to employ something so as to see the world better, and it is also a hassle to have to depend on something so as to see the world around us.

Glasses and contacts can be costly, and it is often something that we misplace, lose track of, or simply forget to take with us. Wearing glasses and contacts also means that we are depending on something that can be broken or lost for our daily functioning. In addition, they cost money that some of us don’t want to have to spend each year.

Besides all these reasons, it is often in our best concern to fix something that is wrong with us, such as our eyesight. Some people get headaches and have other problems because they can’t see properly, so getting laser eye surgery is a very good idea because it will give them much more freedom in their lives. All in all, it is something that you should put a lot of thought into before you decide if it is for you.

LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Could Save You Money In The Long Run

Another important reason why should consider laser eye surgery is that, while laser eye surgery might seem like it is something that is expensive, it is going to save you money in the long run. If you add up all the expenses for eye examination, contacts and glasses each year for the rest of your life, getting laser eye surgery is going to save you more money in the long run.

Is It Right For Me?

The first thing, and the most imperative thing, that you need to think about when it comes to laser eye surgery is whether or not the surgery is right for you. First of all, you need to have an eye condition that is suitable for an operation. There are many such conditions, but you should visit your eye doctor to make sure that the conditions are met. Also, you have to make sure that your eyesight has stopped changing. Time and again, people try to get laser eye surgery before their eyesight stabilizes. After the surgery they can see clearly for several months, but it gets worse again, and they need glasses or contacts again in order to see well. If you are considering laser eye surgery, make sure that your eyesight has been stable for several years first.

There are both risks and benefits to having laser eye surgery. Every clinic will make sure that the patient understands what could happen if something were to go wrong during the surgery. Blurred vision can occur after the surgery or, if one accidentally scratches one’s eye shortly after the operation, and there is no accompanying protective flap, the newly-formed fold over the cornea could move, resulting in problems.

What Can I Expect During And After The Surgery?

Before the actual laser eye surgery takes place, a patient is giving a numbing drop. As the person getting the surgery is still awake when receiving the laser treatment, he/she will be asked to stare at a light or object. Being able to fix one’s eyes on a particular object is crucial to the success of this procedure for the reason that it allows the doctor to work without difficulty and it can avoid certain complications and discomfort later on.

During the operation, the patient will be exposed to new sights (or lack thereof, as many people experience blurred vision during the whole process), smells, and sounds, mostly from the laser. After the laser is completed, a protective shield will be placed over the patient’s eye so that he/she cannot scratch it. As the new flap that protects the cornea is not held in position by anything, it could become dislodged if the patient rubs it the wrong way. This can cause some major problems.

Within four weeks after the surgery, the patient will have to wear a protective shield to bed, allowing the cornea flap to fully heal itself with its new surroundings. Again, and this cannot be emphasized enough, scratching the eye after surgery will result in irreversible complication.

After the operation, for a period of 8 weeks long, a patient should not participate in swimming activities and sitting in a hot tub. He or she should not take part in contact sports or wear eye make-up too.

Laser eye surgery takes lots of patience and self-control, and one has to survive the mental block that a real laser is actually burning off part of one’s eye. However, once the pros and cons are weighed, a person should be ready to go through with the surgery.

Cindy Heller
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/should-i-have-a-lasik-laser-eye-surgery-140497.html

where should i start, and how should i go about it
I know someone who is practically blind without his glasses, and is now saving up for lasik. We live in Toronto. Thanks to everyone for their answers.

Before you make a decision, get as much information as you possibly can. This is very important. First, get a pre-surgery information session and consultation to check whether you are a candidate for lasik laser eye surgery or not. Make sure you know about any risks involved, and the chances of risks in your case. The actual procedure is probably about 20 minutes, but there is a healing process afterwards. Also, stop wearing contacts a few days before your check-up because they sometimes tend to change the shape of your eyes very slightly and the surgeons need proper measurements for the procedure.