Paula Blackburn asked:


You may be considering having your vision corrected through LASIKbut you may be worried about the risks with this surgery. Then you will be glad to know that complications from LASIK are rare, and permanent vision loss is virtually unheard of. For those minor complications that can occur, retreatment or eye enhancements can solve the problem. LASIK actually stands for Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis; LASIK reshapes the cornea to increase clarity of vision.

The most important step in undergoing LASIK is to choose a highly qualified eye surgeon. Your surgeon should have performed hundreds, if not thousands, of LASIK procedures before you commit. Competent eye surgeons will carry out proper screening before performing LASIK surgery to ensure the health of your eyes today and in the future.

LASIK Popularity

In the United States, LASIK is a popular procedure with a solid success rate that has been performed millions of times. Increasingly sophisticated technology provides very favorable outcomes for all patients. In fact, the U.S. military uses LASIK to help soldiers decrease dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses. Overall, serious rates of complication are below one percent. This is due in large part to experienced LASIK surgeons who carefully screen and select patients based on best suitability for specific refractive procedures. Some patients are not good candidates for LASIK due to health problems, eye problems, age, pregnancy and nursing. This highlights the importance of speaking frankly with your eye surgeon during your vision consultation.

LASIK Complications

Most rare LASIK complications are associated with the creation of the corneal flap, an integral part of LASIK eye surgery. The April 2006 issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology indicates flap complications occur in .3 percent to 5.7 percent of all LASIK procedures.

Still, no surgical procedure is risk free. LASIK complications may include:



Double vision

Dry eye

Glares or halos at night

A sandy feeling in the eye

Removal of too little or too much corneal tissue



Since LASIK was approved in the 1990’s, it has continually improved. Many people who could not have LASIK in the past are now good candidates as the procedure has evolved so much. The original LASIK procedure is now referred to as Traditional LASIK and has been supplanted in popularity by the more sophisticated Wavefront-Guided LASIK.



Allison

Miodrag Trajkovic asked:


I have noticed that more people I work with are talking about, or undergoing, the Lasik vision correction procedure. I don’t know really know why Lasik has suddenly become more popular in my company, but I do know that there are a number of rumors about Lasik that I am not sure are true. Let me just talk about my long term experience with Lasik.

It has been more than eight years since I had the Lasik procedure, so I was one of the early and brave pioneers! Perhaps I wasn’t that brave when considering Lasik, for my vision in each eye was worse than -9. Even now, Lasik physicians consider that a very strong case and do caution prospective clients that the Lasik process will likely improve their vision, but may not eliminate the total need for glasses.

The Lasik operation itself had mild pressure and some unusual feelings, but no real discomfort or pain. This is still true in modern Lasik procedures, and hopefully they are even better at keeping the client comfortable. I do notice that now Lasik physicians also give a mild sedative mainly for psychological reasons, which I think I would have appreciated back then.

Two or three days after the Lasik operation I was astounded to find I had VERY clear vision in each eye, at least 20/20. Considering my previous prescription, you can imagine how fervently I thanked my Lasik physician. However, I did also have temporary symptoms of considerable dryness in each eye (which was helped by eye drops), and also halos around lights at night.

A few months after the Lasik procedure I noticed my vision changing a bit, though very slightly. The best way I can describe it is that the crisp edges no longer looked exceedingly crisp, but each object still seemed to be in focus. At my one year Lasik correction anniversary my physician said that one eye was still at 20/20, but the other had changed slightly to 20/40. However, I was still a great statistic for the Lasik correction procedure, and we were both still happy with the results.

In the years between the original Lasik procedure and now, my vision is still 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. I do have a pair of glasses and one contact lens for that eye, but rarely bother with them unless I am doing something like watching a movie. My long track record after the Lasik procedure has given hope to a number of other people in my office. I do want to say though that I was over 35 when I had the operation, and my Lasik physician said that the stability of my eyes and my age were good indicators that the Lasik results would be long term.

I hope this encourages people with bad vision to talk to a local Lasik physician about scheduling a Lasik procedure. Find a physician that has a good track record, and one that you trust, and I hope that your long term Lasik results will be as good as mine!



Samantha

Miodrag Trajkovic asked:


A person that is considering a Lasik procedure to improve their vision has two major responsibilities: selecting the best surgeon possible for their budget, and understanding and keeping up with eye care after the Lasik operation is done. Most Lasik procedures go very smoothly, and more than 90% of the patients are happy with their improved vision and have no permanent side effects. Part of this success is due to good care at home once the Lasik procedure is complete.

The first step in having the best care after a Lasik procedure is to understand exactly what is directed by the Lasik physician. The prospective Lasik patient should be given a good understanding of the entire process when they first visit a Lasik center to interview the physician and the staff. On the day of the procedure, a member of the staff should very carefully go over exactly what steps should be done to encourage optimal eye health and healing after the Lasik operation.

One thing that the patient should ask is what side effects are to be expected directly after the Lasik procedure, how long they should last, and which symptoms should be promptly told to the Lasik physician or member of the staff. A number of symptoms, such as fluctuating vision or halos around lights, are to be expected and are not a cause of worry. Ask the staff about any postoperative symptoms that are unclear, to make sure that they are thoroughly understood.

Each Lasik physician has their own recommended procedures for their patients, but here is a list of typical suggestions that most Lasik centers recommend. First, get some sleep as soon as possible after the Lasik procedure is done. This gives a great boost to the healing process. Second, avoid any contact, bumping, or rubbing of the eyes for at least five days after the Lasik procedure. Most Lasik centers have some kind of eye guards to wear at night to prevent patients from rubbing their eyes in their sleep.

Third, try to avoid eyestrain for some days after the Lasik procedure. It is tempting to try to read all of the signs and words that were previously blurry, but avoid this temptation at least for the large part. If any light sensitivity or glare is noticed, wear dark sunglasses for several days until this problem resolves itself. Some common Lasik side effects are temporary halos around lights, especially when viewed at night, but this is not a problem to be concerned with.

It is very important to keep the eyes well lubricated in the days following a Lasik operation. Every Lasik physician will give eye drops to help this, and patient should be especially aware of this before going to sleep. A Lasik procedure may increase eye dryness temporarily, and during sleep this may make the eyelid stick slightly to the eye. When the patient wakes up, opening the eyelid is equivalent to rubbing the eye. The physician should be notified if this happens, for there are other varieties of eye drops that will solve this problem.

Taking these simple steps will give nearly all Lasik patients an easy postoperative experience without any problems.



George

Derridian asked:


Refractive Eye Surgery & LASIK Surgery – Definition & Overview

Refractive eye surgery is any eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea or cataract surgery. The most common methods today use excimer lasers to reshape curvature of the cornea. Successful refractive eye surgery can reduce or cure common vision disorders such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

LASIK is an abbreviation for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and laser eye surgery is designed to change the shape of the cornea to eliminate or reduce the need for glasses and contact lenses in cases of severe myopia or nearsightedness.

LASIK procedures are conducted in an ophthalmology office or clinic. Initially, numbing eye drops are used and then eyelids are held open to prevent any interference with the laser. The LASIK surgeon then creates an ultrathin flap on the front of the eye with a precise automated instrument. This flap is then lifted and the preprogrammed laser then reshapes the inner cornea to refocus the eye. The flap is repositioned and holds itself in place, healing naturally without the need for any stitches. The laser pulses last on the average between 30 and 60 seconds. LASIK procedures take about 20 minutes to be performed in both eyes. This procedure doesn’t involve much pain and recovery is considerably fast.

Some people do experience mild discomfort and watering of the eyes post LASIK surgery. The extent of discomfort is different in different patients and commonly associated with the sensation of using contact lenses for extended periods. The risks associated with LASIK include a small risk of an infection in the eye, and some patients have reported problems with night driving and ‘halo’ effects. There is no requirement to wear eye patches following LASIK surgery.

LASIK is now used to treat hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

According to surveys of members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, approximately 948,266 refractive surgery procedures were performed in the United States during 2004 and 928,737 in 2005.

Selecting an appropriate refractive eye surgery or LASIK surgery treatment plan

There are various refractive surgery treatment plans that one could choose from depending upon your requirement. SmartHealthbuyer.com is an extensive business directory aimed at providing customers in-depth information regarding various refractive surgery treatment plans being conducted by optical surgeons in over 300 cities across the United States. 

SmartHealthbuyer.com has details regarding refractive surgery treatments like custom wavefront LASIK, standard LASIK with blade or bladeless LASIK with intralase laser.

In the first option, custom-wavefront LASIK with blade, a blade is used for the purposes of creating a flap on the cornea prior to the laser treatment.  The second option does not involve using a blade but uses something called intralase-laser to create the flap. The second option will involve an additional cost.  Hence depending upon the various treatment options and the costs involved you can choose the treatment plan that works best for you.  http://www.SmartHealthbuyer.com will provide you access to all the LASIK and refractive surgery treatment plans available in over 300 cities located across the United States. You can go through all information available and understand the various options that exist.  By providing details of your city, state, and zip code, you an narrow your search down considerably and look at the details of refractive surgery treatment plans available in your area.

Arriving at the best price available for the chosen refractive or LASIK surgery

After identifying a specific refractive or LASIK surgery treatment plan, you would most certainly be interested in finding out about the costs involved. The price of LASIK surgery varies depending upon the location and technique involved.  The general perception sometimes could be very misleading especially with regard to prices.  We often assume or even conclude expensive products are of superior quality, but this is not necessarily true; please remember price is not an indicator, measure, or hallmark of quality treatment and expertise.  Rather than focus on price, focus on the ability of the practitioner, the right refractive surgery for your eyes, reviews and the training and experience your practitioner brings to the table. In general beware of the headline pricing of “Lasik from $499 per eye”. This will typically be an older non-customized blade procedure, and may not include all the extra follow-up and care that you may need. Hence it pays, literally and otherwise to do a little research and find out more about various specialists and their expertise and experience before judging them by the price they charge.  Costs could vary depending upon the follow up options you choose. The total price involved for a treatment plan that includes lifetime follow up could be different fro the one which involves a six-month follow-up treatment plan.  Hence considering all available options is very important before arriving at the best available price. Please also factor in the cost of contact lenses or glasses that you won’t need to buy in the future, before taking your decision.

http://www.smarthealthbuyer.com/Optical/ can provide you with details regarding price lists and rates charged for all the available refractive surgery treatment plans offered by various surgeons listed in SmartHealthbuyer.com database.  SmartHealthbuyer.com will not only provide you access to information and rates but also help you determine the average cost per treatment.  SmartHealthbuyer.com price comparison engine has the facility to compare available costs and calculate average costs for specific refractive surgery treatment plans.  By providing details of your city, state, and zip code you can determine the average cost for treatment in your specific area.  By comparing costs and determining the average cost for refractive surgery plans available you will be at and advantage while finalizing your decision.

Locating the best refractive or LASIK surgeon

Entrusting your eyes to a surgeon for LASIK surgery is not an easy decision and you can’t settle for anything but the best.  It is therefore advisable that you first find out as many details as you can about various practicing surgeons.  SmartHealthbuyer.com has all the details that include but are not limited to educational background, qualifications, certifications, licenses, and customer feedback for refractive surgeons located over 300 cities in the United States.  You can further narrow your search by providing details of your city, state, and zip code at SmartHealthbuyer.com.   By doing this you will be accessing information and details for various surgeons in your chosen area.  You can then go through each and every detail including reviews, recommendations, references, feedback regarding the experience and expertise for particular refractive surgeons in your area.

SmartHealthbuyer.com database will help you go through credentials and other information for specific surgeons in your area and if you are interested in further information, you can also do your own research on the internet and confirm available details.

What to look for in a LASIK surgeon?

While it is important to check the credentials, experience, educational background and certification/license information, you must know how to verify this information.  An ophthalmologist who specializes in performing refractive surgeries such as LASIK is referred to as a refractive surgeon.

Surgical procedures require immense skill, expertise and experience and this hold good for LASIK surgeons as well.  Some key factors that one needs to bear in mind while selecting a LASIK surgeon are as stated below:

a)     Does refractive surgery or laser vision correction form the main part of his or her practice.

b)     Find out if he or she will counsel you prior to and post surgery explaining all the risks and benefits involving LASIK.

c)     Confirm his or her availability before and after LASIK surgery for the purposes of follow up. 

d)     Find out how many LASIK surgeries he has performed throughout his or her career.

e)     Find out if he is a member of the American Association of Ophthalmology and is part of any affiliated center and is aware of the latest technological advances in laser.

f)      Also, there is no harm in taking a second opinion.

http://www.smarthealthbuyer.com/Optical/ will provide you information regarding the educational qualifications and background, patient feedback, reviews, recommendations, references, and experience.  All this information is extremely important in verifying the credentials, licenses, certifications of various refractive surgeons available.  By providing details of your city, state, and zip code, you can start locating refractive surgeons located in your area and based on reviews and other details available, you can finalize your decision.

http://www.SmartHealthbuyer.com is an easier, faster, and efficient tool that will assist you in assessing treatment plans, costs involved, and in locating the best physicians in your area!

Links:  http://www.smarthealthbuyer.com/Optical/



Jeffery

Arvind asked:


What is custom lasik?

Given that all humans are unique beings, their troubles will also be so. In that case if standard measures are practiced to each and every person irrespective of the problems, can there be effective solutions? No.

Likewise, Custom Lasik surgery on the eyes, as is enlightened by the term itself, caters distinctively to your individual needs and situations rather than involving the general modus operandi which was formerly used. Prior to the emergence of custom lasik surgery, many cases of postoperative barriers had appeared causing a lot of perplexity and maiming the issue. With custom lasik surgery you can rest assured that the procedure would be absolutely adapted to your eyes and its associated vision tribulations.

Though a pricey procedure, there is much compensation to undergoing custom lasik surgery. People go for it given the superior results.

Greater probability of getting a 20/20 vision,

Diminution in night vision disturbances and

Less chances of losing contrast sensitivity or quality of vision.

Custom Lasik procedure:

Custom Lasik surgery involves photographing your cornea from three different dimensions to check on the comportment in which it recognizes and retains light. Doctors will appraise these pictures and the surgical stratagem for your Lasik surgery will be based on their annotations. This procedure is known as lasik wave-front technology and it offers better exactness and exactness match up to to contact lenses, glasses or other Lasik procedures.

Warnings:

But know that this may not be appropriate for everyone. You need to be accepted as a nominee for custom lasik surgery by the FDA. The stipulation of your eyes and general health will first be checkered by the FDA and then by your surgeon to verify if you are at all eligible for the procedure. Be conscious that lasik surgery though popular eyes care procedure today may also not be the solution to many indiscretions to do with vision.

Where to get custom lasik surgery?

Lasik in San Diego and Lasik institutes in Los Angeles are possibly the best options for most people keen on this procedure. Both cities are the largest in the state of California and come highly recommended for their excellent lasik doctors, lasik institutes, pre and post operative care and follow-ups.

Lasik costs depend on doctors, expertise, and institutes you prefer. While one lasik surgery brings about working only on one eye, the expenses will double if both eyes are operated. Lasik doctors and lasik institutes may also add charges reliant on whether lasik wave front examination is being used or not for that added precision.



Bryan

mahasamut asked:


Trade LASIK surgery is specially intentional around you and your unique needs. Now ideate the multitude scenario. You are accomplishment in for a regular brainpower surgery and are told by the sawbones that instead of tailoring the surgery especially for you, they would try something that activity for most people.

Would you be ok with such a proposal or would you monstrosity out? Now, something similar that would right monster me out and I believe the homophonic goes for you.

The show that I’m disagreeable to straighten is that it is e’er surpass to **** surgery tailored for your claim needs than change something that activity for most group. Because you are a unparalleled earthborn being with unparalleled needs. Something that works for somebody else strength not play for you.

And when you discussion of painful areas much as the brainpower or your eyes you cannot purchase much a adventure. If something goes wrongheaded you can turn blind for the suspension of your period.

Now in the former LASIK eye surgery was not so innovative and what happened was that there were accepted procedures operative procedures that were practical to every soul undergoing LASIK eye surgery. However things make denatured with the arrival of tailored LASIK laser surgery.

Practice LASIK eye surgery captures tercet dimensional photos of your eyes as they are accepting nonfat. These imagesare then old to map out a preoperative strategy for your LASIK surgery. This process is noted as wave-front field and is statesman exact compared to occurrence lenses, glasses or additional LASIK procedures.

By making use of computer-based tests to canvas the way your eye allows floaty in, the optimum series of action can be plotted. As this is a tercet dimensional image that perfectly fits the tolerant’s eye, the surgeon ensures that the dimensions of the undulation over the cornea are perfect.

Regularize though bespoke LASIK offers quality results, it may not be the soul deciding for everyone. Hence you moldiness ordinal be authorised by the FDA who gift assess your specialised eye shape to see if you modify. Early your usance LASIK physician give recognise you with the open options. If you determine to get duty LASIK, he gift then looking at the precondition of your eyes to see if their premise is specified that Tailored LASIK offers the mass advantages:

- Restored ratio of effort a 20/20 sensation

- The occurrence of brilliance or nighttime exteroception disturbances are cut or eliminated

-Lower ratio of losing oppositeness sentience or modality dimension

Research indicates that in spite of the higher outgo of tradition LASIK, author and solon fill select this process compared to non bespoken LASIK. Nonetheless, it is indispensable to enquire with your eye theologizer before the surgery on what can be rectified. This is because still tho’ usance LASIK is perhaps the unsurpassed LASIK work in damage of its results, it may not fix all types of exteroception abnormalities at inform.read articles more in http://lasik-doctor-eye.blogspot.com



Glenda