Keion Moradi asked:


Lasik can be the answer for many patients with vision problems. As medical advancement paves the way to safer, more precise procedures, laser eye surgery is becoming the preferred choice for vision correction. However, Lasik surgery is not for everyone. Learn more and determine if Lasik is right for you.

Patients who are nearsighted, farsighted or suffer from astigmatism may be appropriate candidates for Lasik. Depending on your overall health, the condition of your eyes and vision correction needs, an alternative laser eye surgery may be more appropriate. In order to determine if Lasik is right for you, schedule a Lasik prescreening exam with an experienced laser eye surgeon.

Risks, Responsibility and Lasik Surgery

Lasik, as with all surgical procedures, carries an unavoidable level of risk. Results vary for each patient and may not last. There is a chance that your Lasik surgery may result in over-correction or under-correction. Additional procedures, if applicable, may be required.

However, there are ways to significantly reduce the risk. Following preoperative and postoperative instructions from your Lasik surgeon is an essential part of your success. The doctor can make an accurate evaluation of your candidacy for Lasik during the screening process.

Your Profession and Lasik Surgery

With Lasik success rates continually improving, many careers and services that previously prohibited laser eye surgery are starting to come around. Pilots and members of the military may now qualify for Lasik. You must first check with your service or employer regarding any restrictions and conditions against laser eye surgery.

Refractive Instability and Lasik Surgery

Patients who experience refractive instability may need to postpone laser eye surgery until vision has stabilized. Common conditions that cause vision to fluctuate are Diabetes, pregnancy and nursing. If you are planning to conceive, wait at least six months after Lasik surgery.

Age is another determinant for refractive instability. You must also be at least 18 and without changes to your prescription for at least 12 months. Certain medications can also cause vision to fluctuate. Discuss all medications, including over the counter drugs and vitamin supplements with your Lasik surgeon.

The Health of Your Eyes and Lasik Surgery

As part of the screening, the Lasik surgeon will give you a thorough medical eye exam. Any eye conditions that may aggravate and prolong recovery will be evaluated carefully. The doctor will check for conditions such as dry eyes, conjunctivitis and allergies. You may need to wait until symptoms subside prior to laser eye surgery.

There are certain eye conditions that may disqualify you from Lasik altogether. Glaucoma, Keratonusus and cataracts may not be appropriate for Lasik. In this case, your laser eye surgeon can provide other alternatives to Lasik.

Lasik may not be appropriate for patients with thin corneas. The use of a microkeratome blade during Lasik can cause complications for patients with insufficient cornea thickness. Also, patients with large pupils may be at risk for problems with night vision and sensitivity to light after Lasik. If symptoms do not subside after six months, corrective surgery may be necessary.

Your Medical History and Lasik

In addition to evaluating the heath of your eyes, the surgeon will examine your overall health. Any conditions that lower immunity, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, HIV and other immunodeficiency states can be a serious hindrance to the healing period. Medications like steroids and retinoic acids also affect immunity.



Arlene

Sunny l asked:


I am looking for a lasik surgeon in San Diego or Orange county. Any suggestions? How can I check the credentials of the doctor? Thanks

Kathy

Miodrag Trajkovic asked:


Let’s walk through what a client experiences when attending a Lasik center for a Wavefront Lasik procedure. The procedure itself generally only takes between five and ten minutes for each eye in total, and both eyes are done during the same procedure. The actual time to reshape the eye with the Lasik excimer laser is usually less than 15 seconds per eye.

Any person’s vision problems are generated by small “aberrations” within the eye that prevents the light from focusing objects as they should. The Lasik equipment locates and classifies these aberrations and then processes them so that the Lasik physician will correct these and allow the light to focus properly once the eye has healed.

In a Wavefront Lasik procedure, the patient stares at one point while a light is sent into the eye, which is reflected back and read by a Lasik Wavefront sensor. The distortions in this reflected light are mapped using a small computer within the Lasik system, and then this information is used to guide the laser that treats the eye.

Once the light creates the map for the eye, the Lasik surgeon has to create a small flap to access the cornea. This is done using a laser (this type of Lasik procedure is known as IntraLasik, or bladeless Lasik) or a small blade known as a microkeratome.

This flap is then opened to allow the cornea to be reshaped by the Lasik system.The excimer laser actually reshapes the cornea, which is the crucial part of the Lasik procedure. In order to determine exactly how to reshape it, the map created earlier by the Wavefront sensor is used to direct the beam of light accurately. The Lasik physician uses these precise tools to get the clearest vision results possible.

This custom Lasik procedure can not only correct such standard problems as nearsightedness, but can also address aberrations that create light halos, glare, haze, or starburst patterns. Once the Lasik physician determines that all relevant aberrations have been eliminated, he replaces the flap in its proper position, where it adheres normally and will heal naturally.

As mentioned earlier, this entire Lasik process takes between ten and fifteen minutes per eye. A patient gets a mild sedative and eye numbing drops to make the procedure both relaxing and painless. Most people notice an improvement in vision due to Lasik almost immediately.

Once the Lasik procedure is finished, you will get some eye drop medication to lubricate and protect your eyes. This medication (and the liquid in the drops themselves) may cause some blurring, and so for this reason (and to avoid any eyestrain) you should arrange for someone else to drive you home. It is also a good idea to go to sleep as soon as possible after the Lasik operation in order to promote even faster healing.

To promote optimal healing the Lasik physician often gives a plastic shield to wear over your eyes for the first night or two. Follow closely any recommendations by the Lasik physician. Do further investigation into this great new Lasik procedure, and get a clearer focus on your future!



Jeanne

calibound asked:


I would even like to hear recommendations on lasik eye surgeons in charlotte to stay away from!

Alexander

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

Patricia Woloch asked:


LASIK. A word bandied about for years now. While most people know that it means going from wearing glasses or contacts to not wearing glasses or contacts, most people don’t really know what LASIK is.

LASIK is an acronym that stands for Laser Assisted In situ Keratomileusis. Basically, it is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea (the clear cover on the front of the eye) using an excimer laser.

An excimer laser is an ultraviolet laser that is used in refractive surgery to remove corneal tissue.

Wow. This is still just really too scientific. Let’s try to put it in layman’s terms, shall we?

LASIK surgery changes the way light is refracted or bent through your cornea so you can see more clearly and, almost always, without the use of glasses or contacts.

The actual procedure is pretty short and simple. To begin with, you relax in a reclining chair while numbing drops are put in your eyes. Once the drops have taken effect, a special device is used to gently hold your eyes open so you don’t blink during the procedure. Next, the LASIK surgeon cuts a small flap from the top of the cornea.

All the information you and your doctor discussed prior to your exam was entered into a computer connected to the excimer laser. That customized program is used as the laser quickly reshapes your cornea. Once that’s done, the LASIK surgeon puts the flap back down so it can seal and heal all by itself. No stitches required. And that’s it. From start to finish, the entire process only takes about 15 minutes per eye.

The morning after your LASIK procedure, you will probably be at about 90% for improved vision and you can go to work if you want to. The other 10% improvement will happen over the following two to three weeks, as the eye recovers from being worked on.

LASIK surgery has helped lots of people with truly poor vision see clearly again. Instead of having to grab your glasses before you are even able to get out of bed and walk around each morning, you may very well be able to open your eyes and see clearly all by yourself.

If you wear glasses or contacts, you owe it to yourself to find out how LASIK surgery can improve your view of Indianapolis every day. Besides, think how great it would be to buy lots of cool sunglasses right off the rack instead of having to change from sun to regular every time you go outside.



Ruben

ibanezcorey5 asked:


I am a sophomore in high school and I am pretty sure this is what I want to do. How can I get a degree in ophthalmology and become strictly a lasik surgeon? Are there any very good schools in the state of GA or fairly close? Any help would be much appreciated.

Randall

gizmo asked:


If I want lasik surgery, how do I find the most reputable DR? Do insurance companies cover any of it? I’m trying to sort all this out, I’ve been considering it. I don’t want to pay too much, but I don’t want to pay to little at the expense of my eyes. What should I be looking for?

Jo