The wisdom of Osbert Sitwell

Millions of people now consider themselves to be either grateful recipients or victims of Lasik surgery and many of them, for a variety of reasons, have either produced testimonials to laud the procedure or denunciations to criticize it. This is not a question of who to believe . . . there is no reason to suspect that either the testimonials or the denunciations are untrue, and together they give an accurate picture of the Lasik procedure from the patients point-of-view.

On the positive side, the testimonials tell the stories of people who, in some cases, have had vision problems since childhood and now, thanks to a successful Lasik procedure, have almost perfect vision. On the negative side, criticisms of Lasik range from mild disapproval because of unmet expectations, to angry denunciations because of serious problems after the Lasik procedure, to the extreme cases of catastrophic results.

From the point-of-view of the Lasik provider, a patient’s testimonial is invaluable evidence that they have not only improved the vision of that patient, they have improved the patients life to the extent that the patient has now, willingly, become a spokesman.

From your point of view, as a potential Lasik consumer, the testimonials and condemnations both need to be considered and taken at face value. These, in a very real sense, are not the praises or critiques of individuals as much as they are ‘The History of Lasik.’

It is because of some quirk of human nature that we are more fascinated by tragedy than we are by triumph and, consequently, tend to give more weight to criticism than we do to praise. We, too often, assume the negative is true and the positive is just hype. The news media certainly understands this quirk and they are quick to produce stories of tragic occurrences and tell tales of defeat and disaster while holding the positive stories for a ’slow news day.’ They understand that sad and negative news will hold our attention and motivate us to action while the happy, positive stories will soon be forgotten.

So it is with the testimonials and denunciations of Lasik:

The following is a testimonial excerpt from the Diary of a Lasik patient, found at Ienhance.com

(http://www.ienhance.com/community/diary.asp?diaryid=28):

“Let me tell you though, the best part of my day? The one thing that I will never forget? I heard my wife s car in the driveway as she drove up to pick me up, and then something wonderful happened. When the door opened, my wife walked in and I could see her! No glasses, no squinting my beautiful wife. I could see her smiling face, her beautiful eyes… the love of my life. I don’t think she realizes how much I have wanted to do this Laser surgery. I love her with all my heart. She is so beautiful. I am so happy she was one of the beautiful things I was able to see on the first day with my new eyes. I drove us home that evening… without glasses. “

That’s so vivid and inspiring it could bring tears to the eyes of the unjaded reader.

Now this excerpt from a much less positive point-of-view, found at the SurgicalEyes site on their bulletin board: http://surgicaleyes.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/6541031211/m/3296066494

“I had lasik surgery on July 20, 2000. with enhancement October 26, 2000. Not a day goes by that I don t blame myself for the temporary insanity I must have experienced when I decided to go ahead with the surgery. At all other times I am very cautious about my health, eat right, don t take medications and I exercise regularly. How could I have done this to myself? I trusted the surgeon to give me the facts, all the facts, and he didn t, in fact, he lied by omission.

“The complications I m living with today: induced astigmatism in my left eye, starbursts, 1 lights, unpredictable fluctuation vision, dry eyes, foreign body sensation, floaters in both eyes (which I only very seldom experienced in my right eye before surgery), eye pain, eyes tiring easily when reading and working on the computer, right eye constantly shadowing (I have to turn my head to make the shadows go away). I had none of these symptoms before surgery.”

Actually this story of a Lasik failure and a bad doctor may not be as emotionally moving as the previous testimonial but this excerpt induces another, stronger emotion: fear.

Testimonials are important but so is the contradictory evidence, and only when considered together can you learn the whole story.

Technorati Tags: vision correction, laser eye surgery, lasik, opthomologists

Your refractive error should be stable

You should be at least 18 years of age or older

No other ophthalmologic disorders

No other general disorders

Your refractive error is the degree to which light reaches the back of the eye. This is the cause of astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia. Myopia is caused by rays of light that get focused in front of the retina as opposed to focusing on the retina itself. This causes nearsightedness. Some of the symptoms of nearsightedness are blurred distant vision, eye strain, and squinting. You may also have a hard time seeing at night. This problem is easily fixed with glasses, and with today s new technology lasik is now an option for many patients.

Hyperopia is the exact opposite. Hyperopia is another word for farsightedness. This happens when light rays focus behind the retina instead of on the retina. This results in blurred near vision. Some patients that have severe farsightedness and have to step back from what they are reading. They use things such as magnifying glasses, and reading glasses to read and to see things right in front their face. Glasses and contact lenses can help alleviate some of these problems, and now so can lasik.

Astigmatism is the effect of the eye being shaped like a football instead of round like a baseball. Light rays are focused on two points on the retina instead of just one. This deformity can result in double vision, blurred vision, and shadows on letters when reading. This abnormality has been a problem for decades. Up until recently it has prevented some people from getting contact lenses. Only people with slight astigmatism were able to comfortably wear contact lenses. Breakthroughs in contact lenses have not accommodated patients with extreme astigmatism. But even now not all patients can be helped. But with this new breakthrough in lasik, patients can have their eyes repaired to normal, or at least be repaired enough to comfortably wear contact lenses. Either way, their vision is enhanced and many are happy just to get rid of the glasses and finally be able to wear contacts, or possibly nothing at all.

You should be at least 18 years of age or older before considering lasik. This is because your body is still developing and changing, including your eyes. Your eyes are still growing and changing their shape until you reach full maturity. Most people s eyes stop changing about the age of 16, yet some need that extra two years to finish. It is best that you wait till you are at least 18 to avoid any negative side effects or to avoid needing a second surgery done later.

Ophthalmologic disorders are disorders in the eye. Examples of these optical disorders are cataracts and glaucoma. These problems need to be take care of in advance if at all possible to avoid complications with surgery and recovery. People who have any optical disorders should not consider lasik as it may be ineffective or progress the damage of the eye ever further. Very few people with optical disorders actually improve their eye sight with lasik.

Other disorders such has arthritis should not be present either as it will slow the healing process. Many physiological disorders have been know to cause undo stress on the eyes, and it is for this reason that lasik is not recommended for people with general disorders.

Please remember that these rules are guidelines and not all doctors follow them to the letter of the law. Like most rules there are exceptions and only a competent doctor can decide if you should risk surgery under your conditions. Find a doctor you trust and let him/her examine your eyes and listen to their council to decide if lasik is best for you. Lasik is a risk even for the perfect candidate. Don t risk more than you have to. Discuss it with your doctor and if he/she thinks you are a good candidate for surgery, then proceed with it, but only then.

Technorati Tags: vision correction, laser eye surgery, lasik, opthomologists

Fewer Complications Today! Lasik surgery has become the most commonly requested of all the elective surgeries. Over six-million people worldwide have received Lasik and an estimated 99% of them have reported no serious complications past the normal healing period. That number used to be a bit higher. In the earlier days of Lasik, up to 5% of people who underwent the procedure reported some type of post-Lasik problem. Three factors have reduced that number to where it is today, two of these are fairly predictable. Over time there were improvements in the equipment used to perform Lasik and Lasik surgeon’s have increased their skills as they became more comfortable with the equipment and with the procedure. Lasik surgeons have also increased their skills in one other area, identifying suitable patients for the Lasik procedure.

The best candidates for Lasik. The best candidates for Lasik are young (less than 44-years old) and healthy with common vision problems. Short sightedness (Myopia), the inability to see things at a distance; long sightedness (Hyperopia), problems reading or seeing things up close; and astigmatism, distorted vision caused by an abnormally shaped cornea are all problems that are correctable with Lasik, with very minor, usually short-term complications.

Not everyone is suitable. Not everyone who desires Lasik surgery is a good candidate for Lasik.

You are probably NOT a good candidate for refractive surgery if:

you are not comfortable with the risks of Lasik, as explained by your Lasik surgeon. Certain complications are unavoidable in a percentage of patients.

the possible complications of Lasik will jeopardize your employment. Some employers do not allow their employees to undergo certain refractive surgeries.

the cost of Lasik will be a problem. Lasik is less expensive now than in the past but it is still not inexpensive and most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery — they consider it elective surgery.

you actively participate in contact sports; especially sports where your head might be subject to injury.

you are not an adult. No laser surgery techniques are FDA approved for persons under the age of 18.

your vision changed enough in the last year to require a change in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription. This is called refractive instability and it may be caused by: unstable hormone levels, certain illnesses or diseases, or side-effects of medications you are using to treat other medical conditions.

Some of the diseases and conditions that may make you unsuitable for Lasik surgery are:

Herpes simplex or ’shingles’ that involve the eye area

Glaucoma or ocular hypertension

eye diseases such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye)

eye injuries or previous eye surgeries

Keratoconus

Blepharitis (an inflammation of the eyelids)

large pupils

thin corneas

Dry eye

When complications occur. When post-LASIK complications do occur, they can often be resolved with medication, laser re-treatments or enhancements of the eye. Permanent vision loss is a slight possibility as is degradation of vision from its pre-surgery condition.

The normal healing period for Lasik surgery is six months. Most complications should resolve themselves within this six month period but, in the case of a serious or particularly troublesome complication, six months may be (or at least may seem to be) far too long. A second opinion from another qualified Lasik surgeon, no matter how it is obtained, may turn out to be the key for resolving troublesome complications or it may result in an endorsement of your current course of treatment; whatever the result it should provide you with increased peace-of-mind.

There is an organization that has come into existence specifically to address the needs of patients with LASIK complications and to provide doctors with an additional source for information on Lasik complications. The organization is the CRSQA (Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance) and their online information page, ComplicatedEyes.org can be found at: http://www.complicatedeyes.org/

Technorati Tags: vision correction, laser eye surgery, lasik, opthomologists

Lasik surgery is not for everyone, but for some it is a necessity of life. If you have had to live ten, twenty, thirty or more years fighting with eye glasses or contact lenses, then you may consider Lasik eye surgery a necessity. The thought of never having to put anything in their eye again or possibly never having to wear another pair of eye glasses is appealing to most people. Lasik surgery is the answer. To some it seems like a miracle cure. To others, it just the latest invention of technology. Either way, Lasik is a modern marvel that will change the way we all see the world.

Before you get lasik eye surgery, it is important to understand what lasik is, and then decide if it is right for you. Keep in mind that lasik is a type of surgery and there are risks involved in getting this and any other surgical procedure. Educating yourself is the best way to prepare for these risks. Do your homework. Research online and talk with your eye doctor about the procedure and the risks involved. Be sure to ask questions about recovery time, pre-op requirements, etc. Once you understand what lasik is, then it is up to you to decide if it is necessary.

Everyone s eyes are different. They are as unique as fingerprints. It is for this reason that many security companies use retinal scans, or the scanning of the eyes, as a security measure. Your eyes are a lot harder to copy than a fingerprint is. Since no two eyes are the same, a visit to your eye doctor is necessary to begin the process of lasik surgery. Once you get an eye exam, your eye doctor will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for lasik eye surgery.

Lasik is one of many eye surgeries, however due to the recovery time and the success rate of this surgery; it is easy to see why it the most common and the preferred eye surgery to date. In layman s terms lasik is cutting a flap in the top layer of the eye and letting a laser reshape the eye. It is a rather simple surgery. Some doctors will let you watch a video of the surgery. This way you know what to expect during the surgery. If you still opt for the surgery, your doctor should talk with you about what to expect before, during and after the surgery. If you are ready to ditch the glasses or contact lenses, then lasik is the way to go. The goal is to repair your eyes to 20/20, however sometimes that is just not possible. Don t let that stop you. If lasik can not completely repair your eyes, it could possibly improve them. You may be able to have lighter, thinner lenses. You may even be able to have the luxury of only having to wear glasses when you read. To some that is an improvement well worth the money. The only way to know for sure what your odds are that the surgery will be successful is to visit your eye doctor.

With the right eye doctor and reasonable expectations of lasik surgery, you should be well prepared. Lasik is not for everyone, but it may be for you. Visit your eye doctor today and find out if you are a good candidate for lasik eye surgery! You will see the world from a brand new prospective with new eyes!

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, LASIK, opthomology, lasik costs, lasik benefits

A major factor in the Lasik surgeon’s decision to recommend the Monovision option is your age. At approximately age 40 your eyes’ ability to change focus from far to near starts to deteriorate; this condition, the loss of focusing ability, is called ‘presbyopia.’ Performing Lasik on both eyes of a person over 40, to allow them excellent far vision in both eyes will, in most cases, mean that the patient with some degree of presbyopia will need reading glasses for clear close vision.

Not a blurry life. This procedure may seem, at first, like it will create a very blurry, confused vision problem that causes you to go through life with one eye open and one eye closed at all times but it’s not like that at all. The vision part of our brain tends to compensate for Monovision by ‘filtering out’ the image from the eye that is not in clear focus. In other words, if your left eye is your distance eye and your right eye is your near eye, when you are sitting reading a book, your brain will ignore the unfocused image from your left eye.

Two important things to remember are:

The ability to change focus only goes from far to near, i.e. if your eye is corrected for near vision it cannot change focus to clearly see distant objects where, conversely, if your eye is correct to see clearly at a distance it CAN, if presbyopia is not a factor, focus from far to near.

The brain adjusts to ignore the out-of-focus eye and should fully adjust to Monovision within 6-8 weeks.

Monovision considerations. Most Lasik surgeons will not recommend Monovision if you are under the age of 35 because, at that age your eye should still be able to shift focus and should be able to do that for a number of years. Another factor is that, by the time you might benefit from Monovision, there might be a much better treatment for presbyopia.

The most serious consideration when considering Monovision is the resulting loss of depth perception. Driving a car with one eye closed can cause severe anxiety until and unless you are accustomed to driving with just one eye — that is, in effect, the effect of Monovision. Your brain will be ignoring one eye or the other, as it is being trained to do.

What to do? It would appear that the best course of action for someone who is unsure about or scared of the Monovision option would be to get both eyes corrected for the best possible distance vision and then plan to use reading glasses for up-close work. If, however, you want to try Monovision to see if it works for you and then decide you don’t like it, there is a Lasik procedure that can enhance the near eye so that it matches the far eye which, again, leaves you with the reading glasses option.

Glasses in your future? If you do not have presbyopia now you probably will as you and your eyes get older; if you have it now it will get worse. Lasik distance vision correction in both eyes will not, except in a few cases, prevent the patient from ever wearing glasses. The benefit of having the Monovision procedure is that you are unlikely to have a need for glasses for up close work or reading as you get older.

The contact lens option. If you are not completely against contact lenses and want a non-surgical option, contact lenses can be prescribed for you by your optometrist that will allow you to try Monovision. Just like with the Lasik option, it will take some time to get your brain to adjust to Monovision and, additionally, you will need to adjust to using contacts if you have never tried them.

Results. A survey of Lasik patients with the Monovision correction has determined that approximately 85% of the patients liked Monovision enough to keep it for the long term. The other 15% were uncomfortable enough with the procedure or were unable to adjust to it and decided to give it up in favor of having the near eye adjusted to match the far eye.

Still another option. If you choose the Lasik Monovision option and find certain activities to be problematic, you can get a contact lens fitted into one eye (usually the near eye) to have it match the other eye.

Technorati Tags: lasik eye surgery, lasik facts

If you are unsure as to how this laser surgery works, keep reading and let us explain. It is quite a simple and fast procedure and within just a few minutes your vision is already altered for the better. Whether your vision is good or bad it all depends on the cornea tissue. These tissues determine how well you see up close or far away. How this procedure works is that a laser gently burns away the tissue around your cornea. Once this tissue is removed the laser then reshapes your cornea. Of course your cornea is reshaped in a different way for each person; this is how it works for everyone.

There is no easier way to correct your vision than with laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery is a procedure that is available to everybody. You can find laser surgery no matter where you live. This type of surgery is effective with no matter what type of vision correction you require. Laser surgery is completely safe and you will find yourself with little if any side effects following a laser eye surgery. Slight eye irritation is the worst of the side effects that you will experience. If you are experiencing anything worse than this, it is important to see your eye doctor as soon as possible. Your vision is very delicate you do not want to jeopardize it.

Laser eye surgery can completely alter your life in a positive way. You have never seen like you will follow this surgery. The technology is amazing and can correct your vision within just a few minutes!

Technorati Tags: laser assistsed eye surgery, lasik

Similarities. Both Lasik and contacts are able to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and, to some extent, astigmatism. Both Lasik and contacts can eliminate the effect of minification and peripheral distortion that might have been evident if and when you wore glasses, because both options correct your vision right at the surface of your eye.

Convenience. Extended wear contact lenses, introduced in the late 1970s, made contact lenses far more convenient than they were previous to that. Extended wear contacts, however, did not quite live up to their claims; it became evident that they could not be worn continuously for the length of time that had been claimed (usually 30-days) without problems occurring. When disposable contact lenses were introduced it made wearing contact lenses much more convenient but they were still a daily concern. In the past few years, thanks to advances in contact lens research and manufacture, the “30 Day Lenses” have returned. Time will tell how successful these will be in providing the convenience that contact lens wearers desire. The Lasik procedure, for those who can take advantage of it is, of course, the ultimate in convenience with no lenses to worry about at all.

Comfort. Certainly Lasik wins the comfort ‘derby’ after, that is, the initial discomfort of post-op recovery which, in more extreme cases, may last up to six months. Contact lenses are more comfortable for some people than for others because of the varying degree of tolerance for discomfort between individuals and new advances in the materials used to manufacture contacts have made the lenses even more comfortable. The fact remains, however (as reported in the Contact Lens Spectrum at http://www.clspectrum.com/article.aspx?article=12787) that an estimated 2-3 million people of ‘drop out’ of contact lens wear each year due to comfort and inconvenience factors. That number equals approximately 10% of contact lens wearers.

Lifestyle issues. Again, as far as being able to go about your daily activities without the inconvenience and worry that may be caused by contact lenses, gives Lasik another win in the Lifestyle column.

Safety and Risk. The two most important factors in any decision you make in life are safety and risk. This varies by individual; some people enjoy living their life on the edge while others (probably the majority) prefer to keep a safety barrier of some sort around them. Such is the choice between continuing to wear contacts and electing Lasik surgery.

Wearing contact lenses, in spite of convenience, comfort and lifestyle issues, is not normally ‘risky business’ . . . not normally! Even when used as directed by your optometrist, some complications can arise — nothing normally sight-threatening or remotely life-threatening but still problematic. Some contact lens wearers have contact lens fit problems and some develop ‘dry eye’ or ‘giant papillary conjunctivitis.’ Dry eye usually occurs in contact lens wearers who had dry eye (insufficient natural eye lubrication) before wearing contacts. The conjunctivitis problem usually occurs in patients who have been wearing lenses for some number of years and who have not been as careful as they possibly can to keep their contacts clean. Both conditions are fairly easily treated.

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (see http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/298_lens.html), “The most serious safety concern with any contact lens is related to overnight use. Extended-wear (overnight) contact lenses–rigid or soft–increase the risk of corneal ulcers, infection-caused eruptions on the cornea that can lead to blindness. Symptoms include vision changes, eye redness, eye discomfort or pain, and excessive tearing.”

Another contact lens concern that is potentially sight threatening is the chance of a parasitic eye infection called Acanthamoeba Keratitis. This difficult to treat infection is primarily caused by not taking proper care of your contacts and may be complicated by using hot tubs or by swimming.

Contact lenses have been marketed as “care free, trouble free and risk free,” you can clearly see that these claims are subjective.

Lasik while it may win under the headings of convenience, comfort and lifestyle requires some risk taking. Any type of surgery presents a risk and while an estimated 96% to 98% of the many millions of Lasik patients have no serious concerns, even years after surgery, there are a great number of them who have found that Lasik did not fully meet their expectations (they still needed glasses or contacts after surgery). Some small percent of Lasik patients are left with minor vision problems and a very small percent have had catastrophic problems. Such is the nature of any surgical procedure.

The choice is yours but it’s not an easy one: contacts or Lasik?

Technorati Tags: lasik eye surgery, lasik facts

The Lasik surgery can often drastically improve the vision of many people. About 94 percent of all patients find that they have improved vision almost immediately after the surgery. Many times, patients can have 20/40 eyesight or better after Lasik. A few patients do reports complications with this procedure including seeing halos around lights at nighttime, worsened vision and infections. The laser technique procedure is relatively new, so many patients are curious about the long-term effects of Lasik.

Modern Lasik surgery was first performed in the United States in 1991. A sort of Lasik procedure was performed much earlier than this though. In 1948 eye vision correction was performed. This procedure was much more involved than the current technique. It involved cutting and stitching the cornea back in place. This early procedure was only performed in very extreme cases and at the time was very experimental. Early eye correction surgeries had results that were often unpredictable and risky. Now, many people can have Lasik without the worry of major complications. Lasik procedures today are highly effective and are very precise.

It is important to understand that since the modern technique of Lasik has only been used for about ten years, doctors do not know the long-term effects. Scientist who research and track Lasik complications, believes that there are probably no significant long-term effects from this surgery. It is known that early forms of vision correction seemed to work well and did not have negative long-term effects. The excimer, which is the laser used during these procedures, have been used since the early 1980s. The technique of making a flap in the cornea to correct vision has been performed in the late 1940s. Neither has shown negative long-term effects on patients.

One possible long-term side effect could be reduced night vision or seeing what are called halos around lit objects in low light. One research shows that some Lasik doctors no longer use the laser technique for Lasik procedures because of the patient s complaints of reduced night vision. The US Food and Drug Administration also warn of these effects on patients. The FDA warns that after Lasik surgery, some patients will no longer be able to drive at night. This side effect can be a major problem for some people.

Another possible long-term effect that the FDA cautions potential patients about is that the benefits of improved vision may not be permanent. They feel that the improved vision could be temporary especially for those who already depend on reading glasses. Many Lasik patients find that they still need reading glasses after the surgery is complete. Even with the surgery an immediate effect of the surgery may include the need to still wear glasses. The surgery is not designed to completely eliminate the need for glasses, but to reduce the need for them after surgery. Additionally, the need for reading glasses is caused by natural maturity of the eyes and Lasik cannot improve the need for reading glasses.

The most important part of the Lasik procedure is to make certain that you are a good candidate for the surgery. Most of the complications and side effects of Lasik are on patients who are not properly screened or who have not had proper education. A Lasik surgeon should be prepared to tell you every aspect of the surgery and determine if you can have a good outcome. People who should not have the surgery include those who suffer from diseases of the immune system, those who are under eighteen years of age, those with certain eye diseases and people who are pregnant or nursing.

Proper education about the surgery can help many potential patients understand the risks and complications prior to surgery. There are no guarantees for those who choose to have Lasik. The best Lasik patients are those who are fully informed and have realistic expectations of the procedure.

Technorati Tags: lasik, laser eye procedure, stigmatism

Wavefront lasik uses technology that is the same as the technology used to look at images in space from telescopes. The great ability of wavefront is that it allows a doctor to see the full picture when it comes to the cornea. The cornea is the clear lens on your eye that is mainly responsible for sending images to the retina which then tells your brain so you can see. When someone has a vision problem and cannot see clearly it usually is a result of the cornea being misshaped. In traditional lasik the surgeon can see major distortions in the cornea, but with wavefront lasik the surgeon can see almost any distortion. What this means for the patient is that the outcome of their lasik surgery will be better. A common missed problem involves subtle problems in the cornea that without wavefront would not be detected. These subtle differences are what cause after effects like halos and starbursts and difficulty seeing in low light. Wavefront lasik has been approved by the FDA. In fact there are three different systems that have FDA approval. In studies verses traditional lasik, wavefront lasik has been found to achieve a 10 to 14 percent difference in the success rate of achieving 20/20 vision. Obviously, wavefront adds a great advantage to lasik surgery.

Wavefront technology is not actually used during the surgery. It is part of the initial consultation. At this time the doctor measures the cornea and generally determines if the patient is a suitable candidate for lasik. How wavefront works seems quite simple. It uses a laser beam of light that shines through the cornea to the retina and back. It is the way this beam is reflected and changed through this process that tells the surgeon what is wrong with the cornea. It translates all the information into a formula that the surgeon will use to program the laser for the actual surgery. This information tells the laser how much and where to shape the cornea. The use of wavefront does not change the lasik experience for the patient, but only enhances the results surgeons can achieve.

Just as in traditional lasik there are some people who are just not suited to receive wavefront lasik. Wavefront lasik results in removal of more corneal tissue than traditional lasik, so people with thin corneas may experience problems. Also people who do not normally qualify for traditional lasik, such as those with dry eyes and eye disorders still may not qualify for wavefront. The long term effects of all lasik surgeries are not completely known because it is a new procedure. The benefits of wavefront may not last over time, it just is not known.

Wavefront lasik adds a degree of reliability and predictability to lasik procedures. It also opens the door for people who have been turned down for traditional lasik due to severe cornea distortion. While neither wavefront lasik nor traditional lasik can guarantee a perfect result, wavefront does offer hope of avoiding some complications of traditional lasik.

Technorati Tags: laser assistsed eye surgery, lasik

Laser eye surgery of course is the number one type of corrective surgery today and still growing. With the amazing advances in lasers and eye corrective technology, there is no doubt why this type of procedure is the number one corrective surgery today. Laser surgery is a safe and successful form of vision correction.

Another option for vision correction is a lens transplant. This is a surgery that is becoming more popular as an alternative to laser surgery. There are many people who feel uncomfortable with the idea of laser surgery. This is a great alternative for those people. Lens transplants are a simple surgery and just as successful as laser surgery. You have the opportunity to have the lens of your eye taken out and replaced with a lens that has the vision qualities you require.

Corrective lenses and frames are of course the most popular type of vision correction. This is a very affordable and effective way to compensate for your vision impairment no matter what type of impairment you may possess. Glasses and contact lenses are now covered in a large variety of insurance companies which makes this form of vision correction that much more affordable. There are also many great styles and fashions when it comes to the frames of your glasses. This makes wearing corrective lenses that much easier if you are feeling uncomfortable.

With these great types of vision corrective surgeries and alternatives, you can see the great opportunities that are waiting for you. No matter what type of eye impairment you have, it can be corrected!

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, lasik, laser vision repair, eye surgery

Cost: Lasik is expensive, not as expensive as it once was but it has not reached the point where its affordable for most people. Most health insurance will not cover Lasik surgery because it is considered an elective procedure. Considering these two factors, the financing offers now being made by the biggest Lasik clinics and the low-ball prices many others are offering are no doubt tempting; but you need to take a pledge NOT to give into that temptation . . . not until you’ve considered many other factors.

Advertising: Unfortunately some percentage of Lasik surgeons will make promises in their advertisements that are, to put it kindly, deceptive. The images, claims and testimonials used in Lasik advertising, can make a Lasik surgeon seem like the best surgeon in the world and can make the Lasik procedure itself seem as simple as trimming your toenails. The Lasik surgeon in question very well might be among the best of the best, but then again, the claims may just be hype; and while the Lasik procedure is wonderful, it’s hardly simple. Lasik is a very complex surgical procedure requiring precise manipulation of two pieces of very complex equipment by a skilled operator. So ask yourself: do you really want to put your eyesight on the line based on the word of a paid spokesman, a slick ad copywriter or a possibly unethical surgeon?

There IS a better way: Once you realize that you cannot rely on Lasik advertising and that cost is one of the last considerations in choosing a Lasik surgeons you’re ready to be armed with the following tips that will help you choose a Lasik surgeon the right way:

Research: There are many books, pamphlets and reliable Internet sites that can give you straight information about the Lasik procedure itself, the risks of the procedure, the complications you may expect and the results that may be expected from a successful procedure. Read as much of this information as you can, it will not only educate you, it will be invaluable knowledge that you can use during your initial consultations. One tip on Internet research: Lasik has only been a FDA approved procedure since 1998 and since then there have been many improvements in the procedure, in the equipment and in the criteria for patient selection; make sure you are reading recent material so you have the most current information. Much of the material on the Internet is hard to date.

Ophthalmologists in your area: The American Academy of Ophthalmology has an informative, reliable web site (http://www.aao.org/) that is mostly devoted to the Ophthalmologists among their membership but it also has informative links that will help you understand eye health and search for a member of the Academy who is located in your area.

Look for the FACS accreditation: The letters FACS after a surgeon’s name means that the surgeon is a ‘Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.’ Any surgeon who has earned that FACS designation has passed a thorough evaluation in the areas of education, training, qualifications, competence and conduct. Obviously, the best choice for a Lasik surgeon is one who proudly displays the FACS designation.

Ask your optometrist: If you are considering Lasik, it’s a good bet you have an optometrist in your past. Talk to your optometrist and see if he or she has a recommendation for a Lasik surgeon.

Consultations (plural intended): After your research you should have a list of accredited Lasik surgeons in your area — it may be a short list or a long one. Prepare a list of questions and concerns and arrange for appointments with all the surgeons on your list. After each consultation, after you’ve asked your questions, heard what the doctor had to say, looked around the facility and observed the clinic’s operation you will have some definite impressions of the surgeon, the facility and the staff. Don’t trust your memory, write your impressions down so you can go back later, after all your consultations, and compare your experiences in each clinic. Eventually you will narrow down your list to one Lasik surgeon that you feel you can trust, talk to and work with.

Technorati Tags: vision correction, laser eye surgery, lasik, opthomologists

Lasik has gradually gained popularity because it has many advantages over other procedures. Some of these advantages include reduced post-surgery pain and nearly immediate results. For most, better vision is often achieved immediately after surgery, while it might not become apparent until the next day for others.

With the procedure, a microkeratome or a laser is used to cut a thin, circular flap into the cornea. The surgeon then folds the flap back in order to remove some of the corneal tissue beneath. This is accomplished with an excimer laser, which utilizes a cool ultraviolet light to remove tissue with precision. In this way, the cornea is reshaped in order to better focus light onto the retina, thereby creating clearer vision.

Pick a Doctor and Educate Yourself

The most important step to take before going under the laser is to find a competent Lasik eye surgery doctor. The doctor you choose should be one with a great deal of experience, as the outcome of this procedure is improved with every experience a doctor has performing it. In fact, potential risks or side effects are dramatically reduced when a doctor who has a great deal of experience performs the procedure.

Before the procedure, the doctor will ask you a series of health related questions. Be sure to answer these questions honestly and as thoroughly as possible. These questions are meant to help the doctor determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the surgery. If you have certain health factors that put you at a high risk with this procedure, he will recommend that you don t follow through with it. While this may be disappointing, it can save you from permanently damaging your eyes or making your vision worse.

In addition, the doctor you select must be willing to give you both the pros and the cons associated with the procedure. While the technology is truly amazing, there are true risks involved. A doctor who does not provide this information is not looking out for your best interest and should not be considered as an option for performing such a delicate and important procedure.

Make sure that you read all information the doctor provides you with and that you listen to the doctor carefully as he describes the procedure and its possible effects. You must be sure that you are ready to deal with the potential complications with the surgery. In addition, you need to weigh the potential outcome against the potential risks very carefully before deciding to carry out the procedure. It is irreversible and you don t want to have any regrets.

Take Out Those Contacts

Wearing contact lenses prevents the cornea from properly absorbing oxygen. This can lead to the formation of blood vessels on the cornea, which is called corneal neovascularization. If you remove the contacts for a few weeks prior to the surgery, these formations will be reduced, or will go away altogether.

Having Lasik performed while these formations are on the cornea can cause the eyes to take longer to heal and can increase inflammation. In addition, the surgery can be much more uncomfortable if undergone with these formations.

Arrange Time Off

Although it is possible to return to normal functioning almost immediately after getting the surgery completed, it is still a good idea to arrange for some relaxation after the surgery. The greatest risk for complications occurs during the first couple of days after the surgery. It is possible to have the flap that is cut on the cornea come off completely. This can lead to infection and other complications.

For these reasons, most doctors recommend going home and going to sleep after the surgery. This allows the eye some time to heal without being disturbed. Be sure you don t rush yourself to become active after the surgery is complete. Damage can be difficult and costly to correct.

Lasik eye surgery can provide the freedom and independence many people who wear glasses desire. Before going under the laser, however, it is important to carefully select a doctor and to abide by a few precautions in order to ensure the overall success of the procedure.

Technorati Tags: lasik eye surgery, lasik facts

The advanced capabilities of Custom Lasik, as valuable as they are to the patient, only account for a small part of the patients additional cost when Custom Lasik is chosen over traditional Lasik. The primary reasons that Custom Lasik is more expensive are more practical:

Custom Lasik requires the doctor and his staff to spend additional time for preoperative testing and analysis as well as in the performance of the more complex procedure.

The wavefront equipment is much more expensive than the equipment used for the traditional Lasik procedure so expenses relating to the purchase or lease and maintenance of the wavefront equipment are higher; additional supplies are also required.

A royalty fee must be paid to the equipment manufacturer every time the equipment is used, the royalty for the wavefront equipment may be up to $150.00 more than the clinic has to pay for the traditional Lasik equipment.

Time factors. Wavefront is based on NASA research; it measures the unique ability of each patient’s eye to absorb and reflect light. The wavefront equipment is capable of making 200 unique measurements that create what might be called a three-dimensional topographic map of your cornea; compare this to only three measurements made using traditional Lasik equipment. Time is money and the Lasik surgeon and his staff will need to spend up to one-hour more with each Custom Lasik patient than they would with a traditional Lasik patient. This extra time is spent evaluating your condition to see if you are a good candidate for Custom Lasik, performing the pre-op analysis if it is determined that Custom Lasik is right for you, and operating and monitoring the equipment during the wavefront mapping procedure and during the actual surgical procedure all take longer because of the added complexity.

Equipment costs. The additional investment required by a Laser clinic to enable them to perform the Custom Lasik procedure is over $100,000.00. Added to that, the clinic must provide supplies for each patient that are specifically required for the Custom Lasik procedure; these can add up to several hundred dollars for each patient.

Royalties. A royalty payment to the manufacturer of each piece of Lasik equipment, each time that equipment is used, is standard procedure; this royalty payment for the wavefront equipment is typically between $140.00 and $250 per use (where use is defined as a procedure on only one eye), depending on the clinic’s arrangement with the equipment manufacturer. This royalty fee arrangement allows the manufacturer to recoup the cost of research and development.

These costs are in addition to the Lasik clinic’s other costs of operation which include:

gowns, masks, gloves and other items for keeping the operation sterile.

microkeratome blades, surgical solutions and medications used during the surgery.

overhead costs for the surgery center, which includes office and surgical staff salaries and benefits, rent, office equipment, and office administration.

patient acquisition costs, which include advertising, seminars, and fees paid to other eye care practitioners for comanagement.

insurance to cover the facility, equipment and malpractice law suits.

equipment leasing or purchase costs for other pieces of equipment used for associated procedures or other procedures.

royalty fees to equipment manufacturers for other Lasik equipment.

After gaining a good understanding of the complexity and cost of the wavefront technology and equipment it is somewhat easier to understand why the Lasik surgeon has increased the cost of Custom Lasik in relation to traditional Lasik.

Technorati Tags: lasik, laser eye procedure, stigmatism

Excimer lasers are created for the specific purpose of performing Lasik eye surgery. Not all lasers, however, are created equally. The FDA has approved each type of laser, but, for a select few patients, some lasers are better than others. The greatest difference between most of these lasers is the way they deliver the beam to the eye and track the eye s movement.

There are two broad categories of lasers, broad beam and scanning. Within the scanning categories, there are two subcategories: slit scanning and spot scanning.

Broad-Beam Lasers

Broad-beam lasers utilize a somewhat large beam diameter, ranging from 6 to 8 millimeters, to cut the cornea. Use of these lasers generally shortens the amount of time necessary to complete the procedure. These lasers also reduce the risk of overcorrection due to pupil movement. The larger diameter of these beams used to make the likelihood of complications more likely, but improved technique and creation of these lasers has virtually eliminated this risk.

Slit Scanning Lasers

Slit scanning lasers use a smaller bean to perform the Lasik procedure. The beam is linked to a rotational device, which has slit holes to enlarge the area to be cut. This accomplished by the beams scanning across the holes. Slit scanning lasers provide a more uniform beam and can create smoother cuts than broad-beam lasers. There is, however, a slightly greater chance of overcorrection with a slit scanning laser.

Spot Scanning Lasers

Spot scanning lasers are also referred to as flying spot lasers. These lasers use a small diameter beam of only 0.8 to 2 millimeters. This beam is scanned across the cornea in order to create the area to be cut. Spot scanning lasers have the potential to create the smoothest cut. They are also better capable of producing customized cuts and treating irregular astigmatism.

Eye-Tracking

Many lasers also contain an eye-tracking system. This system links the position of the eye to the laser operation. Lasers without this system make it necessary for the patient to fixate on a distant object and keep the eye perfectly still throughout the procedure.

There are two different types of eye-tracking laser systems. The first is called open loop. With open loop tracking, a video based tracking system monitors the pupil s location. If the eye moves beyond a predetermined setting, it stops the procedure.

The other form of tracking system is the closed loop. This system is capable of tracking the eye s movement, and it makes adjustments according to the movement. Unlike the open loop system, closed loop tracking never stops the procedure completely.

Lasik eye surgery experts agree that some form of eye tracking is needed when using spot scanning lasers and for when performing procedures that take long periods of time. This is because patients simply are not capable of fixating long enough to complete a procedure that takes more time.

IntraLase Lasers

Many surgeons also use IntraLase lasers to perform Lasik eye surgery. The IntraLase laser is capable of creating the flap that needs to be cut in order to reach the cornea for shaping. This laser creates a very precise pattern consisting of small, overlapping spaces. It works at an extremely high speed with pulses of one quadrillionth of a second. This allows the tissue to be both targeted and divided at a moleculer level, which removes the needs for the use of heat or impact on the tissue.

The IntraLase laser beam system utilizes special computer software to help guide the beam itself. This software instructs the beam to apply a series of tiny bubbles on the central layer of the cornea. This results in a corneal flap that is at a precise pre-determined depth and diameter. This technology has helped people with thinner corneas successfully undertake the procedure.

Laser beams may sound futuristic or straight from a science fiction book, but this amazing technology is real and here today. Through the variety of lasers available for use in Lasik surgery, eye surgeons are capable of creating a better out-look for millions of people.

Technorati Tags: vision correction, laser eye surgery, lasik, opthomologists

For doctors, the best patients are those who are well informed of the procedure and have realistic expectations about their potential outcome. A good Lasik doctor will carefully exam your eyes and take a thoroughly health history before deciding whether or not the Lasik vision correction surgery is right for you.

As a patient, you should fully understand the benefits as well as the risks and complications involved with the Lasik procedure. While most people do have positive outcomes after the surgery, there are some that do not. Some people experience reduced night vision and daytime vision and have infection in their eyes following the surgery.

After you have chosen a Lasik eye surgeon, there are a few questions that you should ask before your schedule your surgery. Knowing the answers to these questions will often help you have a positive outcome with your Lasik vision correction surgery.

Am I a good candidate for Lasik surgery? Your Lasik doctor will carefully consider whether or not you are a good candidate for Lasik vision correction. It has been proven that those who are not good candidates for the procedure, but still have it done, do have complications. Your doctor should be fully aware of any health concerns or problems before agreeing to operate on your eyes.

How long will the recovery last? This is an important question to ask your Lasik doctor because each Lasik surgeon has different rules about recovery time. Depending on the depth of your surgery, you may have a longer recovery time. You may also need to take off of work longer.

How much does the Lasik procedure cost? A Lasik procedure can vary from doctor to doctor or depending on the area where you live. In addition, depending on the severity of your eye, your procedure may cost more or less. You can plan to spend around $2000 on your Lasik procedure and that is just the base cost.

What is included in the cost the Lasik surgery? Most Lasik doctors will include all costs relating to your Lasik procedure in the cost. It is still important to know this for certain. Make sure that there are no hidden costs when your fees are calculated.

Do you have payment plans? Most insurance plans will not cover the Lasik procedure. Unless you have saved at least $2000 for your surgery, you should know what kind of payment options are available to you.

What kind of Lasik procedure will be used? There are several techniques with Lasik surgery. Your doctor may specialize in one certain way or may be able to perform many types. You need to know what procedure will benefit you the most and make sure your Lasik doctor is skilled in that technique.

What will happen during surgery? You should know every step of your surgery so you understand exactly what to expect. Most patients are awake during the procedure and are given drop to numb the eye area. For those who are uncomfortable with the surgical process, they can be given a mild sedative to calm them during the procedure.

What can I expect after surgery? It is very important for patient to understand what to expect after the Lasik surgery. Some people experience no problems or pain, but your doctor should discuss expectations with your prior to the procedure.

What risks and complications are involved with the Lasik procedure? Most people have positive outcomes with the Lasik surgery procedure. There are some risks and complications involved with the procedure. It is beneficial for the surgeon to fully discuss these risks and complications with your before your schedule your procedure.

What are the post-operative instructions? After your surgery, you will have instructions for post-operative care. Your doctor will discuss with you when it is ok to return to work and physical activity. In addition, you will be instructed on when to wear make up, use soap or lotion on the face and when to go to your post-operative care appointments.

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, lasik, laser vision repair, eye surgery

The FDA approved a lasik procedure to treat patients with astigmatism. Astigmatism is the effect of the eye being shaped like a football instead of round like a baseball. Light rays are focused on two points on the retina instead of just one. This deformity will result in blurred vision, double vision, and shadows on letters when reading. This deformity has been a problem for decades. Up until recently it has prevented some people from getting contact lenses. Only people with slight astigmatism were able to comfortably wear contact lenses. Breakthroughs in contact lenses have not accommodated patients with extreme astigmatism. But even now not all patients can be helped. But with this new breakthrough in lasik, patients can have their eyes repaired to normal, or at least be repaired enough to comfortably wear contact lenses. Either way, their vision is enhanced and many are happy just to get rid of the glasses and finally be able to wear contacts, or possibly nothing at all.

Another approved surgery allows for lasik surgery to be done on patients with hyperopia. Hyperopia is another word for farsightedness. This happens when light rays focus behind the retina instead of on the retina. This results in blurred near vision. Some patients that have sever farsightedness and have to step back from what they are reading. Some patients required magnifying glasses to see something that is right in front of them. Many are embarrassed by this. They can see you 30 feet away, but when you get right up close they can t see you. It makes some feel insecure and feel as though they are going blind. Though it is easily fixed by wearing glasses to read and see things up close, having to constantly take your glasses on and off can be rather inconvenient, and many choose not to. Many prefer to put their glasses on and keep them on or take them off and keep them off. Taking them off and on is inconvenient and you run the chance of leaving your glasses somewhere and never finding them again. Then you have to buy a chain to put on your glasses. Some patients find this embarrassing because it reminds them of their grandparents. It makes them feel old, and that is not good for morale. Eye surgery is what many people want to fix their eye problems. Until just recently, that option was not available to these patients.

These fantastic breakthroughs are the result of a new laser technology. The new Visx STAR Excimer laser system was recently approved by the Food and Drug administration. This new breakthrough in technology allows doctors to do more than they ever could before. Now they have the ability to reshape the eye to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Before this marvelous breakthrough patients with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism were not good candidates for lasik eye surgery. Now they have something to celebrate. They can now join the rest of the vision impaired and have the option for lasik!

FDA studies have shown that over 98 % of all patients receiving these new procedures were seeing 20/40 or better six months after surgery. Over 84 % were seeing much better than 20/20 after six months.

Many people do not want to be inconvenienced by the hassles of glasses or contacts. People want the freedom to get up in the morning and just see. That s all. No contacts. No glasses. They just want pure vision. That s all they want. New breakthroughs in technology are happening all the time. These breakthroughs in lasik technology have changed people s life. It has made their lives better. It has improved the quality of life that was once unattainable.

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, lasik, laser vision repair, eye surgery

Most good Lasik doctors will talk to you and fully explain the before and after procedure. Like most patients, you will probably have many questions about the Lasik surgery. The following are a list of most commonly asked questions about the Lasik eye surgery.

Am I a good candidate for Lasik? Whether or not you are a good candidate for Lasik depends on many factors. When you make an initial appointment for Lasik, your eye care professional will ask many questions and take a thorough health history. In addition, you eyes and the history of your vision problems will also be a major factor in whether or not you can have the Lasik procedure. For people with certain health problems such as autoimmune diseases and diabetes, Lasik is generally not recommended. Those under the age of 18 are also not good candidates. Certain degenerative eye diseases might also disqualify you from having Lasik. Your Lasik surgeon will make a decision based on all of these factors. Those who are not good candidates for the surgery can have poor outcomes.

Will Lasik vision correction eliminate the need for corrective lenses? The short answer to that is maybe. Most people who have the Lasik procedure may still need to wear some form of glasses or contacts. This does not mean that the surgery had a poor outcome. This is normal and should be expected. Lasik is not a means to completely correct vision problems. It is designed to improve vision. Those who go into Lasik expecting perfect vision with an unrealistic expectation should not undergo treatment.

Are there risks of having the Lasik procedure? Yes. As with any surgery or medical procedure there are risks. Most people who have the surgery do not have problems, however some people do. The most commonly reported side effect of the Lasik procedure is reduced low light vision. This can cause glowing or halos around lit objects at night. After some time the side effects of the Lasik procedure will disappear over a period of time. There are some long-term complications that have been report, though they are rare. Some people could experience worse eyesight than they had before surgery.

Does the procedure hurt? The Lasik procedure is quick and painless for most patients. Each eye only takes a minute or two. The eye is numbed using drops and patients will stay awake the entire time. For those who feel uncomfortable about the surgery, a mild sedative can be given. Most patients are able to walk out of the surgery center after the procedure is complete.

Will I need to take time off of work after the procedure? Yes, most patients do need to take some time off of work following the procedure. This can vary though according to the work. Most of the time patients can start back to work in two to three days, especially for jobs that are sedentary. It will be necessary to rest the eyes after surgery, so a lot of computer work may bother the eyes after surgery. You will need to talk to your Lasik doctor about when you can start back to work.

How much does the procedure cost? The cost of Lasik will depend on where you live, the condition of the eyes and what kind of technique is used. Those with more severe vision problems will cost a bit more. Usually, you can plan on spending at least $2000 for the Lasik procedure.

Does insurance cover Lasik? Most of the time, insurance plans do not cover Lasik vision correction because it is considered elective. Some insurance plans have extended eye care plans that help defray the costs of Lasik. If you insurance plan does not cover Lasik, check with your employer. Some employers offer their employees special rates for going to a certain clinic for Lasik. Sometimes Lasik can be paid for by using a cafeteria plan.

Technorati Tags: lasik, laser eye procedure, stigmatism

If you visit the following seven Internet sites and spend some time comprehending the information provided there you will have departed the ranks of the uneducated potential-Lasik patient and earned the happier title of educated consumer. These pages can help you make a decision that may in one way or another, change your life.

All About Vision at http://www.allaboutvision.com/ is perhaps the most complete vision site on the Internet. This site provides information on all aspects of vision correction from glasses to contacts to the most advanced Lasik procedures and provides detailed information about vision problems that require correction. All Lasik procedures are discussed in depth and they provide a two-minute screening test you can take to determine if you are a good candidate for Lasik. The test generates a personalized report. The site accepts advertising so you will see ads for many vision products and even a section that offers coupons on vision care and vision related products but the meat of the site, the information, is not product specific.

AboutLasikEyeSurgery.com at http://www.aboutlasikeyesurgery.com/ specializes in information about Lasik procedures: providing cost information and describing the pre-op evaluation, the surgery procedures and the post-op care.

ComplicatedEyes.org at: http://www.complicatedeyes.org/ came into existence specifically to address the needs of patients with LASIK complications and to provide doctors with an additional source for information on Lasik complications. The organization that created ComplicatedEyes.org is the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA); you’re sure to find the research and detailed information on Lasik complications on this site informative.

The Vision Correction Website at http://www.lasersite.com/ provides elegantly simple, illustrated explanations of: how the eye works; the anatomy of the eye; how Lasik is performed and what equipment used, the Intacs procedure, the PRK procedure and the Radial Keratotomy (RK) procedure.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has a search function where you can search for a qualified, certified AAO member in your area. The AAO’s Find an Ophthalmologist (Find an Eye M.D.) page is at http://www.aao.org/aao/find_eyemd.cfm. Enter your city, select your State and Country in those selection boxes on the page and then select Refractive Surgery in the Specialty selection box; leave the Last Name box blank. After a disclaimer page where you must Accept the disclaimer you will be shown a list of qualified Refractive surgeons in your city. Note that the AAO members with the designation FACS after their names are also Fellows (members) of the American College of Surgeons. These are Refractive Surgeons who were required to pass a thorough evaluation in the areas of education, training, qualifications, competence and conduct before being allowed to display the FACS designation.

Wikipedia’s Main Lasik page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasik provides a good history of Lasik along with an explanation of the surgical procedure, information about the possible complications and the safety of the procedure. They also provide you with some external links and other information related to Lasik.

WebMD, possibly the most used pages on the Internet for health information, does not sell you short when it comes to Lasik. At the WebMD home page (http://www.webmd.com/) there is a search function; enter refractive surgery in the search box to find what seems like an endless supply of authoritative medical articles on refractive surgery (Lasik).

Technorati Tags: lasik, laser eye procedure, stigmatism

Lasik surgery is designed to help improve the eyesight in patients with low to moderate vision problems. Those with more severe vision problems can also benefit from Lasik technology. While most patients experience improved vision and never had a need for glasses or contacts again, others may still need to use a prescription. For those suffering from more severe forms of eye conditions, Lasik may be recommended. There are many forms of Lasik surgery and an eye care professional will help determine which one is right for the condition of the patient.

The Lasik procedure has become very popular for treating eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and presbyopia. In addition the Lasik surgery can help those with astigmatism and myopia and hyperopia, which are all three common forms of eye problems.

Myopia and Hyperopia: These conditions are more commonly known as farsightedness and nearsightedness. Myopia is caused by an irregular shaped cornea. This will cause light rays to focus in the front of the retina, rather than on the retina. Those who are nearsighted will have good close-up vision, but objects at a distance will be difficult to see. Hyperopia is the opposite. Light will focus behind the retina. Those who are farsighted, can see objects at a distance, but not close-up. These two conditions are the most common reasons why patients choose to have a Lasik procedure. Lasik surgery is very beneficial to patients with myopia and hyperopia.

Astigmatism: Astigmatism is a very common form of visual impairment. This condition is caused when the eye is shaped more like an oval or football shaped. The odd shape of the eye causes the light to focus on two points of the retina instead of just one. Usually, those with astigmatism are either nearsighted or farsighted as well. When Lasik is done on patients with astigmatism, both problems can be corrected in one surgery.

Presbyopia: This common condition is normally cause by natural aging. Presbyopia causes problems with focusing on objects close-up. Usually patients that experience this difficulty are between the ages of forty and fifty years of age. Often, this problem can be improved by monovision, intraocular lens implants and Lasik.

Glaucoma: This common eye disease is usually characterized by elevated pressure in the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve. Laser glaucoma surgery can be performed using three different techniques. These are all performed with a laser and help either increase or decrease the pressure of fluid in the eye. The type of glaucoma treatment a patient receives will depend on the severity of the condition.

Macular Degeneration: Macular degeneration is an eye disease that is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye. This can result in serious vision loss if left untreated. If this disease is caught in the very early staged, it can be treated with laser vision correction surgery. While treatments do not reverse damage cause by the disease, it will prevent further vision loss. With laser surgery, the laser is used to destroy new blood vessels within the eye. Laser surgery is a very popular way to help prevent macular degeneration from causing further vision loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy: This eye disease is a degenerative eye disease caused by damage to blood vessels and abnormal vessel growth. Those with diabetes are the ones that suffer from this eye disease. Those with diabetes should always maintain good diabetic care to help prevent this type of eye disease. Laser surgery can be used to seal the retina from further damage that can lead to retina detachment. This kind of surgery is performed under local anesthesia.

For patients who suffer from these kinds of eye diseases, Lasik vision correction surgery can help stop further damage to the eye. For more serious eye conditions such as macular degeneration, Lasik surgery can help patients keep their eyesight without further vision loss. It is important to discuss health history with an eye care professional to see which treatment is best for the particular kind of eye disease.

Technorati Tags: LASIK, laser eye surgery, opthamologist, vision

Refractive errors that need to be corrected include vision impairments like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatisms as well as many other vision impairments. These errors were once thought to be permanent and non-corrective. This is no longer the case. The technology of today has made these eye procedures possible for everyone. Refractive procedures are generally very simple and a very fast procedure.

Lasik offers the best of refractive procedures that are affordable for everyone. The costs vary depending on where you live and many other factors, but these factors are not as important as the results that you will receive from these great refractive surgeries.

There are millions of people today who suffer from some kind of refractive error and do nothing about it. There are procedures that can be tried today that will correct your vision within only 30minutes. The most popular refractive procedure is of course laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery is the quickest and most popular way to correct your refractive errors. These errors are generally simple to correct and you will never have to go through this procedure again. All refractive surgeries are completely painless and possess very few side effects following the surgery itself.

If you are thinking about trying refractive surgeries of any kind, Lasik is a great place to put your confidence and your trust. They have years of experience, great skills and the best technology to ensure that your eye surgery goes as smoothly as possible. Your vision and eyes are very delicate and Lasik understands this and works with it.

Technorati Tags: lasik, laser eye procedure, stigmatism

Internet

Magazines

Medical periodicals

Former lasik patients

The internet is the best place to find sources for lasik eye surgery procedures. Using a search engine such as http://www.google.com, you can find information on just about anything. Searching something as simple as lasik returns over four million websites. That s correct: four million. You can narrow your search by getting a little more specific. For example searching for lasik pricing yields two hundred thousand results. You can use the internet to search for local eye doctors that do lasik in your area. A search for lasik in Shreveport, Louisiana yields fifty three thousand results. You can use just about any search engine. You may not find the site you need with your first try, but you will be lead in the right direction. Using the internet you can have all your questions answered about lasik, the procedure, the side effects, the pricing, and just about anything else you wanted to know, but was afraid to ask. You may even have some questions answered that you did not even think to ask. The internet is the most common referral source for lasik.

The second most common source for referrals is magazines. If you have ever had to go to the doctor or the dentist, you have seen tons of medical magazines in the waiting room. Most new innovations in medical science can be found by perusing these magazines. Doctors are in the business to make money, so it would make since that they would advertise. If it is a new innovation, you may even be able to read up on it in these magazines. The downside of using magazines to research is that there is no real organization or way to search them by topic. You have literally search through many magazines to find the one article you need that may or may not have all the information you need. The up side to magazines is that they are good about getting your attention and making you aware of certain innovations that you can later look up on the internet with a standard search engine.

Medical periodicals is another source that many over look. You can usually find out all the details of a procedure using medical periodicals. The down side is that these usually read like stereo instructions and they are rather boring. They are good to put you to sleep at night, and, like magazines, are good starting points. They can give you the lead you need to start an internet search.

The most overlooked resource you have is first hand knowledge from people who have had lasik. You can ask any eye doctor and they should be able to give you a reference list of patients that have agreed to talk to potential patients. Usually they will give you the best idea of what to expect. They will tell you what the internet and doctors leave out. They have gone through the operation. They know what it feels like, what the after effects are like, and if it is worth it. Now don t go by just what one person says. Ask as many as you can. Ask anyone you know if they know someone who has had it done.

These four things are the best referrals there are on lasik. The internet, by far, has the most information at your fingertips, but keep the others in mind as well. They were around before the internet and will be around for years to come. The information they provide is very valuable and should not be over looked. If you use there sources, you will be very educated on what to expect when you go into a consultation with any eye doctor. That education will give you a leg up. You will be able to tell when a doctor is just trying to sell you something, or if he/she is really trying to help you. You are a person too, not just a paycheck. You know that, so make sure he/she does too. Once those boundaries are set, then you can feel more comfortable letting him/her operate on you. Knowledge is power, and in this circumstance, that old clich holds true.

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, lasik, laser vision repair, eye surgery

If you are suffering from nearsightedness, this procedure can help you. It is quick and easy and completely successful. How it works is there are a number of incisions made in your eyes to reshape your cornea. The number of incisions is directly related to the intensity of the nearsighted case you possess. By making these incisions, you are reshaping the cornea and the angle that you see images at. This is how nearsightedness is treated, not cured. You cannot fully cure vision impairments such as this, but you can treat them to the point where they are almost non-existent.

RK is one of the top forms of laser surgery used today. There are more people who experience nearsightedness than any other form of vision impairments. If you are thinking of having this surgery done yourself than you should know that there is only one way to go, with Lasik. If you are going to go through with this type of surgery you might as well go with the type of laser that is the absolute best in the world. Put your eyes in the best hands possible. Lasik are the laser professionals and have at their disposal the most advanced lasers in the world. When you are thinking about laser surgery, there is no other way to go. RK is a treatment that Lasik excels in as well as many others.

RK is a very reliable type of vision correction treatment. It is a treatment that can be found no matter where you live. Take advantage of this great technology and fix your vision impairments!

Technorati Tags: LASIK, laser eye surgery, opthamologist, vision

There is one way to treat this from of vision impairment, there is no cure but there are many ways to treat it. A form of laser surgery is the best and most advanced way to treat farsightedness. This laser procedure is called Monovision. This form of Lasik laser surgery is one that has been designed especially for this type of vision impairment. What this type of laser surgery does is treat one eye for near vision and the other for far vision. This way instead of just treating one eye, both of your eyes will be increased and on the same page. If only one eye is treated than you will find yourself with one good eye and one eye that is not quite the same.

Farsightedness can also be treated with a lens transplant. This means that the existing lens in your eye will be replaced with a new and improved lens. This is a simple procedure that can be done in one day and you will see the difference the very next day. This is the second most popular way to treat this type of vision impairment.

Farsightedness is a very common type of vision impairment that many people possess. The general way to compensate for this impairment is the use of corrective lenses. This is treatment is the most common and the most affordable for everyone.

With all the many different options to treat this vision impairment, you should have no trouble compensating for your vision. By taking all of these options into consideration, you could be seeing better in no time!

Technorati Tags: vision correction, laser eye surgery, lasik, opthomologists

Photorefractive laser treatments will minimize if not completely eliminate the use of glasses. This is only one of the many benefits that Lasik laser treatments offer their patients. There are many great advantages with this type of laser surgery. The only disadvantage that comes with this type of laser surgery is the slower recovery period. You do not recover the very next day, it does take a bit longer but the results that you will find are life altering.

Using the excimer laser that was especially built for Lasik laser surgeries, photorefractive procedures are at their best level. This laser is the most advanced laser in the world. This is a benefit that should make your decision for you.

Photorefractive laser treatments gently reshape your cornea to enable you to see that much better in the way that you need it. After your eye doctor has pin-pointed the vision problem you are having, you will be ready to undergo this procedure and come out with the vision adjustment that you have been waiting for. This procedure is 100% safe and has almost zero chance of any complications to follow the procedure. When you find a procedure like this, there is no way that you can pass it up.

Lasik laser treatments are the most technologically advanced eye corrective treatments available today. When it comes to any type of eye surgery you want to ensure that choose the absolute best procedures available to you and this is Lasik. Technology is the source of all eye procedures and surgeries and choosing a procedure that possessing the highest technology is the absolute right decision for you.

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, LASIK, opthomology, lasik costs, lasik benefits

Before you decide on having Lasik surgery, you should always think about the cost. You should never choose a doctor based just on the price. But, you should ask lots of questions about your surgery. You should also know what is included and what is not included in the price of your procedure.

You should always check into your insurance plan before having your Lasik procedure. Most insurance companies will not pay, but it never hurts to make sure. Also, consider checking into what your employer can offer. Some companies offer their employees a special discount when having Lasik surgery. Often, certain Lasik surgery centers are working with the company to operate on their employees. If you have a cafeteria plan or a flex plan at work, check to see if this will cover your Lasik procedure. Many times, a flex spending plan can help pay or defray the cost of the Lasik surgery.

Another option when paying for your Lasik procedure is to check with the finance plans and options offered by the Lasik centers. Most of the time, they can offer payment plans to fit nearly every budget. Sometimes, they can also work in partnership with banks or other loan centers to offer financing with low interest rates.

When you have decided on a payment plan for your Lasik procedure, it is important to work with your doctor to find out what in included in the total cost. Some things to think about are:

Appointments: When you are given the total cost for your Lasik surgery, check to make sure all of your appointments are included in the price. You will have at least five appointments with your Lasik doctor. One will be your first initial appointment and then you will have your surgery and at least two to three follow up appointments. Most Lasik centers do include the price of this appointment in their final billing, but it is always good to double check.

Medications: You will probably be given special eye drops to use for several days after your Lasik surgery. While the cost could be minimal, you should always check to see if the eye drops or any other necessary medications are a part of the final cost of the surgery. Also, if you request a mild sedative to be used during your procedure, see if this is included in the price.

One or two eyes: While it seems simple enough, make sure that the price you are given reflects both eyes. Often advertisements make Lasik seems so affordable by announcing Lasik for $500 . You should always read the fine print and see that the low price usually only covers one eye. If you need both eyes done, make sure your price reflects that.

Additional Surgeries: Sometimes doctors or patients choose to have one eye done and then the other eye done a couple of month later. If this is the case, make sure you have the final price for both surgeries. Sometimes, additional Lasik surgeries are required if the outcome does not improve the vision. These are sometimes called repair or enhancement surgeries. Many times, the price you are given does not reflect additional surgeries that may be needed. Some doctors will give enhancement surgeries at no extra cost when they are done in a specified time frame. Other Lasik doctors will give patients a reduced price for these additional procedures. The need for these surgeries is common so it is always a good idea to find out if the price is included.

When you get ready to have a Lasik surgery procedure, you should always check with your eye care professional and ask many questions. It is important to know and understand what is and is not included with the price of your procedure. If you do not feel comfortable with the pricing package being offered, remember that many experienced doctors now perform the Lasik procedure. Look around and do some research before making an appointment for any surgery.

Technorati Tags: laser assistsed eye surgery, lasik