By Vincent Tanita
LASIK eye surgery is a procedure which uses a specialized
laser and treats refractive errors of the eye. After the
surgery, you can expect to have improved vision without the
need for spectacles and contact lenses. This is the
overwhelming reason for most people who think about having
the procedure, because their occupation or way of life is
compromised by wearing glasses. In some occupations, you are
disallowed if you need to wear glasses or contacts.
Some, but not all, can be helped with Lasik surgery.
"Refractive error" occurs when there is an incorrect
alignment of the two elements responsible for correct focus
- the cornea and the lens in the eye. The result for the
patient is blurred vision, either close up or at distances.
Spectacles are prescribed to correct the problem which
allows the person to see normally. Lasik surgery corrects
the refractive error permanently.
Wavefront Lasik treatment, which uses a Wavefront laser, is
the latest and most popular type of Lasik eye surgery. This
system uses calculations based on the eye prescription of
the patient and the thickness and curvature of the cornea.
Each procedure is finely calculated to the individual
patient. It is effective in reducing the side effects
previously common in conventional Lasik surgery, though they
can still occur.
The first question most people ask is about side effects.
Lasik eye surgery has been performed on thousands of
patients over the years, and has proven itself to be
effective, with most patients happy with their results. As
with any surgical procedure, however, there are risks
involved.
Some of these risks can include inaccurate results causing
over or under correction. Resulting effects of the surgery
may not be permanent. Vision problems can be caused like
double vision, halos, sensitivity to light and glare, hazy
vision. A dry eye condition is also possible, which can be
very uncomfortable. There is also the possibility that the
surgery could make the vision worse than before.
Specialist clinics have been established to offer the Lasik
procedure and are staffed by qualified doctors. Prices can
vary greatly between clinics so it is wise to shop around.
Find out what exactly is covered in the price quoted and if
there are any additional costs. You can expect Lasik eye
surgery to cost you between $1,600 and $2,400 per eye.
Research will help you find a doctor to perform your
surgery. Look for an eye clinic or doctor who is experienced
in Lasik procedures and has earned a good reputation. Make
an appointment with more than one clinic or surgeon and ask
all the questions you have and discuss the procedure fully.
A good doctor will have no problem with this strategy.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
The most important factor in determining candidacy for refractive surgical procedures is your acceptance of risks and knowledge of realistic expectations for outcomes concerning your procedure.
The second most important factor determining your candidacy for a refractive surgical procedure is the stability of your prescription. Why second? Almost everyone has one refractive surgical option or another. If you can accept the risks and know what to expect, you most likely can find a refractive surgical procedure that will meet your prescriptive needs. Whether your vision changes regularly or not, your vision is likely to change in the years following the procedure. If your vision changes regularly, you are more likely to notice a change in your vision after a vision correction procedure than someone who’s vision does not change regularly. Refractive procedures correct most of your refractive error very effectively; they do not fix nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism forever. While enhancement is an option for most laser surgery patients who change down the road, the amount of times an enhancement procedure can be attempted is limited. Every time a procedure is enhanced, the cornea gets thinner and if too thin, enhancement could lead to problems discussed later in the site. Another important factor is determining which refractive procedure is best for you. The prescriptions and physical characteristics of your eye determine the best procedure, and you need the advice of a doctor to decide which procedure is right for you. Refractive surgical correction procedures include Laser procedures (PRK, LASIK), Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (Intacs Corneal Rings), clear lens extraction, intra-ocular lens implantation, Radial Keratotomy, Astigmatic Keratotomy and in the future, Gel Injection Adjusted Keratoplasty.
Contraindications for LASIK surgery include Keratoconus, a corneal condition that involves thining of the cornea, rheumatoid conditions including some of autoimmune conditions, recurrent uveitis, glaucoma or patients who have irregular corneas or corneal epithelium.
Post a Comment