Laser Eye Surgery

Posts Tagged ‘Laser Eye Surgery’

Good vision and eyesight can make or mar the quality of a person’s life. The conventional method of correcting vision is through spectacles or contact lenses. In recent times, however, laser surgery has become a much-sought-after alternative. The laser is aimed at the cornea, the outer circular structure that shields the colored part of the eye (otherwise known as the iris), and the pupil. In correcting myopia, for instance, the laser is set to decrease the thickness of the cornea. This makes it possible for the eye to bring images into focus accurately.

There are essentially three different types of laser eye surgery. The latest and most prevalent type of laser surgery is called ‘Lasik’. This process involves creating a flap by cutting off a thin layer of the cornea, which further enables the laser to aim for the tissue beneath. The flap is merely placed back, and regenerates naturally. The results are almost immediate – vision is restored in no time.

The second most popular type of laser surgery is called ‘Epiflap’ or ‘Lasek’ surgery. This method involves the fractional removal of the epithelium to reveal the cornea. The cornea is then firmed or reshaped by a laser. Furthermore, the outer layer of cells is pushed back, and the eye heals shortly after.

PRK was the prevailing laser eye surgery method for years. It involved the entire removal of the epithelial cells on the eye. While Lasik is used to treat severe hyperopia or myopia, Lasek is only used to correct mild to average myopia.

These treatments are generally considered safe. However, the medical community is divided in its opinion over some of the latest advances in eye surgery and treatments. This is largely due to the newness of the technology and a lack of research on the long-term effects of some of these treatments. Moreover, like any surgery, eye surgery poses its own set of risks, and doctors are expected to educate their patients on the matter. It is not unusual for patients to suffer complications, even to the extent of having to have their cornea transplanted. Laser eye surgery should only be done on a healthy adult. Mild eyesight issues are not considered legitimate enough to warrant laser surgery. Conditions such as pregnancy, diabetes and illnesses involving the bone and joint can also rule out the possibility of laser treatments.

If laser eye surgery is on your schedule, then getting some tips on recovering after your surgery is a must. This article will look at some of the basics in ensuring a quick and smooth recovery from your surgery.

First things first, the procedure itself doesn’t take long therefore you will be walking in and walking out the same day. When coming out afterward have someone else drive you home, as you won’t be up to driving just yet. Also try and wear a good pair of sunglasses, it’s likely that your eyes will still be sensitive to the light, so try and protect them.

If you are getting laser eye surgery for both eyes, it will most likely benefit you to have someone stay with you for the first few days afterward to help you with anything.

The first 48 hours will be a period while your eyes are settling down, therefore try and rest your eyes as much as possible. No reading, working on computer, watching TV etc as they will strain your eyes too much. In the early stages your eyes may be irritable but it is very important not to rub or touch them. Your doctor will give you advice if this happens and provide any medication.

Also playing sports will need to be avoided for about a month, talk to your doctor about this and they will be able to give you advice on when you can start playing again.

Ensure while taking a bath or shower to keep the water and any soap out of your eyes to prevent any damage to them. Make up and aftershave/ perfume should be avoided so that the dust or fumes don’t get in your eyes.

A good product to use after laser eye surgery is an eye mask which blocks out sunlight, so it is great for taking the strain off your eyes.

Your doctor will want to see you for your follow up exam, which is extremely important as they will examine your eyes to ensure the surgery was a success and that no side effects have occurred.

All going well you should hopefully be able to go back to work after about 2-3 days, but every person is different, so seek advice from your doctor about this.

Laser eye surgery is a life changing procedure so make sure you take care in the recovery process to ensure your eyes are taken care of.

All forms of surgery carry inherent risks. The nature of laser eye surgery means that the fear of unforeseen complications can be immense as if problems do arise then the damage may be irreversible. People considering laser eye surgery are often particularly afraid they may lose their sight. So how risky is laser eye surgery, and what are the complications that can arise?

Although the risk is very small – less than 5 percent – the corneal flap can become detached from the eye during the procedure. In some instances the surgeon may be able to reattach it, although in a small number of cases this is not possible and there is permanent sight damage.

Post operatively, patients have between a 5 and 10 percent chance, (depending on the type of laser eye treatment used), of developing an infection under the corneal flap where the incision was made for surgery. In most instances this does not cause lasting damage but it can slow down the healing process. Another rare complication is corneal ectasia, where ‘bulging’ is caused by a build up of pressure against the weakened cornea. The condition can be cured by a highly skilled surgeon through a corneal transplant. If left untreated the vision may become progressively worse.

There are several risks which are considered ‘normal’ by laser eye practitioners, and should not cause undue concern as the effects should not be permanent. The eyes may remain sensitive for several months which means, if surgery did not result in 20/20 vision and the use of contact lenses is still a necessity, that the eyes can become very uncomfortable. Dry eyes are also a common side effect and patients often require drops for six months to lubricate the eyes.

Night vision can be impaired by laser eye surgery, which can make driving at night inadvisable. Seeing a ‘halo’ effect around lights is also an associated risk of the procedure, and can also make driving after dark potentially dangerous. Both of these problems can be temporary, lasting between 6 and 12 months, but unfortunately this is not the case for all patients.

To reduce the risk of complications, spend time researching reputable clinics and doctors. While there are many qualified and highly skilled practitioners there are also many doctors who lack proper training and experience in laser eye treatment. Any doctor can carry out the surgery after just one weeks training, and there is no specialist qualification required to perform laser eye surgery. Success rates can vary significantly between vision clinics. Always ask plenty questions to ascertain the level of skill of the surgeon, such as his qualifications and number of surgeries performed. It is also prudent to check if the equipment at the clinic is FDA approved, as not all clinics will be using the latest (and potentially safest) equipment.

To diminish the risks of laser eye surgery further still, opt to have just one eye operated on at a time. If the first operation presents no problem and the results are favorable a second operation can be booked to correct vision in the other eye.

Since the discovery of Laser a lot of advancement has been made for its application. Most notable use of laser is evident in the field of medicine. Lasers could be used in various types of surgery especially in vision correcting of the eyes. Vision correction using laser has been around for some time, this started when the first excimer laser was discovered in the 1950’s.

Vision problems and refractive errors such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), and astigmatism (distorted visions) could be corrected using laser surgery procedure. These problems are associated with how the eyes focus on images in the retina, the light sensitive part on the back of the eye. Also an important factor in the eyes ability to focus lies on the shape of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.

In a laser eye surgery a laser device is used to make changes in the shape and contour of the cornea. An excimer laser is often used for this procedure; this produces an ultraviolet light that is vaporizing unwanted tissues. This procedure would alter the contour and shape of the cornea thus correcting mild to moderate refractive errors.

The most common eye laser procedures are the PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy), LASIK (Laser Assisted situ Keratectomy), the recently developed LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis), and the Epi-LASIK.

In PRK the doctor removes the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) using a surgical blade. A computer guided laser beam is then used to cut and vaporize tissues in the cornea. It usually removes just enough tissue to reshape the cornea thus resulting in improved vision. Healing process for this type of procedure is usually a 5 days to 1 week.

LASIK surgery involves making a flap in the cornea using a blade or a laser; this procedure is known to be much more complicated and difficult. Then a laser is used to vaporize tissues inside the cornea; this will improve its shape that will lead to good vision. After enough tissues are removed, the flaps will be returned back to its original position. Healing in this case will be more quickly than PRK.

Recent developments in LASIK lead to the use of Wavefront technology which could produce a detailed topographical map of the eye. With this information surgeons could precisely correct the eyes vision.

LASEK is a variation and combination between PRK and LASIK. The outer layer of the cornea is cut and is loosen with alcohol so that it could be lifted as a whole. Then the laser beam is used to take off tissues under the epithelium, as with PRK. After the laser procedure is finished, the epithelium is put back into place and left to heal. This usually takes about two weeks to heal and is recommended to correct minor vision problems

Epi-Lasik is a modification of the LASEK. In this case the layer of the cornea is removed using a blunt mechanical device instead of a sharp blade.

As in all surgery, a thorough medical checkup is required before anyone could undergo any procedure. But rest assured that any procedure you choose will lead you to a vision-clear future ahead.

Laser eye surgery can be a life changing procedure, but it comes with a high price tag. Therefore it is not surprising that, for many people, cost is a factor when choosing a laser eye practitioner. However, as the correction made to your vision will be permanent it is essential that cost should not be one of your main criteria for choosing a surgeon and that you know how to go about finding a reputable clinic.

Choosing an experienced and well qualified surgeon will increase your chances of getting the most pleasing results. In most instances laser eye surgery will improve the patients eye sight to an extent where they no longer need glasses, although poor night vision is a common side effect of the procedure and glasses may be required for driving after dark. But most patients do not end up with perfect 20/20 vision, due to slight under or over correction. Excellent results are also quite difficult to achieve in patients with very poor eyesight. The nature of laser eye surgery means that there is no guarantee of great results but a skilled surgeon makes patient satisfaction more likely.

Using a good laser eye practitioner will also reduce the risks involved with surgery. Lasik is popular due to a fast recovery time, but it is also riskier than other forms of laser eye treatment. Problems during surgery are quite rare, but occasionally the flap made in the cornea is damaged and becomes detached. Sometimes the surgeon can reattach this but in a few unfortunate cases the damage is too great and some sight loss is unavoidable.

Your first step in finding an experienced laser eye surgeon you can trust is to find a clinic with a good reputation. Be wary if a clinic makes grand claims that sound too good to be true, such as ‘perfect 20/20 vision guaranteed’ or ‘perfect vision or your money back’. You should spend a lot of time researching laser eye surgery before you start contacting clinics, so you are aware of the realities of the procedure and can spot clinics which over deliver on their promises in a cynical ploy to part people from their cash. The best clinics are the ones that are honest about the risks and the results you can expect from surgery, and who will tell you the negative aspects as well as the positive.

Contact as many clinics as possible before selecting one. After disregarding the clinics which seem less reputable, cost is going to be the biggest consideration for most people. But it is also a good idea to consider what equipment each clinic uses for the procedure, as this will vary. Ideally you should opt for a practitioner who has the most up to date technology and whose equipment is FDA approved.

Go to your initial consultation with a list of questions prepared, to establish how experienced the surgeon is. As well as qualifications and training you may wish to ask how many procedures he has performed, particularly in the type of laser eye treatment (for example Lasik) that you have opted for. A good surgeon will be very thorough in explaining how the surgery is done, what the risks are, what side effects may occur post-operatively and what level of improvement you can reasonably expect in your eyesight.

To locate a clinic or surgeon who offers laser eye treatment you may wish to ask your optician for recommendations, search the internet for listings, or American patients can visit the Amerian Academy of Ophthalmology’s website.

Most people wear glasses or contact lenses due to a variety of reasons such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. All of these conditions are caused when the shape of the cornea does not allow an image to be formed properly on the retina. They result in blurry vision and necessitate a dependence on artificial lenses to correct the vision.

Laser eye surgery is a technique that corrects this problem by reshaping the cornea, so that images are formed properly on the retina. This technique has a high rate of success and is increasingly being opted for by people with vision problems. However, it must be kept in mind, that laser eye surgery, is a surgical procedure, and carries with it the risks inherent in any surgical procedure.

Is laser eye surgery right for you? Well, there are a number of factors that you should take into account before opting for laser eye surgery. Some of these deciding factors include:

Your general health and medical history. If you have suffered or are suffering from eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, ocular hypertension, blepharitis, iritis, or herpes, you should avoid laser eye surgery as it may further aggravate the infection. Those who have already undergone a previous eye surgery should also avoid repeating the procedure. People with dry eyes or exceptionally large pupils are also unsuitable. Diabetics and pregnant women should also avoid laser eye surgery as fluctuating hormone levels may render the surgery ineffective.

Your age. Laser eye surgery is generally not performed on people under 18 years of age. This is because the body is still in a developing state and the refractive ability of the cornea is still in a process of change. Generally speaking, you should only opt for laser eye surgery if you are at least 20 years of age, have worn glasses or contact lenses for at least 2 years, and the refractive power of your lens has not changed during this period.

Your chosen profession. Eye surgery is not allowed in many professions such as the air force, navy, or the military. Even if a surgical procedure is allowed, you must keep in mind that there is always a chance, no matter how slight, that laser eye surgery could actually degrade your vision further. You should only go ahead with the procedure if further degradation of your vision will not affect your job.

Laser eye surgery is a wonderful procedure. It can help you to do away with glasses or lenses for the rest of your life. However, before you opt for this procedure, do consult your ophthalmologist to find out if it is right for you.?

Many people with vision problems are expecting a laser eye surgery to provide them with increased freedom. Removing eyeglasses or contact lenses is quite significant to certain groups of people. In order to get the best possible visual results, it is quite important for laser eye surgery recipients to follow good aftercare steps.

It is a common sense that a fast and proper recovery is essential to achieve satisfactory surgical results. There are a lot of precautions proposed for patients after laser eye surgery. And a fundamental criterion is to follow instructions from the surgeon.

Medications prescribed by the surgeon should be strictly followed. These medications can be critical in preventing postoperative eye infections. Proper intake of medications is a decisive part of surgery aftercare.

Protection of the post-surgery fragile eyes is overwhelmingly necessary. There are potential irritants during the day or night, which should be prevented from entering the eyes. Eye irritation can considerably affect the healing process of the eye. Sunglasses or patches are helpful in shielding the eyes from scraping and other injuries.

Dust and wind are believed to be harmful to laser eye surgery patients. What’s more, it is also necessary for those patients to drink lots of water in order maintain hydrated. Scratching and touching the eyes during the healing period are also needed to be avoided. Some activities can particularly stain the postoperative eyes, including swimming, going to hot tubs as well as driving. These small steps are also an indispensable part of aftercare.

Proper and complete rest after the surgery is very important. Enough rest can not only ensure a fast and effective recovery, but also help the patient reduce the risk of getting injured. Furthermore, women patients are required to avoid make-ups during the healing period because these substances may cause irritation.

Patients of laser eye surgery should always exactly follow the advice and precautions after the surgery. They are essential to ensure visual benefits from laser eye surgery.

So you’re searching for 20/20. And you’ve heard about laser eye surgery. Maybe a friend told you about it or perhaps you saw an ad on television. Now let us go out on a limb. Somewhere, at the tip of your tongue, or at the very least at the back of your mind, there is a question. Should you have laser eye surgery? It’s a very simple question, really. A yes or no question. And you’re hoping for a quick answer, so you can get back to making important decisions like what to have for dinner tonight.

Should I have laser eye surgery? Everywhere we go, people ask us this. Should I have laser eye surgery? It’s a loaded question. In fact, it’s an excellent question to ask, only a difficult one to answer. And although it is cleverly disguised, it really isn’t a yes or no question. It’s like asking someone, “Should I buy a car?”

A car. Well, do you really need a car? What about public transportation? Or bicycles or cabs? Or even walking? Can you afford a car? And what kind of car are we talking about here? A sports car or a sedan? What’s more important to you, comfort or style? Speed or reliability? Are airbags really necessary? And if you’re so scared of what can happen to you in a car, then maybe you shouldn’t even be on the roads.

Similar issues can be raised about laser eye surgery. Do you really need it? What are the alternatives? When it comes to your eyes, what’s more important to you, appearance or function? Safety or style? As you can see, there are a number of questions which need to be addressed before you’re anywhere near making a decision. And everybody is different. Each person has different priorities, different expectations and goals, and importantly, different eyes. So whether you’re in search of a perfect car or perfect vision, it is a decision you have to make and to live with.

With due respect to car dealers and manufacturers, we are talking about your eyes. This is serious business and you know it. There are no 100% guarantees in medicine and there is no chance of getting replacement eyes if yours are in the shop. The most important thing is to make the best decision you can.

When you are in the market for a new car, you do some research. You talk to friends and family, even car salesmen. You read consumer reports. And once you have all of the information you need, you make a decision.

In car-shopping, however, you have a bit of a head start. You already know that a car has four wheels, a steering wheel, and runs on gasoline. And you also have a little perspective, knowing that brakes shouldn’t be an optional accessory. Last but not least, you have the benefit of having driven a car before and also being able to test drive before you buy.

The same principles apply when considering laser eye surgery. The difference is here, you’re starting from scratch. In all probability, you don’t know very much about laser eye surgery. You don’t know about its history, its results, its inherent risks. Chances are you don’t know much about the different kinds of laser eye surgery and what is the best kind for you. Perhaps you don’t even know very much about eyes in general and your eyes in particular.

You are not alone. Greater than a quarter of the population is nearsighted. An additional percentage is farsighted. It is estimated that by the end of this year three million Americans will have had laser eye surgery. And two million more will undergo the procedure every year after that. Countless more will consider it. That means that each person like you, who endures glasses or contact lenses, is today confronted with a difficult decision. With the health of your eyes at stake, not to mention the issues of money, pain, risk, and unknown chances of success, how do you make such a decision?

That is why we are asked questions at social gatherings. Intelligent, motivated, responsible people like you are attempting to acquire all of the information they can in order to make the right decision. The problem is figuring out who to ask. You can seek the advice of people at cocktail parties, but anecdotal accounts can be misleading. You can ask your eye doctor, but that is not unlike asking a car salesman if you should buy his or her car.

You can search the archives of medical literature in search of relevant, accurate, information. Buried under mountains of statistics and obscured by clouds of bias you may discover useful facts.

No Touch Laser eye surgery is the term coined by one clinic that refers to the procedure of photorefractive keratectomy or PRK where a laser is used to remove epithelium at the surface. PRK is a procedure that makes of use of anesthetic drops to the surface of the eye before the epithelial cells, which are the surface cells are, brushed off by a surgeon. The surgeon does this with either a brush or the excimer laser. During the procedure itself, the patient is made to stare at a fixation light. In this No Touch laser eye surgery, the laser removes tissue and molds the “stromal” layer underneath

Patients report to having blurry vision for the first three or five days because the epithelium cells were removed. A patient wears a bandage contact lens for three days until the epithelial cells cover the wound. Patients can expect recovery after a week about a week after the lens is removed. To maintain the visual recovery, steroid eye drops are used by the patient for at least three months. The No Touch procedure treats mild to moderate astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness.

PRK is not patented. PRK is an alternative to Lasik stands for Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. Lasik is one kind of refractive laser eye surgery performed by eye doctors to treat eye conditions such as hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism. Many patients found they prefer Lasik to PRK because recovery takes less time for Lasik than for PRK and it is less painful. Many patients would rather go through this procedure than to wear contact lenses or glasses. There are some instances though, when PRK is more suitable for a patient than Lasik.

In the No Touch procedure, no cutting happens, thus the name. No instruments touch the eye. What usually happens is that the patient stays at the clinic for about an hour and a half. After a thorough reexamination and consultations with your eye specialist where every step of the procedure will be properly explain, the patient is fitted with a device that will prevent him from blinking. No other instruments are needed. Procedure takes less than 5 minutes per eye.

The No Touch procedure is just a variant of the PRK and Lasik surgery. As with any other procedure, it is essential to go over the steps with your doctor to find out as much as information as you want or as much information as you would need to put your mind at ease and help you make more informed decisions.

It may seem at first to be a difficult task to assess the differences when you compare the cost of laser eye surgery procedure from one eye surgeon to the other. Still, you can break down the probable costs by assigning the costs to several categories.

The cost of laser eye surgery can for example, be broken down into the following: the type of surgical procedure you are planning, the skills and experience of the doctor, the clinic, and equipment they’ll be using on you.

In finding out the costs of laser eye surgery, three procedures come to mind. PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy), LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and LASEK (Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy), are the three most sought-after elective surgical procedures in the medical world today. All three use the laser, but LASIK and LASEK use the flap procedure, where in the laser cuts a flap in the corneas to reshape it. The older procedure, PRK, utilizes the laser to cut very tiny bits of tissue from the surface of the cornea in re-shaping it. While these procedures and the recommendations for their use vary, a reputable clinic would charge you $1,000.00 – $6,000.00 per eye, for any of these procedures.

When inquiring about the costs of laser eye surgery, ask to be certain if the following are included in this eye procedure.

1.Is there an initial consultation fee?

2.Does the fee include all pre-operative and post-operative visits?

3.Is this quoted fee, the entire fee? Or are there additional fees I need to know?

4.Can we spread over the payment over a period? If so, how much would my total payment be and what are these terms? What is the interest rate?

5.Are the quoted fees for both eyes? Or does it depend on the acuity of each eye?

6.Is the enhancement procedure included in the fee? If it is, what are the conditions for this?

Other factors that may not be stated but come with the service fees are the following:
1.The prestige and reputation of the clinic. This refers to the level of service, quality and safety of the clinic. Practices will set their rates, on the services they offer.
2.The skills and the expertise of the eye surgeon, how long he or she has been doing these operations, are factored into it.

The most important consideration when you compare the costs of laser eye surgery isn’t financial. It’s that you have confidence in the eye surgeon who will open on your eyes.