Lasik Eye Surgery Exposed

November 17, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health

Steve Knowles asked:


Lasik eye surgery stands for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis. It actually reduces people’s dependence on their glasses or contact lenses and involves a simple short surgical procedure on your eye using a cool laser beam. The whole procedure is virtually painless, takes only minutes per eye and is a one day procedure so you may go home the next day.

The Lasik procedure is as simple as the following three easy steps.

1. The cornea is like a few layers of stacked paper. An instrument

called a microkeratome gently glides across the top two of these

layers creating a flap which has like a hinge.

2. The doctor then has access to the third layer or the stroma of your

eye. The Excimer Laser then alters the shape of the cornea by the effect it has on the stroma.

3. The flap is then repositioned back over the newly contoured stroma without the need for stitches as eye tissue binds together
very quickly and simply on its own.

After this simple process, you are then sent home to rest. You will feel a

little discomfort, rather like having an eye lash stuck in your eye for about 12 hours or so until the healing process is well under way.

On average, one in 5 people are not suitable for Lasik surgery and this

can only be determined by a professional. Those not deemed suitable for Lasik may be more suited to other types of surgery so it is important to be aware of your options.

One of the best parts about Lasik eye surgery is that by the next day, your vision will have improved to the point where you can at least drive a car. Many people report their eyesight having improved to 20/20 vision!

The end result hopefully of Lasik surgery is to return the cornea to as close to a normal shape as possible, and in doing so improve your vision. Although Lasik surgery appears to produce what seem to be miraculous cures, it is also possible that complications may be included in the end result.

For those in the forty plus bracket who decide to try Lasik surgery, they may discover that they still require eyeglasses for reading. If you are thinking about Lasik eye surgery, you would be well advised to do thorough research, gather all the facts and get a solid understanding of what you should expect before committing to the procedure.



How Much Would You Pay For Lasik Eye Surgery?

November 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health

Dean Caporella asked:


The average cost of lasik eye surgery can vary quite significantly from provider to provider and it’s imperative that prospective patients do some necessary due diligence before making any undertaking to have the procedure performed.

The average cost has been rising steadily during the past few years due mainly to new technologies and procedures such as custom lasik.

Did You Know?

Intralase is a new procedure introduced recently which uses a laser rather than a metal blade used in traditional laser methods. There are two lasers used in this procedure; one to create the flap and the excimer laser which removes abnormal growth.

Cost Factors To Consider

Recently, a close pal of mine who had been considering lasik eye surgery for some time took the plunge and had the procedure performed. The result: an extremely happy patient who after weeks of due diligence and homework now regrets not having had the surgery performed earlier. It set him back close to $3000 Australian dollars but in his own words…”it was money well spent!”

So how much can you expect to pay? Well, this depends on the amount of correction and follow up treatment required per eye. You see, it’s well and good to get excited about an ad advertising lasik at under $500 per eye but you need to consider several factors. The price advertised is more than likely for less intensive treatment and if this applies to you then all well and good. However, what most people find is the price they originally see advertised is a far cry from the quote they are finally given simply because they haven’t factored in the amount of correction required and in some instances, this can be extensive.

During 2002, the average cost of lasik eye surgery was about $US1500 but by the end of 2005, it had risen to just under $US2000. In 2006 and beyond, well, I’ve given you an example of $AUS3000 which equates under current currency conversions to about $US2300.

Testing And Screening Before Treatment Is Very Important

A common dilemma for prospective lasik patients is the great variance in fees and this comes down to pre-operative testing. This is something you must consider. Why? Well, in my friend’s case, he opted for proper screening before he agreed to have his surgery performed. He reasoned that this was a sensible way to avoid any unnecessary complications and it also ascertained whether he was a proper lasik candidate. If he had gone ahead with the procedure without the proper pre-operative test then it could have presented problems.

It must be remembered that while lasik has been a “god-send” in the world of eye surgery to millions around the world there are still those unsuitable for treatment because of a pre-existing condition.

There is one very simple way around this: get screened beforehand. Talk it over with your surgeon. Lasik is a time efficient procedure but people must remember it is still a complex one. “Cover all bases” before you commit to it.



Lasik Eye Surgery – A Boon For Everyone

October 29, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health

Kevin Pederson asked:


Lasik Eye surgery is a surgical process that is aimed at reducing a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The article provides basic information on LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgery permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A flap in the cornea is cut using an special knife called microkeratome. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middlesection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced. This is just one of the techniques of Lasik.

Lasik Eye Surgery: Is this the right time? Examine your eyes with your eye doctor to start with. You must be in good general health and should be over 18 years of age. You should not have any eye diseases of concern like cataracts or glaucoma. Laser vision correction can treat a very broad range of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Does the Lasik eye surgery hurt? Is it painful? The surgery may be a bit uncomfortable for a few patients. One good way to learn more about how it might feel is to talk to someone who has had the procedure, such as a friend or relative, or a staff member at the doctor’s office. Most of the times, its just the fear of the unknown. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye just before surgery begins and you may be given a mild sedative. After your procedure, your eye may feel a foreign body sensation or irritation for a few hours, but most patients are quite comfortable after taking a short nap. You will be given drops for your eyes to counteract the potential dryness you may experience for several days following the surgery.

Recovery period after Lasik Most Lasik patients usually see quite well the day following their procedure and may be able to resume most of their normal daily activities, but patients with higher prescriptions may recover more slowly. Although the speed of visual recovery depends on personal healing patterns, most patients notice dramatic visual results within the first few days following their procedure.

What are the risks from Lasik surgery? There are very few risks with the laser vision correction procedure. However, the chances of having a vision reducing complication have been documented in a number of clinical studies to be minimal. Do not forget that millions of people have had excellent results from laser vision correction.



Lasik Eye Surgery – A Refractive Eye Surgical Procedure

October 11, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health

Barney Garcia asked:


Lasik eye surgery is a refractive surgical procedure that works wonders on the eyes of people suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. It reduces a person’s complete dependency on glasses and contact lenses. The full form of Lasik is Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that involves permanently changing the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye using an excimer laser.

How is Lasik surgery done?

The surgery should be done with great skill as it involves the most delicate part of human body. It is done with a knife called microkeratome and is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is done at one end of this flap and then the flap is folded back revealing the stroma, which is the middle section of the cornea. Instant pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap can be easily replaced.

How is Lasik advantageous over other surgical procedures?

Lasik eye surgery is quite advantageous over other surgery procedures because they often involve much less pain as an aftermath. Lasik unlike other eye surgeries also promise extremely good vision that can be achieved almost immediately or at least by the next day.

What to do in Lasik eye surgery?

But before you go for the Lasik surgery, you should have a proper test done by your physician. The optician will examine your eyes to determine their health, analyze the kind of visual correction needed and determine how much Lasik ablation is required. Risks like losing vision, developing debilitating visual symptoms, severe dry eye and large refractive errors are often associated with Lasik eye surgeries. So you consult a proper eye surgeon for the best results.

Once you are confident about undergoing the Lasik eye surgery you should follow certain rules to get quick results from the surgery. Following is a brief history of what should be done before, during and after Lasik:

Before surgery

§ Stop wearing soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses and hard lenses. § Do not feel pressurized by your doctor, friends and family § Stop using creams, lotions, perfumes and make-ups. § Keep removing all debris and residues from the eye surfaces.

During surgery

§ Apply a numbing drop to your eye that will clean the area around your eye and create a numb feeling near your eyes. § Wear the shield that holds the flaps in places. Wear it to prevent any sudden accidents or getting hit in your eyes.

After surgery

§ Consult your doctor immediately in case of any itching, eye irritation, mild pain or sudden discomfort. § Use eye drops given by the doctor to prevent infections or inflammations. § Never wear contact lenses at least for next fortnight.

Lasik eye surgery is hassle-free but you should take proper care for your eyes. In spite of such care, if you face any worsening symptoms you should immediately contact your doctor to prevent any further eye-related problems.



Lasik Eye Surgery Procedure – Extremely Precise Vision Correction

September 24, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Non Fiction

anonymous asked:


The most commonly used refractive surgery procedure is the lasik eye surgery procedure and this is a very popular form of surgery that has the advantage of being less painful and resulting in a 20/20 vision in most cases, usually on the very next day.

The basic lasik surgery procedure involves an instrument which is known as a microkeratome which is used in the surgery to create a thin and round flap in the cornea. The surgeon will take the flap and fold it back so that it is not in the way and then takes away some corneal tissue that is underneath with the help of an excimer laser which uses cool ultraviolet light beams to exactly remove very small bits of tissue from the cornea in order to reform it.

Once the cornea is reformed into the correct shape it will work in an improved manner and focuses light into the eye as also onto the retina thereby getting the person to see clearly which will be better than what it was before the lasik eye procedure. Afterwards, the flap is replaced back in place and covers the area where the corneal tissue had been removed.

Corrects Nearsightedness, Farsightedness as well as Astigmatism

Lasik surgery procedure is helpful for nearsighted as well as farsighted people. In the case of nearsightedness the aim is to flatten the extra-steep cornea and with farsightedness, a steeper cornea is required. Excimer lasers are also used to rectify astigmatism through smoothening of the irregular cornea and getting it into a more normal shape and the lasik eye procedure will help to achieve this.

There are certain steps to follow before getting your lasik eye procedure performed and these include choosing a good surgeon, finding out whether you are the right person for this type of surgery as well as finding out whether you have any dry eye diseases which need to be treated and cleared prior to the lasik eye procedure.

There are different types of lasik eye procedures such as blade versus bladeless and also custom lasik or wavefront lasik procedures. The wavefront-guided lasik eye surgery procedure makes use of 3-dimensional measurements that figures out how the eye processes images and this is helpful for guiding the laser in reshaping the front portion of the eye that is called the cornea. The wavefront measurement of the lasik eye surgery procedure is extremely useful in extreme and precise individualized vision correction.



To Have or Not Lasik Eye Surgery

July 4, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health

Joaquin Costa asked:


One of the most difficult you can take in life is an eye surgery. There are many options, Lasek surgery or even Lasik surgery, so today I want to explain you about the differences of this type of prodedures

Laser eye surgery prices can depend a lot on the location of the eye care center where the surgery is being performed. As with all products and services, this variation has a lot to do with the idea of supply and demand. To be safe you need to find experienced leading surgeons, safe sophisticated equipment and the highest standards.

Patients who are not qualified for the Lasik surgery may qualify for Lasek surgery. This type of surgery is done by cutting the outer layer of the cornea. Patients who are unable to cooperate or follow commands, including patients with dementia, nystagmus, deafness or inability to communicate because of language, do better under a regional block with IV sedation.

Patients with these risk factors are more likely to experience complications with traditional LASIK surgery. This procedure allows a surgeon to use a fine tool (trephine) instead of the microkeratome to cut the corneal flap needed to perform laser surgery.

Laser refractive surgery was made possible through the development of the excimer laser. This laser produces a beam of light that is capable of vaporizing thin layers of the cornea, effectively sculpting it into a more appropriate curvature for the eye.

Laser treatment is then programmed to each tiny part of the corneal surface so that every area of the cornea gets the optimised dosage. Contrast sensitivity in low lighting levels is increased and the risk of developing night time halos and glare is greatly decreased. Lasers need to be recalibrated during the surgery day to ensure accurate treatments. We recalibrate our laser between each eye of each patient to ensure the most accurate results.

Laser surgery can open this membrane, helping to clear vision without an operation. This laser procedure is called a capsulotomy.

Lasek, for example, is used mostly for people with thin corneas since LASIK requires more corneal tissue to be successful. PRK is often preferred for patients who may be susceptible to dry eyes since dry eyes are more often a complication of LASIK. LASEK has significantly more short-term side effects than LASIK, not least of which is wearing a contact lens for 4 days – I **** contact lenses at the best of times! I really cound’t use a computer or watch television for those 4 days, and even going to the super market gave me a massive headache. LASEK is similar to LASIK eye surgery and might be an option if you aren’t eligible for LASIK.

Cataract surgery and clear lens extraction for high myopia or hyperopia are also offered in a hospital setting. Cataract patients now have an option to see at both near and far distances after cataract surgery! Individuals suffering from cataracts previously had only a mono-focal lens implant option after surgery. Cataracts can only be removed through surgery. No medications or eye drops will make cataracts disappear.

Cataracts account for more than half the cases of blindness in the world. So as you can see many eye surgeries are perfectly safe and you need to consider all the options to go for the safest one.



Lasik Eye Surgery – What you Should Know

May 6, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Diseases And Conditions

Dana Siconolfi asked:


Every year millions of nearsighted people decide that they’re tired of wearing glasses and begin looking for a more permanent solution to their eye problems. In the not too distant past, the solution would have meant going through a procedure called radial keratotomy in which incisions to the eye are made with a precision calibrated diamond knife.

Nowadays, most of these people are gaining 20/20 vision with the relatively new procedure of Lasik eye surgery. It was only a bit more than ten years ago that the FDA approved Summit Technology’s excimer laser to be used to correct nearsightedness.

So what exactly is Lasik eye surgery? The acronym “Lasik” stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. Lasik actually combines two distinct vision techniques for correcting the eyesight.

First, a knife, called a microkeratome is used to cut a flap in the cornea. The cornea is the translucent front part of the eye that acts as a protection for the eye. It also acts as the lens of the eye and controls the entry of light into the eye. The way light passes through the eye determines how well we are able to see the outside world. Common eye defects such as near sightedness are caused by refraction errors, that is, errors in the way light passes through the cornea.

The second vision technique used in Lasik is a computer-controlled laser which is used to vaporize a portion of the stroma, one of the five layers of the cornea. The stroma is, by far, the largest part of the cornea. It is essential to controlling the refraction of light through the cornea.

Parts of the stroma are vaporized to flatten the cornea. The amount of stroma that needs to be vaporized depends on your degree of nearsighteness. Once this is done, the cornea flap is replaced to its original position.

The combination of these two techniques allow surgeons to precisely correct the refractive errors in the eye that prevent you from having 20/20 vision.

Even though millions of people every year opt for Lasik surgery as a way of completely eliminating their dependence on glasses, refractive surgery is not to be taken lightly. Eye surgery is not trivial.

You will need to find not just a clinic, but also a physician who is experienced in vision corrective surgery. In fact, finding the right physician to perform your Lasik surgery is the most important decision you will make. Remember, you are about to place your future vision in the hands of whichever specialist you choose.

This is an exciting time for medical discoveries. The rate of new discoveries in the medical world are taking place at a dizzying pace. New and improved methods of surgery techniques are discovered and implemented everyday. You will want to find a doctor who keeps abreast of the latest developments in refractive eye surgery techniques and who is an active participant in the operations themselves.

If you take the time to choose the right physician, one you feel comfortable with and who is able to explain to your satisfaction, both the benefits and the risks involved, you should have no problems with your Lasik surgery.