Lasik Laser Eye Surgery

For patients to become less dependent on corrective lenses, Lasik laser vision surgery might be the right choice for many seeking freedom from glasses or contacts. Most people who have the surgery done go from fully relying on corrective lenses in order to see clearly to having near perfect vision within a matter of minutes. In addition, though Lasik surgery is considered relatively minor, like all procedures there is the possibility of infection still exists.

The use of a specialized cold beam laser to reshape the cornea of the eye providing clear vision is involved in the Lasik laser vision correction procedure. Patients should be aware of the side effects that may accompany this procedure.  

Sometimes corrective lenses are still required after surgery, which is quite typical. Sometimes lenses are needed for night driving, reading or in some cases, all the time. Even though corrective lenses might be required, a lot of the times the prescription won’t be as strong as what it was before the procedure. While additional treatments can be done, they may not be able to totally eliminate this effect.  

People with severe nearsightedness or farsightedness are at a higher risk of needing additional support from corrective lenses after surgery than those with typical or minor vision problems. Before the surgery, prior to committing to Lasik laser vision correction, patients will need to have an understanding of realistic expectations.  

Some other visual side effects can be an associated risk with Lasik laser vision correction. After having the surgery done some patients may experience halos, glares, or even double vision. It mainly occurs at night specifically while driving.

Dry eye, aka keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is a risk of Lasik laser vision correction.   Throughout the process, the laser cuts a few of the eyes’ nerves while it fixes the cornea’s shape. Nerves generally fix themselves throughout time, nevertheless, for a few, permanent injury can happen, ending with dry eye since the nerves can’t transmit info which results in the tear ducts making tears when an eye is dry. Vision may be impaired due to the irritation and dryness of the eye but this condition can be controlled with the long term use of medicated drops.

There is always the slight but very real risk of infection as a result of Lasik eye correction surgery. This rarely occurs and is easily treated with oral and topical medications. For example, a Northern California office makes available pre-op appointments with a Lasik surgeon in Stockton for Lasik vision correction in Stockton so the customer is aware several week’s before making an appoitnent.

After surgery, the most common side effect is smoky vision. This effect is temporary and, in most cases, disappears within 24 hours. Some people report a feeling similar to that of something irritating in their eye such as a speck of dirt. This too is temporary and remedies itself in a matter of days.

Candidates will make an educated decision on Lasik eye correction by understanding the risks first. Additional dangers and side effects will be discussed with the eye care professional and laser surgeon during counseling prior to having Lasik performed. Considering these risks might help in figuring out if a person is actually a candidate for Lasik laser vision correction.

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Ready for laser eye surgery? How do you know that the procedure is right for you?  Of course there are many factors involved in deciding if lasik eye surgery is right for you.

Definitely laser eye surgery statistics is an important tools that reveals many aspects of the procedures. For example from the compiled statistics we know what is the success rate, the number of people who suffered from complications or side effects from the surgery and also what kind of complications and the recovery rate.

Essentially, lasik surgery uses lasers light to reshape the eye’s surface to allow for better refraction of the light as it enters the pupil and hits the lens in the back of the eye. If the eye is out of shape the light will begin to bend before it hits the lens causing some distortion in the image.

Current national laser eye surgery statistics show that about 55 percent of the patients have had their visual acuity returned to 20/20 while a whopping 92.5 percent have experienced improvement to 20/40 vision.

It is also important to remember that there are two types of laser equipment used for this operation and the experience of the surgeon on the specific equipment that will be used for the operation can tell a different story when deciphering the laser eye surgery statistics available on a national level.

Different Doctors Experience Different Levels Of Success

It should also be remembered that even though the equipment may be the same and operate very much in the same manner, different doctors may have different levels of success. When looking for an eye surgeon, going beyond the national laser eye surgery statistics and asking the laser eye surgery doctors about their individual laser eye surgery statistics may provide a better idea of how good the doctor really is at their craft.

Patients suffering halos in their vision is one of the most common complaints, according to laser eye surgery statistics, but in many instances, their presence disappears over time. With over one million procedures performed each year, and only three percent reporting worse vision than before the operation, the laser eye surgery statistics can present a good argument for having the surgery performed successfully.

Visual fluctuations as well as a heightened sensitivity to light are other complaints included in the laser eye surgery statistics that potential patients should talk about with their local doctors. Knowing their individual statistics can give a better idea about the chance of success with any given surgeon.

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Is LASIK Surgery an option for you?

Many patients are very satisfied with the improved quality of life that they experience after LASIK Surgery. Read on to decide whether LASIK Surgery is right for you. 

The different types of LASIK Surgery

There are two basic types of surgery: Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK. With either type, the preparation work and post-operative procedures are similar. The difference between the procedures involves the customization of the laser.

Standard LASIK

Prior to the scheduled procedure date, the eye surgeon meets with patient to re-test for certain eye problems and diseases. When it’s confirmed that the patient meets the requirements, a procedure date is set.

On the day of the procedure, the eye doctor may perform another corneal topography to confirm that nothing has changed that would require changing the procedure. Three types of eye drops are then administered. The drops anesthetize the eye, protect the eye from post-operative inflammation and protect the eye from infection.

Next, the patient reclines and the laser is positioned overhead with the eye surgeon above it. To remove the flap, the patient’s eye must first be stabilized. The eye is kept from blinking by placing it into a restrainer. Suction is administered to the eyeball and the microkeratome makes one swift slice across the top of the cornea. The resulting flap (which should still be hinged to the eye) is pulled away with tiny tweezers.

The laser then emits a pre-determined number of laser pulses to remove the excess tissue, a process which takes literally seconds. The flap is pulled back into place and saline solution clears the eye of any debris. The eye is covered and the procedure is finished unless the other eye is receiving a LASIK Surgery treatment.

Custom LASIK Surgery

In standard LASIK, the computer inside the laser determines the number and location of laser pulses based solely on the patient’s prescription. With custom LASIK, the eye surgeon creates a three-dimensional image of the eye. The image results are then fed into the laser’s computer and the patient receives a laser treatment that is truly customized to that eye.

Risks and complications

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LASIK Surgery. The procedure may under- or over-treat the eye. Under-treatments can be corrected with additional surgery however over treatment generally results in the patient needing to continue wearing corrective lenses. Loss of vision or compromised vision, especially at night, are other risks. Dry eye syndrome can develop. And vision that has been surgically corrected may decline over time. Another serious risk involves using an inexperienced ophthalmologist.

Tips on selecting a LASIK Surgery surgeon

Get referrals from people you trust and then make arrangements to interview several candidates.

Make the most of the pre-procedure consultation. Prepare a list of questions to ask each surgeon and record the answers. It’s important to understand what care the ophthalmologist intends to provide during all stages of surgery: before, during and afterwards as well as all costs.

Remember that low cost doesn’t mean top quality. Your eyesight is far too valuable to allow cost to be the determining factor.

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Information on Corrective Eye Surgery

Several types of correct eye surgery exist today and these different types of corrective eye surgery fall under two main categories: Excimer Laser procedures and Non-Excimer laser procedures. As is the case with other conditions that affect the body, major technological advances have been made in recent years in the field of corrective eye surgery. The following is a brief introduction to the two categories.

Excimer Laser Procedures

An Excimer laser is a tool that was approved for the treatment of nearsightedness ranging in severity from mild to moderate. Use of the Excimer laser is complicated and it’s important to work with ophthalmologists who are both trained in the surgical procedure and who have demonstrated the ability to properly operate and calibrate this precision instrument.

The Excimer Laser was originally approved for PKR, or Photorefractive Keratectomy and its usage was later expanded for LASIK procedures, or Laser in situ Keratomileusis. With PKR, the cornea is reshaped by eliminating excess tissue from the cornea’s outer surface. With each computer calculated lightening-fast laser pulse, a microscopic ultraviolet light beam removes the excess tissue. After only a few minutes and the application of local anesthesia, the procedure is over. In just a day or so, patients can resume normal activity.

In a LASIK procedure, the eye doctor rather than the laser’s built-in computer determines where incisions will be made and how much tissue will be removed. This is a more complex and invasive procedure and it is one that is recommended for more severe refractive conditions. Using a microkeratome (a knife), the eye surgeon slices and then pulls back a flap of the tissue covering the cornea. With the tissue out of the way, the laser is then used to remove tissue and reshape the cornea. The flap is put back into place and the patient typically can see well enough to drive home after the procedure. LASEK and epi-LASIK are variations of the LASIK procedure.

Non Excimer Laser Procedures

These are procedures that rely on artificial implants, surgery and reshaping to correct eye problems. Lens implants are effective for individuals who have cataracts, nearsightedness and farsightedness. Intraocular lenses or IOLs are used as replacements for the damaged cloudy lenses caused by cataracts. New and improved artificial lenses now incorporate the use of hinges that allow the eye to move and act like a real lens.

Other types of implantable contact lens can correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. They act much like removable contact lenses but require no maintenance and wearers cannot feel these lenses and implants.

Thermokeratoplasty involves the use of heat to manipulate the collagen within the cornea. In doing so, refractive errors can be corrected in a matter of minutes. There are two types of Thermokeratoplasty procedures. Laser thermal keratoplasty or LTK involves the use of holmium YAG laser and CK or conductive keratoplasty involves use of radiofrequency waves.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) involves cutting the cornea in order to reshape it. However, its use has diminished since laser treatments involve less risk and are far more effective at reshaping the cornea.

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Lasik eye surgery

Advertisements for LASIK surgery are everywhere. Anyone who wears contact lenses and eye glasses can relate well to the feeling of finally being free of the maintenance and bother involved in wearing either. As tempting as the advertisements are, LASIK Surgery may not be right for everyone.

Understanding LASIK Surgery

LASIK is the acronym for laser in-situ keratomy, eye surgery involving use of a powerful laser called an Excimer. The Excimer has been designed especially for working in the delicate eye area. The laser works quickly to reshape a person’s cornea, which generally is all that is needed to correct myopia (known also as nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatisms.

Reshaping the cornea generally is a simple matter of removing excess tissue from beneath the cornea. In order to get at this tissue, a tiny flap must be pulled back from the cornea’s surface. The laser can create this flap, and so can a tool called a microkeratome blade.

Laser pulses zap as much excess tissue as the ophthalmologist determines after reviewing a very detailed image of the cornea called a corneal topography. In literally a matter of minutes and often without feeling any pain, the shape of the cornea is corrected and vision restored. In fact, vision is usually restored so quickly that a patient can drive him or herself home from the procedure.

Deciding on LASIK Surgery

One of the biggest decisions a person interested in LASIK Surgery needs to make is whether this type of eye surgery is affordable. It is categorized as a cosmetic type of surgery and therefore many health insurance plans won’t provide coverage.

The costs for this surgery vary considerably, but generally the costs of using a reliable and knowledgeable ophthalmologist will run several thousand dollars – per eye! So cost is definitely one big consideration.

If it’s decided that the costs are justifiable, there are some individuals for whom this type of surgery may not be effective. Only healthy eyes and eyes that have stopped changing can be operated on. There also are certain prescription limitations which automatically disqualify a patient from this type of surgery.

A comprehensive review of a prospective patient’s medical history is undertaken prior to LASIK Surgery. A number of tests are also performed at an initial consultation for the purpose of detecting eye problems and/or diseases which could affect the surgery. Due to hormonal considerations, LASIK Surgery cannot take place when a woman is pregnant or when either a man or a woman has a compromised immune system as this condition could jeopardize the eye’s recovery.

To summarize, if such a procedure is affordable and the eyes meet the procedure requirements, LASIK Surgery may be a good option to pursue. The surgery itself has a very high success rate and combined with the fact that it’s practically painless, it probably makes sense to give it a try.

The next section will review the different types of LASIK eye Surgery that are available and the risks and possible complications of each.  

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