How Does Lasik Eye Surgery Work? Keratomileusis - The Carving Of The Cornea

At present, LASIK or “Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis” is the only commonly performed keratomileusis procedure. Keratomileusis involves an altering of the shape of the corneal tissue with the aid of an excimer laser, which is a powerful ultraviolet laser. This laser eye surgery is performed by ophthalmologists in order to correct different types of vision impairment. LASIK is the preferred treatment for patients with refractive error, since the procedure entails rapid recovery and minimal pain overall.

LASIK surgery leverages technology to its fullest. For instance, a computer system tracks the patient’s eye position 4,000 times per second, while the lasers make the desired incisions. It might sound like a dangerous procedure, but it’s time to debunk this myth. LASIK surgery is a completely safe procedure performed with high precision. That is, the laser carves the corneal tissue in a finely controlled manner. LASIK surgery is not that cumbersome when compared with other types of eye surgery, and has a relatively low frequency of complications.

Though LASIK surgery is performed with the patient awake and functional, the eye surgeon typically administers a mild sedative and anesthetic eye drops. No matter what the type of vision impairment, altering the shape of the cornea is a viable solution. In general, the procedure has very few side effects and offers instant results. However, a few complications may arise depending on the extent of the patient’s refractive error and other irregularities in the corneal tissue.

LASIK eye surgery, with excellent technology at its disposal, is improving at a rapid rate. However, there is no conclusive evidence as to the chances of long-term complications owing to the surgery. Although relatively uncommon, a few complications may arise, namely corneal infection, slipped flap, haziness, halo or glare. An important point to note is that this laser-assisted procedure is irreversible.

LASIK has gained popularity due its efficacy and improved precision. The procedure also boasts of the smallest complication statistics relative to other eye surgeries. With only a 5% complication rate, LASIK sounds like a safe enough procedure to rectify your vision impairment.

About the Author:

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, information and views about the benefits of LASIK eye surgery at Your Lasik Information. http://www.Your-LASIK.info Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Finding A Lasik Surgeon Who Is Right For You

It’s true that there are a lot of eye corrective procedures available to patients. The sheer variety of surgical procedures may often leave the patient perplexed. But whatever may be your procedure of choice, attaining excellent results is largely dependent on the expertise of your eye surgeon. LASIK is by far the most preferred corrective eye surgery, and hence it is imperative that you choose a LASIK eye surgeon with a great deal of experience. Knowing that your eye surgeon is one of the best in the field makes you all the more comfortable.

Choosing an efficient LASIK surgeon would involve some basic research, and you must bear in mind a few points while you carry out your quest. The LASIK eye surgeon who performs your surgery should remain in touch with you from beginning till end, including the pre-operative examination and the post-operative checkups. A nice criterion for gauging an eye surgeon’s efficacy is the number of operations he has performed. In general, people prefer a surgeon who has performed over 500 LASIK surgical procedures.

A few LASIK institutes tout aggressive slogans and offer surgical procedures at discounted prices. It is advised that you have an aversion to such sales gimmicks. Cost should not be a major determining factor when choosing a LASIK surgeon – experience is what matters the most, since it’s the matter of eyes, the most precious of the five senses. It is recommended that you choose a surgeon who is affiliated to an academic medical center. Such eye surgeons are more likely to have a good grasp of the latest technological innovations as far as LASIK is concerned.

Another significant factor governing your choice should be the technology and equipment the LASIK surgeon wields at his or her operation center. You must ensure that the LASIK surgeon has the latest computer-controlled equipment and the best laser available to perform LASIK surgery.

This may sound overwhelming but it’s highly essential, since the quality of equipment could well be the difference between an excellent result and a fairly mediocre result. Also ensure that the LASIK surgeon has enough staff members so as to provide adequate care to all the patients as you won’t want to be left unattended after surgery.

About the Author:

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles, news, views and information about LASIK surgeons at http://www.Your-LASIK.info. The LASIK Surgeons Directory http://www.find-lasik-surgeon.com is a useful resource. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info

Finding A Lasik Center That Works For Your Needs

Lasik is a procedure performed thousands of times a day all over the world. Just as contact lenses slowly replaced eyeglasses as the vision correction of choice, Lasik has become the new way in which to correct vision and avoid the cost and inconvenience associated with glasses and contacts.

Of course, deciding on Lasik means weighing the advantages and disadvantages, as well as consulting with your physician and eye doctor to ensure that you are both an appropriate candidate for Lasik and in good enough health to undergo a procedure of this kind. And, finally, you must choose the Lasik center that will meet your needs effectively and affordably.

As with any sort of surgical procedure there is much to consider before embarking on the journey. Not only do you want to consider those centers that are close to home and logistically convenient, but you want to find a Lasik center that has a vast amount of experience under its belt when it comes to performing Lasik and can answer your questions and concerns in an informative, respectful, and professional manner.

First and foremost, think of the pre-procedure process as an interview of sorts. Visit the Lasik center in which you are interested and get a feel for its policies and procedures. It is important to ensure that you are dealing with a center that is committed to patient care, as well as being clean, organized, secure, and professionally staffed.

Speaking of staff – it is important to get to know the people with whom you will be working through this process. Thoroughly research the surgeons who will be performing the procedure; find out where they were educated, how much experience they have, and their reputation in the industry. But don’t stop there when it comes to getting to know the staff; the front office staff and medical support staff are just as important as you will be dealing with them for billing and follow-up. You are looking for organization, helpfulness, and professionalism.

The next best resource for research purposes is the Internet - allowing you to quickly and easily find exactly what you are looking for, thus narrowing and speeding your search significantly. Conduct a specific search for a Lasik center nearest your home and began your research from there.

Finally, ask for references. A Lasik center should have a comprehensive list at their disposal of patients who are willing to speak on their behalf. Or ask around to family and friends; no one is in a better position to tell you about the experience of Lasik – and a particular Lasik center – than someone who has recently had the procedure performed.

This process may seem long and a bit frustrating, but remember that the effort is well worth it. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that you are in the best hands possible and that your comfort and results are paramount. In this way, you can ensure that your procedure is successful – not just for now but for a lifetime.

About the Author:

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik plus.

Find The Best Lasik Eye Center

Are you considering Lasik eye surgery? Then you want to select a Lasik eye center that offers the best of care. Lasik is so popular today that many Lasik eye centers have sprung up to meet the need, but when it comes to your health and vision, you understandably want to find a Lasik eye center that can give you the best treatment and care available.

In order to find a reputable Lasik eye center, you will need to do a little research. Check the credentials of the doctors who will be doing your procedure. Have they had enough experience? Are they well skilled?

Do not choose your Lasik surgeon based on price alone. A lower price may mean a less skilled eye surgeon, or one who does not have the same training and precision equipment as a more expensive Lasik eye center might have.

Also be wary of the discount Lasik eye center which relies heavily on radio and other advertising to get customers in the door. Know too that choosing the most expensive surgeon does not necessarily mean you will get the best one either.

When comparing prices from one Lasik eye center to another, be sure you are comparing similar packages. Most Lasik eye centers will quote a price which includes the surgery along with a vision correction package, and pre and post operative care. Some may quote the price of the surgery alone which makes it look like a better deal than it actually is after you add in the rest of the necessary expenses.

You will probably only have one opportunity for Lasik surgery so you want to make sure it is done right. That’s why it is so important to seek referrals and recommendations from previous patients who underwent the surgery at the particular Lasik eye center you are considering.

Lasik eye surgery is not cheap and it most likely will not be covered by your insurance since it is an elective surgery. Therefore, you may wish to look for a Lasik eye center which will allow you to make payments on the procedure. Be sure to discuss the costs and payment options with your doctor. The Lasik eye center may have arrangements with a bank to provide financing, or they may do their own in house arrangement that will allow you to pay in installments.

About the Author:

Anne Morris writes articles about surgery. Discover more information about surgery at lasik-central.com and rhinoplastywire.com.

Eye Lasik Surgery: Say Bye Bye To Spectacles And Contact Lenses

Eye lasik surgery is a form of surgery which is done over the eyes. Eye lasik surgery is simply a procedure which is considered as effective for an individual who is virtually dependent upon the constant use of spectacles and contact lenses. The full form of LASIK is Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. Eye lasik surgery is basically a procedure which is designed to make a specific and a permanent change to the contour of the cornea. Even the clear covering of the upper portion of the eyes can be removed through eye lasik surgery. Eye lasik surgery is done extensively with the paramount excimer laser use.

Immense success has been fostered in the process of Eye lasik surgery, but yet it involves certain amount of risk. It is basically advisable to know about the risks and the complications which might crop up after the Eye lasik surgery has been performed. Some of the probable risk factors which are related with Eye lasik surgery are vision loss, continuance of glasses, severe dry eye problem, lack of proper far sighted vision etc.

In order to undertake Eye lasik surgery, the procedures needed are as firstly, the eyes are provided drops of anesthetic. Secondly, a thin flap over the eyes is removed by the surgeon performing the surgery which is helpful in relieving the inner portion of the tissues which covers the cornea. Thirdly, cool computer proscribed pulses are applied in the inner part of the cornea. Fourthly, after this the flap which has been removed is again gently placed in its original place. Irritation at the initial stage is quite common but later on there is the gradual reduction of the complications which might have been caused due to the Eye lasik surgery.

I would like to add something out here. As I myself is a constant user of contact lenses, I sometimes feel like to opt for Eye lasik surgery and just get rid of its use forever. But while I made planning for it, I sat over the internet and made a study of all the signs and symptoms related to Eye lasik surgery and the precautionary measures which is needed to be followed for Eye lasik surgery. But the consequences which sometimes follow Eye lasik surgery had made me to think over the plan once again. But I am quite determined in this respect that when the right time comes for me to undergo Eye lasik surgery, I will definitely go for it.

About the Author:

Farzina Naznin as she herself wears contact lenses has found quite interesting to write this article, as she herself is planning to under this eye lasik surgery. Moreover, she is also associated with sites like http://www.thehealthorganization.org/ http://www.greathealthservices.com/ http://www.yourfitnesshealth.com/ for writing articles.

Eye Makeup After Lasik!

LASIK, or "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis," is the most common refractive surgery procedure. Refractive surgeries, including LASIK, reshape the cornea to correct distorted vision often eliminating the need for glasses or contacts.

Higher-order aberrations are visual problems not captured in a traditional eye exam. In a young healthy eye, the level of higher-order aberrations are typically low and insignificant. Concern has long plagued the tendency of refractive surgeries to induce higher-order aberration not correctible by traditional contacts or glasses. The advancement of lasik technique and technologies has helped eliminate the risk of clinically significant visual impairment after the surgery.

The following are some of the more frequently reported complications of LASIK:

1. Dry eyes
2. Overcorrection or undercorrection
3. Visual acuity fluctuation
4. Halos or starbursts around light sources at night
5. Light sensitivity
6. Ghosts or double vision
7. Wrinkles in flap (striae)
8. Decentered ablation

How Soon Can I Use Eye Makeup?
You may resume wearing eye makeup starting 1-2 weeks after your treatment. We strongly recommend that you purchase new eye makeup, specifically mascara, to avoid potential infection following your treatment.

The most important thing for anyone considering LASIK surgery is to determine if they are a good candidate. Finding a surgeon who will honestly assess compatibility is extremely important, and vastly preferable to a provider who does not do a careful examination, and thus risks serious side effects.

LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure and will take 10 to 15 minutes for each eye.

The only anesthetic used is an eye drop that numbs the surface of the eye. The procedure is done with the person awake. LASIK may be done on one or both eyes during the same session.

During LASIK, a special knife (a microkeratome) is used to cut a hinged flap of corneal tissue off the outer layer of the eyeball. The flap is lifted out of the way and a special laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue.

About the Author:

LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive Eye Surgery procedure. Find out more about LASIK Eye Surgery at http://EyeSurgery.ewhy.info

Even A Chicken Can Get Lasik Surgery

If you take the time to read any of the message boards or chat rooms on the Internet about Lasik surgery, you will wonder how anyone could get the courage to schedule a Lasik procedure, and why on earth they would want it. The various Lasik clinics sound anywhere from impersonal to something similar to Dr. Frankenstein's lab, and the Lasik procedure itself sounds, well, surreal. It seems like the only people that would get Lasik are those with such bad vision that they cannot get out of bed without their glasses on.

Well, let me give you my story of how I chose Lasik. First of all, my vision is not good, but not terrible either. I can actually go to movies and see well enough to enjoy the film without glasses, but I need glasses to drive in order to read the street signs far enough away to act on the information. So for me, Lasik was not necessary, but I figured would simplify my life. I am outdoors very frequently, backpacking, climbing hills, and mountain biking. Glasses do not last long with me, and I am frequently grinding into the dirt which is not the best situation for contact lenses. For these reasons, Lasik looked very appealing.

The paragraph above might make you think I am a "manly guy" (hope so, think so!), so why on earth would I be afraid of a little Lasik scalpel? OK, technically Lasik does NOT use a scalpel but rather a "microkeratome blade", but it is still a sharp object approaching my eye as part of the Lasik procedure. Nowadays Lasik physicians can get a laser to cut the flap in the eye, which is more than a little better than a sharp blade. But anyway, I had too many spills in my life to think any sharp object nearing my eye was a good idea, even under the skilled hands of a Lasik physician.

After talking with three (yes, three!) independent Lasik physicians, they each assured me that a 28 year old guy in nearly perfect health (OK, I exaggerate a bit) with moderate nearsightedness was one of the very best candidates for a successful Lasik procedure. I decided to schedule my Lasik procedure with the one that had the best track record, and coincidentally took the most time to explain everything about Lasik to me.

The Lasik surgery was not painful, though I accepted nearly everything they offered to give me comfort, including a sedative and a teddy bear. (I even went back to take a picture of me and the Lasik comforting teddy bear.) The only strange thing I remember about the Lasik procedure itself was a smell, something vaguely like hair burning. I suppose that was my eye. I am kind of glad they didn't tell me to expect that before the Lasik procedure, I am not sure I would have gone in.

After a few years, I guess I was a nearly perfect Lasik client, as my eyes now have 20/20 vision and have remained stable long after the Lasik operation. I say that if you are a good candidate for a Lasik vision correction procedure, grab that teddy bear and go on in.

About the Author:

David Riewe is the Editor of Daves Health Buzz. Daves Health Buzz covers a wide variety of health and wellness related topics. Visit Daves Health Buzz for the latestLasik Eye Surgery information

Lasik Surgery Defined

Lasik(Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis - Is the up and coming type of eye surgery intended for correcting specifically Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism. Lasik has become hugely popular in the past few years due to it's incredible value, incredible results and the quick and painless procedure. Lasik's immence popularity has also become a default standard for those wanting to toss out their corrective lenses and/or glasses.

The Lasik procedure, originally discovered by Jose Barraquer of Columbia in 1960 where he developed the first operation to cut thin flaps in the cornea to alter its shape. Then in 1981 a man by the name of Rangaswamy Srinivasan found that an ultraviolet chemical laser could cut tissue in specific manner with little or no damage to the area surrounding the eye.

All of this led to Lucio Buratto and loannis Pallikaris first adaptation of LASIK surgery in 1990 by merging these previous techniques. It rapidly became popular due to it's exacting results with less and less complications as compared to these former types.

One year later in 1991 Stephen Brint and Stephen Slade performed the surgery for the first time in the United States.

With rapid technology growth through the 90s, the procedure took on it's new form and is much of what we see today. Notwithstanding the limitations of Lasik lasers and inessential destruction of the nerves within the eye have brought on many modified forms to this plain type. These include Epi-Lasik, Wavefront-guided PRK, Epi-LASIK, LASEK and FLIVC. Moreover the long term affects of Lasik are still being speculated.

There have been many post operative surveys to determine patient satisfaction with this procedure. These surveys found that the majority of patients come out ver satisfied with just under 100% being just satisfied. The small number of unsatisfied customers tend be those with complications such as

-Macular hole

-Dry Eyes

-Light Sensitivity

-Debris or growth under flap

-Posterior vitreous detachment

About the Author:

http://about-lasik-surgery.youradcents.com/

Lasik Surgery In New York: What's In It For You?

Most people who are in the market for Lasik eye surgery prefer to find Lasik vision care centers in larger cities, hoping to find an eye surgeon who's experienced and yet won't charge and arm and a leg for Lasik eye correction surgery. While that endeavor might be easier said than done, the city of New York does offer a wealth of gifted and experienced doctors that will be able to provide you with the eye correction services that you need.

Thousands of eye doctors are listed in various directories in New York City, but that doesn't mean that they're all licensed to perform laser vision correction. When searching for a doctor who can perform such surgery, check not only local listings, but listings with surgeons as well as medical certification boards to ensure that the person you'll be dealing with is trained and experienced in various Lasik procedures.

The Lasik website often lists New York surgeons in its database for the convenience of patients, but looking around and getting a second opinion is always a wise choice when it comes to any type of surgery. After finding out that Lasik surgery can take as little as ten minutes per eye and that the procedure can be done on an outpatient basis, people often think that the procedure isn't a surgery after all when it is. Lasik surgery procedures and methods have constantly evolved and improved over the past decade, though there are always risks when performing any kind of surgery, laser directed or not. Many Lasik eye surgeons concentrate of the field of eye refractory and utilize the most advanced laser technology at their disposal. Because of this, Lasik eye correction is extremely expensive, despite its short procedures. However, finding a location that will work with you on payments is becoming easier and more convenient for those searching for just the right doctor. Since most vision insurance companies don't cover the costs of Lasik eye surgery, because they feel it's an elective process, it's easy for some people to hunt for bargains.

Bargain hunting when it comes to your eyesight is not such a good idea. Remember, this is surgery on an irreplaceable body part, and care and common sense should prevail when searching for a doctor to perform the delicate procedure. Saving a few bucks is not conducive to going cheap. Most Lasik eye surgeries cost around $2,000 or more an eye. Finding special deals and offers for less may seem tempting, but keep in mind that that's just a very basic cost for minimal work. In addition, costs will be added to that base, so always ask ahead of time what is included in the cost quoted to you.

New York is one of the most common locations for people obtaining Lasik eye surgery, followed by Los Angeles. While many people don't want to travel that far to obtain the procedure, balance the cost of travel with the level of experience you'll be receiving from doctors who have performed thousands of surgeries over one who has only performed dozens. In addition, competition helps to lower prices, so it is increasingly possible to find doctors who offer Lasik procedures at reasonable rates. Just make sure that when you're shopping around to not focus so much on cost as you do on expertise, experience, and if possible, feedback provided from other patients who have undergone the procedure.

About the Author:

For the latest information on Lasik New York options, visit http://LasikRevealed.com .

How To Decide If Wavefront Lasik Eye Surgery Is Worth The Extra Cost

Wavefront technology is not only used in wavefront lasik eye surgery itself, but also in the initial diagnosis. This diagnosis produces a 3-D map that can be used to guide the laser extremely accurately when the actual surgery is carried out.

Studies that compare wavefront-guided lasik to conventional lasik have shown that a higher percentage of those undergoing wavefront guided lasik eye surgery achieve 20/20 vision without the aid of glasses or contact lenses compared to those treated without the assistance of wavefront technology.

And perhaps just as important, with wavefront technology there is less chance of suffering from problems such as a loss of visual quality, a loss of contrast sensitivity and problems connected with night vision.

All eyes have some sort of imperfection, called an aberration. It is the degree of aberration that matters.

Lower-order aberrations are the ones you hear about most often - myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

There are also higher-order aberrations, which account for about 15% of eye problems, and have exotic names such as coma, spherical aberration and trefoil. These aberrations cause problems that can include difficulty seeing at night, halos, issues with glare and blurred vision, and account for about 15% of eye problems.

Simply put, lower order aberration determine how much you see, while higher order aberrations determine how well you see.

Unfortunately, ordinary lasik surgery increases the chance of higher order aberrations. With wavefront lasik eye surgery, however, while higher order aberrations still increase they do so to a lesser degree than with conventional lasik.

What is Wavefront Technology?

Wavefront technology is a system that collects information about the eye from hundreds of separate points over the central 6 millimetre area of the cornea. This creates a unique “map” that is specific to the eye being measured.

This information can then be linked to the laser to enable a completely customised and very accurate surgical procedure.

A further advantage is that wavefront can help identify patients who are not good candidates for Lasik surgery. Lasik surgery is certainly not for everyone; it can in fact worsen existing visual problems, so the initial diagnosis is crucial.

What is a wavefront?

Wavefront technology has been used by astronomers for many years, but the first wavefront mapping of the eye was done in 1994. Towards the end of 2002 the Food & Drug Administration approved the Custom Cornea Wavefront Lasik.

In essence, a bundle of light rays enters the eye. When the light enters the cornea, the very front of those light rays is perfectly flat - like a sheet of paper. In a perfect eye, the light will be reflected back and exit still flat.

But of course, the light passes through an imperfect crystalline lens and so is distorted when it emerges. It is this distortion that creates the "map" that tells the specialist what problems exist within the eye, how they can best be corrected, and provides the information is used to create the prescription that will be used to reshape the cornea.

How is Wavefront Technology Used?

When an eye specialist uses a conventional instrument called a phoropter, he changes the lenses and then asks the patient which lens produces the best image. This process is subject to subjective feedback (what the patient thinks he is seeing as opposed to what he is really seeing) and can only detect two eye abnormalities, these being cylindrical and spherical.

The cylindrical one causes astigmatism, while a spherical abnormality results in myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).

Wavefront technology, on the other hand, is much more accurate, measures many more points, and can detect an infinite number of aberrations.

There are limitation to the use of wavefront lasik eye surgery. If you are too myopic or too hyperopic, or have too much astigmatism, you will probably not be a candidate.

Thin corneas will be a problem, while having abnormally-large pupils may increase the risk of ending up with poor vision at night.

There is also the issue of cost. Most, if not all, doctors charge more for wavefront lasik eye surgery than for conventional. As a rough guide, expect to pay about $3000 and up per eye.

In summary - wavefront technology offers precise and individualized prescriptions for Lasik eye surgery patients. If you meet the requirements, it also offers an increased probability that the resultant wavefront lasik eye surgery will provide a successful outcome with fewer side effects.

About the Author:

You'll find more lasik information at Darrell van Zyl's site, http://www.lasikeyesurgeryanswers.com

Hassled By Glasses? Lasik Eye Surgery May Be The Answer

If you've worn glasses for at least a year, you no doubt have had times where you grew tired of carrying them everywhere with you or where you got headaches from squinting because you went somewhere and forgot to take them. You're probably sick of your frames bending, your nose pieces popping off, and your lenses falling out. You're probably even more sick of having to pay for completely new glasses periodically. In addition to this, you may even feel that your glasses make you unattractive or vulnerable.

All of these experiences are common to those of us who wear eyeglasses; however, the choice between contact lenses which are just as annoying in many ways and glasses is no longer the extent of our choices. We can now opt to get Lasik eye surgery, which many surgeons claim can improve your eye sight permanently.

Before you consider Lasik eye surgery, however, it is important to determine whether or not you are as a possible candidate, since not everyone is. The US Federal Government cautions a number of groups of people to reconsider whether or not Lasik eye surgery is for them:

1. Those who are risk adverse. While Lasik eye surgery has had spectacular short term results, it hasn't been around long enough to determine how it will affect eyesight (positively or negatively) in the long run. Additionally, some people although a very small amount do end up with permanent damage from surgery, rather than fixed eyesight.

2. Those who work for the military. You cannot hold some positions in the military if you have received certain types of eye surgery. You will want to talk to your superior or supervisor to determine whether or not this would affect you personally and also if it could affect potential future positions.

3. Those who have certain diseases, such as diabetes, or are pregnant. Two things seriously affect the outcome of Lasik eye surgery AFTER it is performed: hormonal levels and ability to heal. If you have a serious health issue that may prevent you from healing, Lasik eye surgery is almost always a bad choice. If, on the other hand, you have unstable hormonal levels that affect your sight, you might not be able to accurately determine the type and level of surgery needed, which means you should wait and come back at another time.

Additionally, if you wear contact lenses, you will want to consider ahead of time how long you will need before surgery. Since contact lenses actually change the shape of the cornea, you will have to take a rest period of up to 3 to 4 weeks without them before you can even qualify for Lasik eye surgery.

So how can you get started? After you have made all of these considerations, contact the closest Lasik eye surgeon and ask for a information session.

About the Author:

Are you hiding behind your glasses? Why wait to learn the truth about LASIK? Now there is a gallery of powerful information yours for the taking. Decide to improve the quality of your life. Click here: http://www.lasik-surgery-locator.com/

How To Wash Your Eyes After Lasik Surgery

LASIK is an efficient and fairly innocuous procedure. It is capable of treating several refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The procedure itself entails virtually no pain and provides rapid recovery. Though the vision will be blurry immediately after surgery, visual acuity will be restored within a few days. However, it takes about 3 to 6 months for the refraction to stabilize. It is imperative that you carry out a scrupulous postoperative regime in order to boost the recovery process and avoid unnecessary complications.

Avoid rubbing your eyes for at least the first week after LASIK surgery. The corneal flap cut out during the surgery requires substantial time to heal. Unnecessary rubbing may inadvertently aggravate the wound. You should also take extreme caution to avoid soap, hair spray or shaving lotion from entering your eyes. The eye surgeon will typically provide you with a postoperative kit, which may include a set of eye shields/goggles. Wear them while you are sleeping, at least for the first three nights after surgery.

For at least a week after LASIK, prevent water from entering your eyes, since water hinders the natural clotting mechanism, and therefore might delay the healing process of the cornea. You must also cancel any swimming plans for a minimum of 10 days following LASIK. You must not wear eye makeup for at least one week after LASIK.

Contact sports are to be avoided for at least a week or so following surgery. Furthermore, it is advised that you wear some kind of protection gear for your eyes for a period of a month, even after resuming exercise and other sporting activities. Bright sunlight may lead to scarring, and therefore, sunglasses are recommended on bright days until the cornea heals.

To summarize, though you will able to resume your usual lifestyle within a week or so after LASIK surgery, it is crucial that you protect your eyes to prevent injury or infection. And since the corneal flap does not heal instantly after surgery, you must prevent washing your eyes for at least a few days after surgery.

If you find a LASIK surgery that you are confident with, you will be able to get more information about post LASIK complications.

Nicola publishes articles, reports, news, views and information about LASIK eye surgery at http://www.Your-LASIK.info. LASIK Surgeons Directory http://www.Find-Lasik-Surgeon.com is a useful resource. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info

Change Your View of the Surroundings With a Lasik Surgery

Beauty lies in the yes of the beholder, but what about the person who has problematic eyesight? I have often wondered about that student who is burdened with heavy spectacles at a young age due to defective eyesight or that girl who feels she is unattractive because her lovely eyes are hidden behind glasses. A defective vision can alter our lives in more ways than one and even day to day activities like reading a book, watching television or reading the number of a bus can become a challenging activity. Although, devices like contact lenses have solved the problem to quite an extent, but even then they require high maintenance and are difficult to use on a regular basis. A lasik surgery is the preferred alternative in this scenario and can change the way you view the world around you.

Lasik surgery is a simple operation that reshapes the cornea of an individual and rectifies the eyesight of the patient within a very short duration. The post operative care is also minimal and the patient can resume his or her normal activities on the very next day of the operation. However, the skill sets required to perform this kind of lasik surgery is very high and only the very best and competent eye surgeon can carry out such an operation. So before you opt for this kind of surgery, it is highly advisable to gain a complete understanding and knowledge about the entire process and its effects on the patient. It would be best to get the reference of a competent surgeon from a person who ahs already undergone the operation successfully as this will definitely increase your faith and confidence in your doctor and this is of crucial importance.

A lasik surgery has long lasting results and therefore very popular method of rectifying any vision related problems. Whether you are suffering from short sightedness or long sightedness, the surgery can rectify the defect easily. However, be sure to find out all about the process and the post operative treatment before you decide to go in for the operation. Also, the cost of the surgery is an important factor and hence you should carefully consider your financial capacity to pay for such kind of a treatment. In case the cost of operation is high in your place of residence, opting for a different location to get the treatment done is advisable. Many other countries may be having competent professionals and advanced medical facilities for this surgery and it would be easier on your pocket to select one such country for the surgery.

Once you have made up your mind about going in for a lasik surgery you can be confident about seeing the world with new eyes after the operation. The success rates of such a surgery are very high, further adding to the confidence of a potential candidate of lasik surgery. Once you have located a competent doctor on whom you can entrust the responsibility of operating on your precious eyes, you can leave the rest on your doctor.

Sarah Wilson is a tourism management expert with years of experience in overseas medical tourism management. If you want to know more about medical tourism, lasik eye surgery centre, gastric bypass surgery and more, you can visit www.surgeryunlimited.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Wilson

Good Post-Op Lasik Care

One of the most marvelous advancements using modern technology is the Lasik vision correction procedure, where in the space of fifteen minutes many people can reduce or eliminate their reliance on glasses or contact lenses. There is very little preparation for the surgery on the Lasik patient's side, and the Lasik procedure itself takes less than twenty minutes.

With current technology and an excellent Lasik physician, there is a very high success rate for nearly all Lasik surgeries. Though not all patients get or keep exactly 20/20 vision, there is a vast improvement in the Lasik client's vision and dependence on corrective eyewear. The two most important factors under the patient's control is the choice of the physician and good post-operative care.

After visiting a few physicians or clinics that perform Lasik procedures, the client should have a very good idea of how they will be treated as a patient of that doctor. It is important to find a Lasik physician whose staff is responsive to questions and worries, and who are willing to see a post-operative Lasik client who is having a problem with their care.

This is one of the more common complaints of those folks that undergo a Lasik procedure: insufficient information about post-operative Lasik side effects, or a staff that simply says "Lots of people experience that, no problem," when the patient actually should be seen by a member of the staff. A visit where the prospective Lasik patient talks with both the physician and one or two members of the staff will get an idea of how well a patient is welcomed once the Lasik procedure is completed.

During this initial investigative visit, the client should ask the Lasik staff for a list of common, temporary side effects that can be experienced after a Lasik procedure. The staff member should describe any cases where the patient should make a point of contacting the Lasik center, rather than just enduring the side effect. Cases of pain, intense itching, or seriously blurred vision may indicate an infection or other serious problem, and should be seen promptly. It is truly very rare that any of these complications exist after a Lasik procedure, but make sure that the center is willing to see the patient if they think something is more than mildly wrong.

One of the more common side effects after a Lasik operation is some form of dry eye, which often occurs during the nighttime while asleep. Not only is this uncomfortable, but if the eyelid sticks even slightly to the eye itself, it may dislodge the surgical flap done in the Lasik procedure, and delay healing of the eye. If this occurs, the Lasik center has several different viscosities, or thicknesses, of eye drops to alleviate this problem. The staff should be promptly notified so this problem can be addressed immediately.

A good, responsive staff surrounding an excellent Lasik physician is the most important component in how to select a doctor. Interviewing the physician and staff about all aspects of the Lasik procedure, both the procedure itself and post-operative care, is the best way to make an excellent choice.

About the Author:

David Riewe is the Editor of Daves Health Buzz. Daves Health Buzz covers a wide variety of health and wellness related topics. Visit Daves Health Buzz for the latest Lasik Eye Surgery information

How Lasik Surgery Works

One of the great things about the age in which we live is that we do not have to put up with a lot of the problems our forebears did. Every day, new surgeries are being developed that help to enhance our day to day lives and one of those developments is Lasik surgery.

Lasik is an acronym, which stands for Laser-assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a procedure in which a patient has their eye sight corrected- no more glasses, no more hassle with contact lenses. Many people find that Lasik is a great alternative and it is a permanent solution- once you undergo the operation you will not have to do it again.

Lasik surgery was developed in 1990, and the first Lasik operation in the United States occurred in 1991. There are three stages to the procedure, the pre-operative, the operation itself, and the post-operative. This article is concerned with what actually happens during the procedure, and how the operation corrects vision.

One of the strange parts about this operation is that it is performed while the patient is still awake, usually under the influence of a mild sedative as well as anesthetic eye drops. First of all, a flap of corneal tissue is created by using a mechanical microkeratome, which uses a metal blade. A femtosecond laser microkeratome can also be used. The latter device creates a series of tiny, closely arranged bubbles within the cornea. One end of the flap has a hinge attached to it, which folds back to reveal the stroma of the cornea.

Next, an excimer laser is used to remodel the corneal stroma. The laser vaporizes some of the corneal tissue while allowing precision control. This control means that adjacent parts of the stroma are not damaged by releasing the molecular bonds that hold cells together. The layers of tissue that are removed are mere micrometers thick, another advantage of laser precision.

After the cornea has been reshaped by the tissue removal de to the laser, the surgeon performing the operation places the Lasik flap back over the treatment area. This flap remains in place, protecting the eye until the tissue has healed. The advantages of this surgery, aside for sight correction, include the fact that the cornea has been “tricked”, and does not send the message to the brain that would set off pain receptors. A patient who has undergone the surgery can expect a rapid recovery time with very little pain involved.

Lasik surgery has undergone a vast transformation in terms of accessibility and advancements in the last decade and a half. With more and more surgeons seeing the monetary opportunities inherent in the procedure, more have been trained and the result has been a decrease in cost- Lasik procedures today are half the price they were just five years ago! Lasik cannot be performed on everyone, so consult your optometrist to see if you might qualify.

About the Author:

Robert Moongrave operates a website dedicated to helping people find the best lasik clinics in their area.

Fda Approves Lasik Eye Surgery

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new custom lasik procedure in September of 2005. This new procedure can now treat many patients who were previously ineligible for the surgery.

Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness occurs when the eye is too long and light rays focus in front of the retina, instead of focusing on the retina. Some of the symptoms of nearsightedness are blurred distant vision, eyestrain, and squinting, along with having a difficult time seeing at night.

Although nearsightedness can be easily fixed with glasses or contact lenses (when not too severe), many people don't like to hassle with either one. With this new lasik procedure, folks will now be able to have pure vision.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is the effect of the eye being shaped like a football, instead of round like a baseball. This deformity -- where the light rays focus on two points on the retina instead of one -- results in blurred vision, double vision, and shadows on letters when reading. Until recently, this deformity has prevented some people from even getting contact lenses. Breakthroughs in contact lenses have only helped those with slight astigmatism.

However, with this new lasik procedure, patients can now 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.

Farsightedness

Farsightedness happens when light rays focus behind the retina instead of on the retina, resulting in blurred near vision. Some patients with severe farsightedness have to step back from what they are reading and others require magnifying glasses to see something that is right in front of them. People with farsightedness can see you 30 feet away, but when you get right up close they can't see you! This can be embarrassing and cause the afflicted person much insecurity along with the feeling that they are going blind.

Farsightedness is easily remedied by wearing glasses to read and see things up close, but it's very inconvenient to constantly be taking your glasses on and off. Not only is it inconvenient, you take the chance of leaving your glasses behind. Some patients keep their glasses on a chain so they won't lose them, but this makes them feel old. Now, lasik surgery is another option for these patients.

New Laser Technology

The FDA recently approved the new Visx STAR Excimer laser system. This fantastic breakthrough in technology allows doctors to do more than they ever could before, giving them the ability to reshape the eye to correct astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. Before this marvelous breakthrough these patients were not good candidates for lasik eye surgery. They now can join the rest of the vision impaired and have the option for lasik.

Recent FDA studies show that over 98% of all patients receiving these new procedures were seeing 20/40 or better 6 months after surgery. Over 84% were seeing much better than 20/20 after 6 months. Now that's reason to celebrate!

New breakthroughs in lasik eye surgery technology are happening all the time. Now people don't have to be inconvenienced by the hassle of glasses or contacts. All they want to do is to be able to get up in the morning and see normally. These breakthroughs in lasik technology are giving them an improved quality of life that once was unattainable.

About the Author:

Visit http://www.lasik-4u.com to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer with a http://www.ronxking.com Copyright 2006 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Enjoy 20/20 Vision With Lasik Wavefront

Everyone has more than likely heard of Lasik, the vision correction surgery that doesn't involve typical surgical tools and settings. Lasik has been around a while, and since its inception, fewer people are willing to wear glasses or contact lenses, while opting for the laser surgery that corrects various vision problems such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Since its beginnings, Lasik has undergone several advancements and changes, both in equipment, technology and styles of Lasik that can now be performed. The most common types of Lasik surgery these days are known as Lasik, IntraLase and Custom Lasik, also known as Lasik Wavefront.

Lasik using Wavefront technology allows the laser to be customized using three-dimensional measurements taken of each individual patient's eye processing capabilities to guide the laser in reshaping the cornea, or the front of the eye. This method produces extremely precise results, and since it is individualized, optimal results are produced. This type of Lasik surgery however, is based on the thickness of your cornea and some are not good candidates for this type of laser vision correction. This method is also best used on those with only mild to moderate degrees of vision defects with the aforementioned myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The design behind the Wavefront technology is that it offers the laser to measure the way your eye focuses on light rays that pass through the cornea and iris. As a result, a map of sorts is designed and the results recorded in the database of the laser, mapping the way your eye has processed various images. Many people find it difficult to convince their vision insurance companies to cover the costs of Lasik Wavefront vision correction, because conditions such as astigmatism and far and near-sightedness can be treated with the more common use of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, if your condition is moderate to severe, or if your eyes are irregular in other ways, Lasik Wavefront may be the only way to correct such vision problems and enable the continued lifestyle desired by the patient.

Wavefront technology not only adjusts how much a patient is able to see, but it also improves depth perception and visual acuity, including contrast sensitivity as well as fine details. While eyeglasses can help, Lasik is by far the most advanced method of surgery that provides optimal results, time after time, and since it is customized, each patient has the potential to benefit from the very best in surgical performance. Lasik Wavefront can, in general, improve vision to at least 20/20, as well as increase chances of attaining even better than 20/20 vision. The non-invasive surgery also decreases risks of loss of current vision status as well as enhancing visual quality, sensitivity and night-vision. If you are considering Lasik vision correction to either new or long-standing vision problems, visit your ophthalmologist and discuss the options that may be open to you. As one of the safest methods of performing eye surgery, Lasik offers a variety of methods of each individual case.

About the Author:

Is Lasik Wavefront the right solution for you? Find out more at http://LasikRevealed.com .

Educate Yourself - Lasik Eye Surgery Could Be For You

It might be the case that you are tired of wearing glasses, or you believe that it cramps your style. You also don’t want to use contact lenses, in order to avoid infection or inflammation due to overuse. In such a scenario, you are likely to consider LASIK eye surgery, which is one of the most prevalent vision correction procedures. And therefore, you require some basic LASIK education, in order to get a clear picture of what you can expect from LASIK if you want to know whether you should do eye laser surgery.

If the light rays don't focus on the retina (light-sensing cells), the image you see is blurry. This is termed as refractive error, and may be caused due to an irregularly shaped cornea. LASIK surgery involves carving of the cornea in order to give it the perfect shape, thereby making light rays focus on the retina. LASIK surgery employs a high-precision laser, named Excimer, which is an ultraviolet chemical laser.

Scads of people have undergone LASIK, and most procedures have been successful. But as with any surgery, LASIK has associated risks and complications. However, LASIK has a relatively low complication rate, between 1% and 5%, which is among the lowest in the eye surgery field. Another trivia from the chapter on LASIK education is that LASIK may not result in perfect vision. That is, not all patients achieve a 20/20 vision.

If you suffered from myopia and have undergone LASIK as a corrective procedure, you would still require reading glasses (for near vision) in your late 40s. LASIK is an irreversible procedure, and most insurance companies do not cover LASIK surgery. Therefore, make sure that your surgery is performed by an experienced ophthalmologist. Also note that only eye MDs (ophthalmologists) are permitted to perform LASIK surgery.

Now that you are aware of the ins and outs of LASIK surgery, decision making is much easier. Have a discussion with an experienced ophthalmologist. It might be the case that you could very well forego the surgery. But if need be, LASIK is a superlative option to correct your vision.

About the Author:

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, information and views about laser eye surgery at Your Lasik Information. http://www.Your-LASIK.info Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Dry Eye After Lasik

You've heard there are risks. This is, after all, a surgery. One shouldn't expect it to be risk free. With lasik eye surgery, one of those risks is dry eye.

What's the big deal? So what if the eyes are a little dry?

Before you pay your hard earned money...

before you place your eyes under a super powerful laser...

...just know that one potential side effect is discomfort from dry eye. Sometimes, it's not just temporary.

Usually after the surgery, the symptom is pretty uncomfortable. Now, you have to remember, you can't rub or scratch your eyes. Doctors orders. In some cases it can be pretty intense.

They may feel dry, scratchy, irritating - it might not even be easy to concentrate on what you're doing.

In that healing time you'll very likely be using a special type of eye drop to ease the dryness and lubricate the eye. You'll also be wearing special goggles during sleeping.

Getting water anywhere near the eyes is a no-no. That alone changes a lot of things. Some activities that will be affected include showering, bathing, washing dishes, drinking liquids, etc.

How you do these things will all be altered so that they're done differently. Imagine sleeping with goggles on for several nights - you might not get much rest. How about showering or bathing? The details of that are probably best left to the individual. This is all a part of the sacrifice involved in getting your eyes to heal well.

Just the sitting around might be uncomfortable as well. You're not really able to do much...but rest your eyes. This can very likely cause anyone to feel powerless and become very restless. Sitting around. Sitting around. Sitting around. If you do any activities, they might be limited, however.

In many cases it gets better after that initial period of one week to one month. After using the eye drops during that time frame, one will notice that they might not be necessary as time goes on. The goggles get to go away. Now, you can resume your normal life with the exception that this time you'll be able to have better use of your vision. Many people mention that this alone is well worth the risk and the sacrifice.

It's a good idea to know what to expect.

Lasik Option Guide is a web site offering answers to questions about the lasik eye surgery. More information about the risks of lasik can be found here: http://www.lasikoptionguide.com/basicquestions/What-Are-The-Risks.html

Do It Yourself Lasik Surgery - You Be The Judge

Lasik surgery, the procedure developed by Dr. Lucio Barretto and Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris in 1991 has come a long way. From an expensive, niche eye surgery procedure that used state of the art new technology, it has now become a niche procedure that is easily available to anyone who wants it done. The simplicity and speed with which lasik surgery can be done coupled with the high precision results makes it one of the most sought-after procedures in the world today.

While the popularity has been gaining for lasik surgery, the prices have still been on the higher side, costing more than $1,000 for the procedure to be done on a single eye. This makes it still an expensive proposition, despite the many easy payment options on offer at the different clinics providing the facility. Surgeons and researchers have been constantly working to update the technology to increase the accuracy of functioning, trying and reducing the side effects, and making it generally affordable and available to all.

One such development is the Lasik-at-home system developed by Dr. Amir Khadim, M.D., Ph.D, in 2004. A pioneer in lasik surgery with over 2,000 operations to his credit at the Bennett Eye Care Institute in New York City, Dr. Khadim developed this patented procedure to make lasik surgery as easy to perform as possible.

The USP of the Lasik-at-Home system is that you can use it to do a lasik surgery yourself, in the comfort of your home! This is a big leap over the other conventional lasik procedures, which required a visit to an eye care facility. Lasik-at-Home enables you to perform a lasik procedure yourself by taking out of the equation all the extra equipment that you are confronted with at a specialized facility.

The Lasik-at-Home consists of a hand-operated laser that takes away the necessity of other secondary equipment. It has a combination femtosecond/excimer laser called the Scal-PalTM Scanning Adjusting Laparoscopic Personal Laser. The Scal-Pal is unique to Lasik-at-Home, and is manufactured by Walton Group Manufacturing. Besides this device, the other components of the kit include a mild sedative (usually diazepam 4mg), a protective sleep mask for post-operative use, No-Blink eye drops, and also a detailed Instructions and Quick Start Guide.

This is how the Lasik at Home works. The Scal-PalTM, a combination of two lasers, as mentioned above is the key to the functioning of the Lasik at Home. The femtosecond is laser of Scal-PalTM is used to cut a small flap of the cornea. Once the corneal flap has been cut, the excimer laser is used to vaporize a portion of the lens. There is no damage to the surrounding tissue during the procedure. Your lasik surgery is done, and all it took was a few minutes of your time, at your convenience, in the comfort of your home.

With Lasik-at-Home, you can do the lasik surgery yourself in a few minutes time, in a four-step process. First, you need a quiet place that has no distractions. Once you are settled in this place, open the Lasik-at-Home kit, perform the lasik surgery as per the instructions in the Instruction Guide, and then have clear vision. However, there are few things you need to follow. Most importantly, do not blink during the procedure. Also, do not train the laser unnecessarily on the eye, or attempt to use any other laser than the one that comes with the kit.

This article is for information purposes only and the author does not make recommendations on the use of any product or procedure. As always it is important to thoroughly research any non medically approved procedure and seek the advice of a qualified medical doctor before you use such a device.

About the Author:

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on the Lasik surgery.

Does Age Matter? Correcting Your Vision With Lasik Eye Surgery

It’s true that LASIK can eliminate a person’s dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses. It can correct a variety of refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. However, LASIK surgery is not for everyone. There are certain conditions that might preclude LASIK in case of a particular patient. Age is one such factor taken into account when determining whether a patient is a viable LASIK candidate or not.

It is a known fact that people experience a constant change in vision throughout adolescence and sometimes well until the mid to late 20s. That is, the refraction stabilizes typically around the age of 18. For myopic people, the benchmark is somewhere between the mid to late 20s. Undergoing LASIK prior to that age is nothing but a futile attempt to achieve enhanced visual acuity, since the patient will nevertheless require another surgery when the prescription stabilizes.

A preoperative examination conducted prior to the age of 18 might result in incorrect measurements, and consequently, an appropriate correction via LASIK. Patients suffering from a higher degree of myopia or astigmatism should defer the surgery a wee bit longer than others – normally until the age of 21 or so. In essence, you must have had a stable prescription for at least two years, and then only you should plan to undergo LASIK surgery. If you wish to go for custom LASIK, the minimum age is the same as that for conventional LASIK.

There is no upper age limit for LASIK surgery. Even a 50 or 60 year old person may opt for LASIK. The point is that LASIK can very well correct the refractive error of a myopic patient at any stage of the patient’s life, provided the patient’s eyes are otherwise healthy. That is, LASIK will impart clear distant vision to any person irrespective of the age. However, age related deterioration of the vision may still occur. For instance, almost every person suffers from presbyopia (or short arm syndrome) beyond the age of 40. Presbyopia entails the loss of accommodation power of the lens. Hence, people typically require reading glasses after the age of 40.

If you find a LASIK surgeon that you are confident about you will be able to find more information about LASIK laser eye surgery.

About the Author:

Nicola publishes articles, reports, news, views and information about LASIK eye surgery at http://www.Your-LASIK.info. LASIK Surgeons Directory http://www.find-lasik-surgeon.com is a useful resource. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info

Do I Really Need Lasik Eye Surgery?

The cornea is a part of the eye that helps focus light to create an image on the retina. It works in much the same way that the lens of a camera focuses light to create an image on film. The bending and focusing of light is also known as refraction. Usually the shape of the cornea and the eye are not perfect and the image on the retina is out-of-focus (blurred) or distorted.

These imperfections in the focusing power of the eye are called refractive errors. There are three primary types of refractive errors: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Persons with myopia, or nearsightedness, have more difficulty seeing distant objects as clearly as near objects. Persons with hyperopia, or farsightedness, have more difficulty seeing near objects as clearly as distant objects.

Astigmatism is a distortion of the image on the retina caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens of the eye. Combinations of myopia and astigmatism or hyperopia and astigmatism are common. Glasses or contact lenses are designed to compensate for the eye's imperfections. Surgical procedures aimed at improving the focusing power of the eye are called refractive surgery.

In LASIK surgery, precise and controlled removal of corneal tissue by a special laser reshapes the cornea changing its focusing power.

Most patients are very pleased with the results of their refractive surgery. However, like any other medical procedure, there are risks involved. That's why it is important for you to understand the limitations and possible complications of refractive surgery.

Before undergoing a refractive procedure, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits based on your own personal value system, and try to avoid being influenced by friends that have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so.

It is important for you to read the patient handbook provided to your doctor by the manufacturer of the device used to perform the refractive procedure. Your doctor should provide you with this handbook and be willing to discuss his/her outcomes.

About the Author:

LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive Eye Surgery procedure. Find out more about Eye Surgery at http://EyeSurgery.ewhy.info

Defining Lasik Eye Surgery - How It Works

LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery intended to reduce a patient’s dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK is the most prevalent of all refractive surgery types. LASIK aims to reshape the cornea in order to allow for accurate refraction, which results in the light rays falling exactly on the retina (a series of light sensing cells). This enables crystal clear vision.

In general, common refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are caused due to the irregularities of the corneal surface. These anomalies can be corrected by reshaping the cornea. LASIK procedure makes use of an advanced laser called excimer, which is an ultraviolet chemical laser. The laser is controlled by sophisticated computer software. The computer-controlled sensors measure the eye position a few thousand times per second, and then redirect the laser to make precise incisions in the cornea. The reshaped cornea allows for the desired refraction and therefore results in enhanced visual acuity.

Conventional LASIK procedure makes use of a microkeratome, a diminutive surgical blade, to cut a flap in the corneal surface. However, variations of the traditional LASIK procedure may employ a laser to accomplish the same. Whatever may be the procedure to cut the flap, after it’s done, the excimer laser is used for precise ablation of the stroma – the middle layer of the cornea. The flap is then folded back so as to act as a natural bandage. The cornea may take a few days to heal. During this period, the patient may experience blurry vision and certain minor side-effects like halos or glare. However, these complications normally subside within a few days or weeks, when the cornea has completely healed.

Other common types of surgery, apart from traditional LASIK, are photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), radial keratotomy (RK), and LASEK. There is also a rather new procedure and it can be considered as an enhancement of the traditional LASIK procedure. It is called custom LASIK or wavefront-guided LASIK. It is a more advanced procedure and is capable of treating other vision impairments as well, apart from the common vision disorders specified above.

About the Author:

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and provides news, views and information about laser eye surgery at http://www.Your-LASIK.info. The LASIK Surgeons Directory http://www.find-lasik-surgeon.com is a useful resource. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. Copyright http://Your-LASIK.info