Lasik Eye Correction

Lasik laser eye correction is a form of refractive surgery. The word lasik is the short term for "Laser assisted in situ kerotomileusis".

Lasik correction is a surgery that changes the shape of the cornea to correct hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism eliminating the need for glasses and contact lenses. People with myopia or near sightedness see things clearer when they are close as opposed to far objects. People with hyperopia or far sightedness have trouble seeing near objects as clearly as far objects. Astigmatism is when the image in the retina is distorted, this is caused by an abnormal shape of the cornea.

Lasik eye surgeons correct the refractive error by using a knife called a microkeratome to cut a thin c shaped flap in the cornea. The flap is then folded back exposing the stroma which is the center of the cornea. Pulse from an excimer laser uses an ultra violet beam to remove part of the stroma giving a normal shape to the cornea. The flap is then replaced.

The cornea is the thin layer of skin in the front of the eye. Its job is to help focus light to create an image on the retina. This is known as refraction. When the cornea becomes out of shape it creates an out of focus, blurred or distorted image called refractive errors.

Lasik eye correction is relatively pain free and improved vision is usually obtained by the next day. Making it a very safe and popular option for better vision. Nearly 99% of people having lasik eye corrective surgery done will experience 20/40 vision or better. This is enough to obtain a drivers license without any restriction. Over 90% of the surgery will result in a 20/20 vision.

Some patients may need to repeat the surgery if the eye becomes near sighted or far sighted again but it is a very small percentage as with today's doctor screening, the chances for complications are limited.

About the Author:

Is Lasik Eye Surgery for you. Find out all you need to know including the risk, the cost and your eligibility at http://www.ask-med.com/lasiklaser.html

Lasik - Simple Procedure Or Serious Surgery?

Are you considering lasik surgery to improve your vision? Then you owe it to yourself to find out exactly what happens during lasik before you commit yourself to the procedure.

Lasik is a relatively simple and fast procedure. The entire surgery takes about 30 minutes, during which you will be lying on your back in the room containing the laser system. The laser system is a machine with a computer screen and a microscope attached to it.

Whether you have shortsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism the cause is the same - your cornea is not a perfect shape. The goal of the lasik surgery is to reshape (polish) your cornea so the light going through it focuses better on your retina.

The surgeon can't use a general anesthetic because you have to remain conscious, throughout, and be able to look directly at the laser. However, anesthetic drops are used for your eyes, so you will not feel any pain - only some pressure and a little discomfort. You will be able to see during the entire procedure, although your vision might blur or flicker, for a few moments.

Lasik surgery can be separated into 6 steps

First of all the surgeon will drop a few numbing drops into your eye and clean the area around it. Then your eyelids will be propped open.

Before the laser can start its work, the surgeon will need to cut a flap in your cornea. This could be done with either a laser or with microkeratome - a special cutting instrument. It might sound scary, but don't worry: you won't feel the cutting.

After that, the laser will be positioned over your eye and you will have to look directly at it for about 60 seconds. The reshaping has not started yet, but your eye needs to get used to being focused on the light.

When your eye is in the perfect position, the laser will start its work. The laser is controlled by a computer, which is preprogrammed by the surgeon to remove a specific amount of corneal tissue.

After your cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back on it place.

Stitches won't be used to keep the flap in place; instead, doctors use a special protective shield to hold it. The shield will protect your eye from being touched accidentally.

That's it! Usually you can go home straight after the procedure, but you will have to organize a lift for yourself because you might feel a bit dizzy and your vision will be blurred, at first; obviously you shouldn't drive, under these conditions. The improvement in vision is usually noticable the same day, or by the following morning, at the latest.

Straight after lasik surgery you might feel some discomfort, like there is something in your eye. The most difficult thing is to resist the urge to rub your eyes, but you mustn't touch them until the flap is healed.

There are also several restrictions, after the surgery. You shouldn't use any eye make-up for two weeks, play any sports for four weeks, or swim or take a hot bath for two months. Also you will have to come in for a follow up visit within 48 hours after the surgery, plus a few more visits during the following six months.

About the Author:

Tanya Turner is an eye health and vision expert. She provides consumer information, tips and advice about lasik surgery at http://www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/lasik-surgery.html

Lasik Replaces Eye Glasses!

LASIK is a surgical procedure that can reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The procedure permanently changes the shape of the cornea (the delicate clear covering on the front of the eye). For clear vision, the eye's cornea and lens must bend (refract) light rays properly, so that images are focused on the retina. If the light rays aren't clearly focused on the retina, the images you see are blurry.

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser.

What is the real difference between conventional Laser Eye Surgery and Custom LASIK Eye Surgery?

Conventional Laser Eye Surgery

Conventional Laser Eye Surgery treats the vast majority of common optical aberrations called "lower order" aberrations. These are responsible for causing nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Custom LASIK Eye Surgery provides a more precise treatment for patients who have "higher order" aberrations, which we can now measure with the Aberrometer. For these patients, customized laser eye surgery may provide a better quality of vision by measuring and addressing all of these aberrations as part of the treatment plan.

During LASIK surgery, a small incision is made in the cornea to create a flap. Then, a laser beam works within the cornea to reshape it for vision correction. After the reshaping, the flap is put back into place and serves as a sort of natural bandage.

Will I Need Reading Glasses After the Treatment?

Generally, patients under 40 years of age read well without glasses following the treatment. Patients over 40 may need magnification for reading fine print.

Presbyopia is the term that refers to the natural weakening of the focusing muscles that occurs in our early to mid 40s, causing us to need the magnification that reading glasses provide. The LASIK treatment does not correct or prevent presbyopia. We also will be glad to discuss another option called monovision.

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

Lasik: Dallas Expectations

When considering lasik, Dallas area residents have a lot to think about. There are countless opportunities for you to find the results you are after with many qualified lasik eye surgeons in this area. Yet, the process of having lasik is quite unique and often relies on the aspects that you set forth. For most patients, the need for this surgery is one that seems simple and an easy decision. You should know, though, that there are countless opportunities but still some risks involved. One thing to consider is what has to happen before your can have lasik done.

One thing to realize is that you can’t wear contact lenses for an extended period of time before having your evaluation and surgery done. This extended time could be just days or it could be weeks. Do you have glasses that can be worn or do you have the ability to see well enough to go without?

In addition to this, the exam itself will be thorough. You will need to schedule a separate appointment in which your lasik eye surgeon will examine your eyes in depth. They will then work on developing your diagnosis doing a number of tests to determine what needs to be done for you. The exam will take about an hour but because of the testing that is required, you should plan on having someone take you and pick you up because you won’t be able to drive afterwards. You may not be able to work that day either.

Learning what to expect is essential when it comes to lasik. Dallas area residents can often find many rewards by simply investing the time in talking with their doctors about what their pre-operative care will be. Having all of your expectations in line for lasik is essential to having a successful experience.

About the Author:

For more observations about laser eye surgery from Frank, click the link.

Los Angeles Lasik Eye Surgery: Understand It

Throughout Los Angeles, lasik eye surgery is a fast growing procedure that more and more people are attempting. The rewards are quite outstanding. If it goes well, you may not have a need for using glasses or contact lenses again. There are some risks that are involved and that is something that needs to be carefully considered if you are to insure you are making the right decision. But, in Los Angeles, lasik eye surgery specialists have the skills and the training to help make sure that you get the help you need.

First off, the training of a lasik eye surgeon is specific. There are actually several types of lasers that can be used in this procedure so your doctor will need to have specific training with the use of his or her types of laser mechanism. In addition, your doctor will need to have training that happens as a continuous thing. For example, every few years it may be important for them to secure the latest procedures and training techniques for this type of procedure.

But, training is not everything. When you walk into a Los Angeles lasik eye surgery center, you want to know that the doctor that you’ll be talking to is skilled in providing the necessary care to you. You want to know that the lasik eye surgeon is able to provide you with the procedure at the highest quality level. To know that, you need to look at his experience, both good and bad, and weigh your decisions based on those facts.

You can learn a lot about the surgeon that will be working on you. Look for reviews of the company on the web. Or, visit the website of the Better Business Bureau to see complaints that may have been filed against the. Even better is to look at the state’s medical board website where you’ll find information about your lasik eye surgery specialist.

About the Author:

For more observations about laser eye surgery from Frank, click the link.

Lasik: After The SurgeryLasik: After The Surgery

If you're reading this chances are you are trying to decide if Lasik eye corrective surgery is right for you. The report will provide you with enough information to make an informed decision.

What can go Wrong?

Early Postoperative Complications

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a common and minor post-Lasik complication. The incidence of refractive surgery patients having unresolved complications six months after surgery has been estimated from 3% to 6%. The following are some of the more frequently reported complications of Lasik:

* Dry eyes
* Overcorrection or undercorrection
* Visual acuity fluctuation
* Halos or starbursts around light sources at night
* Light sensitivity
* Ghosts or double vision
* Wrinkles in flap (striae)
* Decentered ablation
* Debris or growth under flap
* Thin or buttonhole flap
* Induced astigmatism
* Epithelium erosion
* Posterior vitreous detachment
* Macular hole

Late Postoperative Complications
The incidence of epithelial ingrowth has been estimated at 0.1%.

Glare is another commonly reportedly complication of those who have had Lasik . Halos or starbursts around bright lights at night are caused by the irregularity between the lasered part and the untouched part. It is not practical to perform the surgery so that it covers the width of the pupil at full dilation at night, and the pupil may expand so that light passes through the edge of the flap into the pupil.

In daytime, the pupil is smaller than the edge. Newer equipment is available to properly treat those with large pupils, and responsible physicians will check for them during examination.

Safety and Efficacy
The reported figures for safety and efficacy are open to interpretation. In 2003, the Medical Defence Union (MDU), the largest insurer for doctors in the United Kingdom, reported a 166% increase in claims involving laser eye surgery; however, the MDU averred that these claims resulted primarily from patients' “unrealistic expectations” of Lasik rather than “faulty surgery”.

A 2003 study reported in the medical journal Ophthalmology found that nearly 18% of treated patients and 12% of treated eyes needed retreatment. The authors concluded that “higher initial corrections, astigmatism, and older age are risk factors for Lasik retreatment.”

In 2004, the British National Health Service's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) considered a systematic review of four randomized controlled trials before issuing guidance for the use of Lasik within the NHS.

Regarding the procedure's efficacy, NICE reported, "Current evidence on Lasik for the treatment of refractive errors suggests that it is effective in selected patients with mild or moderate short-sightedness" but that "evidence is weaker for its effectiveness in severe short-sightedness and long- sightedness."

Regarding the procedure's safety, NICE reported that "there are concerns about the procedure's safety in the long term and current evidence does not appear adequate to support its use within the NHS without special arrangements for consent and for audit or research." Leading refractive surgeons in the United Kingdom and United States, including at least one author of a study cited in the report, believe NICE relied on information that is severely dated and weakly researched.

Satisfaction
Various surveys have been performed to determine patient satisfaction with Lasik.

According to a 2005 survey, 92.2% of patients reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their surgery.

About the Author:

This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more lasik resources at lasik-report.info