Los Angeles Lasik: Contact Lenses And Your Eyes

Throughout Los Angeles, lasik eye surgery is offered by skilled surgeons that provide detailed care for your eyes. When your eyes are developing, the cornea of your eye can develop in the wrong shape. Just being slightly extended can cause you to lose some vision in your eyes where others would have perfect vision. Each person has their own level of difficulty with this, but your doctor will work with you to alter the shape of your eye using lasik so that your eye’s can ultimately improve to better vision. One thing that you will want to learn about though, is the role that contact lenses play in lasik surgery.

Although there are many ideal locations and surgeons that can provide some pretty complex procedures in Los Angeles, lasik eye surgery does require you to do a few things for yourself. For starters, you need to stop wearing your contact lenses at least a few days, preferably longer, before you talk with your doctor about lasik. Contact lenses can change the shape of your eyes which means that your doctor can not provide you with a clear diagnosis until they have come back from this shape.

If you wear hard contact lenses, you need to keep them out of your eyes at least four full weeks before having your evaluation. For those that have toric soft lenses or RGP contacts, at least three weeks is advisable. If you wear soft contact lenses, you still need to remove them and keep them out for at least two weeks prior to being screened. If you don’t do this, your doctor can not get an accurate measurement and therefore can’t do as successful of a procedure on you.

When you meet with your Los Angeles lasik professional, they will instruct you on the specifics for your case. Take a few minutes and ask about contact lens usage.

About the Author:

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

Perfect Vision Without Contact Lenses Or Lasik - A Dream Or Reality?

If you want to have good vision without wearing glasses or contact lenses, but are unsure about lasik, there is another alternative - you can wear contacts only at night and see well all the next day. Find out about the pros and cons of this solution and decide if it could work for you.
How does it work?
The method we are talking about is called orthokeratology, which means that contact lenses are used to reshape your cornea, while you sleep, so you can see well during the following day.
Shortsightedness is caused when the light coming into your eye doesn't focus properly on the retina, because your cornea is not quite the right shape. Normally the problem is corrected with glasses or daily wear contact lenses. However, the same result can be achieved by reshaping your cornea either permanently, with lasik surgery, or temporarily with cornea reshaping contact lenses.
Orthokeratology lenses only give a temporarily effect - about 18-20 hours. So to see well every day you have to wear them every night. It usually takes about 2 weeks for your vision to improve, after you start wearing cornea reshaping contact lenses,.
Could orthokeratology work for you?
It is important to understand that not all vision problems can be corrected by cornea reshaping lenses. It only works for myopia (shortsightedness) for up to -6 and astigmatism for up to -1.75. If your prescription is higher, cornea reshaping lenses won't work for you. They also don't work for people with hyperopia (longsightedness).
Orthokeratology lenses suit people who don't like wearing glasses or contact lenses during the day. If you have dry eyes, work in a dusty environment or simply feel discomfort by the end of the day of wearing ordinary contacts, cornea reshaping contact lenses could be a solution for you.
Compare cornea reshaping contact lenses and common contact lenses
Orthokeratology lens advantages:
You don't have to fuss over putting in your lenses, in the morning
You can see well all day long. Most soft contact lenses are recommended for wear up to 12 hours, while people usually need their vision 16-18 hours a day
No eye dryness or other discomfort usually caused by contact lenses during the day. Especially suited for people who suffer from dry eyes
Disadvantages:
The lenses used in orthokeratology are Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contacts and some people find them uncomfortable. Most contact lenses that patients wear during the day are soft contacts
Fitting orthokeratology contact lenses requires special skills. Also you will have to visit your doctor several times. As a result, this solution costs more than if you wore daily wear contacts.
If you are tired of your usual contacts and are thinking about lasik, also consider cornea reshaping contacts. The effect is similar but, unlike lasik surgery, orthokeratology contacts are absolutely safe because the effect they produce is temporary.
About the Author:

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of Contact Lenses Consumer Guide. Check http://www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/ for reviews of healthy contact lenses

Overcoming Eye Phobia For Lasik Surgery

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it could be that you are completely bored of putting them on every morning. It could be that you have started with another accessory – a chain round your neck for your glasses as you are in the habit of constantly misplacing them. The worst of all is when you are fed up of ‘wearing your eyes’ to see anything ! if you are in agreement with one or more of the statements mentioned here, it is high time that you tried an option which takes care of most of your problems. Do away with glasses or contact lenses. Go for Lasik surgery – a brand new technology which can repair your eyes surgically. There are many whose vision was restored to the 20/20 level. There are more who have had even better results.
But the sheer thought of a doctor focusing a laser beam into the eye and blinding it permanently is surely a scary thought. But getting properly educated on Lasik Surgery could eliminate many of the fears. One of the proven ways to overcome this phobia is to watch a Lasik surgery done on someone else. If this also does not help, contact your eye doctor who can refer you to a clinical psychologist, who can help.
Most doctors allow prospective patients to sit and watch a Lasik surgery done to another patient. Either it is video taped which you can watch or you may like to sit and watch the procedure live, of course with the patients’ consent. Once you experience the simplicity, painlessness and the convenience of the whole surgical process, you may feel comforted. More over, you may ask the patient questions like, what it felt when the surgery was in progress, how it feels now or any other questions you may have.
Information is power. So true in this case. The more information you gather, the more you learn about the pros and cons of lasik surgery the more equipped you are to face the surgical procedure, when it happens to you. Intensive and extensive knowledge about lasik surgery can put you at ease and prepare you to face the situation. Watching it happen to others is a wonderful way to learn. With eyes open all the time, the procedure is carried out – yet you cant see a thing because your head and eyes are kept fixed in one position. If this is scary news to you, watch it happen to some one else. It will put you at ease.
In case witnessing a surgery done on some one else is not quite your cup of tea, you can try getting a psychological counseling. Professional psychologists can cure any phobia. Some try it with hypnosis, some with visual aids to get the fear out of your system. And they do this pretty fast. If you think a good psychologist is expensive, you could try another method to overcome fear. Try meditation.
Meditation helps in soothing and calming the mind and body. It can help you lose weight, give you relief from stress and anxieties and help you overcome phobias. Once you know enough about lasik surgery, you could do some research on meditation and see how meditation helps in soothing battered nerves. “Meditation for Dummies” is a good book which teaches you a lot about mediation, the techniques and also what you can expect from it.
While all these are good ways to get fear out of your system, it could well be that you need a combination of several of these. Only you can tell, what is good for you to get over your phobias. But if you overcome your phobias and get the surgery done, you will be the one who will have the last smile. Because you would have got a better quality of life post-surgery.
The most important thing to remember is that if you don’t get over your fear you will be wearing glasses for ever (and keep on losing them also). Hopefully this should give you the right motivation to go ahead and kill that fear bug inside you.
About the Author:

Peter Rankin is a staff writer at Vision Digest and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Wellness Digest.

LASIK Surgery - Terms You Should Know

Here are some interesting LASIK eye surgery terminology and facts. If you are planning on having this type of surgery it is always good to familiarize yourself with it and the lingo.

Dr. Jose Barraquer from Colombia in 1970 was the first person to develop the Microkeratome, an instrument that could cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape. He is ultimately the one who made this type of corrective eye surgery possible.

This type of surgery is very safe and painless. Patients experience very little pain and usually fully recover within 24 hours. Their vision is noticeably improved as soon as the surgical procedure is finished. Patients are awake during the procedure and do go temperately blind while their cornea is being worked on. This sometimes frightens patients but only lasts for a short period of time.

Here are some terms for your interest.

Laser-assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a form of refractive laser eye surgery. This type of procedure is performed by an Ophthalmologist and is designed to help correct vision.

Microkeratome - A Microkeratome is a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in LASIK or ALK surgery

Eye Surgery - Ophthalmic surgery or ocular surgery, a surgical procedure performed on the eye or its adnexa.

Adnexa - Appendages of an organ.

Refractive - The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density. It is also the ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina, allowing the image to be sent to the brain for processing.

In Situ - In situ is a Latin phrase used in many different contexts and means 'in place'.

Keratomileusis - A procedure for the correction of the refraction of the cornea by removing a deep corneal lamella, freezing it, forming it to a new curvature, and then replacing it.

Ophthalmologist - A physician who specializes in ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology - Branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the eye.

Isn’t medical technology amazing? Just knowing that if you were born with bad eyes that you can go spend a few thousand dollars and transform your sub-par vision into perfect 20/20 should bring some ease to your life. To your heath and to your life – farewell!

About the Author:

The author makes a living in the field of research and if you have found this article useful, try clicking on his specialist resource site, http://www.lasikeyeinfo.info . For other more general information on this topic, try this site http://www.instant-knowledge.com .

Lasik Eye Surgery - New York’s Contribution To Eye Care

In the case of lasik eye surgery, New York is the place to be. This is because the Big Apple has the most number of lasik procedures performed. It is not too difficult to fathom why this is the case: most people of New York pride themselves when it comes to health and fitness. While this is not to say that the people from other parts of America are not as keen about their health and fitness, it goes without saying that there is something about New Yorkers that places them apart from the rest.

When I say that for lasik eye surgery, New York is the place to be, what are the implications? The implications are quite simple, really. It means that there are more number of lasik facilities available here, and therefore, more choice of facilities and more chances of getting the best care. There are quite a few renowned optometrists who have their practice in New York.

It is easy to assume that since more facilities means more competition, for lasik eye surgery, New York could be the place to go. However, this is not always so. Compared to other states, the prices could be higher in New York. However, this oddity is only because the cost of living in New York is higher than that in other cities. Even then, a thorough search and you could still find a place where you will get good treatment at an affordable price.

Leaving price aside, for lasik eye surgery, New York is the place where you will find the best surgeons. Whichever part of New York you live in, you will find a clinic nearby that provides lasik surgery. To find out where in New York you can get lasik eye surgery done, all you have to do is access the Internet and put a search for ‘lasik eye surgery New York.’ The search engine will give you a whole list of facilities that perform lasik surgery.

On the Internet, searching for ‘lasik eye surgery New York’ will also give you, along with the names and URLs of the clinics, the other relevant details, such as the price of the procedure, any special offers available, background information regarding the facility itself, the location of the facility, and a whole lot of other assorted details.

So how do you figure out which facility is the best for lasik eye surgery in New York? As mentioned earlier, you could search the Internet, but the thing about that is all the websites would obviously project their facility as being the best. One good way is taking the opinion of patients who have been to a particular facility. They can give you the best feedback on whether the facility is as good as it claims to be.

Another way to find out which facility is the best for lasik eye surgery in New York is to go through the ratings and reviews the different facilities have been given by medical journals, the FTC, the newspapers, and the media in general. If there is a facility you think is good, find out if there is any history to it. Get detailed information and then make a decision on which facility to opt for. As mentioned earlier, for lasik eye surgery, New York has a large number of facilities, but it is always safer to go the best ones, so you are guaranteed the best procedure and care.

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 in New York.

Lasik Surgery - Seeing The World Like You Once Did

More and more people with vision problems are turning to LASIK to correct their vision. LASIK, which stands for Laser In Situ Keratomileusis is generally a safe, reliable and painless way to improve vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. Thanks to new advances in laser technology, LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive surgery procedure that is used to correct refractive errors in the eye, such as moderate to high degrees of myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, and astigmatism or distorted vision.

LASIK helps change the shape of the cornea with the use of excimer laser. The knife that is used in the operation to remove a flap in the cornea is called microkeratome. There are several techniques that are employed to reshape the cornea. After the laser has reshaped the cornea, the flap is repositioned over the treatment area by the surgeon.

There are several advantages to this procedure:
* LASIK is considered as one of the greatest ophthalmologic breakthroughs in recent times. Many eye surgeons believe that even the most complicated refractive errors can be treated with the help of LASIK. This is a relatively simple procedure that allows a patient to go home right away after the operation and ensures a renewed vision within a week.

* LASIK is an almost painless procedure with the use of anesthesia to the eye and the cornea. A very small number of patients have complained of little discomfort during surgery, much like a "scratchy feeling." After the effect of anesthetic wears off, there is a varying degree of discomfort among the patients. But even if there is any irritation, it is usually minor and does not last beyond a few hours. However your eyes may be very sensitive to light for a few days.

* As LASIK is a relatively simple procedure, it can be performed at the clinic, instead of at a hospital. Most laser treatments do not take more than 15 to 40 seconds, depending on the degree of correction required. Recovery time is also minimal, and most patients are able to go back home after 30 minutes. Within 3 to 5 days following LASIK treatment, you will notice a dramatic improvement in your vision.

* LASIK treatment of your vision is more or less permanent. With age however some degree of re-treatment may become necessary.

Thus LASIK is a safe way of correcting your vision. So take advantage of this advancement in ophthalmology and start seeing the world like you once did with your new vision.

About the Author:

Tired of glasses? Get more info on LASIK at lasikcorrections.info.

Lasik Surgery

Lasik surgery is a procedure that is designed to reduce an individual’s dependency on the use of contact lenses or glasses. Lasik, which is the abbreviation for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a procedure that is designed to permanently change the shape of the cornea and the clear covering of the front of the eye with the use of an excimer laser.

While many patients are pleased with the results of Lasik surgery, the procedure does carry certain risks as does any medical procedure. It is important that patients know and understand these risks prior to undergoing Lasik surgery. Among the most common risks that are possible are loss of vision, debilitating visual problems, the continuing need for glasses, the development of severe dry eye syndrome, diminishing results in farsighted patients, etc.

Once the decision is made to move forward with Lasik surgery, patients need to know what to expect before, during and after the procedure. The particulars will vary depending on both the patient’s condition and the physician’s policy. Prior to having Lasik surgery, patients will require an initial or baseline evaluation from their eye doctor in order to determine whether or not they are a good candidate for the procedure. During this consultation, patients must inform the doctor of any past or present medical eye conditions, any/all medications they are currently taking and any medications that he/she may be allergic to.

If the patient is determined to be a good candidate for Lasik surgery, the physician will begin to explain the various risks, benefits and possible surgical alternatives. In addition, they will discuss the patient’s responsibilities before, during and after the procedure. During this discussion, patients should take the opportunity to ask any questions that they have regarding Lasik surgery. This is very important for every patient and must be done before signing the consent form.

The actual Lasik surgery, in most standard cases, will not take longer than 30 minutes. During the surgery, the patient will be reclined in a position for the laser to be placed above their eye. When in the correct position, the doctor will start the laser. Once the process is complete, a covering will be placed on the eye to protect it from exposure to light and everyday elements. Because stitches are not used after the surgery, this covering will need to remain in place until the doctor recommends otherwise.

Following the surgery, patients may notice a discomfort in their eye. If the pain becomes unbearable, physicians may prescribe a mild pain reliever. Most doctors recommend a followup visit within 24-48 hours following the surgery and at regular intervals or until such time as they deem the eye to be healed properly.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional medical advice regarding Lasik surgery. Individuals must consult a physician for a proper diagnosis and recommendation for any eye-related procedure.

About the Author:

The author is a regular contributor to Laser Surgery Tips where more information about Lasik Surgery is available.

Lasik Surgery - How The Excimer Laser Works

The Excimer laser is a form of ultraviolet chemical laser, and is the key element that has made laser eye surgery possible. Though Excimer laser was originally used in semiconductor manufacturing in the 1970s, its use in eye surgery is now fairly widespread. While working at the IBM research laboratories in 1982, Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasin and his research team discovered the potential of the Excimer laser in interacting with biological tissue. An ophthalmologist, Dr. Steven Trokel, explained its connection with the corneal tissue. And this was how LASIK eye surgery came into existence.

There are several types of lasers, but excimer is the preferred choice when it comes to corrective eye surgery. This is due to the fact that excimer is the most technologically advanced laser type. The excimer laser is, literally, a cool laser. That is, it precisely removes the desired part of the corneal tissue, without heating up or damaging the adjacent tissue. Quite amazingly, the excimer laser is so precise that it is capable of removing 0.5% of a human hair’s width at a time. That fact itself is enough for patients to believe that excimer-assisted eye surgery is not a gimmick, but a true technology leveraged procedure.

With the computer technology at its disposal and the precision offered by the laser, LASIK surgery has emerged as the number one choice for patients with refractive error. Since the excimer laser emits cool, minute beams that make precise incisions on the surface of the cornea, a dedicated technician operates the machine while the ophthalmologist performs the surgery.

Your eyes are your window to the world and your sight is the most important of the five senses. Hence, it is all the more imperative that, if need be, you go for an eye surgery that is reliable and has minimal side effects. With the high-precision technology of the excimer laser and the overall reliability of the procedure, LASIK is the most prevalent of corrective eye surgeries.

About the Author:

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles, reports and provides news, information and views about Lasik Eye Surgery and the background of 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 remain intact.

Lasik Surgery: A Closer Look

LASIK surgery has become common enough that most people have not only heard of it; most people know someone who has had a LASIK surgery procedure performed. But, in spite of its growing acceptance, three are not a lot of people outside the medical profession who understand what LASIK surgery is.

LASIK surgery has often been promoted as an instant fix for eye defects. While it is a very fast procedure, usually taking less than a minute for each eye, LASIK surgery can sometimes require half an hour to properly correct the defects in an eye. As with all medical procedures, the length of LASIK surgery will depend on the visual problem being treated and the variety of LASIK surgery being done.

LASIK Surgery Is Still Surgery

Perhaps because of the short duration of most LASIK surgery, some people tend to regard LASIK surgery as a minor medical procedure, like having stitches removed. But that is a very misguided perception; LASIK surgery is real surgery, and it is being done on your eyes. You probably value your eyes tremendously, and if you are considering any sort of optical procedure will be giving it a long hard look.

What does LASIK surgery really do?

The cornea of your eye, although it is only half a millimeter thick, has five distinct layers. They are, from the outside in, the epithelium; Bowman’ membrane; the stroma; Descernet’s membrane; and the endothelium. LASIK surgery will clean the cornea, which is responsible for light refraction. Poor light refraction results in poor vision.

LASIK surgery cleans the cornea by cutting into its different layers. The overwhelming majority of LASIK procedures will cut no deeper than the stroma; but the type of LASIK surgery appropriate for you, and the depth of the incision, will depend on the nature of your corneal defects

Over time, extra tissue will accumulate in or beneath the cornea. This extra tissue may be referred to as anything from wrinkles, fissures .and bump to, simply, thickening of tissue. The presence of this tissue, whatever its name, will alter the shape of the cornea, impeding its ability to refract light. But you experience the extra tissue as near or far sightedness, or astigmatism. LASIK surgery is designed to “ablate,” or clean, the extra tissue from the cornea, allowing it to revert to its natural healthy state.

Everyone who has near or farsightedness knows what it means. But not many people can accurately describe astigmatism. Astigmatisms also affect the corneal light refraction, but they cause visuals symptoms like starbursts, haloes, decreased night vision, and ghost images.

During LASIK surgery the doctor will focus on the area of the cornea which needs ablating, and vaporize the extra tissue with a laser, broad beam lasers are preferred for the procedure because they can apply a strong light beam over an area of between six and eight millimeters, and can be used very close to corneal tissue.

It’s A Medical Procedure, Not A Miracle

The entire point of LASIK surgery is to return the cornea to as close to a normal shape as possible, improving its light refraction and therefore, your vision. Although LASIK surgery is certainly capable of producing what seem to be instant cures, bordering on the miraculous, it is also capable of causing complications, and not completely getting the job done. For more info see http://www.2020lasikeyesurgery.com/Articles/Lasik_Eye_Surgery_Risks.php on Lasik Eye Surgery Risks.

Those past the age of forty who undergo LASIK surgery may still find that they require eyeglasses for reading. If you are thinking about LASIK surgery as the solution for your bad eyesight, be sure to do your homework and get a solid understanding of what it entails before committing to a procedure.

About the Author:

You can also find more info on Lasik Eye Surgery Canada and Lasik Eye Surgery Price.