Archive for August, 2006

Lasik vision correction surgery is a popular option for those with moderate to low vision problems and would like to help their eyesight. Most Lasik patients who have the Lasik procedure do have favorable outcomes. While the healing and recovery times after having Lasik is relatively fast, there are side effects that potential patients should be aware of before have the procedure. While Lasik does help many, Lasik’s not perfect; there are side effects you can anticipate.
Most surgeons who perform the Lasik procedure feel that patient education is one of the most important aspects of the surgery. Much dissatisfaction with the surgery can be solved by proper education prior to the surgery. That education includes informing patients of any and all side effects of the procedure. Most patients that have this surgery only have low to moderate side effects that only last a few hours to a couple of days. There are side effects however, that can linger for months. Before having Lasik surgery, it is important to understand all of the possible side effects.
Minor side effects that most patients report after surgery include blurred vision, light sensitivity and dry eye. Most of these side effects only last for a short period of time or until the eye heals. The surgeon may instruct patients to limit night driving because of blurred vision or halos around lit objects during the night. Also, patients are usually advised to wear good sunglasses when exposed to sunlight. This will help cut down on the sensitivity to light. Also, a prescription is usually given to patients to help the feeling of dry eye. In addition, eye shield are recommended for patients to wear while sleeping to help prevent scratching or possible damage to the eye after surgery. Not rubbing the eyes will also help the side effects.

Some side effects from Lasik surgery can be more severe and can last more than a few days. These can include needing a second “enhancement” or “retouch” surgery, lost vision or worsened vision, reduced low-light vision, infection and severe dry eye syndrome. You doctor should fully discuss the risks and complications before you consent to surgery.

Infection: Infection is the most common side effect of the Lasik surgery. Following basic surgery instructions can lower the risks of infection. Patients are usually asked to not wear any make up or facial creams or lotions for at least three days prior to surgery. Also, perfumes and cologne should not be worn on the day of the surgery. These all can cause contaminants and can increase the risk of infection in the eye. Also, most Lasik surgeons will cancel the surgery if make up or lotions are on the face on the day of the surgery.

Enhancement surgery: Some Lasik patients may require a second Lasik procedure a few months after the initial surgery. These are often called “enhancement surgeries” or “retouching”. Sometimes if the surgery is “undercorrected”, a second surgery will be required. “Overcorrection” means that the patient will need to wear some sort of glasses or contacts for a little while after the initial surgery. Before a second procedure is performed, the surgeon will usually wait three to six months and will carefully monitor the recovery process.

Lost of vision or reduced Vision: Sometimes, in vary rare cases, Lasik patients can have a loss of vision or reduced vision after the procedure. Is it estimated that three percent of all Lasik patients report this outcome. Often, these complications do correct themselves, but could take several months.

Reduced low-light vision: Having difficult seeing at night is a fairly common side effect of Lasik. This also usually corrects itself after a period of time. After surgery, some patient report seeing “halos” around lights at nighttime. Typically, patients report that this condition is present for about three to four days after surgery. In rare circumstances, poor night vision can last as long as six months before clearing.
Severe dry eye: Dry eye is when the eye needs more moisture. This is also a common, side effect or complication of the Lasik procedure. For people who suffer chronically from dry eye, it is not recommended that they have Lasik. For other people, dry eye can affect them for several days, sometimes months after the procedure. To help dry eye, eye drops are given to the patient.

The lasers used in Lasik eye surgery represent some of the most astounding creations in technology! The marvels of modern medicine are truly at work with these lasers, which have helped millions of people see better.
Excimer lasers are created for the specific purpose of performing Lasik eye surgery. Not all lasers, however, are created equally. The FDA has approved each type of laser, but, for a select few patients, some lasers are better than others. The greatest difference between most of these lasers is the way they deliver the beam to the eye and track the eye’s movement.
There are two broad categories of lasers, broad beam and scanning. Within the scanning categories, there are two subcategories: slit scanning and spot scanning.
Broad-Beam Lasers
Broad-beam lasers utilize a somewhat large beam diameter, ranging from 6 to 8 millimeters, to cut the cornea. Use of these lasers generally shortens the amount of time necessary to complete the procedure. These lasers also reduce the risk of overcorrection due to pupil movement. The larger diameter of these beams used to make the likelihood of complications more likely, but improved technique and creation of these lasers has virtually eliminated this risk.
Slit Scanning Lasers
Slit scanning lasers use a smaller bean to perform the Lasik procedure. The beam is linked to a rotational device, which has slit holes to enlarge the area to be cut. This accomplished by the beams scanning across the holes. Slit scanning lasers provide a more uniform beam and can create smoother cuts than broad-beam lasers. There is, however, a slightly greater chance of overcorrection with a slit scanning laser.
Spot Scanning Lasers
Spot scanning lasers are also referred to as “flying spot” lasers. These lasers use a small diameter beam of only 0.8 to 2 millimeters. This beam is scanned across the cornea in order to create the area to be cut. Spot scanning lasers have the potential to create the smoothest cut. They are also better capable of producing customized cuts and treating irregular astigmatism.
Eye-Tracking
Many lasers also contain an eye-tracking system. This system links the position of the eye to the laser operation. Lasers without this system make it necessary for the patient to fixate on a distant object and keep the eye perfectly still throughout the procedure.
There are two different types of eye-tracking laser systems. The first is called “open loop.” With open loop tracking, a video based tracking system monitors the pupil’s location. If the eye moves beyond a predetermined setting, it stops the procedure.
The other form of tracking system is the “closed loop.” This system is capable of tracking the eye’s movement, and it makes adjustments according to the movement. Unlike the open loop system, closed loop tracking never stops the procedure completely.
Lasik eye surgery experts agree that some form of eye tracking is needed when using spot scanning lasers and for when performing procedures that take long periods of time. This is because patients simply are not capable of fixating long enough to complete a procedure that takes more time.
IntraLase Lasers
Many surgeons also use IntraLase lasers to perform Lasik eye surgery. The IntraLase laser is capable of creating the “flap” that needs to be cut in order to reach the cornea for shaping. This laser creates a very precise pattern consisting of small, overlapping spaces. It works at an extremely high speed with pulses of one quadrillionth of a second. This allows the tissue to be both targeted and divided at a moleculer level, which removes the needs for the use of heat or impact on the tissue.
The IntraLase laser beam system utilizes special computer software to help guide the beam itself. This software instructs the beam to apply a series of tiny bubbles on the central layer of the cornea. This results in a corneal flap that is at a precise pre-determined depth and diameter. This technology has helped people with thinner corneas successfully undertake the procedure.
Laser beams may sound futuristic or straight from a science fiction book, but this amazing technology is real and here today. Through the variety of lasers available for use in Lasik surgery, eye surgeons are capable of creating a better out-look for millions of people.

LASIK (Laser in Situ Keratomileusis) is very popular combined surgical and laser procedure that has helped millions of people around the world regain all or most of their failed vision. Basic Lasik is used mainly to correct myopia (shortsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) while the advanced Lasik procedure known as Custom Lasik is able to correct far more vision problems and, because of the advanced “wavefront” technology it uses, leave behind far fewer complications. There is concern among many medical professionals that people are ‘jumping on the Lasik bandwagon,’ putting their vision on the line and, in some cases, going far into financial debt without fully understanding the Lasik procedures; the safety of the procedures, i.e., the possibility of post-surgical complications; the full cost of Lasik; or that some of the advertising claims they are bombarded with on a daily basis may be less than true.

If you visit the following seven Internet sites and spend some time comprehending the information provided there you will have departed the ranks of the uneducated potential-Lasik patient and earned the happier title of educated consumer. These pages can help you make a decision that may in one way or another, change your life.

All About Vision at http://www.allaboutvision.com/ is perhaps the most complete vision site on the Internet. This site provides information on all aspects of vision correction from glasses to contacts to the most advanced Lasik procedures and provides detailed information about vision problems that require correction. All Lasik procedures are discussed in depth and they provide a two-minute screening test you can take to determine if you are a good candidate for Lasik. The test generates a personalized report. The site accepts advertising so you will see ads for many vision products and even a section that offers coupons on vision care and vision related products but the meat of the site, the information, is not product specific.

AboutLasikEyeSurgery.com at http://www.aboutlasikeyesurgery.com/ specializes in information about Lasik procedures: providing cost information and describing the pre-op evaluation, the surgery procedures and the post-op care.

ComplicatedEyes.org at: http://www.complicatedeyes.org/ came into existence specifically to address the needs of patients with LASIK complications and to provide doctors with an additional source for information on Lasik complications. The organization that created ComplicatedEyes.org is the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA); you’re sure to find the research and detailed information on Lasik complications on this site informative.

The Vision Correction Website at http://www.lasersite.com/ provides elegantly simple, illustrated explanations of: how the eye works; the anatomy of the eye; how Lasik is performed and what equipment used, the Intacs procedure, the PRK procedure and the Radial Keratotomy (RK) procedure.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has a search function where you can search for a qualified, certified AAO member in your area. The AAO’s “Find an Ophthalmologist” (Find an Eye M.D.) page is at http://www.aao.org/aao/find_eyemd.cfm. Enter your city, select your State and Country in those selection boxes on the page and then select “Refractive Surgery” in the “Specialty” selection box; leave the “Last Name” box blank. After a disclaimer page where you must “Accept” the disclaimer you will be shown a list of qualified Refractive surgeons in your city. Note that the AAO members with the designation FACS after their names are also “Fellows” (members) of the American College of Surgeons. These are Refractive Surgeons who were required to pass a thorough evaluation in the areas of education, training, qualifications, competence and conduct before being allowed to display the FACS designation.

Wikipedia’s Main Lasik page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasik provides a good history of Lasik along with an explanation of the surgical procedure, information about the possible complications and the safety of the procedure. They also provide you with some external links and other information related to Lasik.

WebMD, possibly the most used pages on the Internet for health information, does not sell you short when it comes to Lasik. At the WebMD home page (http://www.webmd.com/) there is a search function; enter “refractive surgery” in the search box to find what seems like an endless supply of authoritative medical articles on refractive surgery (Lasik).