Archive for June, 2008

The pair of glasses that you recently purchased reflects a stronger prescription, have no-line bifocals and have been coated with a special substance to reduce glare. You would think that after wearing eyeglasses the majority of your life you would get used to them, but that does not seem to be the case.

The stronger prescription seems to be working out, however the bifocals are taking some getting use to and you have already noticed some scratches on that coating that was applied to reduce the glare. Also, when using the computer and reading your favorite magazine, you notice that you still have to make some frustrating adjustments in trying to read the pages.

Perhaps, you think to yourself, that it is time to get some information on laser eye surgery. You have heard quite a bit about this procedure and had even talked to some acquaintances that have undergone this surgery. You are hopeful and interested after hearing their testimonials of being able to see better and using glasses only for reading.

Information on laser eye surgery begins with an understanding of what this procedure is, how the surgery is performed and what are the advantages.

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

Education is a valuable and powerful tool when it comes to being personally involved with issues that directly affect you. These issues could be politics, finances, health, medical procedures, etc. Especially important, when considering any surgery, it is always prudent to be informed. Gathering information on laser eye surgery holds the same level of importance.

Information on laser eye surgery will reveal that this surgical procedure is conducted on both eyes to improve the refraction condition of your vision. Refraction refers to how the light is captured by the cornea of the eye. Successful laser eye surgery has been shown to be effective in the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. After effectively treating these possible vision impairments, the patient often reports less dependence upon the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The Surgical Procedure

Knowing about the surgical procedure is an important part of gathering information on laser eye surgery. Through the use of a surgical instrument called a microkeratome, a slight flap, that is circular in shape, is created on the part of the eye known as the cornea. This flap is then pulled back which in turn reveals the cornea.

The qualified surgeon then uses a laser to eliminate a portion of the tissue. This procedure results in the shape of the cornea being changed. This structural change of the cornea then allows for the light entering the eye to be refocused onto the retina. This entire process then allows for the vision of the patient to be improved. The surgical procedure is then completed when the circular flap is restored.

Advantages of Laser Eye Surgery

Your gathered information on laser eye surgery will reveal many advantages to this procedure. One of those advantages is the minimal amount of pain experience. In addition, results are almost instantaneous as the majority of patients report that their vision is improved the following day.

When it comes to a person’s vision, there are different choices for correcting any problems that might develop. In addition to corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses, lasik surgery has become a popular method of correcting refractive problems with the eyes, eliminating the need for lenses. This type of vision correction may not be for everyone, but the more laser eye surgery information that becomes available, the more people are looking into it as an alternative to wearing glasses or contacts.

In most cases, lasik surgery is used for cosmetic purposes as people do not like they way they look in glasses or they do not want the hassle of using contact lenses. When used strictly for appearances, most insurance plans will not cover the cost of the operation, which can be somewhat expensive. However, most of the laser eye surgery information available points to the safety of the procedure as well as the amount of money that can be saved over a lifetime when the cost of annual eye exams and new glasses or contacts are considered.

Unfortunately, many people have tunnel vision when it comes to looking through laser eye surgery information and concentrate mainly on the price. While the cost of the surgery has greatly declined in recent years, the price tag should not be the only factor involved in making the decision to have the surgery. The surgeon’s experience as well as the care provided by the support staff should also play key roles in making the choice.

Occupation Helps Determine Candidate Acceptance

Not everyone will be able to benefit from this type of eye care. Most of the laser eye surgery information available suggests that those who participate in contact sports and those that have jobs that may result in sudden bumps and jars may not make the best candidates to undergo lasik eye surgery. Information explains that it can take up to a year for the healing process to be complete and those that do not have the time for proper healing should not have the operation.

Additionally, surgeons typically only perform the operation on one eye at a time, not starting on the other eye until the first one is completely healed, allowing the patient to maintain their eyesight throughout the process. The laser eye surgery information explains that having both eyes done at once could result in a person having very little vision for the first few weeks following surgery, leaving them unable to perform many essential tasks on their own.

As with anything in life, there are complications and risks. Dry eyes after Lasik is one of the risks associated with the procedure of Lasik eye surgery. If you experience dry eyes after Lasik, you know how it can be to have that type of symptom get in the way of your daily life. With the right medication, perhaps some eye drops and pills, you can overcome the dry eyes after Lasik and get on the way to recovery in no time. Without the recovery elements in place, however, you might be in for more complications as the results that come from dry eyes could get in the way of the natural healing process of your eyes.

Your eyes take time to recover and recuperate from the Lasik procedure. With dry eyes, you may experience a delay in that recovery time and may need to have some further assistance in getting to the point at which your eyes can recover from the procedure. As you learn more about the procedure and about dry eyes after the procedure, you can start talking to your doctor before the procedure about what to do if you experience dry eyes after Lasik and what to do after you cure your dry eyes. There is a policy and a procedure to follow that most doctors outline before any procedure of this type. Make sure you go over the procedure with your doctor.

Working Through It

A lot of doctors will not operate on someone that they feel is a high risk for dry eyes. If you have experienced dry eyes before you head in for a Lasik procedure, the doctor will likely disqualify you from any Lasik treatments or any other refractive procedures for your eyes. With this knowledge in mind, the doctor can make the best possible decision for your eyes and for your health. This is what is best for you and while you may feel that you would rather have the eye operation, the doctor is in charge of risk assessment and your health primarily.

It is common to experience dry eyes after Lasik. The important issue about the experience is to what degree and for what duration, so consider this when you talk to your doctor. The degree of dry eyes in most cases is not significant enough to impede your activity or cause any other complications. Most dry eye symptoms will resolve themselves automatically with a small period of time, so patience is your best ally. If that is not the case, you may want to consult your physician for assistance.