Archive for September, 2008

What is Wavefront Lasik Eye Surgery ?

The wonderful results of Lasik surgery have been improved by research adding new methods, such as Wavefront technology.  This technology gives a Lasik physician the ability to see and accurately map even slight variations in the surface of the eye.  This gives the physician the ability to more accurately tailor a Lasik operation to the individual, and result in even clearer vision.

The concept behind Wavefront technology was originally developed by astronomers, in order to indicate if a mirror or a lens had slight imperfections in it.  It is very important in astronomy to get near perfect optics in order to clearly see the small light sources million of miles away in the universe.  In the 1970s a sensor was created to electronically check these surfaces, and a type of this sensor is now used in the Wavefront guided Lasik procedures.

The idea to apply this technique, or to use this sensor, to the field of ophthalmology and later to the specific area of Lasik vision correction, was begun in Germany.  The physician Josef Bille began using the sensor in his practice, and this started others to refine the sensor and how it is used and to apply it to Lasik technology.  In 1997 the improved sensor, with greater accuracy and speed, was announced to the Lasik laser manufacturers.  This allowed the companies that manufacture the Lasik equipment to develop tools using the Wavefront concept for each of their own laser systems.

The FDA approved the first Wavefront guided Lasik vision correction system for general use.  Initially, the Wavefront sensor makes a map of the eye’s imperfections, and this map is sent to the laser that is used in the Lasik vision correction portion of the operation.  This allows for precise eye alteration in order for Lasik to present the best vision correction possible.

The Wavefront technology used in Lasik can be described easily at an informal level.  A small, flat sheet of light (called a wavefront) is passed through the eye, reflected off of the retina, and passed back through the eye and is captured by the Wavefront machine.  If the eye were perfect, the light would return as a flat sheet and be captured that way by the Lasik machine.  However, any imperfections changes the way that the light returns, and this is detected by the Wavefront part of the Lasik process.

A number of these small, flat sheets of light are sent into each eye from various directions and the results returned generated a three dimensional map of the eye to be used in the Lasik vision correction process.  In addition to the commonly known problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, there are more than 60 other patterns that are known and can possibly be corrected for.

All of this information generated by the Lasik sensor is converted by software into a set of directions to be carried out by the Lasik excimer laser.  Ask your doctor about this exciting advance in Lasik vision correction, and see if this procedure is right for you!

Eye care after lasik surgery

A person that is considering a Lasik procedure to improve their vision has two major responsibilities: selecting the best surgeon possible for their budget, and understanding and keeping up with eye care after the Lasik operation is done.  Most Lasik procedures go very smoothly, and more than 90% of the patients are happy with their improved vision and have no permanent side effects.  Part of this success is due to good care at home once the Lasik procedure is complete.

The first step in having the best care after a Lasik procedure is to understand exactly what is directed by the Lasik physician.  The prospective Lasik patient should be given a good understanding of the entire process when they first visit a Lasik center to interview the physician and the staff.  On the day of the procedure, a member of the staff should very carefully go over exactly what steps should be done to encourage optimal eye health and healing after the Lasik operation.

One thing that the patient should ask is what side effects are to be expected directly after the Lasik procedure, how long they should last, and which symptoms should be promptly told to the Lasik physician or member of the staff.  A number of symptoms, such as fluctuating vision or halos around lights, are to be expected and are not a cause of worry.  Ask the staff about any postoperative symptoms that are unclear, to make sure that they are thoroughly understood.

Each Lasik physician has their own recommended procedures for their patients, but here is a list of typical suggestions that most Lasik centers recommend.  First, get some sleep as soon as possible after the Lasik procedure is done.  This gives a great boost to the healing process.  Second, avoid any contact, bumping, or rubbing of the eyes for at least five days after the Lasik procedure.  Most Lasik eye surgery centers have some kind of eye guards to wear at night to prevent patients from rubbing their eyes in their sleep.  

Third, try to avoid eyestrain for some days after the Lasik procedure.  It is tempting to try to read all of the signs and words that were previously blurry, but avoid this temptation at least for the large part.  If any light sensitivity or glare is noticed, wear dark sunglasses for several days until this problem resolves itself.  Some common Lasik side effects are temporary halos around lights, especially when viewed at night, but this is not a problem to be concerned with.

It is very important to keep the eyes well lubricated in the days following a Lasik operation.  Every Lasik physician will give eye drops to help this, and patient should be especially aware of this before going to sleep.  A Lasik procedure may increase eye dryness temporarily, and during sleep this may make the eyelid stick slightly to the eye.  When the patient wakes up, opening the eyelid is equivalent to rubbing the eye.  The physician should be notified if this happens, for there are other varieties of eye drops that will solve this problem.

Taking these simple steps will give nearly all Lasik patients an easy postoperative experience without any problems.

Have no fear of Lasik eye surgery!

Thinking about eye surgery using a Lasik procedure is a big step, and many people are a little hesitant to ask the questions that they have.  The Lasik procedure, though widely talked about, is not discussed in detail, and people tend to fear the unknown.  This report addresses some of the more commonly held fears, and talks about the experience for the vast majority of people that undergo a Lasik procedure.

A most common fear when thinking about a Lasik procedure, or really thinking about any surgery in general, is the possibility of pain during or after the operation.  Since the Lasik surgeon works on patients that are conscious, this is a widely held apprehension.  In every operation the Lasik surgeon applies numbing drops into the eyes before the procedure starts, and the patient is also given a mild sedative to relax them and make sure that they are comfortable.   Though a small pressure to the eye may be felt during the Lasik procedure, the process itself is relatively pain free.

The surgeon does use a laser in the eye to help reshape the cornea during the Lasik procedure.  Many folks are worried about the laser being shone directly into the eye, or that they might look away and, due to this, develop a serious complication with their eyes and the Lasik laser beam effects.  In actuality, the laser is only active for ten to fifteen seconds for each eye, and the Lasik machine has a tracking system that allows the beam to be on only when the eye is in the correct position.

Another general fear for people contemplating a medical procedure is fear of “the scalpel”.  Any Lasik procedure uses only a very small microkeratome blade to approach the eye, or some more recent Lasik innovations have the laser itself created the flap and avoid using any hard surface at all.  There is no reason to be concerned about a scalpel, for the Lasik physician does not use one.

Many wonder about the horror stories they hear about this or any other operation, and wonder about serious consequences like going blind.  According the government statistics taken by the FDA, there are no reported cases of blindness due to a Lasik operation.  Actually, the risk of a serious permanent complication due to the Lasik procedure is less than 1 percent, and the risk of any permanent complications even if not serious (such as light halos) is 3 percent or less.  It is extremely rare for a patient to not have improved vision after a Lasik procedure.

If the thought of being awake and having your eyes open during the Lasik procedure bothers you, remember that you will be given a mild sedative for the procedure, and that your eyes will have numbing drops administered to them.  If the thought of actually seeing the Lasik physician’s hand approaching your eye is bothersome, be comforted that the surgeon applies drops to the eye that blacks out the vision in that eye for ten to fifteen seconds, which is long enough for the procedure to be done for that eye.

This introduction has hopefully addressed the most common fears about the Lasik procedure.  For anyone that might gain a better life quality with improved vision, please visit your local Lasik eye surgery  clinic and discuss the procedure in detail with the professionals there.