Posts Tagged ‘lasik procedure’

Lasik laser eye correction gives patients a whole new outlook on life without the need, or little need, for prescription glasses or contact lenses. The majority of individuals that undergo the procedure go from completely relying on glasses to see clear to obtaining almost ideal sight in just a few minutes. However, all procedures come with risks and Lasik is no different.

The use of a specialized cold beam laser to reshape the cornea of the eye providing clear vision is involved in the Lasik laser vision correction procedure. Patients should be aware of the side effects that may accompany this procedure.  

The most common side effect is that the dependency on corrective lenses is still there, even after the surgery. Lenses may sometimes be required while driving or reading or, in a few cases, permanently after the procedure. Although additional lenses may be needed, they are often of a weaker prescription than what was used prior to the surgery. While additional treatments can be done, they may not be able to totally eliminate this effect.  

Individuals that are nearsighted or farsighted have a greater risk of requiring extra corrective lens support post-procedure than individuals with general or insignificant vision issues. An understanding of realistic expectations for the procedure prior to agreeing to Lasik laser vision correction is a must for all patients.  

A person should consider all the possible negative repercussions of Lasik laser vision correction. Some patients may experience halos, glares, or even double vision after having the surgery done. This occurs frequently after daylight hours while driving at night.

One of the risks with Lasik laser vision correction is dry eye, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as KCS.   During the Lasik procedure, the laser severs some of the nerves in the eye as it repairs the shape of the cornea. Nerves generally fix themselves throughout time, nevertheless, for a few, permanent injury can happen, ending with dry eye since the nerves can’t transmit info which results in the tear ducts making tears when an eye is dry. Vision may be impaired due to the irritation and dryness of the eye but this condition can be controlled with the long term use of medicated drops.

There is always the slight but very real risk of infection as a result of Lasik eye correction surgery. Controlling this is simple with the help from ointments and occurs very seldomly. For example, a Northern California office offers pre-op appointments with a Lasik surgeon in Stockton for eye surgery in Stockton so the customer is informed week’s before scheduling the procedure.

After surgery, the most common side effect is smoky vision. Smoky vision often diminishes several hours after Lasik surgery has been performed. Minor irritation is a result as well and is often described as having a grain of sand in the eye. This is also temporary and will resolve itself in a few days.

Candidates will make an educated decision on Lasik eye correction by understanding the risks first. Additional dangers and side effects will be discussed with the eye care professional and laser surgeon during counseling prior to having Lasik performed. Assessing these risks may help determine if indeed an individual is a candidate for Lasik laser vision correction.

So many people are interested in the Lasik vision correction procedure, and want to know the cost of Lasik eye surgery, the benefits, the risks, and how the Lasik procedure works.  One of the first things to consider is what requirements a person should meet in order to have a successful Lasik procedure.Even though each person should discuss their situation with a professional Lasik physician, there are some guidelines that should be followed to determine if Lasik eye surgery is right for you.

Age Requirement

First, the eye should be properly matured.  This means that anyone under the age of 18 really needs to wait before a Lasik procedure is done, for it is likely that the shape of their eye will continue to change for several years.Vision clariy will not be affected after the Lasik procedure as long as the shape of the eye doesn’t change.The age of 25 is the minimum age limit recommended by some Lasik physicians.

In addition to an age cutoff, the vision prescription for the Lasik eye surgery candidate should be stable for at least one year, and preferably for longer than that.  This is for the same reason as above, that the Lasik procedure will only continue to be effective if the eye shape remains constant after surgery.

One comment about age cutoffs should be made with regard to Lasik surgery.  There is no maximum age, as many patients in their fifties to their eighties have had a very successful Lasik procedure.  The main consideration in these cases is enough tear production for successful healing and lubrication after the Lasik vision correction.

Health

The eyes of the Lasik candidate should be healthy.  This means that any person undergoing a Lasik procedure should have had no eye infection or injury for at least a year, and must have no scarring on the cornea of the eye.  In addition, they must not have any recurring eye problem, such as a history of herpes infection in the eyes.

The medical history of a prospective Lasik client also plays an important part.  Some chronic conditions, such as autoimmune disorders like Lupus, will prevent some people from being able to schedule a Lasik procedure.Be aware of any current medical conditions, as well as the ones from the past that are no longer an issue.  Also, women who are pregnant or nursing should wait to have a Lasik procedure scheduled.

A good Lasik physician will also not schedule people with dry eye syndrome for Lasik vision correction.  Having sufficient tear production is important, though for minor problems this may be aided by medication during the healing process.  In addition, those people with eyes that dilate very widely are not good candidates for Lasik. 

These are most of the most common reasons that a person should look at some other eye improvement choice other than Lasik.People who are generally healthy and get the procedure done by a qualified, professional Lasik physician will greatly benefit from it.  Look for a good Lasik center in your area and discuss your individual case in detail.

More: Lasik Eye Surgery Complications

What is involved in effective Post-Op Lasik Care

One of the most marvelous advancements using modern technology is the Lasik vision correction procedure, where in the space of fifteen minutes many people can reduce or eliminate their reliance on glasses or contact lenses.  There is very little preparation for the surgery on the Lasik patient’s side, and the Lasik procedure itself takes less than twenty minutes.

With current technology and an excellent Lasik physician, there is a very high success rate for nearly all Lasik surgeries.  Though not all patients get or keep exactly 20/20 vision, there is a vast improvement in the Lasik client’s vision and dependence on corrective eyewear.  The two most important factors under the patient’s control is the choice of the physician and good post-operative care.

After visiting a few physicians or clinics that perform Lasik procedures, the client should have a very good idea of how they will be treated as a patient of that doctor.  It is important to find a Lasik physician whose staff is responsive to questions and worries, and who are willing to see a post-operative Lasik client who is having a problem with their care.

This is one of the more common complaints of those folks that undergo a Lasik procedure: insufficient information about post-operative Lasik side effects, or a staff that simply says “Lots of people experience that, no problem,” when the patient actually should be seen by a member of the staff.  A visit where the prospective Lasik patient talks with both the physician and one or two members of the staff will get an idea of how well a patient is welcomed once the Lasik procedure is completed.

During this initial investigative visit, the client should ask the Lasik staff for a list of common, temporary side effects that can be experienced after a Lasik procedure.  The staff member should describe any cases where the patient should make a point of contacting the Lasik center, rather than just enduring the side effect.  Cases of pain, intense itching, or seriously blurred vision may indicate an infection or other serious problem, and should be seen promptly.  It is truly very rare that any of these complications exist after a Lasik procedure, but make sure that the center is willing to see the patient if they think something is more than mildly wrong.

One of the more common side effects after a Lasik operation is some form of dry eye, which often occurs during the nighttime while asleep.  Not only is this uncomfortable, but if the eyelid sticks even slightly to the eye itself, it may dislodge the surgical flap done in the Lasik procedure, and delay healing of the eye.  If this occurs, the Lasik center has several different viscosities, or thicknesses, of eye drops to alleviate this problem.  The staff should be promptly notified so this problem can be addressed immediately.

A good, responsive staff surrounding an excellent Lasik physician is the most important component in how to select a doctor.  Interviewing the physician and staff about all aspects of the Lasik procedure, both the procedure itself and post-operative care, is the best way to make an excellent choice.