The Pros and Cons of LASIK EYE SURGERY

October 24th, 2008

LASIK is a recent laser eye surgery technique which FDA approved for use in 1998. As of now, there are no long term studies about its effects. For this reason and because making decisions regarding one’s eye sight is very important, you must do comprehensive research to be able to judge if the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery are manageable risks for your treatment. If you do the research, you’ll be able to select a skilled and experienced eye surgeon. Many experts acknowledge the fact that the success LASIK heavily depends on the surgeon and not on the machine. You’ll also willingly participate in undergoing the tests because you know these are crucial tests to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.

What are the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery? The best benefit is easy to enough to identify. Your eye sight will immediately improve. So if you suffer from any of the following conditions, moderate to high degrees of myopia (nearsightedness), low to moderate degrees of hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism associated with myopia, and have thick corneas, you’ll qualify for the operation.

Two other significant benefits you should consider in weighing the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery are its fast recovery time and immediate results of improved eye sight. LASIK patients normally get better eye acuity of 75% to 85% within 24 hours. This compares favorably against the two older surgical techniques, radial keratotomy (RK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), where healing & improved vision takes weeks or months to occur. Also, LASIK operations generally take under a minute to perform on one eye, you walk out of the clinic within hours.

Now that the pros have been highlighted, what are the cons found in the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery?

If the patients’ eye condition is incorrectly diagnosed, the patient might develop permanent debilitating visual symptoms such as glare, halos, or double vision after the operation.

If you don’t have dry eye syndrome, you may develop one. You’d be uncomfortable, and permanent. Left untreated, it will be unhealthy for your corneas.

If you are farsighted, as you age, the benefits of LASIK will diminish with age, you’ll need glasses or contacts in the later years.
Many patients experience significant improvement with their vision after LASEK. But remember to have realistic expectations; your age, eye condition and health are serious considerations. You may still need to wear eyeglasses or contacts after the operation.
Educate yourself. If you do, you’ll competently manage the pros and cons of LASIK surgery. You’ll enjoy keener eye sight afterwards.

Tim Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com an online website that offers discounts on contact lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses and free information on LASIK eye surgery procedures that you can view in the privacy of your own home.

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Corrective Laser Eye Surgery - Will Improve One’s Quality Of Life

September 17th, 2008

The advances in lasers, coupled with the creation of new and safer refractive surgical techniques in the past 10 years, have more people going to ophthalmologists than ever before to have their vision improved. With all the hoopla attached to corrective laser eye surgery, one may ask: what does corrective eye laser surgery mean? What are these surgical techniques? How does it improve one’s quality of life?

Corrective laser eye surgery essentially means, laser eye surgical techniques that will correct your vision.

You’ve probably heard these four most popular corrective laser eye surgery techniques mentioned.

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) recommended for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism eye conditions.

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK) is similar to LASIK; except the flap is created in the epithelium.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) for persons who have nearsightedness, mild to moderate farsightedness and astigmatism. The surgeon uses the laser to remove tiny tissue on the surface of the cornea.

CK or Conductive Keratoplasty uses a probe that’s as thin as a strand of human hair, utilizing radiofrequency (RF) energy. The probe reshapes the cornea by shrink small areas of the tissue.

How do these corrective laser eye surgery procedures improve ones’ quality of life? In a survey conducted by The Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC), the public education arm of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) the following respondents agreed on these facts.

Ability to see upon waking

Freedom from glasses and contacts

Improvement in personal safety

Increased confidence in personal appearance

Better participation in sports or fitness activities

This information was collected from approximately 3 million Americans who have undergone the corrective laser eye surgery since 1995.

The most noteworthy finding that emerged from this surgery was the fact that a significant number felt that after undergoing corrective laser eye surgery they began a new lease on life.

Tim Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com an online website that offers discounts on contact lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses and free information on LASIK eye surgery procedures that you can view in the privacy of your own home.

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Is There A Safe Laser Eye Surgery Procedure

September 3rd, 2008

Are you tired of wiping off the fog or sweat off your eyeglass lenses? Or the tedious but necessary time spent cleaning your contact lenses? do you suffer from any of these conditions? Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, or hyperopia, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If so, then yes, there’s a safe laser eye surgery procedure for you.

Today’s medical lasers are more sophisticated and it’s complemented by surgical techniques that are less invasive - there is a safe laser eye surgery procedure for you.

Let’s examine three procedures to help you decide which procedure the safe laser eye surgery for your eyes.

PRK is the acronym for Photo Refractive Keratectomy and was invented, and practiced since the early 80s’. However, it got the FDA nod only in 1995. The entire procedure is performed using an excimer laser, and reshaping takes place by the removal of surface cells on the cornea. Healing time takes longer, a month and gaining improved vision is also gradual. A majority of patients don’t feel much pain during the operation.

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is the most popular of all three laser eye procedure, because the operation is fast and healing takes place in a day or two and improved eyesight is immediate. Approved by FDA in 1998, it’s relatively new, but the medical data on it is promising. Here the surgeon creates a flap under the cornea and then reshapes it by cutting out corneal tissue.

CK stands for Conductive Keratoplasty. The surgeon operates by using a probe that is thinner than a strand of human hair. The probe utilizes radiofrequency (RF) energy and is applied in a circular pattern on the outer cornea to shrink small areas of corneal tissue. The circular shrinkage pattern is creates a constrictive band (like the tightening of a belt), increasing the overall curvature of the cornea. The procedure uses no knives, or laser or other surgical instrument inserted in to the eye. Healing is faster and there are fewer complications. FDA approved the procedure in 2002 and it is temporary pending more medical data on the procedure. However, available information shows that there is no regression for the patients and the operation only takes 15 minutes to do. By any standard, this is also a safe laser eye surgery procedure you can consider.

So there you have it, a brief comparison of surgical techniques. It’s up to you to decide which of these is the safe laser eye surgery procedure is for you. In the end, the skills and the experience of your eye surgeon accounts for a large part of the success of the surgical technique.

Tim Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com an online website that offers discounts on contact lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses and free information on LASIK eye surgery procedures that you can view in the privacy of your own home.

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