LASIK eye surgery has become a very popular procedure. Nearly everyone who undergoes LASIK surgery experience results that improves their vision. Over 80% of patients who opt for the surgery never have a need to wear eyeglasses or contacts afterward. Although most of the responsibility for LASIK is on the surgeon, there are steps that you must take to minimize the risk and maximize the results before the surgery.

Most people do not feel themselves at 100% directly after the surgery. It takes a few days for the eyes to adjust and the body to relax after the procedure. Because of this, you will want to make arrangements with your work or any other responsibilities you may have for 2 or 3 days afterward. If you do not have any paid time off from your job, you should be prepared to lose a few days of income.

For those who regularly wear contact lenses, you will want to stop using them for two weeks prior to the surgery. Contact lenses often slightly alter the eye’s shape and you will need your eyes to be their natural shape for the procedure. Contacts can also make blood vessels move closer to the surface of the eye. Blood vessels can get in the way of the laser and they should be safely tucked into the center of the eyeball where they belong.

The day before the surgery, you must discontinue the use of most topical agents that you may be applying to your skin. This includes lotions, perfumes, creams, ointments, and cosmetics. These substances can increase the risk of the infection should they get into the eye during or directly after the LASIK procedure. Your doctor may provide you with specific instructions on how to clean your face and around your eyes the day before and the day of the surgery. Always follow the doctor’s instructions exactly. If you hear something that seems to contradict what your doctor tells you, always ask him for an explanation. This will give you a little peace of mind before the operation so you will go in more relaxed.

When the day of the LASIK surgery arrives, you will need someone to drive you to and from the office where the procedure is to be performed. Have a driver available for the next day as well because a follow-up exam may be required. For some people, it takes up to two weeks for their eyes to adjust after the surgery. Others may recover in only a couple of days. A little discomfort is normal directly after the surgery, but it is never something that requires more than Advil, Tylenol, or your usual over-the-counter analgesic. Have some on hand, just in case it is needed. Also, be prepared to have urges to wipe or rub your eyes. If you think you may give in to the urges, ask your doctor for an eye shield to prevent any accidents.

You must also prepare yourself for the next few weeks following the LASIK procedure. Be aware that you will not be allowed to wear cosmetics, engage in strenuous physical activity, or be immersed in water. Following these guidelines will help you be prepared and know about what to expect with your surgery.

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LASIK, which stands for Laser IN-Situ Keratomileusis, is one of the newest surgical procedures to correct certain vision problems. A laser is used to create a very thin flap in the cornea. Once the flap is cut, the surgeon uses a different type of laser is to reshape the cornea so that the focal point hits the retina correctly. The way the cornea is reshaped depends on the particular vision problem. When he is done, the surgeon lays the flap over the cornea. LASIK works well to correct three of the four main vision problems.

1. Nearsightedness – This is also known as myopia and effects close to one-third of all people. It is even more common now than it was 30 years ago. Nearsighted people have difficulty reading things at a distance such as road signs or words on a TV screen across the room. Their “up-close” vision is usually just fine.

When someone has myopia, the cornea is usually too steep so the LASIK is used to flatten it out.

2. Farsightedness – Also known as hyperopia, farsightedness means that those affected have trouble focusing on things that are close, often causing eye strain and fatigue, squinting, and headaches. This is also quite common, effecting about one-fourth of the population.

The cornea in someone who is farsighted is too flat and the LASIK procedure would create a steeper cornea.

3. Astigmatism – This vision problem is the most common, but what it is exactly is not as easily explained. It is often accompanied by either farsightedness or nearsightedness. Someone with astigmatism has distorted or blurred vision at any distance.

Astigmatism happens if the cornea is shaped like a football, meaning it is more curved on side than the other. This makes light focus on more than just one single point. A LASIK procedure would change this irregularly shaped cornea into something more normal.

Unfortunately, LASIK can’t help those over 40 who start to have difficulty reading or working on the computer. This is what is known as presbyopia or jokingly called “short-arm syndrome” because of the necessity to hold books and other printed materials out at arms length in order to read it. At about age 40, the eye’s lenses gradually begin to thicken, making it difficult for them to change focus.

For those with one of the three correctable vision problems, LASIK is a great option for correcting their eyes. It is a very quick out-patient surgery with little to no pain or side effects.

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Often when faced with the possibility of undergoing a medical procedure, one finds that doing their due diligence is the best way to make an informed, intelligent decision about whether to take the risk. It is good practice to weigh the pros and cons in order to do what’s best. When it comes to Lasik Surgery, however, there are many, many ‘pros’ and few, if any ‘cons’ in undergoing the procedure.

Lasik is a procedure that restores vision in those people who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or have astygmatism. (causing distorted and/or blurred vison.) Aside from enabling the patient to discard their old, cumbersome and unsightly glasses and/or their inconvenient contact lenses, there are many benefits to the procedure:

1.Lasik procedure yields immediate results. As soon as the procedure is complete, you will notice a remarkable improvement in your vision, which continues to improve throughout the healing process.

2. Lasik is a quick procedure, taking only five to fifteen minutes to complete in both eyes.

3. The procedure is essentially pain-free. Anesthetic drops are instilled in the eyes prior to the procedure and is the only anesthesia needed during the ’surgery.’ There is usually no discomfort following the procedure, although some people have describe the feeling of having an eyelash in their eye. If this occurs, it is a relatively short-lived discomfort.

4. There is little if any ‘down’ time. Most patients are able to return to work the day after the procedure. It is recommended that patients rest the day of the procedure, in order to enable the healing process to begin.

5. The Lasik procedure restores peripheral vision; something that glasses cannot do.

6. The procedure is typically a permanent solution for visual disturbances. Most patients never need to wear glasses again or have a repeat procedure.

7. It is a relatively inexpensive process which can be deducted from a tax-deferred Personal Spending Account.

8. In addition to being relatively inexpensive, the procedure can ultimately save the patient money. The patient no longer has to spend money glasses, prescription sunglasses, contacts and related eye drops.

9. Complications of the Lasik Procedure is less than 1% and in those patients, complications typically merely include discomfort, as previously discussed.

10. Lasik is a life enhancing procedure. There is no more inconvenience of wearing glasses, having to use two different pairs of glasses, (one for distance, one for reading) not having to worry about losing glasses and not being able to function until they can be replaced, no more chance of corneal abrasions from contact lenses, being able to swim without glasses and actually being able to see!, being able to get up at night to go to the bathroom without having to search for your glasses…the list goes on and on.

If you are considering a Lasik procedure, be sure to find a qualified, experienced physician and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Once you’ve found the practitioner that you feel comfortable with and you take into consideration these top ten benefits, your only regret will be not having the procedure done sooner!

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Lasik surgery to correct visual impairment is becoming more and more popular. The surgery is a semi-permanent solution to visual impairments, and the process involves little to almost no pain and immediate results.

The first step in getting Lasik surgery is to make an appointment with a qualified and experienced surgeon. The surgeon will perform a standard eye exam to determine the general health of the eye and to determine whether or not you’re health status makes you a good candidate for the surgery. In some cases, the surgeon will recommend eye drops to prevent excess drying of the eye, and in most cases, a prescription for antibiotics will be written to help reduce the risk of infection. The surgeon will use corneal topography to get a map of the eye. You’ll also be asked about your medical history. Some conditions may disqualify the patient while others may simply postpone the procedure. Contact wearers are recommended to refrain from wearing their contact lenses one to three weeks before surgery.

Immediately before surgery, the patient is given a mild sedative. This sedative will help you remain calm throughout the surgery, but you’ll be awake throughout the procedure. A suction ring is used to hold the eye in place. Then, a microkeratome is used to cut a small, circular flap in the cornea. This flap is hinged back allowing the surgeon access to the stroma, or middle section of the cornea. Once the flap is lifted, the patient’s sight will become blurry. An excimer laser is used to remove corneal tissue and reshape the cornea. The reshaping of the cornea helps allow more light onto the retina, which in turn, improves sight. The surgeon will check to make sure no air bubbles or other debris has found their way under the flap and then the flap will be repositioned back in place.

Post-op rest is necessary and usually limited to the few days after surgery. The surgeon will prescribe post-op drops to help with the healing and prevent dryness and reduce any inflammation. This also helps to alleviate any discomfort. Patients are given dark shields to help protect from sunlight, so having someone around to help you get around may be necessary in the first several days after the surgery. Several follow up appointment will be scheduled for the surgeon to re-examine the eyes to insure the proper healing. Protective goggles will also be given to the patient to help avoid rubbing of the eyes while the patient sleeps. It is vitally important that the patient refrain from rubbing their eyes, as this could interrupt the healing process by moving the flap. Most patients report to have 20/20 vision after their surgery. Generally the improvement is immediate, while others may take a few weeks.

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Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery is a common corrective procedure for those suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. It’s often touted as an almost miraculous way to improve one’s eyesight, ridding people of their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only approved LASIK in 1995, the long term effects of the surgery aren’t completely known, but the majority of data indicates that LASIK is safe. As with any surgery, there is always the risk of complications.

Short Term Effects

After LASIK surgery, patients experience several side effects. Eyes may feel painful or uncomfortable. This usually dissipates quickly and doctors may prescribe painkillers if needed. Doctors cover the eyes for 24 hours in order to protect them. After the eyes are uncovered, patients often experience blurry vision. Blurriness gradually decreases over one to two days and vision generally stabilizes between a week and a month’s time. In the short term, patients are at risk of infection, so they’re given antibiotic eye drops. For the majority of people, vision clears and they can resume their normal schedules after two or three days.

Common short term side effects of LASIK include dry eyes, haloing, droopy eyelids, or subconjunctival hemorrhage. The most common side effect is dry eyes and most times, this will clear up within a year. Haloing – or glare around bright objects – usually clears up within six weeks, though patients should take care when driving at night. Droopy eyelids should also go away with a few weeks. A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a common side effect where blood leaks into the white part of the eye. Though it can look alarming, it’s relatively minor, basically akin to a bruise on one’s eye. It should clear up within two weeks.

Long Term Effects

Given that LASIK hasn’t been around for very long, it’s difficult to determine what its effects will be decades from now. That said, there are some long term effects that have surfaced. The FDA states that the dry eyes commonly experienced after surgery may become permanent. For those who were farsighted, their visual improvement may decrease as they age. The surgery also permanently impacts the cornea and makes it difficult to accurately measure intraocular pressure. Inability to measure this can lead to undiagnosed glaucoma and complications during cataracts surgery. Rarely, corneas may be scarred, leading to mild or moderate haziness. Patients may also experience glaring, double-vision, or a loss of contrast sensitivity. Very rarely, LASIK can lead to reduced vision or even blindness. Patients will also always be at risk for corneal flap dislocation.

The number one complaint after LASIK surgery is over or under-correction of vision, but this tends to stem from unrealistic expectations. In 2008, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reviewed over three thousand peer-reviewed articles over the past ten years and found a 95.4% satisfaction rate among those who had undergone LASIK surgery. Despite any short or long term complications, the vast majority of people experience improved vision and are satisfied with the results.

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Lasik eye surgery is a fairly recent technology that can correct those with astigmatism, myopia or nearsightedness, and hyperopia or farsightedness. It can correct vision to 20/20 and boasts quick recovery time. Many people are choosing to have Lasik eye surgery performed to fix their vision problems but there are a few health and safety concerns everyone should be aware of before opting into the surgery.

The possibility for having to be retreated with laser surgery are very high for people who suffer from astigmatism, need a high vision correction, and are older in age. This has accounted for a nearly 1 in 5 ratio of people who will need to have their vision corrected once more after the laser surgery.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has stated that lasik surgery is most effective on those with light refractive errors causing them to become nearsighted. Those with advanced cased of myopia and hyperopia will have a smaller chance of fixing their vision with just one treatment. The same applies to astigmatism which is an uneven shape of the surface of the eye. This is always very difficult to correct and patients should keep that in mind when looking to get lasik surgery.

Those who decide to opt out of receiving lasik surgery should also consider the health risks of wearing contacts frequently. Sometimes contact wearers can forget to take out contacts and cause a serious infection of the eye. Dirt can also get lodged between the contact and the eye when contact lens wearers use their contacts correctly. Eye infections can have serious consequences such as vision loss. Lasik eye surgery actually reduces the risk of eye infection for people that would have normally worn contacts. This is a great relief as contact wearers would lose the hassle of remembering to change contacts and not wear them in certain places such as chemistry labs and chemical plants and actually makes lasik surgery a safe option for contact wearers.

Lasik has come very far in recent years and remains a very safe procedure. Talking to a doctor to see if it is recommended for every specific type and advancement of a refractive error is always very important. Patients who keep realistic ideas in mind for the results they are likely to see will be more satisfied with their surgery in the long.

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Jose Barraquer first discovered the beginning concept of laser surgery in 1950 when he developed the technique of cutting thin flaps in the cornea in order to alter optical measurements. Barraquer initially performed this procedure using his own invention, an instrument with an oscillating blade designed to make precision cuts about 100 to 200 micrometers thick, called a microkeratome. Over the following decades, several new instruments, including the laser, were introduced, transforming Barraquer’s original methods into the advanced laser surgery we know today, known as Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis).

In 1970, the Excimer- or exciplex- laser was developed by by Nikolai Basov, V. A. Danilychev and Yu. M. Popov. This laser uses a combination of inert gas and ultraviolet light to execute refractive surgery. This method allows delicate eye tissue to disintegrate into the air, rather than being sliced or burned. Although the Excimer laser was a revolutionary discovery, it wouldn’t be introduced in the US until 1987. Many developments have been made over the years in order to make this laser the powerful equipment we see used today.

In Russia during the same year, Dr. Fyodorov was treating a young patient who suffered an injury that sliced a thin layer off of his cornea, resulting in an improvement in his preexisting myopia. This revelation inspired him to conduct further research on this procedure, resulting in the discovery of radial keratotomy, which is corrective surgery for myopia, or nearsightedness.

The development of LASIK was given a jumpstart by American funding. U.S. Patent #4,840,175, “Method for modifying corneal curvature,” was granted in 1989. In the same year, Dr. Stephen Trokel, Charles Munnerlyn, and Terry Clapham founded VISX CORPORATION. Dr. Trokel had been the first to suggest that the Excimer laser coule be used to perform corrective vision surgery, and developed a procedure called photorefractive keratotomy in 1983. The VISX laser was the first to treat a human eye in that same year.
Originally using a procedure called PRK, laser surgery in the U.S. was off to a slow start. Only when a Greek opthamologist named Dr. Pallikaris determined the benefits of performing the surgery under a raised flap was LASIK developed and put to use in patients. LASIK soon became an ideal choice for patients requiring corrective surgery, as it was much less discomforting than PRK.

Today, Lasik is generally performed by opthamologists using a laser to correct astigmatism, myopia, and hyper myopia. While its effectiveness varies and several minor complications are to be expected, it is a widely used method for vision correction and has proven helpful to many patients. Although the time it took to development this procedure was extensive, its benefits have been worth the wait.

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For those considering undergoing Lasik eye surgery a central question is whether to get a conventional Lasik procedure or a Wavefront procedure. While both procedures are deigned to correct aberrations of the eye and improve vision, they work very differently. Traditional Lasik has been in use for nearly 30 years while Wavefront is relatively new, emerging in the last 2 years. This article will help outline the differences between each type of Lasik to help you decide what is right for you.

Basic Differences

The main difference between the two procedures is the technology used. In traditional procedures a small blade called a microkeratome or a doctor-guided laser is used to make a small flap on the cornea and adjust the cornea. Wavefront Lasik uses a guided laser to make a precise three-dimensional map of your eye and pinpoints where the aberrations, allowing patients to receive a customized treatment.

Conventional

A type of refractive surgery to improve vision, conventional Lasik makes use of a small blade and a laser. The blade, known as a microkeratome, is used to make cut thin, circular flap in the cornea that is folded back out of the way. The surgeon then uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. An excimer laser is a precise cool ultraviolet beam that removes very small pieces of the cornea. Patients with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (abnormal curvature of the cornea) can all find improved vision with Lasik. Patients with myopia will have their corneas flattened some while patients with hyperopia with have their cornea adjusted into a steeper shape. Astigmatism is corrected by smoothing the cornea into a more regular shape.

Many people are comfortable using conventional Lasik because it has been around so long that many tests have been conducted and surgeons have had decades of experience to improve the technique and learn how to avoid mistakes. Most patients achieve 20/20 or 20/40 vision after the procedure and will notice immediate improvement. Some complications to be aware of include night glare and the unlikely event of further touch up surgery.

Wavefront

Wavefront procedures treat the same kinds of eye aberrations as traditional Lasik, but generate and use a 3-D map of the eye to design custom treatments. Wavefront is touted for its accuracy and for is ability to improve not only visual acuity but also contrast sensitivity and fine detail. Low-order aberrations such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are responsible for affecting visual acuity while high-order aberrations affect contrast and detail. Currently, only wavefront can correct high-order aberrations. Further, Wavefront Lasik presents a lower risk for post-operative complications such as night glare and halos. This technology has a lot to offer but is a newer as less tested technology and is generally more expensive that traditional procedures.

Both techniques are effective at correcting and improving vision, and both have their pros and cons. Talk with your surgeon to help determine the best choice for you.

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If you’ve worn glasses or contact lenses for any length of time, life without corrective lenses probably sounds like a slice of heaven. Imagine not having to stumble around in a blurry haze until you put your contacts in. No more smeared lenses or specks of lint right in front of your eyes. What’s not to like?

At the same time, vision correction surgery is serious. Some people have complications, and most insurance won’t pay for the procedure. You don’t want to take chances with your vision. How do you decide if Lasik is right for you?

Here are some things to consider:

Is your glasses or contact lens prescription extra strong, or very mild?

People who need a high degree of vision correction may not get good results. Those who only wear glasses part of the time may find that the risks of surgery outweigh the benefits.

Do you have a history of other eye conditions beyond simple vision correction?

A good candidate for Lasik will have a common vision problem such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination of these. People with presbyopia, a change in vision that occurs as a normal part of aging, will still need reading glasses after surgery. Some presbyopia patients opt for monovision, which corrects one eye for seeing at a distance and the other for seeing things close up.

If you have other vision problems, such as lazy eye or strabismus, Lasik may not be appropriate. Your doctor will be able to evaluate your situation and give you the information you need to make a good decision.

Have your eyes changed lately?

It’s important to have a stable contact lens or glasses prescription. If your prescription has changed in the past year, you might want to wait until your vision stabilizes. You must be over 18 years of age. Not only is this required for consent, young people often experience changes in their vision as they get older. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to have Lasik, since hormone changes can also cause changes in vision. Some medications can affect vision, so make sure your doctor knows what medicines you take.

Are your eyes right for surgery?

There are extra risks with certain conditions. Large pupils can result in seeing halos after surgery. In some cases, this can interfere with driving and night vision. Lasik reshapes the cornea by removing tissue, so patients with thin corneas may have complications. If you’ve had refractive surgery in the past, be sure to tell your doctor, since this could lead to serious complications. People with a history of dry eyes may find that surgery makes this worse.

Are you in good health?

Some medical conditions affect eyesight or interfere with healing. If you have any kind of autoimmune disease or diabetes, make sure to discuss this with your doctor.

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