LASIK Defined:
Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), also known as Excimer Laser Lamellar Keratomileusis, is a procedure used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (a condition in which the front surface of the cornea of the eye is not spherical) and presbyopia (a condition in which the focusing ability of the eyes is weakened). First used in 1995, this procedure is becoming a very popular treatment for these common vision problems.
The advantages of LASIK are:
- No central haze or scar formation
- Eye stability occurs fast, usually one to three months
- Very quick recovery of vision
- Little or no postoperative pain
- Correction of a full range of myopia
- Repeatability. In the case of undercorrection, LASIK may be repeated by lifting the flap and adding additional laser treatment
Who Is A Candidate For LASIK?
Candidates for LASIK may experience difficulty wearing glasses and contact lens. Most people have tried contact lens and have difficulty wearing them due to allergies, dryness of eyes, astigmatism or other irritants. Generally the best candidates have moderate to high levels of myopia (-5.00 to -14.00 diopters).
Additionally, the following are generally considered factors in a person's condition that may make it unwise to pursue LASIK:
- Severe dry eye
- Significant lagophthalmos (complete closure of the eyelids over the eyeballs)
- Severe blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins)
- Advanced diabetic retinopathy
- Uncontrolled uveitis (chronic inflammation inside the eye)
- Uncontrolled glaucoma
- Pregnancy and lactation
- Keratoconus (abnormal corneal growth in which both corneas gradually become thinned and conical
- Advanced collagen vascular disease such as lupus erythematosis
NOTE: To be a good candidate for this surgery, you should be able to stare at a fixed object for at least 60 seconds
Latest News:
July 2, 2008 – 8:54 pm
LASIK laser eye surgery is a complex procedure used to treat all degrees of nearsightedness. The surgeon who performs it uses a small knife to cut a flap of the cornea, then removes part of the underneath tissue with a laser and put the flap back in its place.
In LASIK laser eye surgery, the skills of the surgeon are more important than in the PRK procedure, where the computer does most of the work. This is why it is very important to find a high-skilled and experienced surgeon who has done several such procedures before to perform it. The success of the procedure depends mainly on the surgeon.
LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Advantages
Most physicians agree that LASIK laser eye surgery is very appropriate for correcting very severe vision problems. It also allows a faster recovery than PRK and other methods. In addition, patients who have undergone a LASIK laser eye surgery ...
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July 2, 2008 – 8:53 pm
After Lasik eye surgery, life can become very different and quite often considerably better. Lasik eye surgery is a type of refractive surgery, which is a procedure that corrects vision. Lasik surgery is, in fact, the most commonly performed surgical surgery for the eye and the name is actually short for “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis”.
Lasik eye surgery is popular because of the general ease of the procedure. Patients discuss a relative lack of pain after Lasik eye surgery and almost immediate occurrence of excellent vision. The quick and easy results, as well as the lack of pain, make this procedure very popular.
What to expect following Lasik eye surgery
Lasik eye surgery is a surgical procedure, but one can essentially come and go from the hospital before and after the procedure with little to no assistance. The procedure takes place while the patient is conscious although sometimes a mild sedative is given ...
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July 2, 2008 – 8:52 pm
The following is a brief overview of the elements involved in the Lasik eye surgery procedure. Lasik eye surgery is still fairly new on the scene and is becoming very popular with many because of the ease, painlessness, and overall satisfaction of the procedure. Still, the Lasik eye surgery procedure leaves a lot of people curious as to what it entails and how it is done.
Do you qualify?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has a basic set of guidelines to determine if you qualify for the Lasik eye surgery procedure. First, the procedure is not done on anyone under the age of 18 since the vision of those under 18 tends to still evolve and possibly change or improve given time. Also, pregnancy or nursing is considered as these biological conditions can actually change the makeup of the eye and alter the shape of the eyeball.
Eyes must be healthy and ...
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July 2, 2008 – 12:09 am
Radial Keratotomy
The history of laser eye surgery goes back almost 100 years. Lans, a Dutch Ophthalmology professor, explained the basic principles of keratotomy in 1898. Sato, a doctor from Japan, did some pioneering trials with corneal incisions during the '30s. However, many of his patients suffered from late corneal decomposition after the treatment.
Radial keratotomy was put in practice by Dr. Fyodorov in Russia in 1970s, to treat a case of eye trauma. He used this technique to treat a boy who suffered from corneal lacerations after breaking his glasses. After treatment, the patient's vision was better than before injury. This success determined Fyodorov to make some research on past efforts in this field. His findings caught the attention of American ophthalmologists in 1978.
Dr. Leo Bores was the one to bring the technology to the United States after visiting Dr. Fyodorov in Russia. Since then, over 2 million people received radial ...
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July 2, 2008 – 12:09 am
Halos around lights, making driving difficult at night is often touted as a minor laser eye surgery complication but it can have significant effects on the practical lives of the people who have to live with this laser eye surgery complication.
If the only reason you are considering laser eye surgery is so you can get rid of your glasses or contact lenses, you may want to give this a lot of thought. Yes, millions of people have had some form of laser eye surgery and yes, it is successful most of the time. Realize, though that laser eye surgery is irreversible and any damage that occurs will be irreversible as well.
We’ve all seen those circles around the lights, or the halo effect, when it rains. However, for those who experience this particular laser eye surgery complication, it’s an every day pest. For some, it is so severe they are unable ...
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July 2, 2008 – 12:08 am
Laser vision corrective eye surgery is becoming extremely popular in today’s age due to the general affordability and the desire of many in society to maintain good vision without the help of glasses or annoying contact lenses. This surgical procedure is offered in such a varied number of individual avenues that there is certainly a type of laser vision corrective eye surgery that is right for anyone.
Eye surgery is also known as “ophthalmic surgery” or “ocular surgery”. Laser vision corrective eye surgery is not necessarily the same as “refractive surgery”, although many often assume the terms to be interchangeable. Refractive surgery does not always involve lasers to make the incision but rather refers to the general purpose of the procedure to reshape or “refract” the cornea.
The FDA first approved the laser as a surgical tool in 1995, so the advances in the field of laser surgery are generally recent. The ...
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June 30, 2008 – 9:00 pm
Laser eye surgery is a medical procedure consisting of the use of laser for reshaping the surface of the cornea. It is used to improve myopia (shortsightedness), hypermetropia (long sightedness) or astigmatism. The first information on laser eye surgery dates back from over twenty years ago.
During laser eye surgery, an excimer controlled by a computer is used to remove tiny amounts of corneal tissue. The aim of the procedure is to restore normal vision, relieving the patient from wearing glasses or contacts.
In one type of laser eye surgery, the outer layer of the cornea, also called epithelium, is removed and an excimer laser is used to reshape underneath tissue. This procedure is called photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
In a newer procedure, a microkeratome is used to cut a flap in the corneal tissue, which is then lifted and an excimer laser is used to reshape underlying tissue. In the end, the flap ...
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June 30, 2008 – 8:59 pm
A good decision is based on a little “market research”. When you are going through the consideration process, you need to find out what the average cost of lasik eye surgery is going to be included in the price can help you to choose the best eye center or doctor.
LASIK Price Increase
In the last years the prices have been rising, on the one hand because new procedures are used such as “custom LASIK” which is more expensive than traditional LASIK, and on the other hand new technologies such as intralase technology, increases procedures costs.
In 2002 the average cost of lasik eye surgery was between $1,550 and $1,600, but by October 2003 the average had risen to $1,710. At the end of 2004 the average cost of lasik eye surgery was a little over $1,800, and in 2005 it was $1,965.
Why the Prices Vary?
One reason prices vary is that different providers ...
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June 30, 2008 – 8:58 pm
If your spouse or significant other is about to have Lasik corrective eye surgery, it will probably fall to you to see that he uses his eye drops whenever he should and follow all post-operative instructions. If possible, try to be available for a couple of days after the surgery. Your loved one will probably not be in the best of moods just because at first the dry eye and itch can be so irritating.
Make sure he continues to wear the protective covering put over his eye by the doctor. Even while sleeping, hair or bacteria could get into the eye and cause a lot of discomfort, possibly even infection. If you have pets, try to keep them away from him during these first few days to prevent any stray animal hairs from finding their way to his eye. You may also need to assist in administering the eye drops.
A ...
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June 30, 2008 – 8:57 pm
So, you have decided to undergo LASIK eye surgery. Your eye doctor has cleared you as a good candidate and you have learned about and considered all the risks involved, and you have decided to have the surgery. But now, a couple of questions remain. How much is the procedure going to cost? And why is there so much variation in the cost of LASIK procedures?
The cost of LASIK procedures depends on a number of aspects. The most variable factor to cost is the patient's current eyesight. If a person's eyesight is worse, then the procedure is going to cost more per eye due to extensive correction. A discount LASIK center may advertise their lowest cost, and that cost would be most likely for a person with average or minimum refraction correction. The only constant in costs for LASIK surgery is that the costs are determined per eye.
The cost of ...
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