Lasik eye surgery

Healing from Lasik Surgery

2008-09-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Lasik eye procedure healing process is quite fast and simple. Fast healing is the real perk of Lasik eye treatments. Quick healing from Lasik lets the patient resume their regular life immediately. The level of Lasik eye surgery methods and the craft of the doctor provide a very minimum healing period.

Lasik eye surgery healing takes only a short period because of the special method of the process. The eye surgery will take only about 10 minutes usually. Lasik mostly utilizes a new laser technology. The laser burns the tissue at the very interior part of the stroma within the eye itself. Unlike other eye procedures, little cutting of delicate eye tissue is used. This method doesnâ€™t call for a protracted healing period, since the tissues are not actually "wounded" in the usual sense of the term.

Lasik eye surgery healing periods are typically 48 hours. However, individuals are frequently advised to rest for at least two additional rest days. They often wear a special shield over the eyes to reduce infection possibility. Itching must be totally avoided within the period. Possible side effects of the eye surgery could include vision halo, glare and other complications. They'll be quite resolved within several months. No eye medications are needed curing the process.

It is typical that after surgery, you may face issues, such as visions, irregular astigmatism, and a diminishing in the clarity for a very short period. Over a lengthier period of time, from 3 weeks to 6, these special complications will diminish largely. In certain cases, you may need further procedures before recovering fully from Lasik. If these complications go on beyond six total months, these are likely permanent effects.

You may also need operations additionally to correct certain anomalies. It's so imperative that individuals adhere to their eye doctorâ€™s instructions following Lasik surgery. LASIK eye healing time totally depend on the eye care you will take with your enhanced eyes.

Lasik healing is typically quite hassle free, especially when required precautions are followed. The new person has to completely avoid a strenuous activity in the first following days. Use of lotions items must be totally prohibited for a couple of days. Baths and hot tubes- resumed just after a period of several weeks. The client should make a cautionary measure when first joining in events such as boxing to prevent direct blows to the eye.

Remember, Lasik eye surgery healing and your life after Lasik surgery are quite common concerns for most individuals interested in Lasik. Lasik is definitely better understood currently, and thousands of successful operations have been accomplished.

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Locate additional info on Lasik : Lasik Eye Surgeons

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Is Conductive Keratoplasty A Safe Procedure ?

2008-05-13T01:12:00.000-07:00

However, in these days of highly-technological procedures, there are solutions to vision problems that are minimally invasive and which can deliver excellent results. Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is one of those corrective eye surgery procedures.

CK is a fairly new kind of laser eye surgery in practice today. It utilizes a mild heat that is generated from radio waves. These waves are used to reduce the size of the connective tissues. These tissues are a glue-like collagen, found in the periphery of the cornea and which can cause vision distortions.

A conductive keratoplasty procedure actually steepens the shape of the cornea. The result of this reshaping is that far-sighted patients who have presbyopia end up with improved near and distance vision. For those who only have presbyopia, their near vision is enhanced.

CK is not considered to be an appropriate treatment if you are nearsighted, and Lasik eye surgery would be recommended as a better procedure for people who are either nearsighted or have an astigmatism. CK is also currently being studied for its effectiveness with correcting astigmatisms, and while early indications are that it might be effective, it is not yet being widely used to correct that type of vision problem.

When CK was first introduced, there were some problems reported with the stability of the vision corrections and instances where the cornea actually reverted back to it's original condition before the corrective eye surgery was done. However, in recent years there have been many improvements in laser eye surgery techniques utilized in CK, and clinical studies in more recent years have shown that the procedure is delivering more stable results consistently.

In April of 2002, the FDA of the United States approved conductive keratoplasty for use with patients over the age of 40 who had mild conditions of farsightedness. Later, in 2004, the FDA expanded its approval to include presbyopia, which is a very common condition that typically effects people as they reach middle age. Presbyopia is a natural side-effect of the aging process and it causes the lens of the eye to stiffen, making it more difficult to focus at different distances at the same time.

As a result of these improvements, CK has been gaining a much greater level of acceptance among laser eye surgeons and potential patients are becoming more interested in this procedure. Ultimately, it will still be some years before long-term data on the success or failure of CK will be available, in order to make a comprehensive comparison between this type of corrective eye surgery and other procedures, such as Lasik vision surgery.

Unlike Lasik laser eye surgery, conductive keratoplasty does not involve any type of cutting into the surface of the ocular tissue and no type of external instrument is inserted into the eye. Because of this, it is almost unheard of for CK to have any serious complications or infections of any kind, and the main issue is with the lasting effect of the procedure.

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A free report awaits you at our laser eye surgeryportal site, where you can enrich your knowldege further about conductive keratoplasty. Your comment is much appreciated at our laser vision correction blog.

Cost Of Lasik Eye Surgery In US and Canada

2008-03-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Lasik eye surgery continues to gain popularity in the US and Canada because it is effective and affordable. Still the average cost of Lasik eye surgery is variable and it can be high depending on the your eyes' condition and the post operative care involved. Today corrective laser eye surgery is the most preferred solution to get rid of your glasses, thanks to reduced costs of the surgery. Earlier it was not that easy for the average person to afford such a procedure.

The cost of laser eye surgery depends a lot on various factors and it varies from place to place. The cost in America is different from that in Canada. Again in America the cost varies from state to state and from provider to provider. In Canada LASIK MD is the biggest provider and every year almost 40-50% of the laser eye surgery taking place in Canada is conducted by this company. The laser eye surgery cost in Canada too depends on the same factors which determine the cost in the US. So what are these factors which determine the costs of Lasik eye surgery? Let us find out and see how rates vary.

The universal standard to determine the costs of corrective eye surgery is that the price of laser surgery is quoted per eye. That is, one Lasik surgery procedure equals one eye and the price of the quote increases if you intend to correct both your eyes. The Lasik eye surgeons may also add extra charges for new technologies that they use in the surgery. The main cost of the surgery is due to the high cost of equipment. The price at the same time depends on the proficiency of the doctor and the location. That is the price in California varies from that in Maryland. Another factor which determines the cost of is the gravity of your sight problem. Let me give you an idea of the average costs of Lasik surgery in United States and Canada. There'll be some difference but that won't be too much.

Beware of some ads like '$500 per eye'. Very few people can get laser surgery at that price because their eye sight might not degenerated too much. An extensive laser eye correction would cost much more. A recent study shows that the average cost of Lasik surgery is now less than $1,000. But these surgeries are done by inexpensive conventional excimer lasers or bladed microkeratomes not wavefront technologies. Modern wavefront technologies would cost you between $1,000 to $2,500.

Previously the cost of Lasik eye surgery was high but from 2006 the price has stabilized to an affordable level. In December 2007 it was found that the average cost of laser eye surgery has dropped down a little lower than 2006 costs.

About the Author
For more on cost of Lasik eye surgery at preferred providers in US and Canada, and 20 questions you need to ask your eye surgeon, go to http://www.lasikeyefacts.com

Nutrients Can Provide An Oasis of Moisture Relief For Chronic Dry Eye Sufferers

2008-01-03T01:31:00.000-08:00

If you are under 40 you may be thinking this information does not pertain to you. Keep in mind however, you could possibly develop symptoms of this very common, and highly irritating, eye condition at some point in your life. And, it may happen to you sooner than you think.

Dry eye is one of the most common, although not serious, eye conditions of middle aged people. It greatly interferes with the quality of life for approximately 14 percent of people over the of age 40. About 21 million people in the United States, it is realistically estimated that figure is probably more like 60 million, reported experiencing chronic dry eye symptoms. Out of those numbers, the condition is more prevalent in women because, it is believed, they experience more hormonal shifts. In both sexes, regardless, the condition usually worsens with age.

Here is a rather short and simplified version of why this eye condition begins to happen.

The surface of the eye needs tears to support the delicate living cells that covers the surface of the eye. Instead of using a blood supply or oxygen, the eye surface uses a thin, watery layer called 'tears'. This layer of water is so important, that the eyelids produce a layer of oil just to help protect tears from evaporating. When the eye surface first starts to become dry, tears have lost water, and have become too salty. This causes symptoms such as:

1.burning and stinging 2.dryness 3.itching 4.redness 5.blurred vision

When the eyes become really dry, it has been described as feeling like there is dirt in the eye, or a sandy grit irritation.

Many who experience this type of uncomfortable eye condition, often times, opt to quickly treat it with an over-the-counter or prescription eye drop solution. Unfortunately, most eye drops will only provide temporary relief, at best.

The problem with artificial tears is, if the solution being used does not biologically match the substances naturally found in normal tears produced by the eye, eye drops will actually starve the surface of necessary electrolytes the eye surface needs. The result will be a lack of lubrication quality. Certainly, this is a no-win, or long-term, solution that will ever get to the real root of the problem.

When quality tear production ceases, it is also possible to notice a decrease in corneal sensation, thus affecting clear vision. There are several risk factors that may potentially increase your odds of, eventually, suffering from dry eye. They are:

1.Long-term use of hard contact lenses 2.Having had 'Lasik' eye surgery 3.Certain viral infections of the cornea 4.Diabetes 5.Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

And finally, another area that is often not considered, at all, is prescription drug use. Medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants and many others can cause dry eye symptoms. You might be wondering, how prescription drugs could be affecting normal tear production. Here is one educated professionals clinical experience, and observations, with prescription drugs.

In Dr. F. Batmanghelidj's brilliantly researched, medical breakthrough self-help book to the public titled, "Your Body's Many Cries For Water", page 162, states," I would like to inform you that a vast majority of very frequently used medications are either directly or indirectly strong antihistamines. The strongest variety are used in the discipline of psychiatry and for patients with depression".

And, in his reference to severe dehydration problems common in the vast population of the world, on page 14, he says, "The regulating neurotransmitter systems (histamine and its subordinate agents) become increasingly active during the regulation of water requirements of the body. Their action should not be continuously blocked by the use of medications. Their purpose should be understood and satisfied by drinking more water".

And, there is more promising news on how you can reduce, or even possibly eliminate, this irritating eye condition with dietary relief interventions. Three separate dietary studies conducted, so far, have linked dry eye to a low omega-3 essential fatty acid intake. Eating more cold water, oily fish, or by supplementing with a high quality fish oil, can produce long-term relief rather quickly. Most eye doctors have no idea that most cases of dry eye problems can be cleared up, naturally, with simple dietary measures.

Dry eye syndrome should never be ignored. It could, eventually, turn into more than just an uncomfortable eye nuisance. After all, the cornea is responsible for two-thirds of our vision power. When it dries out, it is like trying to look at your world through a dirty windshield. This eye condition is also closely related to another common eye problem called 'age-related macular degeneration'. Both, of which, respond rather well to increased water, omega-3, and antioxidant (found in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables) consumption.

Eating more omega-3's, raw fruits and vegetables, and increasing your water intake, all three, are very doable strategies you can use to, realistically, attack this annoying eye condition.

About the Author
Brenda Skidmore has spent over the last five years actively researching natural health care alternatives. She can attest to the many positive results natural practical cures and preventive strategies bring to human health. Along with the many medical professionals whose public works she has studied, it is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit: http://www.mywater4life.com

Are Eye Braces Safer Than Laser Eye Surgery?

2007-11-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, back in the 1960's, two California doctors when getting feedback from their patients who wore contact lenses, kept hearing the same type of story over and over again. Many times their patients would leave their home, drive to work and then halfway through the day notice that they were not wearing their contact lenses. And they were seeing perfectly well. It appeared that the constant wearing of the contact caused a gradual reshaping of their cornea, improving their ability to see. This chance discovery eventually led to experimentations and studies on shaping the eyes using contact lenses.

Corrective eye braces or CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) lenses as they are formally known, are hard contact lenses that act much like a retainer or braces do on your teeth. You put them on at night just before you go to bed. During the night, while you sleep, they reshape the cornea of your eye. When you wake up in the morning, your blurred vision is gone. You can see the pictures on your wall, the buttons on your clothes, and the alarm clock on your dresser. You have 20/20 vision.

Unlike laser eye surgery, the changes are not permanent. The changes to the cornea will last only a day on some people. On others, it has lasted up to a week.

So who are the most likely candidates for these eye braces?

Young teenagers for one. Many good eye surgeons will not operate on a teenager or a person under 18 or 21 because the body, including the eyes. may still be growing and changing. At those ages, they doctor may legitimately determine that the risk is not worth it and rule out corrective eye surgery altogether. In this case, eye braces, may be a good alternative.

The eyes are one of our most important senses and many people are leery of making any type of permanent change to them. Add to that the growing number of malpractice lawsuits involving refractive surgery, and some people, especially those already wary of surgical operations, begin to look for alternative ways of improving their vision. For them, eye braces are a good compromise between permanent contact lenses and laser eye surgery.

Those looking for a bargain will also like eye braces. The cost of CRT lenses is much less than the cost of laser eye surgery.

The news is not all good, however. The braces have to be hard, in order to reshape the cornea. This can make them uncomfortable to wear. And although most people will get used to them, some find they can't adjust.

Also, although relatively infrequent, the wearing of contact lenses, does increase the risk of microbial infections of the eye.

And thirdly, there have been no long term studies of the effect of wearing eye braces on a nightly basis for an extended period of time.

So if you want CRT lenses how do you get them? You can't just go into an eye doctor's office and order them. A CRT lens has to be prescribed by a doctor who has been certified in CRT lenses.

About the Author
Dana Siconolfi is a freelance writer who writes articles relating to custom eye laser surgery as well as other health related topics. Visit her site at http://www.lasereyesurgeryupdate.com.

Boulder LASIK

2007-10-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

Lasik eye surgery is a very common and effective treatment for many vision problems. Doctors all over the country perform hundreds and even thousands of these operations each year. As a result, this is a very safe and quick outpatient procedure. Boulder lasik offers one of the most affordable options in Colorado.

Boulder lasik surgery is the process of correcting one's vision through the use of a laser procedure. It is used mainly for people who are nearsighted, far sighted, or have astigmatism. The surgeon will make an incision around the cornea of the eye, making a flap. Then they will use a laser to correct the vision abnormality. The cornea flap is then replaced and the eye will heal itself within several days.

Boulder lasik surgery is highly effective with relatively few complications or side effects. The first few days after undergoing Boulder lasik surgery you will feel mild irritation in your eyes. Many patients describe this as an itching or feeling as if there were a grain of sand in their eye. This discomfort should subside within a couple of days after your Boulder lasik surgery. Patients also report symptoms of dry eye, which can be readily treated with moisturizing eye drops, and lights or a halo around the edge of their vision. These symptoms usually go away with time. Less than one percent of Boulder lasik patients report that their vision worsens after the treatment.

Boulder lasik patients enjoy a very short recovery time. Within a few days, your vision should clear and you can resume normal activities as soon as this occurs. For some Boulder lasik customers, this occurs within a few hours after the treatment. You should not drive yourself home from the surgery since your vision will be blurred for a while. Make arrangements for a friend to pick you up or plan on taking public transportation.

Choosing a reputable Boulder lasik doctor is very important. You want to find someone who has extensive experience performing these types of procedures. In general, the more experience the doctor has, the better your Boulder lasik experience will be. This is not an area where you want to choose a practitioner based solely on price. That is not to say, however, that you cannot get a great Boulder lasik surgeon at a great price. Just make sure you are choosing quality over price.

A good way to find a great Boulder lasik doctor is to ask friends and family for recommendations. If they are willing to refer you, you can be fairly confident of a good experience. If you don't know anyone to ask, you do have other options. Check a prospective Boulder lasik doctor out with the Better Business Bureau or the AMA. Also, ask any prospects for recommendations and be sure to actually call them. Ask lots of questions and be sure you are comfortable with your Boulder lasik doctor.

Boulder lasik surgery is a great option. There are many qualified Boulder lasik doctors who do great work. Just make sure that you are comfortable with your choice and that they address all of your needs.

About the Author
Going for any LASIK operation? Need more help? Now get more FREE information about LASIK Surgery today by visiting our website at http://www.eyes4lasik.com/ and read more on LASIK Eye Surgery

What To Expect From A Lasik Clinic

2007-09-23T23:25:00.000-07:00

If you said that you were going to a lasik clinic twenty years ago, you would have gotten some strange looks. When the basic lasik procedure first became available in the early 1990's it was only available at a few prominent medical centers. The equipment necessary to perform the corrective laser eye surgery had not yet been developed on a mass scale and was not available, or affordable, for many eye surgeons. The popularity of the procedure has given birth to a completely new genre of medical clinics though. Now, there is a lasik clinic in every major town, and the number just keeps growing.

For those choosing to have corrective eye surgery, unique surgical opportunities are provided by a specialized lasik clinic. Patients will receive specialized care in these clinics, dedicated exclusively to corrective laser eye surgery. Comprehensive training in this special optic medical branch is required for staff, as the facilities are devoted to and specifically designed for lasik procedures. As laser eye surgery techniques and types increase, consumers will be able to shop around. This in turn, will compel the lasik clinics to keep moving forward in order to stay on the cutting edge of this medical branch.

Choosing a lasik clinic may seem complicated due to the numerous choices available. A bit of study and investigation should be performed, as with any high-dollar expense. You can find most medical clinics on the internet. Visiting their web site and reading customer reviews is well worth the time spent. Recommendations are also available on medical discussion boards. Your insurance carrier may provide a service that can give recommendations. If you are looking for a doctor to perform your lasik eye surgery, consider speaking with a friend that has been through the process with good results. Their good experience may bode well for you also.

Feel free to visit a lasik clinic and get a feel for the practice before you make the decision to use them. Most eye surgeons will require a consultative visit before performing the corrective laser eye surgery anyway, so you can feel free to keep shopping around if you are not comfortable with your initial visit. Sometimes doctors forget that people are their customers, and you should never commit yourself to a lasik surgeon who doesn't seem to have your best interests at heart. Remember, you are paying them to make you happy.

With new clinics opening up everyday, you should be able to combine your observations to make a good decision concerning which lasik clinic you want to use. Process your own personal experience with the information that you find from others to find the place that best suits you. In some cases, your insurance provider may tell you which eye surgeons you have to pick from, but in the majority of cases, it is entirely up to you.

About the Author
Heather Gurzell is a nurse in California. Like many she got tired of dealing with glasses and did her homework for the best Lasik Sacramento clinic. She highly recommends the Pacific Laser Eye Center with five convenient Northern California area locations such as their Oakland Lasik clinic.

Misconceptions About LASIK Eye Surgery

2007-09-08T22:41:00.000-07:00

Many people don't fully understand the details of LASIK eye surgery, even people who are undergoing the procedure! Don't be someone who waits until after your surgery to discover the things you should have known beforehand. The following are the real truths behind the two most common misconceptions about LASIK eye surgery.

1. After LASIK eye surgery I'll Never Need Glasses/Contacts Again

Depending on your age and the issues with your vision, you may or may not need corrective lenses of some kind immediately after LASIK eye surgery or later on, as you age. The vast majority of patients who undergo LASIK refractive surgery report significant improvements in their vision, which generally allow them to drive without glasses within days of their surgery. A small percentage of LASIK patients require "enhancement" surgery, which is a second LASIK eye surgery, conducted to fix any over- or under-correction of your vision resulting from the initial LASIK surgery.

Also, many people, as they age (generally between the ages of 40 and 50), develop poor vision for reading (called presbyopia). If you had LASIK surgery prior to developing presbyopia, you could still need reading glasses as you get older. Presbyopia is sometimes treated with Monovision LASIK, which corrects one eye for distance vision and the other eye for close vision.

However, patients with Monovision are still counseled to keep glasses on hand for those times when perfect distance or close vision or good depth perception (which requires both eyes) is necessary. For most people, LASIK eye surgery reduces their use of glasses to only very specific situations and specialty vision needs.

2. LASIK eye surgery wouldn't be so common if it was risky.

LASIK is surgery and all surgery comes with certain risks. More than one million people had LASIK eye surgery in the United States in 2006, and less than 1% of those patients experienced significant complications. This means that statistically, your chances of having a LASIK eye surgery without significant complications are very good.

However, given that this is surgery on your eyes, and your eyes play a vital role in your everyday life, the risks of LASIK are something you want to be aware of and take into consideration when deciding whether LASIK is right for you. The possible complications can range from minor (and temporary) increases in dry eye symptoms, to visually debilitating and permanent dry eye symptoms. A small percentage of patients lose vision at specific distances, which cannot be fixed after surgery with any kinds of corrective lenses or follow-up surgery. Another small percentage of patients develop glare, halos, or double vision. For some these problems are temporary, but for others they're permanent and especially noticeable in challenging visual situations, such as at night or in fog. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, LASIK eye surgery is safe and effective for most corrections. (The worse your vision is prior to surgery, the less likely LASIK is right for you.) Many ophthalmologists believe

that the risks of long-term contact lens use may exceed the risk of LASIK, although the fact that LASIK has only been around for just over 10 years means that the long-term effects of LASIK can not yet be known.

Conclusion

In general, the thing to keep in mind is that all but statistically few LASIK patients end up with improved vision and good results. However, those who experience complications from LASIK eye surgery tend to be VERY unhappy (and vocal) about it. You don't get your money back whether your vision is better or worse after LASIK eye surgery.

You shouldn't let a vocal unhappy minority convince you that LASIK eye surgery is terrible any more than you should let slick marketing campaigns convince you that it's risk-free and perfect. Carefully discuss the visual situations you hope to correct, your various expectations, and all potential risks and complications with your LASIK surgeon in a (often free) consultation prior to surgery. And, as with any major medical procedure, it's wise to get a second opinion.

About the Author
Did you find these tips on LASIK eye surgery useful? You can learn a lot more about LASIK that can help you do what's right for YOUR eyes by clicking here. Cambria Reid researches and writes in-depth articles on LASIK laser eye surgery, its risks, costs, FAQs, benefits, and more for the popular http://www.Likely-LASIK.com.

Searching For Lasik Orange County Facilities

2007-08-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

Lasik is the non-invasive surgical vision correction procedure that has taken the country, and the world, by storm. Why, people ask, should they have to deal with eyeglasses and contact lenses when Lasik procedures can correct such common vision problems as near and far sightedness and astigmatism, as well as other acuity and depth perception vision problems?

Finding a doctor or facility that performs Lasik procedures isn't difficult if you live in a city or on the east or west coast of the United States. Some of the more popular cities, Los Angeles, San Francisco, as well as facilities in Orange County, provide more than enough competition on the west coast to offer patients the best in pricing and experience. When seeking the right Lasik procedure or facility to take care of your vision problems, however, there are several things to keep in mind.

There are more than one type of Lasik surgeries performed in places like Orange County, such as PRK, LASEK and Epi-LASIK. Such procedures can be found in offices scattered throughout Orange County, California, such as Costa Mesa, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest, just to name a few. Keep in mind that there are different procedures, as well as experts, with each of those procedures. Whenever possible, try to get two or three different opinions from Lasik proficient surgeons before you settle on one or the other to make sure they have the experience that you need, at a cost that you can afford.

While any type of Lasik eye surgery isn't cheap, prices can be competitive, especially in large cities, so you may find deals that seem alarming, if not downright suspicious, in these areas. Usually, Lasik procedures cost roughly $1500 per eye, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the type of procedure you're having, as well as the severity of your vision problems, but if prices dip below $750 an eye, you may want to start asking yourself why. While it's hard to turn down a bargain, remember that you're talking eyesight here, which cannot be replaced.

The same goes for the reputation of your eye surgeon. Just because he's the biggest or most well known name in your community doesn't mean he has adequate experience in the type of Lasik procedure you need, so you have to balance cost with reputation and find a common middle ground. Always check out the credentials of any surgeon you intend to visit, and make sure that they are trained and proficient in the newest Lasik laser equipment and procedures possible.

A consultation will be your first step toward Lasik eye surgery, and again, it's a good idea to get more than one opinion on your vision problem, and suggestions by the eye doctor over which Lasik procedure is right for you. Finding a listing of qualified refractive surgeons anywhere in Orange County is as easy as looking in the phone book or on the internet, though take care to always check with the BBB or the California State Medical Association for complaints or lawsuits filed against any doctor on your list of possibilities.

About the Author
For the latest information on Lasik Orange County facilities, check out http://LasikRevealed.com .

IntraLase Offers Blade

2007-07-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

LASIK is a surgical procedure that has changed the lives of many people in need of vision correction. LASIK actually stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and permanently changes the shape of the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye. LASIK, in the past, used a surgical blade called a microkeratome to cut the flap in the cornea. But with advanced technology, the procedure has changed quite drastically, and now there is blade-free LASIK surgery.

Choosing to have LASIK surgery for vision correction is not the same as it was ten years ago. At that time, the options for LASIK surgery were not very extensive. There was really only way LASIK was performed and that involved a small mechanical blade called a microkeratome being used to create a flap on the cornea, after which a conventional excimer laser was used to reshape the tissue underneath so that the cornea would be able to focus light directly on the retina. Now, technology is much more advanced, and options for vision correction surgery are more numerous.

IntraLase Method of Vision Correction

The IntraLase Method of LASIK surgery is becoming very popular with patients and eye care professionals alike. The IntraLase Method is also known as "All laser LASIK" because instead of using the microkeratome to create the corneal flap, the eye care professional uses the IntraLase laser.

The Procedure

The first step in any LASIK procedure is creating the corneal flap. Correcting your vision actually involves working with the corneal tissue that's just beneath the surface of the cornea. Access to this tissue is created by making a surface flap and folding it back. Creation of the flap is crucial to the success of your surgery. The flap must be the exact correct thickness and in the exact right place. After the LASIK procedure is finished, the flap is folded back into its position and acts as a bandage of the surgical area.

Complications during LASIK are very rare, but when there is a complication, it frequently results from a poorly created corneal flap. Using the IntraLase Laser instead of the microkeratome reduces the chance of any complications.

The IntraLase laser works by emitting quick little bursts of light that shine through the eyes' surface to a predetermined microscopic depth. Each pulse of light creates a bubble below the surface, and the bubbles accumulate to cover the entire treatment area. Your surgeon will separate the corneal tissue and fold the flap back out so your LASIK treatment can be finished.

IntraLase Advantages

Patients and eye care professionals have found the advantages to IntraLase Laser surgery to be numerous:

· IntraLase creates a very smooth surface for the laser to work on whereas the microkeratome moving back and forth creates a roughened surface.
· The blade-free approach allows for more precise customizing of the corneal flap, which allows you to achieve the desired LASIK result.
· People with thin corneas are not good candidates for traditional LASIK surgery. The IntraLase laser is more precise than the microkeratome.
· After IntraLase laser surgery, the corneal flap settles back into position more smoothly and typically heals with no wrinkles or other complications.
· IntraLasik allows more people to achieve 20/20 vision than previous methods.
· Patients experience less trouble seeing in dim lighting conditions with IntraLase Laser.

More than 600,000 procedures have been performed safely and effectively using the IntraLase Laser Method. The process is not painful and the results are excellent. In a clinical survey of LASIK patients who had their corneal flaps created using a microkeratome in one eye and the IntraLase Method in the other eye, the vision in the IntraLase eye was preferred 3-to-1.

About the Author
Click here for more information on LASIK.

The Eyes Have It With Wavefront Lasik

2007-07-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

Most people around the world today are familiar with the term Lasik (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) and know that it is some kind of vision correction surgery. However, many people don't know that this specialized method of correcting vision with the use of a laser light uses different methods to achieve those goals.

For example, there is a method called Lasik, Epi-Lasik and Wavefront Lasik. While they all employ the use of the laser light beam to correct curvature of the cornea to improve eyesight, many people don't understand the difference. Wavefront Lasik is also known as custom Lasik. It utilizes the use of three-dimensional measurements that show doctors how your individual eye processes images. Those measurements are imported into a computer system that guides the laser to reshape the front of your eye, or cornea.

The Wavefront Lasik method uses the three-dimensional map that is created to seek out and find every little nuance that makes your eyesight what it is. While you may be farsighted, another person who is farsighted may have different degrees of the condition than you, as well as accompanying factors. Wavefront Lasik enables each individual to receive specialized surgery to correct unique vision problems that are independent of everyone else's.

This surgical method offers an increase in not only how much a person can see, but how well you can see, taking into consideration depth, peripheral vision and contrast sensitivity and contrast details as well. This surgery reduces the effect of post-operative halos and sensitivity to glare as well as increasing night vision acuity.

Wavefront is a new method of Lasik surgery that allows surgeons to provide extremely precise improvements to the shape of the cornea, which allows your eyes to better adjust and see near and far objects as well as improving depth and clarity. Such beneficial outcomes are not possible with the traditional use of eyeglasses or contact lenses, nor original forms of Lasik eye surgery.

Wavefront Lasik is recommended for people with astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia in degrees ranging from mild to moderate. While traditional vision correction methods such as eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct some problems, additional irregularities sometimes prevent optimal vision correction by these methods. Wavefront Lasik is able to not only perform the basic corrections, but also to enhance visual acuity, without cutting into the surface of the eye or requiring lengthy recovery time.

If you're looking for a Lasik procedure, wait until you visit your eye doctor to discuss which method of Lasik he or she suggests for your vision correction problems. While Wavefront is capable of treating multiple vision issues, since the surgery is so individualized, you may have one or even several options open to you. Any kind of Lasik eye surgery is expensive, so make sure you get more than one professional consultation if possible to determine which course of treatment is best for your situation. Plan on spending at least $1,500 per eye for any kind of Lasik treatment, and ask if your vision insurance plan will help pick up a portion of the tab.

Wavefront Lasik is capable of increasing and improving eyesight in most candidates for the surgery, but always remember that your eyes are irreplaceable and care and caution must be practiced to ensure that you find the best Lasik method to suit your needs.

About the Author
Is Wavefront Lasik the right solution for you? Find out more at http://LasikRevealed.com .

Dealing with LASIK Cost

2007-06-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

LASIK surgery is an alternative to wearing corrective lens for people with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. LASIK surgery, however, unlike corrective lenses is not covered by most insurance. That means a person has to find their own way to finance their LASIK procedure.

There are many companies out there who specialize in providing financing for LASIK surgery. These companies offer you a line of credit, much like a bank loan. It comes with an interest rate and you must make monthly payments towards your loan.

Before choosing a financing company, though, it is smart to speak with your surgeon. Some surgeons will only work with select financing companies. Additionally, your surgeon may offer financing that could end up being cheaper or he may have suggestions on where else to go for financing.

You may also be able to locate financing online through a search for "LASIK financing". You may be able to find more competitive interest rates and varied financing options through this method.

If you are looking to get financed you should still try to come up with an initial down payment. It helps to have as much of a down payment as possible. Having a large down payment will reduce the amount you need funded. Additionally, you will end up paying less if you can come up with more money down because you will pay less interest.

You can get the down payment money from your savings or you if you have a flexible spending account then you can use that. You should try to come up with the money without having to borrow it since that would defeat the purpose of having a down payment.

You have to keep in mind that getting financed for LASIK surgery is going to be like getting financing for anything else. If you have bad credit or no credit it may be difficult to find a company willing to finance you. This is a risky finance since there is no collateral for the company to collect should you default on the loan. By having a good sized down payment, you may be able to still get financed even if your credit is less then stellar.

When it comes to financing LASIK surgery it is really in your hands. The insurance companies have yet to see it as being a good alternative to financing corrective lenses, so they won't pay. Until they see that helping people get LASIK can actually save them money in the long run, it is unlikely that insurance will be the answer to LASIK costs. Until then it is up to you to find a way to get your LASIK surgery financed.

About the Author
Learn more about LASIK Eye Surgery for FREE today with Joseph. You can also learn how to Improve Your Eyesight at our website too.

Symptoms of dry eye and recurrent erosion syndrome after refractive surgery

2007-05-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

To determine the incidence and severity of patient complaints typical of dry eye and recurrent erosion syndrome after excimer laser refractive surgery and to compare the incidence of these symptoms after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Outpatient university practice.

METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 1731 patients who had had primary myopic PRK or LASIK at least 6 months previously. Questions were designed to determine the incidence and character of ocular dryness and recurrent erosion symptoms and their impact on patient satisfaction and willingness to have surgery again. Responses from PRK and LASIK patients were compared.
RESULTS: Responses from 231 PRK patients and 550 LASIK patients revealed an incidence of dryness symptoms in 43% and 48%, respectively (P >.05). Soreness of the eye to touch was reported by 26.8% and 6.7%, respectively (P <.0001). Sharp pains occurred in 20.4% of PRK patients and 8.0% of LASIK patients (P =.0001). Complaints of the eyelid sticking to the eyeball occurred in 14.7% and 5.6%, respectively (P =.0001). All symptoms occurred predominantly on waking. Frequency of eyelid sticking (P <.0005) and sharp pain (P <.005) symptoms, as well as severity of sharp pain symptoms (P <.0001), were significantly greater in PRK patients than in LASIK patients. On a scale of 0 to 10 (10 high), median overall patient satisfaction with surgery was 9 in both groups. Soreness of the eyelid to touch occurred significantly more frequently among patients with symptoms of sharp pains on waking (P <.001) and the sensation of the eyelid sticking to the eyeball (P <.001). Patients with 1 or more symptoms were twice as likely as asymptomatic patients to have a satisfaction score of less than 8 (P <.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Ocular dryness symptoms occurred commonly after PRK and LASIK. Symptoms suggestive of mild recurrent erosions included sharp pains, the sensation of the eyelid sticking to the eyeball, and soreness of the eyelid to touch, a previously unrecognized symptom of this condition. These symptoms occurred commonly after excimer laser procedures but were significantly more common, more severe, and more prolonged after PRK. The presence of these symptoms had a significant effect on patient satisfaction.

Colorado Lasik Vision Correction

2007-04-19T23:04:00.000-07:00

The cost of Lasik surgery can vary wildly depending on where you have the procedure, and Colorado Lasik vision correction is subject to the same market forces as everywhere else. You'd think that a surgery like Lasik, one that's done so often and on so many people, would run pretty much the same price no matter where you go. But there are a lot of variables - how expert the doctor is who'll perform the procedure, for example, and what sort of a facility you go to for your Lasik procedure. The eye centers at hospitals use a different fee structure than a private practice doctor, for example, and private physicians have different levels of overhead costs, which drive the prices they charge patients. Feesd are also based on your prescription, too - the more work that the doctor needs to do to correct your vision, the more it may cost.

Taking a look at Colorado lasik vision correction, for instance, you'll find that fees vary from a low of about $500 per eye to over $2,500. That's huge range of fees, isn't it? The good news is that the price usually includes all of your pre-surgery and post-surgery care, including office visits. Often, the cost of the procedure is driven by the amount of money that the individual doctor's office has invested in the equipment to perform the surgery. New techniques like Wavefront Lasik creates a three-dimensional computerized "map" of the surface of your eye, and the procedure is far more precise than previous methods of laser corrective surgery.

This equipment is pricey - over $100,000 - and the physician also pays a fee of around $200 to the manufacturer each time they use the equipment, much like musicians pay a royalty fee when they use someone else's songs. Whether the eye doctor is in Denver - where rents for office space are quite high compared to other cities in Colorado - or in a less metropolitan area, if you add in the cost of gowns, masks and other accoutrements plus overhead like rent on the office and utilities, insurance and salaries for staff, and you can not only see why the procedure is expensive, but why the price varies from eye doctor to eye doctor.

As with medical procedure, you should research different eye doctors and clinics for both their cost and their reputation, ask for referrals, and base your decision on a combination of factors. Don't automatically go for the least expensive Lasik surgeon in the Colorado White Pages - these are your eyes, after all, and you don't want to cut corners. But don't assume that the most expensive eye clinic is the best, either. Look for a doctor with plenty of up-to-date training, excellent patient references, and a price that doesn't break the bank for colorado lasik vision correction.

About the Author
Dean Iggo is the webmaster of discount contact lenses where you can find reviews and information on colored contact lenses, lasik eye surgery and more..

Eye Phobia For Lasik Surgery

2006-11-28T11:08:00.000-08:00

Overcoming Eye Phobia For Lasik Surgery by Peter Rankin

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it could be that you are completely bored of putting them on every morning. It could be that you have started with another accessory - a chain round your neck for your glasses as you are in the habit of constantly misplacing them. The worst of all is when you are fed up of 'wearing your eyes' to see anything ! if you are in agreement with one or more of the statements mentioned here, it is high time that you tried an option which takes care of most of your problems. Do away with glasses or contact lenses. Go for Lasik surgery - a brand new technology which can repair your eyes surgically. There are many whose vision was restored to the 20/20 level. There are more who have had even better results.

But the sheer thought of a doctor focusing a laser beam into the eye and blinding it permanently is surely a scary thought. But getting properly educated on Lasik Surgery could eliminate many of the fears. One of the proven ways to overcome this phobia is to watch a Lasik surgery done on someone else. If this also does not help, contact your eye doctor who can refer you to a clinical psychologist, who can help.

Most doctors allow prospective patients to sit and watch a Lasik surgery done to another patient. Either it is video taped which you can watch or you may like to sit and watch the procedure live, of course with the patients' consent. Once you experience the simplicity, painlessness and the convenience of the whole surgical process, you may feel comforted. More over, you may ask the patient questions like, what it felt when the surgery was in progress, how it feels now or any other questions you may have.

Information is power. So true in this case. The more information you gather, the more you learn about the pros and cons of lasik surgery the more equipped you are to face the surgical procedure, when it happens to you. Intensive and extensive knowledge about lasik surgery can put you at ease and prepare you to face the situation. Watching it happen to others is a wonderful way to learn. With eyes open all the time, the procedure is carried out - yet you cant see a thing because your head and eyes are kept fixed in one position. If this is scary news to you, watch it happen to some one else. It will put you at ease.

In case witnessing a surgery done on some one else is not quite your cup of tea, you can try getting a psychological counseling. Professional psychologists can cure any phobia. Some try it with hypnosis, some with visual aids to get the fear out of your system. And they do this pretty fast. If you think a good psychologist is expensive, you could try another method to overcome fear. Try meditation.

Meditation helps in soothing and calming the mind and body. It can help you lose weight, give you relief from stress and anxieties and help you overcome phobias. Once you know enough about lasik surgery, you could do some research on meditation and see how meditation helps in soothing battered nerves. "Meditation for Dummies" is a good book which teaches you a lot about mediation, the techniques and also what you can expect from it.

While all these are good ways to get fear out of your system, it could well be that you need a combination of several of these. Only you can tell, what is good for you to get over your phobias. But if you overcome your phobias and get the surgery done, you will be the one who will have the last smile. Because you would have got a better quality of life post-surgery.

The most important thing to remember is that if you don't get over your fear you will be wearing glasses for ever (and keep on losing them also). Hopefully this should give you the right motivation to go ahead and kill that fear bug inside you.
About the Author

Peter Rankin is a staff writer at Vision Digest and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Wellness Digest.

Bladeless LASIK Eye Surgery

2006-10-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

The risks involved in LASIK eye surgery is relatively small compared to other types of surgery. However, there is still a risk which is there because of the use of the blade that is used to cut the flap in the cornea. The use of this blade comes with the element of human error. This is because all human beings make mistake from time, although this risk is reduced the more highly trained someone is. However, this risk is still there.

Bladeless LASIK lowers that already small risk even further as it removes the need for a blade. This function is taken over by IntraLase lasers which are controlled by computers and can therefore provide a more precise cutting action. Because bladeless LASIK is so delicate that it can even be used on people who have thin corneas. These are people who usually not approved for other types of laser surgery.

Bladeless LASIK offer a number of advantages. The IntraLase laser used during bladeless LASIK allows for an increased curvature, hence lowering the margin of error even more. The fact that a laser is used instead of a blade leads to less infections and irritation. Not only that, bladeless LASIK only leads to a shorter recovery period compared to other types of LASIK eye surgery.

Before bladeless LASIK, many people who had surgeries had to come back for follow-ups or to redo a surgery that didn't go so well. There is also a great deal of irritation that follows other surgeries. However, with bladeless LASIK most of these are something of the past, because of a success rate that is very close to 100%.

So now you may wonder, why do we need an eye doctor for if the lasers are doing everything? Well even though many of the actions are controlled by lasers, these lasers still have to be directed. And to be able to do that you need to have the knowledge of both laser technology as well as eye surgery, which only a trained LASIK eye surgeon can give you. Surgeons who do bladeless LASIK now also need to know how to operate the computer that controls the InterLaser lasers.

Although bladeless LASIK may cost a bit more, many people think it is worth spending that extra money, considering the near perfect results you get. Not to mention the reduced irritation and shorter recovery time.
About the Author

For more info on Lasik laser eye surgery and how it can help you, please visit LASIK EYE ADVICE now.

Loss of Contrast Sensitivity After Lasik

2006-09-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Refractive surgery techniques are designed to change the eye's focus and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. However, there are other factors in the eye, which may affect vision quality, that are unrelated to eye focus. These factors can cause the quality of vision to vary greatly, even when a patient has 20/20 or better acuity. Contrast sensitivity measurement is the best method of quantifying the actual quality of a patients vision.

Immediately after LASIK refractive surgery, contrast sensitivity may be such that the patient's quality of vision is well below the normal range. After several weeks, or in some cases several months, the quality of vision and contrast sensitivity may recover to normal levels. For PRK refractive surgery, the amount of time required to recover to normal levels may be longer, up to six months.

Hemorrhage After LASIK Surgery

2006-08-26T00:51:00.000-07:00

Another small side effect of the blade free LASIK surgery, or Intralase, is the increased chance of having a hemorrhage in the eye. It sounds much worse than it is.

Because of the time needed (up to a minute) for the suction ring to be placed on the eye to create the eye flap during the Intralase procedure, there is an increased risk of bleeding. This bleeding is referred to as a hemorrhage.

a bilateral submacular hemorrhage after LASIK surgery in an extreme myo pic patient. A 31-year-old man underwent bilateral surgery for correction of -16.75+0.75270° and -16.50+0.50255°.

One day after surgery the patient's uncorrected visual acuity was in the 20/50 range OU and by 17 days after surgery his visual acuity had declined to 20/200 range. Fundus examination showed multifocal subretinal macular and posterior pole hemorrhages. Fluorescein angiography showed some macular lesions compatible with lacquer cracks.

Preoperative and postoperative fundus examination is important to detect this phenomenon. Patients should be informed of this rare complication

How To Get the Best Results from Lasik Eye Surgery

2006-08-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

Lasik surgery is a dream come true for many people. It can restore their vision to 20/20 or better. Now let's get realistic. How effective is lasik eye surgery? Can it really repair everyone's eyes to perfect 20/20 vision or better? Can you really throw your glasses and contact lenses away, never to have to worry about them again? The answers to these questions may surprise you. The truth is that not everyone gets 20/20 vision when the surgery is complete. The sad thing is that no matter how much research you do, getting exact statistics is impossible. A statistical chart on www.corneatexas.com shows that they have a 96% success rate. According to www.aapecs.com only about 55% of people have 20/20 vision after surgery; however 92% have 20/40 vision. 20/40 is the minimum vision requirement in the United States to get a drivers license.

You can see that statistics can be easily manipulated to mean anything you want them to mean. You can not base your decision on having surgery simply based on the statistics that your doctor gives you. Remember that he is in business. You are a sale to him. He will tell you what you want to make a sale. Statistics should be considered, but not be the basis for your decision.

Everyone's eye is different. The decision to go ahead with surgery should be done after have a consultation with a competent doctor. Don't go to someone you don't know or trust, especially if they are going to be the one doing the surgery. They just want your money. If you have a regular doctor that you have been going to for years his/her opinion would be valuable. Over the years you have learned to trust this doctor and his consultation has a better chance of being unbiased.

Do not trust anyone who claims you can throw away your glasses forever or that they guarantee 20/20 vision or your money back. There are no guarantees in medicine. The truth is most people still need glasses when they are done with surgery. You may need a weaker prescription, but still you may need corrective lenses. You have to accept that risk before going into surgery.

Many people go into surgery not expecting or even knowing about any of the side effects or complications. You need to research and understand these complications before having the surgery. You also need to ask yourself, "What can I reasonably expect from this surgery." You also need to know what to expect after the surgery. Although the surgery may only take about 20 minutes, the recovery can take up to six months. No, you will not have patches on your eyes and you won't spend six months in pain waiting for your eyes to heal. But it will take about six months to know if the surgery truly worked. If it did not work, your eyes may go back to their original shape within those six months. Also within that six month window, some of the negative side effects may manifest themselves. The first six months is critical. If you experience anything out of the ordinary, report it to your doctor immediately. They key to repairing any potential damage is timing. Don't wait if you feel pressure behind your eyes, or extreme dry eye, or reduced vision, or glares, or anything that is not normal. Your doctor may still be able to fix these problems, but not if you don't tell him or wait too long to tell him.

The honest truth is that you may still need glasses or contacts when it's all said and done with. You need to know the risks involved and have realistic expectations. Going in prepared will help guide you through the entire process. "Knowledge is Power." The saying may sound cliché, but it has always held true. Do your homework first. Research the surgery. Research the side effects. Research your doctor. Ask questions, even if you think it is a stupid question. It never hurts to ask questions and educate your self. A competent doctor will answer you questions honestly and not just sell you on the miracles of not wearing glasses ever again. Then make an educated decision about having the surgery. Then you can walk into surgery with confidence.

About the Author
Isabelle Boulay also is author of articles on cataract symptoms and diagnosis and preparation for Lasik eye surgery at Medopedia.com

Demystifying Laser Eye Surgery

2006-08-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Over the last number of years the world has witnessed amazing advances in the field of medicine, especially with the advent of LASIK laser eye surgery. This revolutionary procedure has both given hope and excited those who experience problems with their eyesight.

But what exactly is LASIK eye surgery?

What happens during LASIK laser surgery is that the lasers correct refractive errors in the cornea. The laser perfectly controls the tearing of the corneal tissue, thereby reshaping the cornea and changing its focus. LASIK surgery follows a simple two step process:

1. A slight, thin flap of tissue is created on the outside layer of the eye or cornea. This flap encourages healing and provides comfort on the way to better vision.

2. The surgeon folds open the flap on the inner cornea to correct the eyesight. Once this is done, the flap is closed to its original position and sealed with stitches.

The word LASIK refers to Laser-Assisted In Sutu Keratomieusis, a process which is characterized by the reshaping of the cornea to refract light in the lens. While LASIK eye surgery is by no means perfect, it is a very viable and increasingly safe surgery.

Government regulations have led to improvements regarding the types of lasers to be used for LASIK laser surgery. If you or anyone you know are considering LASIK laser surgery I would advise you to carefully research the types of lasers used by your local doctors when performing LASIK.

New improvements coupled with the regulated costs of doctors mean that LASIK surgery has become more affordable, making it a possibility for some who could only dream of such improvement a few years back. Some surgeries are referred to as “bladeless” or “custom” LASIK, meaning they are more tailored towards the individual and are therefore more effective

Finally LASIK surgery is an exciting prospect to anyone who has suffered from vision problems in the past. However, just as when buying a car or house, you need to carefully consider all your options before embarking on LASIK.

The author L Jimmy Roos writes widely, offering solutions on various topics that affect the human condition.For more information on Lasik laser eye surgery and how it can help you, please visit now

17 Tips On What To Expect After Lasik Surgery

2006-08-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

17 Tips On What To Expect After Lasik Surgery by Isabel Baldry
LASIK, or Laser in-situ keratomileusis, or simply Laser Eye Surgery, is a common eye surgery today and is often the most effective one for deserving candidates compared to alternative methods. However, this procedure is to be treated like a common operation and certain post operative care is essential for the operation to get its intended results. What is to be expected after a LASIK operation? Well, the symptoms differ from person to person, however, a few common ones which are seen in most patients are as follows:
Immediately After the Operation
* Fluctuation of Vision. The vision will not be very clear in the first couple of hours and will fluctuate from blurred to very clear for certain period of time.
* Dry Eyes. The eyes will be devoid of the natural tear producing characteristic. This is one of the common problems observed in most patients.
* Sensitivity to Light. The eyes will prefer darkness and will feel irritated in bright light, including artificial light. Exposure to bright light immediately after an operation is ill-advised.
* Glares and Halos. The patient might see a halo around objects on which he/she focuses. This is due to the retina taking some time to adjust to the change in the focal lens.
* Burning, Itching and feeling of dust like particles within the eye. Post Operative Symptoms
* Patients with a case of far sightedness might see a sudden improvement in their eyesight within a day of their operation. Distant objects might appear blurry for a few days, but soon the vision should correct itself. Cases of irritation and dry eyes have also been reported in a number of patients.
* Patients suffering from near sightedness will take some time to heal and will start to see distant objects within an hour's time. These patients might experience some trouble in reading immediately after the operation, but as the eye heals, this condition will improve. They are normally subscribed reading glasses for the duration while the eyesight improves.
Adherences to certain precautions after the LASIK operation are advisable for all patients. These are enumerated below:
* Take an appointment with your ophthalmologist and keep it.
* Don't assume your eyesight has become better just after beginning to see clearer. It might be a temporary condition. Post operative care is essential to sustain this improvement.
* After the operation, keep some one nearby to take you back home. Don't try testing your newly improved eyesight on the road.
* Do not expose your eyes to bright sunlight or to glaring fog/car lights.
* Avoid computer screens, movies and video as much as possible for a few days.
* Avoid dust and other contaminants from entering your eyes after an operation and for a few days after that. * Wear eye shield at night for the prescribed time.
* Try not to play very strenuous sports or go to the gymnasium.
* Try and avoid the swimming pools and water parks for approximately 8 weeks after the operation.
* Contact your doctor immediately in case of a problem, which is not listed above, or in persisting problems. It's better to be safe than sorry.
The success of a LASIK surgery depends as much on the operating ophthalmologist, as it depends upon the patient. Proper care goes a long way in assisting the eye to recover faster and better.

About the Author
Isabel Baldry is a freelance writer who writes passionately about a number of subjects. Learn more about what to expect after lasik surgeryhere.

Refractive Eye Surgery

2006-07-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

What Is Refractive Eye Surgery? by Gray Rollins

Refractive eye surgery is a type of eye surgery that is used to rectify refractive errors of the eye and decrease dependency on corrective lenses such as eyeglasses and contact lenses. Successful refractive procedures can reduce myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, and astigmatism or elongated corneas. A number of different procedures exist for refractive eye surgery depending upon the type and severity of the refractive error.

There are four main types of refractive eye surgery procedures: flap and photoablation procedures; corneal incision procedures; thermal procedures; and implants. Currently, the most common refractive eye surgeries involve the use of lasers to reshape the cornea.

Flap procedures involve cutting a small flap in the cornea so that the tissue underneath can be reshaped to correct the refractive error. LASIK, short for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, is the most popular refractive surgery and is used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The LASIK procedure involves using a microkeratome or IntraLase to cut a flap into the stroma, moving the flap out of the way, removing excess corneal tissue with an excimer laser, then replacing and smoothing out the flap. LASEK is best suited for individuals with thin or flat corneas. The LASEK procedure uses a small trephine blade to cut into the shallow epithelium, after which the eye is bathed in a mild alcohol solution to soften the edges of the epithelium. The flap is gently moved out of the way so that an excimer laser can remove excess corneal tissue, after which the flap is replaced and smoothed out. Epi-LASIK, like LASEK, involves a shallow cut into the epithelium, but makes use of epikeratome to create a thin epithelium sheet for removal instead of the harsher blade and alcohol.

Photoablation, the second stage in flap procedures, makes use of ultraviolet radiation to remove excess corneal tissue. PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, was the original laser eye surgery procedure. PRK involves numbing the eye with local anesthetic eye drops, and reshaping the cornea by destroying miniscule amounts of tissue from the surface of the eye. The laser used, an excimer laser, is a computer-controlled ultraviolet beam of light. It burns cool so as not to heat up and damage the surrounding eye tissue.

Corneal incision procedures such as radial keratotomy and arcuate keratotomy use miniscule incisions in the cornea to alter its surface and correct refractive errors. Radial keratotomy, or RK, uses a diamond tipped knife to make a number of spoke-shaped incisions in the cornea. The result of the incisions is that the cornea flattens out, minimizing the effects of myopia. Arcuate keratotomy, or AK, is very similar to RK. The diamond knife is used to cut incisions that are parallel to the edge of the cornea, as opposed to the spoke-shaped incisions of the RK procedure. These procedures have been much less common with the emergence of laser-assisted refractive eye surgeries.

Thermal procedures use heat to correct temporarily hyperopic refractive errors, or farsightedness. The thermal keratoplasty procedure involves putting a ring of 8 or 16 small burns on the eye immediately surrounding the pupil. The application of the heat increases the slope of the cornea, making it steeper, through thermal contractions. There are two main types of thermal keratoplasty. Laser Thermal Keratoplasty, or LTK, is a no-touch procedure that uses a holmium laser. Conductive Keratoplasty, or CK, uses a high-frequency electric probe.

The final type of refractive eye surgery involves the use of implants. Implantable contact lenses, or ICL, can be used to correct severe levels of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The implants are actually tiny contact lenses that are inserted through a small incision in the side of the cornea. Implants are seated so they sit immediately in front of the eye's natural lens just behind the cornea. ICL works in conjunction with the eye's natural lens to refocus light on the retina and produce a crystal clear image.

Each of these procedures has its advantages and disadvantages, and not all individuals are suitable candidates for refractive eye surgery. Individuals who are interested in learning more about surgical options should contact their ophthalmologist for more information about these procedures, as well as inquire about other new cutting-edge procedures. Since ophthalmologic surgery is constantly growing and changing with emergence of new technologies and methods, there are always new techniques in development. As new equipment is developed and methods refined that can improve the success and minimize the side effects of refractive eye surgery, new procedures will emerge to replace outdated techniques.
About the Author

Gray Rollins is a writer for MyEyeSurgery.com.

The Different Types Of Eye Lasik Sugery

2006-07-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

The Different Types Of Eye Sugery by Gray Rollins

Types of Eye Surgery

Eye surgery, also referred to as ophthalmic or ocular surgery, is a type of surgical procedure that is performed on the eye or the surrounding tissues. There are a number of different types of eye surgeries including refractive surgery, corneal surgery, glaucoma surgery, cataract surgery, and oculoplastic (cosmetic) surgery.

Refractive surgery

The goal of refractive surgery is to improve a patient's vision. An individual who is either nearsighted or farsighted has a refractive error in the interior of their eye. Light entering the eye does not properly focus on the retina, instead focusing in front of the retina in nearsighted individuals or behind the retina in farsighted individuals. The result is that viewed images appear blurry and out of focus. Refractive surgery corrects this error, allowing light to focus directly on the retina, thereby improving vision and eliminating the need for corrective lenses. There are numerous methods of refractive surgery, the most popular of which are LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis), LASEK (laser assisted sub-epithelial keratomileusis) as known as Epi-LASIK, PRK (Photorefractive keratectomy), CK (conductive keratoplasty), and ICRs or Intacs (Intracorneal rings).

Corneal surgery

Corneal surgery is any surgery that involves manipulation of the cornea of the eye. This encompasses nearly all types of refractive surgeries since the cornea is modified in order to improve the individual's vision. It also includes corneal transplant surgery, a procedure by which a damaged or diseased cornea is removed and replaced with a clear cornea from an organ donor. Other types of corneal surgery are PK (penetrating keratoplasty), PTK (phototherapeutic keratectomy), and Pterygium excession.

Glaucoma surgery

Glaucoma is a disease that attacks the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision and a rise in intraocular pressure. Glaucoma surgeries assist in combating the disease by lowering intraocular pressure. This may be accomplished by decreasing the amount of aqueous produced in the eye or by encouraging the release of excess aqueous humor from the eye.

Cataract surgery

Cataract extraction is the most common eye surgery performed. Age, illness, or trauma to the eye can sometimes cause the crystalline lens of the eye to become cloudy and opaque. This cloudiness, called a cataract, interferes with the eye's ability to focus a clear image on the retina, resulting in loss of vision. The presence of significant cataracts requires the removal and replacement of the lens through cataract surgery. Although there are a number of different types of cataract extraction, the two most popular procedures are called ICCE (intracapsular cataract extraction) and ECCE (extracapsular cataract extraction).

Oculoplastic surgery

Oculoplastic surgery is a type of eye surgery that concerns the reconstruction of the eye and its surrounding structures. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, removes excessive fat, muscle and skin from the eyelid to correct sagging or puffy eyes. Browplasty, often referred to as a brow lift, is the reconstruction of the forehead and brow bone. Oculoplastic surgery can also involve the removal of the eye itself. Enucleation involves the removal of the eye itself, leaving the muscles surrounding the eye and all orbital contents in place. Evisceration occurs when the eye and all of its contents are removed, leaving just the shell of the sclera in place. Finally, exenteration involves the removal of the entire orbital content. This includes the removal of the eye itself, any extraocular muscles, surrounding fat, and all connective tissues.

About the Author
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for MyEyeSurgery.com. To learn more about the types of eye surgery

Lasik Eye Surgery for Amblyopia

2006-07-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Can Lasik eye surgery help amblyopia for lazy eye?

When a newborn baby comes into the world and opens their eyes for the first time, they begin their journey to learn to use their 2 eyes together. This is a learned skill and no small task. No one is born with the ability to focus both of their eyes together. Interesting, most newborns are farsighted at birth and cannot focus on close objects. Light stimulation is critical to the development of sight in a baby. Why? Without this stimulation, the normal neurological connections fail to develop. Your eyes need this early stimulation of a clear image to develop the retinal cells and send impulses to your brain. Loss of vision can also occur if you would fail to use one (or both) of your eyes for an extended period of time.

What can cause amblyopia?

Amblyopia is usually caused by not using one of your eyes. Your brain suppresses the vision of the eye that is weaker or the eye that isn’t being used. If you only use one of your eyes, over time the eye that isn’t being used may loose its ability to see. For most of us, our eyes work together in unison. But if the muscles that control the eye, aren’t working together, focusing the eyes together is a problem. In addition, strabismus, a muscle weakness that causes the eye to be ‘out of alignment’, can cause a child’s brain to ignore the image from the weaker eye. Eventually this can lead to loss of vision in the weaker eye. Also, if a child has a severe farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism in just one eye and that eye goes untreated, the brain ‘turns off’ the weaker eye. After the age of 7, the unused eye will probably never be normal. This is why early detection and treatment is so critical in very young children.

How often does amblyopia occur?

Four people out of every 100 have amblyopia. If diagnosed and treated in very early childhood, this condition can often be treated.

Can Lasik eye surgery help ‘lazy eye’?

For patients suffering from amblyopia, Lasik eye surgery may help some adults see better but it cannot ‘cure’ the brain’s inability to see. Lasik eye surgery cannot repair the way that the retinal cells send images to your brain. Lasik eye surgery cannot go back and correct the normal neurological connections that failed to develop in an infant due to lack of light stimulation. What Lasik eye surgery can do is help to reduce nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism which helps to insure that the image is in the correct position on the retina. But this does not guarantee better vision at any price. Be sure to have a frank talk with your doctor prior to Lasik eye surgery to see if he or she feels that you will have vision improvement. Don’t be afraid to get a second and third opinion from different Lasik eye surgeons to see if they feel that Lasik eye surgery is a valid option for treating amblyopia. It’s easy to find someone who will be willing to take your hard earned money. Make sure that you feel that they’ve earned your trust and that they truly feel that Lasik eye surgery will improve your vision.

Beth Gabriel is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Lasik-Solutions.com. She provides more Lasik Surgery information and Lasik Eye Surgery reviews that you can read on her website from the comfort of your home at 2:00 am!

Photorefractive Keratectomy

2006-07-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

Photorefractive Keratectomy Laser Eye Surgery by Nicola Kennedy

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a laser eye surgery procedure that is carried out with the key intent to correct a patient's vision. PRK permanently changes the shape of the frontal corneal tissue using an excimer laser, which is a high-precision ultraviolet chemical laser. The outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed, and then a small amount of the corneal tissue is burnt off using the laser. Such an ablation renders the desired shape to the cornea and allows for optimal refraction.

PRK is a technologically advanced surgical procedure. For instance, a computer system tracks the eye position around 4,000 times per second, redirecting laser pulses for precise ablation. As mentioned above, the epithelium is removed prior to ablation. This does not hamper the patient's vision, since the epithelium is a soft and regenerating layer, which is capable of completely replacing itself within a matter of days. However, the deeper layers, once burnt off, will remain that way because they possess limited regenerative capability. This theory is the cornerstone of the Photorefractive keratectomy surgical procedure.

PRK differs from LASIK in a way that the epithelium is removed in PRK and allowed to regenerate. On the other hand, LASIK does not involve epithelium removal. Instead it consists of cutting a flap in the cornea in order to make the desired incisions. Compared to LASIK, a patient who has undergone PRK experiences more pain and recovery is slow. However, both procedures are similar in the respect that they make use of a laser.

Photorefractive keratectomy is a viable procedure, but it does have possible complications. Apart from slow recovery and pain, the patient may experience glares and halos. As in any refractive surgery, there is a possibility of over- or under-correction. Eye surgeons typically perform PRK on one eye at a time, in order to gauge the results of the procedure and ensure its efficacy.

In a majority of cases, PRK has proven to be a safe and efficacious procedure to correct myopia. However, since the procedure is irreversible, it is recommended that the patient consults an eye doctor instead of jumping on a conclusion.

About the Author

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about alternatives to LASIK eye surgery at Your Lasik Information.

Tips Eye Lasik Surgery

2006-06-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Tips and Tricks about Eye surgery by David C Skul

Eye surgery is one of the most efficient methods of vision correction. The patients can choose between three methods and I am going to present you the advantages and disadvantages of all these types of eye surgeries: lasik eye surgery, implants and intacs.

Lasik Eye Surgery Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, or the Lasik eye surgery is the most well known surgical way of correcting vision. The lasik eye surgery permanently corrects vision by removing a thin layer of the cornea. The lasik eye surgery is indicated for the patients with moderate to high degrees of myopia, low to moderate degrees of hyperopia and astigmatism associated with myopia, and who have thick corneas.

The lasik eye surgery involves a few risks the have to be taken into consideration. There is a small chance of losing vision, which usually occurs if patients had a pre-existing condition which should have averted the eye surgery in the first place, such as cataracts, diabetes, pregnancy, glaucoma, lupus or arthritis. Also, the lasik eye surgery is not recommended for persons with large pupils. Dry eye syndrome will be worsen by the lasik eye surgery. There were signalized a few side effects of the lasik eye surgery. There were patients who complained that they see "ghosts" images, have confused vision, bad night vision and reduced contrasts. The improvements in the lasik eye surgery have decreased the rate of post-operative complaints at less than 1%. Anyway, if any problems appear after the lasik eye surgery, they can frequently be resolved by a re treatment.

Intacs
Intacs are not as well known as lasik eye surgery but they can correct vision in persons with mild to moderate myopia without involving the risk of permanent eye damage. Intacs are semi-circular disks implanted in the cornea which stretch it to assume a flatter shape. If the patient who chooses this kind of eye surgery has an unexpected over- or under-correction, the implant can be removed and replaced by a proper one. This type of eye surgery is inappropriate for grave myopia and more than minor astigmatism(1.00 diopters).

Implants Intraocular lens implants (IOL) are a new type of eye surgery approved by the FDA in 2004 , which can correct moderate to severe myopia, and are appropriate only for patients who have 2.5 diopters or less of astigmatism. Through this type of eye surgery an artificial lens is inserted in front of the natural lens. The main secondary effect of this eye surgery is the constant loss of endothelial cells of 1.8 % a year in the corneas of patients who received the implants. Some severe complications of this type of eye surgery were: retinal detachment (0.6%), cataract development (0.6 %), and corneal swelling (0.4%). Even if the implant can be removed, vision may not always return to what it was prior getting the lens.

About the Author
David C Skul - CEO LinkAcquire.com and Relativity, Inc . is pleased to serve his clients through traffic generating articles and one way links.

The Difference Blade And Bladeless

2006-06-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Patients considering LASIK eye surgery may come across medical jargon, such as "blade" and "bladeless" LASIK. To a layman, such terms might appear overwhelming. However, as a patient you must know the difference between the two surgery types, and the rewards and risks associated with each.

Traditional LASIK makes use of a microkeratome to cut a thin hinged flap in the cornea. The flap is then folded back to reveal the stroma - the middle layer of the cornea. A high precision laser, called the excimer laser, is used to reshape the corneal surface so as to correct any refractive error. The flap is then repositioned to act as a natural bandage. Since the microkeratome used to create a flap is in fact a surgical blade, the procedure is also known as blade, the procedure is also known as blade LASIK.

A more recent innovation, introduced in 1999, makes use of a high energy laser (IntraLase or femtosecond laser) to create a flap during surgery. As opposed to traditional LASIK, IntraLase does not employ a surgical blade, and hence the procedure is often marketed as "bladeless" or "all laser" LASIK. The term itself has raged a debate among eye surgeons, as to whether it should be used in IntraLase advertisements or not. Several surgeons assert that the term "bladeless" implies that traditional LASIK, which makes use of a surgical blade (microkeratome), is a scarier proposition, when in fact it's not. The creation of the flap is an important part of the laser eye surgery procedure. It's true that flap predictability is better with a laser flap, that is, with bladeless LASIK.
Moreover, there is a reduced possibility of flap complications, such as partial flaps, flap dislocation, free flaps etc.
However, an expert surgeon wielding a contemporary microkeratomecan very well match the finesse of bladeless LASIK. Although the chances are rare, there is an issue of transient light sensitivity as well - a unique risk associated with bladeless LASIK.
Moreover, the bladeless LASIK procedure costs an extra $300 per eye, when compared with traditional LASIK. All said and done, LASIK itself is one of the safest refractive surgery procedure.
Whether it's blade or bladeless, it largely depends on the eye surgeon of your choice. If the surgeon has loads of experience carrying out microkeratome procedures, it's better to have it that way. If otherwise, you may go in for the relatively new bladeless LASIK surgery.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news and views about blade and bladeless LASIK at Your Lasik Information.

Tips LASIK Procedures

2006-06-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

7 Tips About LASIK Procedures by John Mancini

For many people wearing glasses is a signal that you are somehow different from everyone else. The other kids at school drill this into your head as child. Therefore, when the chance to get rid of glasses forever was introduced, the surgery, known as the LASIK procedure was embraced with open arms. Unfortunately, the price of the surgery kept it out of reach for some people. Thankfully, the price is going down and interest is being renewed.

1- Before jumping into a LASIK procedure, it is important to know what to expect and how to pick the doctor who will perform the surgery for you. When you visit you eye care professional to discuss if this option is right for you, there will be some tests that need to be completed. These tests will let the doctor know if you are a candidate for the LASIK procedure and, if you are, how much tissue needs to be removed from your cornea to improve your vision.

2- When you enter the room where your procedure will take place you will see a recliner type chair. This is where you will be sitting for the surgery, so get comfortable. There will also be a large machine, with which the surgeon will perform the surgery. This machine might look clumsy, but it is a precision piece of equipment.

3- The first thing that will happen is your eye will get a washed out with a numbing solution. The lid will then be held in an open position with special clamps to prevent blinking. Once the numbing solution has started to work, the surgeon will use the machines magnifying lens and a scalpel to cut a flap-like incision in the cornea.

4- The incision will allow the laser access to the tissues below the cornea that need to be removed. The tests that were performed during your initial visit to the eye doctor determined how much of this tissue was to be removed. The machine that is in the room houses the laser and is attached to a computer.

5- The laser works based on pulses, when enough tissue is removed, the computer tells the laser to shut off. The surgeon then closes the flap of the cornea. That's it; your LASIK procedure is complete!

6- The surgeon does not use any sutures to close the incision on the cornea, instead a patch will be placed over the eye for protection during the healing process. You will end up looking like a pirate, but the patch will protect the cornea from the scratches and bumps of everyday life.

7- Most LASIK procedure patients return to work with in a couple of days and to normal everyday activities gradually over a couple of weeks. Be prepared to have blurry vision and sensitivity to light. These will both pass, and sensitivity to light. These will both pass, and your vision will be as clear as it was with glasses or better.

About the Author
John Mancini has been writing about Menopause online and offline for a long time. Visit http://about-menopause.net.

Lasik eye Safe or Dangerous

2006-06-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

LASIK Eye Surgery: Safe or Dangerous by Gage Killian

The question that goes through the mind of most every person considering LASIK eye correction surgery is whether or not it is safe. For those who don't know, LASIK or "Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis" is a type of vision correction surgery in which surgery is performed on the cornea of the eye using a laser.

Many who consider this surgery often have concerns of whether or not it is safe. Only through thoroughly understanding the procedure and the possible consequences can one make such a determination. LASIK surgery is most definitely not for everyone and knowing what makes you a good candidate can help you make that decision.

The first thing to remember is that LASIK surgery is a biological procedure and as with any biological procedure the human body may or may not accept it. This means that there is no one hundred percent surefire way to know that it will work or not. Needless to say, we as a society take these kinds of risks every day and may not even know it. For example, we drive to work every day and leave ourselves open to unsafe drivers yet we outweigh the dangers because it is important for us to get to work everyday to support ourselves.

Commonly, LASIK surgery is very successful. The amount of long term complications is less than half a percent. These odds are fairly great of a successful procedure compared to many other types of surgeries. The most common problems associated with LASIK surgery are as follows:

* Blurred Vision (temporary or long term)
* Loss of eyesight (or may be worse than before)
* Over correction or under correction
* Inability to drive at night due to night blindness

Most of the complications listed above may be treated with additional surgical procedures and are fairly uncommon for the most part. LASIK surgery on the other hand have given people eyesight with as good as 20 /20 vision and given people a chance to see without the help of contacts or glasses. Who seems to make a good candidate for LASIK are those who's vision have impaired them from normal day-to-day functions. This often justifies the reason for getting such a surgery. Many surgeons usually recommend these types of patients over the ones strictly wanting a type of cosmetic surgery in which they no longer have to wear glasses. Knowing this can help you decide whether or not the risks are greater than or less than the value of a successful LASIK procedure.

Lasik Eye Surgery Aftercare

2006-06-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

Lasik Eye Surgery Aftercare: The Dos and the Don'ts by Sara Chambers

Lasik surgery is becoming increasingly popular among individuals struggling with vision problems. Providing people with a way to toss out glasses and contacts, lasik surgery offers complete vision to those who have lived their whole lives on those mechanisms. Still, there are things to consider, including how the surgery works and the dos and don'ts of lasik eye surgery aftercare.
How the Surgery Works Lasik eye surgery is not a long process. In fact the FTC explains the procedure only takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye. During the procedure, a small flap is cut and lifted away from the eye. The tissue of the cornea is then reshaped by the laser and then protected by a plastic or metal shield.
What You Should Do After Another important element is taking your medication as described by the prescription. If you need help with drops, ask for it. Wait the appropriate length of time as described by your doctor before you continue with your regular activities such as work.
Lomas Eye Care adds that you should wear eye protection during the nighttime to keep anything from bumping or scraping the eye. Drink adequate water to keep hydrated.
What You Should Avoid After There are many, many things you will want to avoid after your surgery.
The first of these is rubbing your eyes. Do not, under any circumstances rub your eyes. In addition, avoid driving until your vision is completely clear and focused. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission also recommends that you keep away from hot tubs and swimming. Keep away from strenuous physical activities, especially one that could cause eye injury. Also do not exercise for a week after the operation. In addition to these things, you should keep away from smoky, dusty areas and refrain from wearing eye makeup.

Lasik eye surgery can change a person's life, and in most cases healing time is relatively quick. But this time can be made easier if individuals follow the dos and don'ts listed above. If you follow your doctor's instructions, you are much more likely to heal without complications.

10 Reasons For Eye Surgery Lasik

2006-06-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

10 Reasons For Eye Surgery Lasik! by Jerry Hall Leo

There is no "best" method for correcting vision errors. The most appropriate correction for you depends on your eyes and your lifestyle. You should discuss you situation with your ophthalmologist or eye doctor to decide which correction will be most effective for you.

10 Reasons for Lasik!

1. Nothing is as sweet as the freedom from the hassles and inconveniences of contacts or glasses.

2. You save money! Over the years, the costs of lenses, solutions and glasses amounts to thousands of dollars.

3 . You save time! In one year, the average contact lens wearer spends nearly 60 hours wetting, soaking, rubbing, cleaning and otherwise maintaining them. This is about 2.5 whole days!

4. Imagine waking up in the morning, and being able to see the clock!

5. You get to go swimming, scuba diving and be able to see things!

6. You are able to spontaneously go camping or stay overnight.

7. You are able to take a nap when the mood strikes without first having to remove lenses. Imagine the hassle saved!

8. You will be able to see while putting on makeup or shaving, no more squinting!

9. You will be able to participate in outdoor sports without glasses that fog or get splashed with rain or lenses that dry out in the wind.

10. And most important of all, you w ill be able to avoid the negative consequences of long term contact lens wear!

Clinicians wishing to undertake laser eye surgery should ensure that patients understand the benefits and potential risks of the procedure. So the better you understand your LASIK surgery, and what happens after your surgery, the better prepared you'll be for your surgery. Patients should be counseled on the potential risks and benefits of LASIK, then make an informed decision. No matter what your motivation may be, the decision to have eye improvement surgery is no small task and it should be considered carefully. If you decide Lasik surgery is for you, consulting your eye doctor is critical to making an informed decision.

About the Author
LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive Eye Surgery procedure.

New York Lasik Surgeons

2006-06-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

New York Lasik Surgeons by Damian

Advertisements for lasik are everywhere these days. However, some are less informative than others. While a trained and experienced surgeon can perform lasik surgery with relative ease, an operation that goes wrong may result in permanent visual deficits that cannot be corrected by surgery, contact lens or eyeglasses. Lasik is also a rapidly advancing field; newer methods are constantly being developed to improve surgical outcomes and make vision as close to perfect as possible. It is therefore important to take one's time in finding a lasik surgeon who is skilled, experienced and up to speed on current advances.

A good way to find reliable surgeons in New York State is through hospitals with an academic or research focus, such as leading teaching hospitals. Academic centers that focus on eye conditions in particular will likely have surgeons with a great deal of experience and exposure to the newest methods. A surgeon who is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons will typically have gone through a thorough process of verifying credentials and training and will have the letters FACS after their name and professional qualifications. Searching the American Academy of Ophthalmology website for 'refractive surgery' is another way to locate a good surgeon. Once a surgeon is identified, he or she should be willing to answer a patient's questions and to honestly address concerns related to lasik surgery. Specific questions to ask are how many procedures similar to the one you will undergo the surgeon has performed, and over what period of time. Ask about the percentage of patients who have a post- surgical visual acuity of 20 /20 or better; about half of all lasik patients in most practices fall into this group. A good surgeon will usually be willing to provide patient references; it is a good idea to speak with someone who has had exactly the same procedure as you are planning before scheduling surgery.
New York Lasik provides detailed information on Lasik Albany New York, Lasik Rochester New York, Lasik Surgery Upstate New York, Lasik Utica New York and more. New York Lasik is affiliated with Vision Correction

Facts on LASIK Eye Surgery

2006-06-08T02:33:00.000-07:00

Get the Facts on LASIK Eye Surgery by: Morgan Hamilton

Are you one of those poor people that can't seem to see as well as they used to. Are you near sighted or far sighted? Perhaps you also have astigmatism? If this sounds like you, you may have thought about LASIK eye surgery. LASIK stands for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea (the clear covering over the front of the eye). Before you ask, yes it does use a laser! Before you decide on LASIK eye surgery, you should get the facts on LASIK eye surgery. First, before you get LASIK eye surgery, you should know that if you where contacts, you must stop wearing them several weeks before you go for your initial LASIK eye surgery exam (this exam makes sure you are a candidate for LASIK). This is because contacts misshapen your eye. If you don't stop wearing them, the doctor will not know how to properly perform the LASIK eye surgery.
You must also have transportation to and from the hospital the day of the surgery. This is because you may be given a sedative and your vision will be impaired so you cannot drive. After the LASIK eye surgery, you will have some side effects that will last several days. Your eyes will itch and burn. You will feel as though something is in your eye. Your eyes may also water.
You must never touch your eyes or rub them for several weeks after the LASIK eye surgery. To protect your eyes, you will have to wear an eye shield while you sleep for several weeks. Other side effects are more long term. These can occur for 6 months or longer. These are: dry eyes, blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, light sensitivity, glares, and vision fluctuations. If you cannot handle any of this, then LASIK eye surgery is not for you. LASIK eye surgery has many rules you must follow after surgery. The eye shield was just one of them. You may not wear eye make up for at least 2 weeks. You may not go swimming or in a whirlpool or hot tub for at least 8 weeks.
You must also not play any contact sports for at least 4 weeks. These are the most important facts you should know about LASIK eye surgery. Be aware that even if you decide you want to have LASIK eye surgery, the doctor may feel that you are not a candidate for the procedure. This can be for many reasons that the doctor will have to go over with you. Now that you know the basics of LASIK eye surgery, take your time and do some research before making your decision. Seymour Blue offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects of Lasik Eye Surgery.

Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://eyesurgeryreview.info

New LASIK Technologies in Dallas

2006-06-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

New LASIK Technologies in Dallas by Devendra Jaiswal

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis and simply put is a procedure using an excimer laser that permanently changes the shape of the eye. A small flap is cut into the cornea and folded over to allow access to the part of the eye called the stroma, where the laser is used to reshape the cornea and the flap is closed.

LASIK is one type of laser eye surgery that is commonly performed for the correction of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Surgeons in Dallas and the greater Dallas areas who perform LASIK may also perform laser eye procedures such as PRK, LASEK and Epi- LASIK . They may also offer non-laser alternatives to LASIK, and may offer variations of LASIK such as monovision LASIK to address presbyopia, or custom LASIK using wavefront technology. Lasik eye surgery in Dallas has recently seen some tremendous advancement in Dallas, Texas. With the advent of new scanning and tracking capabilities, the level of safety and the odds of a 20 /20 outcome of have never been higher. Techniques such as Custom LASIK using the VISX Star S4 laser featuring the ActiveTrak 3D Eye Tracker and WavePrint system allow for a level of vision correction and safety previously unattainable. IntraLase or IntraLASIK, all-laser LASIK, dramatically reduces the risk of complications by eliminating the use of a blade.

Lasik Surgery is painless and usually takes less than 30 minutes. Your eye will be numbed and held open by a small instrument. A ring is then placed over the eye to create suction while the doctor makes the incision. The knife used to make this incision is called a microkeratome. The ring and microkeratome will then be removed for the doctor to position the laser on the area of your eye that is to be corrected. During this time, you will have to remain focused on a light straight in front of you. After the tissue is removed, the flap will be returned to its original position.

Anyone with a desire to free themselves from the endless routine of glasses or contact lenses should consider LASIK, although certain individuals are not suited for the LASIK procedure for various reasons. If your prescription changes frequently, you are pregnant or nursing, a diabetic, or if you have excessively dry eyes, be certain that the doctor is aware of these risk factors.

The ideal candidate for LASIK

* is at least eighteen years old, although some eyes are still developing and maturing at this age
* has not had a change in their glasses prescription for a year (has a stable refractive error)
* is within the correctable range
* is free of eye disease
* is willing to accept the potential risks, complications and side effects of LASIK.

About the Author The author is a regular contributor to halfvalue.com where more information about Lasik Surgery and other more accessories is available.

Eye Makeup After Lasik

2006-05-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Eye Makeup After Lasik! by Oswald H.Seifert

LASIK, or "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis," is the most common refractive surgery procedure. Refractive surgeries, including LASIK, reshape the cornea to correct distorted vision often eliminating the need for glasses or contacts.

Higher-order aberrations are visual problems not captured in a traditional eye exam. In a young healthy eye, the level of higher-order aberrations are typically low and insignificant. Concern has long plagued the tendency of refractive surgeries to induce higher-order aberration not correctible by traditional contacts or glasses. The advancement of lasik technique and technologies has helped eliminate the risk of clinically significant visual impairment after the surgery.

The following are some of the more frequently reported complications of LASIK:

1. Dry eyes
2. Overcorrection or undercorrection
3. Visual acuity fluctuation
4. Halos or starbursts around light sources at night
5. Light sensitivity
6. Ghosts or double vision
7. Wrinkles in flap (striae)
8. Decentered ablation

How Soon Can I Use Eye Makeup? You may resume wearing eye makeup starting 1-2 weeks after your treatment. We strongly recommend that you purchase new eye makeup, specifically mascara, to avoid potential infection following your treatment.

The most important thing for anyone considering LASIK surgery is to determine if they are a good candidate. Finding a surgeon who will honestly assess compatibility is extremely important, and vastly preferable to a provider who does not do a careful examination, and thus risks serious side effects.

LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure and will take 10 to 15 minutes for each eye.

The only anesthetic used is an eye drop that numbs the surface of the eye. The procedure is done with the person awake. LASIK may be done on one or both eyes during the same session.

During LASIK, a special knife (a microkeratome) is used to cut a hinged flap of corneal tissue off the outer layer of the eyeball. The flap is lifted out of the way and a special laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue.
About the Author

LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive Eye Surgery procedure

Lasik Eye Surgery Complications

2006-05-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Lasik Eye Surgery Complications by Beth Gabriel

What are some of the possible complications of Lasik eye surgery?

Undercorrection - this occurs when the expected vision correction falls short of the desired outcome. This occurs more commonly with patients who have a high degree of nearsightedness (only objects close up are clear), farsightedness (only objects far away are clear) or astigmatism (images both far and near are distorted). Why? There is more laser corneal sculpting that needs to occur with patients having higher degrees of vision imperfection. When choosing your Lasik eye surgeon, it's important to ask them what percentage of their patients need retreatment for undercorrection. This should be something that they are willing to freely discuss with you. If not, walk away! This is not to be confused with a planned slight undercorrection for nearsighted patients over forty years old which aids their reading vision. But this is something that you and your Lasik eye surgeon would have discussed before your surgery.

Overcorrection - this complication occurs less frequently than undercorrection and results when the amount of correction (corneal laser sculpting) exceeds what is planned. Slight overcorrection can be temporary and may resolve itself in the first month following Lasik eye surgery. Patients can manage slight overcorrections by wearing glasses until their vision resolves. Some patients with overcorrection may need additional Lasik eye surgery 3 to 6 months following their first surgery.

Dry Eye - many Lasik eye surgery patients may experience the feeling of 'grittiness' in their eyes following surgery. This condition usually resolves itself in 3 to 6 months and may be helped by using lubricating eye drops. Patients using birth control pills and patients going through menopause may experience this condition more often. If 'dry eye' continues beyond 6 months, your Lasik eye surgeon may recommend blocking your tear ducts with tiny silicon plugs to prevent tears from draining away too quickly.

Corneal abrasion - a small percentage of Lasik eye surgery patients may develop a small corneal abrasion (scrape) caused by the microkeratome (instrument used to create corneal flap) used during surgery. This abrasion is generally not serious and will heal quickly. Your Lasik eye surgeon may temporarily place a thin bandage contact lens on your eye to promote healing. While your abrasion is healing, your vision will be blurry.

Night glare - this annoying condition may not affect your vision clarity but patients may see halos or ghosting of images at night during the first month following surgery. Night glare generally improves in 3 months and often disappears within 6 months. Patients with large pupils and more severe vision impairment may be more prone to night glare.

Corneal flap complication - this occurs when the corneal flap is too small, too thin or is an irregular shape. In some cases the corneal flap may shift slightly following surgery if a patient rubs their eyes during the first 6 hours after surgery. If the flap does shift, 'wrinkles' can form causing distorted vision. A second procedure may be necessary to 'smooth out' the wrinkles and improve vision.

Infection - although this is the most feared complication of Lasik eye surgery patients, it is extremely rare. If your eye is going to become infected, chances are it will happen in the first 72 hours following surgery and will be treated with antibiotic eye drops. For this reason it is very important to avoid eye makeup, hot tubs and swimming pools for at least the first week following Lasik eye surgery.

The risks of Lasik eye surgery are low with an experienced Lasik eye surgeon but you need to be aware of possible complications prior to surgery. Your Lasik eye surgeon should freely discuss all possible complications of Lasik eye surgery prior to surgery. Do everything you can to put your eyes in the best possible hands.

About the Author
Beth Gabriel is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Lasik-Solutions.com.

What Is The Cost Of Lasik Eye Surgery? Are You Worth It?

2006-05-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

What Is The Cost Of Lasik Eye Surgery? Are You Worth It? by Bill Urell
Lasik eye surgery is the most advanced laser procedure that can be performed on the eyes. It can correct several common eye defects such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. This eliminates the need to wear clunky spectacles or even contact lenses. Lasik eye surgery can give you greatly improved eyesight and even up to a 20/20 vision.
This procedure makes use of special laser that directly treats the cornea and corrects the abnormality. First, the surgeon will slice off a thin flap in the cornea, and then use a special laser to reshape the cornea. The flap is then returned, and should heal in about an hour. This procedure can be done all in the span of around 10 to 15 minutes per eye, and involves minimal pain or discomfort to the patient.
This quick and easy-to-do nature of this operation has naturally made this very popular, even among those who are normally reluctant to go under any kind of surgery.
There are now many Lasik eye surgery centers making this procedure easily available to everyone.
The cost of Lasik eye surgery can range anywhere from $500 to $5,500 per eye and the average cost is about $2000. The prices can vary depending on the region and the reputation of the surgeon performing the operation. The equipment that the center uses is also a factor. Those opting for custom Lasik should expect to pay $200 to $400 more.
It's important to be cautious of advertisements offering low-cost Lasik surgery. Surgeons advertising Lasik for less than $1000 per eye are probably of substandard quality or these offers actually contain many additional hidden fees. These can include things like consultation fees and essential follow-up care.
They might also require special requirements or are only applicable to certain circumstances. When all these hidden costs are added up, the overall price of these low cost operations might even surpass that of other Lasik eye surgeons, that openly includes these expenses in their evaluation.
There are things to consider when choosing a Lasik eye surgeon. Be sure to make sure to have all the necessary information regarding the surgeon performing the operation, the price of the operation and what this price covers. Be sure to make all the necessary inquires. This is especially true for those advertising discounted Lasik surgery.
Be sure to ask if there are any additional charges for further enhancement surgeries and follow-up care. Ask how many follow up visits will be made. Centers only offering one or two are follow up visits or ask for an additional fee per visit are discouraged. Any necessary medical enhancements should be covered for up to 1 year after the surgery. If not, be sure to be aware of any additional charges that are to be made.
Find out the cost of the medication needed. This includes painkillers, etc. Also special protective goggles or glasses might be needed as well. If you are considering Lasik eye surgery it is important to remember to prioritize the safety of your eyes over the potential cost. Although minimal, there is a risk involved with undergoing any surgery. It is advisable to choose a reputable eye surgeon who's done at least 1000 successful Lasik eye surgeries, even if it might cost more, to minimize the risk of complications occurring.
Most Lasik eye center offer very reasonable payment plans, so that anyone can get Lasik surgery and pay for it in a way that works for them.
About the Author
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Flap Dislocation After LASIK

2006-05-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

Laser Eye Surgery Risks: Flap Dislocation After LASIK By Nicola Kennedy

Though it is the most prevalent of laser eye surgeries, LASIK has its share of complications. The post-operative complication rate is estimated from 3% to 6%. LASIK eye surgery involves cutting a flap of the corneal tissue with a hinge being left at one end of the flap. The flap is then folded back to reveal the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. After reshaping the corneal tissue with the aid of a high precision laser, typically the excimer laser, the flap is repositioned so as to remain in place by natural adhesion until it heals completely.

The LASIK procedure entails certain flap complications. Among the post-operative flap complications, a slipped flap is one of the most common. The corneal flap created during the operation may inadvertently detach from the rest of the cornea. It is imperative that the patient goes home and sleeps after surgery so as to let the flap heal, since the chances of flap dislocation are the greatest immediately after the surgery.

Other types of flap complications include folds in flaps and undesired epithelial in-growth. Post-operative folds in flap typically necessitate repositioning of the flap. Flap related problems are relatively common when it comes to LASIK complications. But they rarely lead to a permanent visual acuity loss. Moreover, the occurrence of flap complications decreases with increased surgeon experience. An expert LASIK surgeon, wielding superlative equipment, is far less likely to commit an error during the surgery.

Since LASIK entails the removal of a part of the corneal tissue, the cornea becomes thinner as a result of the procedure. Myopic shifts at extreme altitudes have been attributable to this thinning of the corneal surface. LASIK technology has advanced in leaps and bounds, with much advanced and risk free procedures available today. Owing to this, the chances of flap complications are rather minuscule. Moreover, there isn’t a large body of conclusive evidence so as to assert the chances of any long-term flap complications due to LASIK.

In summary, LASIK is a viable and safe procedure when it comes to correcting a variety of refractive errors. Furthermore, whatever small flap complications may arise can be rectified with ease.

Finding a LASIK surgery that you are confident about will be able to give you more information about the risks of laser eye surgery.
The LASIK Surgeons Directory - find a LASIK surgery. Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news and views about risks of laser eye surgery at Your Lasik Information.

Monovision With LASIK

2006-04-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

Monovision is one clinical technique used to deal with the correction of presbyopia, the gradual loss of the ability of the eye to change focus for close-up tasks that progresses with age. The intent of monovision is for the presbyopic patient to use one eye for distance viewing and one eye for near viewing. This practice was first applied to fit contact lens wearers and more recently to LASIK and other refractive surgeries. With contact lenses, a presbyopic patient has one eye fit with a contact lens to correct distance vision, and the other eye fit with a contact lens to correct near vision.
In the same way, with LASIK, a presbyopic patient has one eye operated on to correct the distance vision, and the other operated on to correct the near vision. In other words, the goal of the surgery is for one eye to have vision worse than 20/20, the commonly referred to goal for LASIK surgical correction of distance vision.
Since one eye is corrected for distance viewing and the other eye is corrected for near viewing, the two eyes no longer work together. This results in poorer quality vision and a decrease in depth perception. These effects of monovision are most noticeable in low lighting conditions and when performing tasks requiring very sharp vision. Therefore, you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses to fully correct both eyes for distance or near when performing visually demanding tasks, such as driving at night, operating dangerous equipment, or performing occupational tasks requiring very sharp close vision (e.g., reading small print for long periods of time).

Many patients cannot get used to having one eye blurred at all times. Therefore, if you are considering monovision with LASIK, make sure you go through a trial period with contact lenses to see if you can tolerate monovision, before having the surgery performed on your eyes. Find out if you pass your state's driver's license requirements with monovision.

In addition, you should consider how much your presbyopia is expected to increase in the future. Ask your doctor when you should expect the results of your monovision surgery to no longer be enough for you to see near-by objects clearly without the aid of glasses or contacts, or when a second surgery might be required to further correct your near vision.

Bilateral Simultaneous Treatment

2006-04-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Your surgeon should have warned you of these and any other known issues before your surgery. If you are thinking about surgery be certain your surgeon discusses all of these and any other known complications before your surgery. Several of these are avoidable by proper pre-operative screening.

You may choose to have LASIK surgery on both eyes at the same time or to have surgery on one eye at a time. Although the convenience of having surgery on both eyes on the same day is attractive, this practice is riskier than having two separate surgeries. The second eye may have a higher risk of developing an inflammation if surgery is done on the same day than if surgery is performed on separate days. If a malfunction of the laser or microkeratome occurs causing a complication with the first eye, the second eye is more likely to also experience the same complication if the surgery is performed on the same day rather than on separate days.

If you decide to have one eye done at a time, you and your doctor will decide how long to wait before having surgery on the other eye. If both eyes are treated at the same time or before one eye has a chance to fully heal, you and your doctor do not have the advantage of being able to see how the first eye responds to surgery before the second eye is treated.

Another disadvantage to having surgery on both eyes at the same time is that the vision in both eyes may be blurred after surgery until the initial healing process is over, rather than being able to rely on clear vision in at least one eye at all times.