Laser Eye Surgery - Weighing Up The Pros And Cons

Poor eye sight is something which afflicts most people at some point in their lives. While for some people this means nothing more than wearing reading glasses as they approach middle age, there are many more people who have been wearing glasses and contact lenses on a regular basis for so long that they can no longer recall what life with perfect vision was like. For these people laser eye treatment ? where the cornea is reshaped by a laser ? may be an interesting proposition.

However, as laser eye surgery is an expensive and permanent procedure it is not a decision to be taken lightly and there are many factors which need to be considered when weighing up the pros and cons before opting for treatment.

There is no doubt that laser eye surgery can change a person?s life in a very positive way. For around 90% of patients, laser eye treatment means that they no longer require use of their glasses or lenses. After wearing glasses for many years, simple things such as waking up in the morning and being able to see the time on the alarm clock without reaching for your glasses first, can bring a lot of pleasure. It should be noted, however that poor night vision and seeing a halo effect around lights are a normal side effect of laser eye surgery which can make driving at night dangerous without using glasses. However, most patients consider this a small price to pay for perfect vision in the daytime.

Other than poor night vision ? which may even be worse than it was prior to surgery ? there are further negative factors which need to be considered when deciding whether to commit to laser eye treatment. Common side effects include dry eyes, although after a six month course of eye drops most people find this condition improves. A minority of patients, if they underwent Lasik, may also develop corneal infections. In some instances this may develop in the small flap which was cut in the cornea to allow the laser to reshape the tissue. Corneal ecstasia can occur if the cornea is weakened, as pressure can build up causing an unnatural bulging. Further surgery will be required to prevent vision loss.

There is also the risk of problems arising during surgery, although the likelihood of these occurring is very small. For instance, in Lasik the corneal flap may become detached. In most instances this can be reattached once laser treatment is complete. In a rare number of cases damage occurs to the flap which prevents this. Vision loss is possible in a failed operation, but thankfully is extremely uncommon.

Another factor in your decision should be your expectations. If you believe laser eye surgery will give you 20/20 vision and you would not be satisfied if glasses were still required after surgery, the procedure may not be for you. Although the result is usually sufficient for the patient to go without their glasses ? except perhaps at night time, as previously mentioned ? the result is not always perfect. Under correction or over correction can occur and it is much harder to achieve ?perfect? sight in patients whose vision is very poor. However, for some patients a substantial improvement in their sight is enough to justify surgery, even if they can?t quite see the bottom line on the optician?s sight chart.

The best way to make your decision is to research laser eye surgery very thoroughly. Consulting your optician or contacting a vision clinic which specialises in this treatment is a good way of obtaining information and finding out if it is a good choice for you.

Leanne has had several articles published o the subject of laser eye surgery, including Lasik

http://www.lasereyesurgery.about-beauty.net

Laser Eye Surgery - Why and How to Find a Good Surgeon

Laser eye surgery comes at a high cost, and this is certainly a big factor for many people when choosing a laser eye practitioner. However, while finding an affordable vision clinic is important the biggest influence in your decision should be the ability and skill of the surgeon. Opting for a surgeon purely based on cost cutting may bring unsatisfactory results or, in the worst case scenario, lose you your sight.

The importance of finding a good surgeon

Only a minority of patients achieve true 20/20 vision, although most patients will experience a significant improvement in their vision which allows them to function on a daily basis without either contact lenses or glasses. However, there are also plenty patients who still require use of glasses after surgery despite an overall improvement in their sight.

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, if the procedure is not performed meticulously then over or under correction of the vision can occur. Secondly, it is common for laser eye surgery patients to develop very poor night vision and also see ?halo? effects appearing around lights. This will necessitate the use of glasses in low-level light conditions, especially when driving. Lastly, patients with extremely poor vision may be unsuitable candidates for surgery at all, as achieving ?perfect? vision may be implausible. While the nature of laser eye treatment means that the risk of these side effects or problems can never be eradicated, however skilled the surgeon, a good surgeon will vastly improve the chances of achieving a satisfactory outcome.

Another reason why it is imperative to find a reputable and highly skilled surgeon is that the procedure is not without its risks. Lasik is considered the most risky form of laser eye surgery, but is also the most popular due to its quick recovery time. In Lasik, a small incision needs to be made in the cornea to allow laser treatment to take place. If due care is not take, the flap may become detached. If the flap is also damaged, it might be impossible to reattach it to the eye. While improbable, full or partial vision loss can result from surgery. The likelihood of complications arising diminishes if you are in the hands of a highly qualified and experienced laser eye practitioner.

How to find a reputable surgeon

Your first step in finding a good surgeon should be to first find a reputable clinic. Be wary of vision clinics making outrageous claims such as ?20/20 vision guaranteed? or ?perfect vision or your money back?. Before finding a clinic, research what can realistically expected from the laser eye surgery. If a clinic is making promises that they cannot guarantee delivery on, they may not be a good choice for your surgery. The best clinic is one which is honest about the potential results of laser eye treatment, both good and bad.

Compare as many clinics as possible. This does not just include the cost, although that is still a consideration for most people. Equipment can vary from clinic to clinic. Ideally, you should opt for surgery somewhere which provides the most up to date procedures and uses FDA approved equipment.

Ask your surgeon about his qualifications and training. It is also prudent to ask how many procedures he has carried out, particularly in the type of laser eye treatment you have opted for (for example Lasik or PRK). A good surgeon will be very thorough when discussing the procedure and will outline the potential risks, the side effects and what results you can realistically expect.

To locate a clinic or surgeon try searching the internet or asking your optician for a referral. American patients may also wish to visit American Academy of Ophthalmology's website.

Leanne has had several articles published on laser eye treatment, including laser eye surgery cost

http://www.lasereyesurgery.about-beauty.net

Laser Eye Treatment - What to Expect After Surgery

Laser eye surgery is generally a painless and straightforward procedure that takes little more than 15 minutes from the start of preparing the eye area to the completion of surgery. Patients can therefore expect to undergo treatment and return home in a matter of hours and should be sufficiently recovered to return to work within 7 days. The time taken to make a full recovery and the side effects vary from patient to patient, but there are general patterns that can be observed and guidelines that should be adhered to.

The guidelines your doctor will issue you with may vary depending on which type of laser eye surgery you have undergone. As a rule though, non-contact sports should be avoided for between 3 days and a week. This is especially important in procedures such as Lasik, where a flap is cut in the cornea, as the cornea may become detached during vigorous activity. Because of the risk of damage to the cornea, contact sports such as karate and kick boxing will need to be avoided for at least 4 weeks following surgery. Swimming and hot tubs should remain out of bounds for up to 2 months.

If you frequently wear lotion or make up you will need to wait at least two weeks before using products around the eye area again. This is to prevent infection occurring.

Lasik surgery is very popular because it has a very quick recovery time. There is very little discomfort after surgery and the patient should have clear vision within 24 to 48 hours and vision should become stable within 4 weeks.

Lasek treatment involves softening the epithelium with an alcoholic solution so that the surface of the cornea can be folded to one side to allow the laser to reshape the tissue underneath. The cornea will gently be pushed back into place after the procedure is complete, and a contact lens will hold it in place for several days following surgery.

Patients who have undergone Lasek laser eye surgery may experience discomfort for several days and require painkillers. Light sensitivity is also normal during the first 24 hours, which may cause further discomfort. Vision can remain blurred for around a week. It is normal for a patient?s sight to fluctuate for several months following surgery, and it may be around 6 months before the vision finally stabilizes.

Following laser eye surgery, a protective shield must be worn at night and you will be given anti-inflammatory eye drops. Drops are also required for 6 months to keep the eyes lubricated, as dry eyes are a common side effect of treatment. In the weeks following surgery, your eyes will be much more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV rays so sunglasses must be worn out doors for the first three months.

After undergoing corrective laser eye treatment many patients notice their vision is poor in low light conditions such as thick fog or darkness. At night they may also notice a halo effect around lights. Unlike other side effects from laser eye surgery, poor night vision is usually permanent and you may require glasses to drive safely at night, even if your vision is excellent during the daytime.

Always ensure that your surgeon fully explains what after effects you can expect from laser eye treatment and gives you comprehensive guidelines of how to protect your eyes and maximise the healing process. Never be afraid to ask questions. Your doctor should be happy to answer your queries.

Leanne has had several articles published on the subject of laser eye treatment.

http://www.lasereyesurgery.about-beauty.net

Lasik Eye Surgery-How to Find A Lasik Surgeon You Can Trust

Since LASIK surgery has been so popular, many doctors started offering it. That?s good for us, the potential patients. It gives us a wide array of possible eye surgeons to choose from. So it?s up to us to choose well. To do that, we need to prepare a list of good questions to ask our potential doctors. Then we should set up a series of interviews with the best candidates. You can find names of LASIK surgeons by:

Asking friends and acquaintances

Asking your family doctor for a referral, or your regular eye doctor

Looking at advertisements or the phone book (but see under The First Principle!)

Contacting the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) (http://aao.org/)

The first principle

The thing we shouldn?t compromise on is quality. How can we trust a doctor who puts his profit ahead of our eyesight? Some LASIK facilities advertise low prices and this may at first look attractive.

Caveat emptor ? buyer beware!

A facility which charges low fees has to make up for those low fees by:

? Processing large numbers of patients as quickly as possible
? Purchasing cheap equipment
? Buying or leasing an old, cheaper laser
? Re-using things which should be fresh for each patient, such as latex gloves and microkeratome blades
? Autoclaving (sterilizing) equipment less often
? Paying lower salaries, which means hiring less skilled staff
? Giving you less surgeon time, since surgeon time is expensive, being so highly skilled
? Omitting parts of the initial examination of your eyes to determine if you?re a good candidate for LASIK

So it?s best to resist those low prices and instead look among the facilities where surgeon time is given more freely and no corners are cut.

Some questions to ask your candidates

1. Is he actively associated with an academic medical center?

A LASIK surgeon who stays in touch with research and new developments will be up to date in his practice and aware of any downsides to new technology, as well as its advantages.

2. What professional organizations does he or she belong to?

Some examples are:

? The AAO ? keeps LASIK surgeons in touch with each other, and offers further training, professional support, etc.

? The American College of Surgeons ? has a stiff credentialing process and enables its members to stay current with surgical advancements.

3. How long has he been doing LASIK surgery?

You would want at least 3 years of experience. Don?t believe any statements like ?Oh, over 20 years?? because the FDA didn?t approve LASIK in the U.S. until 1999.

4. How many times has the surgeon previously done the exact procedure recommended for you?

Expect about 100. You want a surgeon with extensive experience, both to do a premium job for you, and in case anything goes wrong. A novice might not be able to handle an emergency situation.

5. What percentage of your patients have gained 20/20 vision?

You?d be looking to hear ?About 50%?. That?s the average. Any higher number would have to be backed-up.

6. Ask for the names and contact information of some previous patients who have had the exact same procedure you?re planning to have. A good LASIK surgeon will have names ready to give you.

7. Has the surgeon ever had malpractice insurance coverage denied? If so, move on.

8. How many other eye surgeries has the LASIK surgeon performed?

Besides LASIK, some others are:

? LASEK
? PRK
? CK
? Lens replacement

Choose an eye surgeon who knows the whole field, not just one sliver of it. With thorough knowledge of all vision correction surgeries, the surgeon can recommend the best one for you.

Making the decision

When you interview your candidates, don?t be shy about pressing for a clear answer. A good LASIK surgeon will take time to develop a good understanding with you and make sure you?re clear on your options, and on the benefits and potential risks of your surgery.

After you interview everybody, if you still aren?t sure you?ve found the right surgeon, go ahead and interview some more. Don?t feel you must go with the surgeon you?ve just talked with.

Good eye surgeons realize that many people are anxious about having someone work on their eyes and use a laser doing it. You can end the interview saying that you need to think some more. Your eyesight is far too important to put in the hands of anyone you mistrust, even slightly. So trust your intuition and keep looking until you feel fully confident with the LASIK surgeon you choose.

For more information or a consultation, feel free to contact Dr. Khanna of the Khanna Eye Institute in Los Angeles, California.

PRK Laser Eye Surgery - Photorefractive Keratectomy

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) was the forerunner of Lasek laser eye surgery. It has been around for over 12 years and is therefore considered a safe procedure as to date there has been no evidence to suggest that PRK causes harm to eyes and vision in the long term. However, it is now much less commonly used than Lasek treatment and Lasik, which at present is the most popular form of laser eye surgery.

The most frequent reason for a laser eye surgery practitioner to recommend PRK over the other forms of treatment is that the patient has an unusually thin cornea or a large pupil. In these in instances, PRK is the safer option as Lasik works through a flap being created in the cornea and Lasek treatment is enabled by softening the cornea with an alcoholic solution. Both of these forms of treatment become much more complex if the cornea is too thin.

During preparation for surgery, the eye area will be cleaned thoroughly and the eyelid held in place with a metal ring. Anesthetic drops are administered t numb the eyes to prevent discomfort during the use of the laser. Unlike other types of laser eye treatment, where the shape of the eye is reformed underneath the surface of the cornea, PRK works by reshaping the cornea by eliminating a thin layer of cells from the surface of the eye with an excimer laser. The epithelium will grow back naturally and no undue side effects should result from its temporary removal.

Although PRK is a safe procedure its downside, in comparison to newer forms of laser eye surgery, is that recovery time can take longer and PRK patients generally experience greater pain and discomfort. Vision may remain hazy or slightly blurred for up to two months, when the final effects of laser eye treatment should become noticeable. Dry eyes are a common side effect and eye drops should be used to keep the eyes lubricated and free from infection.

As with all forms of laser eye surgery, PRK carries certain risks. For instance, while daytime vision may be improved sufficiently for the patient to go about their daily routine without glasses or contact lenses, dark conditions can be a problem. Night vision may be even poorer than it was pre-surgery and it is very common for patients to see a glare or ?halo? around lights. This can make driving at night inadvisable, at least of the first few months, and after this time glasses may be required for driving after dark.

Although laser eye surgery is permanent, patients need to remember that their vision can still deteriorate as part of the ageing process and that, at some point in the future, they may once again have to wear glasses or contact lenses. Your chances of attaining good results from laser eye treatment will be greatly increased if you suffer from only mild to moderate near or long sightedness and the longevity of the results can be extended if your prescription has remained stable for several years.

Despite the popularity of newer treatments such as Lasik, PRK can still be a viable option with a number of advantages, in particular its reputation as a safe procedure. Only a qualified ophthalmologist can advise you which type of laser eye surgery is most suitable for your needs.

Leanne has had several articles published on the subject of laser eye treatment. http://www.lasereyesurgery.about-beauty.net