laser eye surgery---->general information

What Is Corrective Laser Eye Surgery?

In layman's term, corrective laser eye surgery is a way to fix your eyesight, without the use of glasses or contacts, and a way for you to be able to see the world as you are supposed to see it. Corrective laser eye surgery is considered as one of the newest and established technologies for eyesight correction.

Laser Eye Surgery

A minimally invasive laser treatment which reshapes the cornea and helps the eye to focus properly is the laser vision correction of the eye. This treatment is effective enough to reduce or eliminate the use of contact lens or eyeglasses

How Corrective Laser Eye Surgery Works

The basis behind corrective laser eye surgery is just as it sounds. In the surgery process, lasers are utilized to operate on the cornea and fix the parts of your eyes that don’t work, so that your eyesight becomes clearer and much improved. The whole process usually takes only a few minutes, depending on the patient’s present state of health.

Depending on how poor your eyesight is, and what type of problems you have to cause your eyesight to worsen, you are going to see varying results in how much better your eyesight will get when you are finished with the corrective laser eye surgery treatments.

The Benefits Of Corrective Laser Eye Surgery

There are a lot of apparent benefits to corrective laser eye surgery. To begin with, you will no longer require glasses or contact lens, which are something that creates a lot of hassle for many people.

If you have a new born kid, you will realize how troublesome it is to wear glasses. Your baby always likes to pull your glasses, and break it if you are not careful! It's such a hassle. Contact lens is good, but you cannot be wearing your contact lens 24 hours 7 days a week!

Needing glasses and contacts also makes things like water sports difficult because you either have to chance losing your contacts, wear prescription goggles, or simply go without being able to see very well.

It is quite easy to see that corrective laser eye surgery is going to be beneficial to you and your life in many different ways.

Risks and Complications

Just like any surgical operation, there are risks involved in corrective laser eye surgery. We're all well-acquainted with the touted benefits of corrective surgery, but what about what the ads don't necessarily tell you? What are the risks associated with laser eye surgery? Any surgical procedure carries with it a certain amount of risk, and laser eye surgery is no different.

Some of the risks of undergoing such procedures include:

• Loss of vision. If things don't go as planned, some patients emerge from the procedure with vision that's worse than what they came in with.
• Development of new visual problems. Some patients develop a glare, halos, starbursts and double vision as a result of laser eye surgical procedures.
• Undertreatment/ Overtreatment- Reshaping the cornea is a delicate business. Sometimes the cornea is not reshaped enough—too little material is taken out; sometimes it's reshaped too much—too much material is taken out.
• Dry eyes. Many patients report having dry eyes after surgery. Although eye drops (plus a little time for healing) are usually able to correct or at least help the problem, in some more serious cases, special plugs are required to prevent tears from draining away from the eyes.
• Infection and other flap-healing problems. Cutting a flap into your cornea is like cutting any other part of your body. There is always the potential that it may get infected or otherwise not heal properly.
• Results may diminish with Time. Although technically not a “risk” of surgery, you should know that even with the best laser eye surgery, the results don't last forever. The cornea continues to age and change shape. Keep in mind that these procedures are still so new that no long-term data exists. In how many people will Lasik corrections last twenty years or longer? We don't really know. The first FDA-approved Lasik eye surgery was in 1998.

Are You a Candidate for Laser Eye Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for laser eye surgery if you:

• are at least 21 years of age for a Summit laser or 18 years of age for a VISX laser, since the eyes are still growing to this point
• have healthy eyes that are free from retinal problems, corneal scars, and any eye disease (refractive errors are considered eye disorders, not diseases)
• have mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness) within the range of treatment (see your doctor to determine your range)
• have a way to pay for the treatment since laser procedures are costly and probably not covered by health insurance policies
• are fully informed about the risks and benefits of laser surgery compared with other available treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Eye Surgery

Is it painful?

There is little if any discomfort during surgery because the cornea and eye are anesthetized by drops. Some patients experience a "scratchy feeling." After the anesthetic wears off, the amount of discomfort varies with each individual, but any irritation is minor and usually disappears within a few hours. You may be sensitive to light for a few days.

When will I be able to return to work?

Most people can return to work one to three days following surgery, but a rule of thumb is to wait until you feel up to it. Most return to normal activities as soon as the day after surgery.

What are the side effects and risks?

The most common side effects are a halo effect and some glare at night around lights.

How long does the treatment take?

Laser treatment itself takes only about 15 to 40 seconds, based on the degree of correction necessary. Recovery is minimal, and usually the patient is able to be driven home after about 30 minutes. Typically, you will notice improved sight in 3 to 5 days following treatment.

Is the treatment permanent?

According to the results of the U.S. clinical trials and results reported internationally, the treatment appears to be permanent. As people age, however, their eyes change and re-treatment may be necessary.

Are there any activity restrictions following surgery?

Following surgery, do not rub your eyes. Other than that, patients can do whatever they feel up to as long as they follow their doctors' instructions.

What if I move my head during surgery?

This is the number one question that patients ask when undergoing laser treatment. The surgeon is skilled in the technique of removing his foot from the pedal that controls the ultraviolet beam as soon as a patient moves his or her head. This allows him to realign the beam with the corneal "target" and proceed with the surgery.