Corrective Laser Eye Surgery – Advances In Lasik Eye Surgery Procedures

In order to correct vision, surgeons use lasers to reshape the cornea by intervening on the tissues on the underlying or stromal layer. The medicine currently comprises two very effective types of laser eye surgery: the Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) and the Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK).

In Photo Refractive Keratectomy, the doctor manually scrapes away the cornea and corrects the vision using an excimer laser. Unfortunately the epithelium layer will grow back in time, not to mention that the recovery period is longer than with LASIK.

On the other side, PRK procedure involves fewer risks because the surgeon doesn´t cut the cornea.

LASEK (Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileus) is the new and improved PRK and uses a solution with alcohol to soften the area before removing the epithelium. After the excimer laser reshapes the stroma, the surgeon replaces the epithelium. With LASEK the healing process is shorter than with PRK.

Next, LASEK developed into Epi-LASEK. The doctor preserves a living layer of the epithelium using a separator and after the vision is corrected with excimer laser, the layer is replaced. The healing process is even shorter now.

LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis cuts the cornea flap with a microkeratome metal blade, reshapes the eye with an excimer laser and repositions the flap. This procedure corrects vision right away and the patient will only experience some blurriness during the next 24-hours.

Custom Vue LASIK is pretty much the same thing as LASIK but it uses Wavefront software. The technology used is 25% more accurate than any standard method and is used to map the optical system and to guide the laser to change the stroma.

With Custom Intra LASIKthe flap is made using a femtosecond Intralase laser. Then with the help of Wavefront guidance the excimer laser corrects the visual errors.

According to the experts this is the most advanced procedure for corneal flap creation but unfortunately it is also the most expensive one.

Learn more about lasik eye surgery as well as the common lasik eye surgery problems.

Eye Care Professionals Help With Seeing Clearly

When it comes to your eyes it is important to treat them well. You take care of your eyes and they will take care of you. That is why it is necessary to visit eye care professionals at least once a year. A family eye care center is an ideal place to take all of your family, as it can serve as your one stop shopping experience when it comes to vision care. But you may be having questions about what will be happening to you and who you will be seeing.

Eye care professionals are divided into three categories. You have the ophthalmologist, the optometrist and the optical technicians. The ophthalmologist can perform routine vision tests, give you an eye examination and even operate on your eyes. They are licensed to prescribe medical ointments for any type of eye problem. The optometrist is similar in all the job duties of the ophthalmologist, except they are not trained to operate on the eyes. The optical technicians are the ones who will get your glasses or contacts prepared and have you fitted.

For vision care to work you must have a vision care plan. The vision care plan is a scheduled set of visitations for routine checkups for the entire family. If something is found, such as glaucoma, then you will have to visit the doctor more often. He or she will probably want to see you at least every six months and sometimes as frequently as every three months just to check on the condition of the eyes.

Once you have seen the doctor, it may be time to get a fitting for glasses, custom lenses or a contact lens fitting. This is done by the optical technicians. They will measure your face to find out the specific measurements in order to fit you with glasses. In the case of contact lenses, the technician will take the doctor's orders and find you contacts based on your ocular fit. This is the point that you may be able to pick out certain brands and colors to wear but don't buy from here, you will find contact lenses far cheaper online.

Eye care professionals have many jobs but their number one priority is keeping your vision healthy. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, can affect your eyes. That is why it is important to let your ophthalmologist or optometrists know if you are having any problems with your vision or if you have problems with you health. It is also important to keep him or her apprised of any family history of macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts.

The cost of contact lenses adds up to a substantial amount over the course of the year yet most folk just keep handing over the check to their eye care specialist without giving a thought to shopping around. Did you know for instance that online you can get the exact same contact lenses offered to you by your eye care professionals at up to half the price? To see more: "Click Here"

Just What Can Be Done Through Cosmetic Eye Laser Surgery?

Did you know that you can have cosmetic eye surgery performed on your upper and lower eyelids? The tissues around the eye can have certain age-related changes; the elasticity decreases causing the skin tone to change, the eyebrows start to droop and additional skin accumulates on the upper and lower eyelids.

It is also quite common to have areas of fatty skin cumulate around the eyes. Then there are eye diseases like facial nerve palsy or disthyroid which can also cause these skin problems even with youthful people; so do you have any questions on the types of laser eye surgery you want answered? Read on.

Blepharoplasty: a popular cosmetic eye surgery procedure

This is one form of cosmetic eye laser surgery that can be done to enhance the facial features and reverse any age related changes to the eye. During this procedure all unwonted skin is removed with the help of a laser. The lasers can also be used to remove fatty deposits from under the eye and erase wrinkles from the lower eyelid.

Lasers, a world of benefits

Using lasers for cosmetic eye laser surgery provides several additional benefits. One big advantage is that the surgeon can see the organ he's working on much, much better since he has the ability to very quickly seal any blood vessels. This obviously allows the surgeon to work with much higher precision. Also a patient who undergoes cosmetic laser eye surgery will normally suffer far less swelling after the operation. Once the cosmetic surgery is over: Once terminated the procedure just like with any other types of laser eye surgery you will experience a pain from increased light sensitivity and blurred vision. This is quite normal and in a lot of cases your doctor will probably give you some medication to deal with this problem. After a few days your eyes will return to normal and you can resume normal activities.

It is normal for doctors to thoroughly check your eyes over before allowing any kind of surgery, even in the case of cosmetic laser eye surgery. Be sure to consider all aspects of a cosmetic eye laser surgery procedures before deciding to go through with the procedure. As with all surgical procedures there are both benefits and risks that should be weighed carefully before proceeding.

Eye care Advice

Your eye care health is important to your entire well being. Your eyes are your most valuable resource and should be cared for properly. That is why it is important for people to visit an eye care professional each year to determine if their vision has changed or any diseases of the eye are present. As you probably know, the body ages and with it the eyes age too. Your vision may change and you might be required to wear corrective lenses. You are also in danger of developing such diseases as glaucoma or cataracts.

During eye care exams, you can expect a barrage of tests. The doctor will measure how accurately you can see with both eyes open and then he or she will measure to see how far or close you can see with each individual eye. Eye doctors will also peer into your eyes with a bright, magnified light called a slit lamp. It is used to view the cornea, iris and the optic nerve.

If there is a problem with the optic nerve being too large or irregular in size, then your doctor may wish to test for glaucoma. Should it turn out to be glaucoma, there is glaucoma treatment, such as operating on the eye itself to correct the problem. The doctor may decide to give you a field vision test to determine how advanced the glaucoma is and they will measure the pressure in the eye.

When you have a field vision test you will stare into a machine at a small black dot. You have to keep your eyes focused on this dot, as bright lights flash in your peripheral vision. You will press a small button every time you see one of these lights. It is not a complicated eye care test but it can be used by doctors to determine if your optic nerve is damaged and whether or not this is caused by glaucoma.

For vision care to be received you are either going to have to pay for it yourself, which can be costly, or you can have your vision insurance company pay for the treatments and the visits. It is important to have your eyes checked, so if you do not have insurance, then you may still want to invest your money in optical examinations. Getting the appropriate care for your eyes is very important and it should not be overlooked.

You need to schedule an eye care checkup at least once a year. If glaucoma is detected or if you have a family history of glaucoma, then your ophthalmologist may request to see you every six months to keep track of the disease. The earlier they can catch it, the easier it will be to fix it. Never forget to schedule an eye examination every year. Your vision will thank you for it.

Have you had your eye care checkup this year? It is important to visit a vision specialist at least once a year to ensure that your vision is healthy and that you are wearing the right prescription for your needs. You may have to go to a local vision care specialist but that does not mean that it stops there. If you want to wear contacts then you need to do your shopping elsewhere. You will find discounts not available from your local eye care specialist. To compare just how much you can save on contact lenses by buying online: "Click Here"

Eyecare Conditions

It is a shame to take your vision for granted. Everyone needs to see an eye care professional at least once a year. A routine examination can be all that stands between you and any number of eye conditions that people are afflicted with daily. It might be something as simple as needing glasses or it could be an eye disease that if left untreated could mean the loss of your vision. Do yourself and your eyes a favor by getting checked out once a year.

An eye examination is pretty simple. Eye doctors will check for any number of conditions. One of the primary reasons why people seek out eye examinations is because they are having trouble seeing things at a distance or close up. If you are having trouble seeing, then it may be a case of myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). Myopia means that you can see things close up but have trouble seeing things that are far away. Hyperopia is the exact opposite. You can see things far away but cannot see things close up.

There are certain conditions an eye care professional will look for. These conditions may be glaucoma, astigmatism, cataracts or even conjunctivitis. If glaucoma is present, then there will be a rise in the intraocular pressure found within the eyes. Glaucoma treatment usually involves careful monitoring of the pressure and surgery may be needed. Do not let age fool you. Many people are born with glaucoma and have to monitor it throughout their lives. An eyecare checkup will determine this for you.

Astigmatism is when the cornea is oval shaped instead of its natural round shape, yet it is generally not a major condition. Many people have this problem and must wear special glasses or contact lenses to correct it. Cataracts are definitely a problem. Cataracts occur when the lenses become cloudy and an eye doctor will have to operate to remove the cloudy material. This condition is fairly common in the elderly.

Next on the list of conditions is conjunctivitis. This is a condition where there is an infection of the conjunctiva. Many people know this condition as "pink eye." It can be treated by your family care physician or it can be treated by eye doctors. The usual method of curing this condition is to provide drops that will clear the infection. It should be noted that conjunctivitis is extremely transmittable.

As you can see, eyecare is extremely important to correct diseases of the eyes and for seeing clearly at any range. That is why it is so important to seek out optical eye care professionals whenever there is a problem and even seek them out when there is no problem present. It is important to make sure you see a professional at least once a year to monitor the health of your eyes.

It is easy to forget about your eye care needs. Even if you wear prescription lenses, it is easy to forget to schedule a yearly visit to an optometrist. Most people cannot afford to go to the eye doctor every year. The economy is forcing a lot of cutbacks in how people spend their hard earned money. If you wear contacts then you know how expensive they can be but have you tried shopping for your contacts online? To see more: "Click Here"

What Is The Price For Laser Eye Surgery

If you are thinking about lasik laser eye surgery procedure, probably the next thing in your mind is how much does it going to cost you. Unfortunately the price is going to differ widely depending upon many different factors. There are a lot of factors that determine the price.

Geographical locations is one of them. Depends on where you are. For examples in the USA Beverly Hills laser eye surgery is going to cost differently from Pennsylvania lasik eye surgery.

Treatment facility is another factor. The cost of eye surgery at the hospital is going to be different from a specialized eye treatment center and again different from a small private clinic.

A treatment center with good reputation and famous eye doctors with cost you more than the regular hospital. Of course the treatment facility and the doctors credential will determine the price too.

You might be wondering, is there a typical price?

There is an average price above all the other factors. Normally for the laser procedure each eye would cost around $2000 dollars. This is the base price and you will not find much variation across the board.

Those factors that are mentioned above that makes the price differences.These factors such as local taxes, geographical locations, the qualifications of the surgeon performing the surgery and the royalties that the surgeon would have to pay. Nevertheless the lasik procedure price normally be within the range.

Would there be an extra cost?

Under normal circumstances, the cost that are quoted to you during consultation are pretty much the total cost that you would have to pay. Other additional cost incurred if any, would be the follow up treatments, post surgery medications if there is any complications involved.

Are there a Discount Price?

Well, eye surgeons are running a business. Just like any other business there are a lot of competition around and they have to be competitive in order to stay open. Therefore they do offer various forms of discounts to patients.

Check your local yellow pages, mail in coupons, newspapers or the internet for lasik eye surgery coupons and discounts. Find the one that you like and arrange for an appointment and consultation.

Some lasik surgery doctors may give discounts to patients who pay cash instead of arranging for financing.

If you are above 65 you might get a senior citizen discounts at some lasik surgery centers. Be sure to inquire about the discounts during consultation.

Can You Find a Bargain?

If you don't mind traveling to other cities to find bargain for lasik surgery, then internet is the best place for you to do bargain hunting. As mentioned above there is a price disparities between different geographical locations.

It would be great if you could get a bargain at a city that you always wanted to travel. You could kill two birds with one stone. Go for a vacation and come back with a new vision.

Eye Diseases That Could Be Found With Regular Check ups

In a perfect world no one would ever need to see an eye care professional about a vision problem. They would never need corrective lenses to improve their visual acuity nor would they worry about any eye diseases. Everything would be okay and everyone would be safe in knowing that their vision would not change in any way. But this is not a perfect world and a visit to an eye care center is important. Each year a check up should be performed in case there is a change in your eyes.

Eye diseases can forever change your way of life. It is far more than just having an astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia. Certain diseases can end your eyesight for good. Most slowly creep up on a person until their vision is so distorted they can no longer see correctly. A simple eye examination can uncover whether or not you have an eye disease and the eye doctor can give you options on how soon it can be treated.

There are a variety of diseases that affect the eye. These range from ocular herpes to macular degeneration. Ocular herpes occurs when the herpes virus makes its way to the surface of the eye. This condition could lead to clouded and scarred lenses or severe eye discomfort. It is generally treated by oral and topical, antiviral medications. Macular degeneration is another disease that affects eyesight. It is where the center of the eye thins, suffers atrophy or bleeding. This disease is treated with injections.

Eye examinations may also show whether or not you have glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment or diabetic retinopathy. If you have glaucoma, then the pressure of the inner eye increases and can lead to blindness. The only way to correct this problem is through surgery to eliminate the pressure. Cataracts develop when the lens becomes cloudy and you can no longer distinguish shapes from backgrounds. It can lead to blindness as well. The treatment for this disease involves an eye care professional removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens.

Retinal detachment and diabetic retinopathy are diseases discovered through an in-depth eye examination. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina has detached from the rest of the eye. This condition is corrected by making a bridge so that the retina can heal. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels are present in large numbers on the surface of the eye. Treatment by an eye care professional involves shrinking the blood vessels to help improve vision.

Having any one of the above eye diseases can mean a diminished quality of life. These are serious conditions that could mean the difference between seeing clearly and not seeing at all. Far too many people ignore their vision problems and do not have yearly checkups. You do not want to be one of these people. Make an appointment with an optical eye care doctor as soon as possible to have your eyes checked out. You will be glad you did.

Have you had your eye care checkup this year? It is important to visit a vision specialist at least once a year to ensure that your vision is healthy and that you are wearing the right prescription for your needs. You may have to go to a local vision care specialist but that does not mean that it stops there. If you want to wear contacts then you need to do your shopping elsewhere. You will find discounts not available from your local eye care specialist.

To compare just how much you can save on contact lenses by buying online: "Click Here"

Differentiate the Myth from the Truth about LASIK Surgery

Let's face it, in the last 10 years we have heard and read a lot about the famous Lasik operations, but still many people out there seem to have a lot of trouble finding the right doctor.

Now that Lasik vision correction surgery has been accepted for a number of years, there are several popular options for the procedure.  One of these is IntraLasik, or Intralase, or bladeless Lasik.  As the name implies, there is no cutting of the eye with a blade involved, instead the flap in the eye is made using a laser.  Since bladeless Lasik is a newer procedure, there are a number of opinions around about how well this procedure works. These opinions warrant the need for a second look, so let's check them one by one.

First, more Lasik clients get 20/20 vision or better using IntraLasik.  Any Lasik procedure cannot guarantee perfect vision for every client, though more than 90% get results to at least 20/40 vision.  However, it is true that the new techniques of IntraLasik do get even better statistics for giving clients clear vision.

Some are concerned that the laser that makes the corneal flap is standard, and cannot be tailored to each individual eye like what a Lasik surgeon can do with a blade.  This is not true. The Lasik physician has control over the use of the laser for each individual in the same way that he can control the microkeratome blade.

IntraLasik can be used for both a standard and a custom Lasik procedure.  This is true.  Custom Lasik procedures using Wavefront technology (another somewhat recent advances in Lasik vision correction) can easily be used with a laser to make the initial flap.  This custom Lasik procedure, though more costly, is of great benefit for people with unusual eye shapes or problems. It is in this moments where you don't really want to go cheap and you want to be sure you are investing the right amount in finding the proper doctors that you need.

Some have heard that using the laser is less accurate than the standard Lasik procedure. This is not true since lasers can be controlled to micron level accuracy.  This gives the Lasik Eye Surgery physician extreme control to create exactly the flap needed for this particular individual eye: the precise size, shape, and depth for successful completion of the Lasik procedure.

Another common fallacy is that IntraLase has not been around long enough for trusted Lasik physicians to have confidence in it.  On the contrary, many of the most honored Lasik physicians strongly endorse IntraLase due to the good track record from the Lasik procedures.  In addition, the quality of the machines and the precision that they give these Lasik physicians is very impressive.  So the question is: which are the best LASIK Doctors out there? Well, this is not an easy question to answer. But in my personal point of view, and please remember that this is 100% subjective, I will recommend LASIK Massachusetts, mainly because they have the top doctors for this procedure in the country.

Many of the top notch Lasik doctors recommend this as a procedure of choice, assuming cost is not a significant variable in the decision of which Lasik procedure to use. That's why the only determinant on whether a patient should undergo LASIK or not is the cost. The procedure is relatively pricey. But, you really need to understand that this is one of the top procedures in the world. So if you want the best, you do need to pitch in some amount.

Similar to the contentions above, some people think that Intralase is not a sufficiently tested Lasik procedure option. On the contrary, more than one million of these procedures have been performed, and the impressive track record for this Lasik procedure has been discussed above.  More and more Lasik physicians are trained in this option, and we will see many more such Lasik procedures in the future.

As a last advice, I can only recommend that you take your time choosing the proper doctor, this is a serious procedure and you should only do it with the medical team you feel comfortable with. Best of luck and thanks for reading.

Lasik Eye Surgery For Your Vision Improvement

Consideration of the size of your eyesight would be done if you were expecting a good result after laser eye surgery. However, a size of eyeballs is age determinant and is often referred to as part of the process of aging. The size of the eyeballs in this respect determines if the positioning of the cornea if laser light were beamed on it.

It is a good idea for you to anticipate the unknown in terms of possible ramifications from the surgery. Once you put in your guard against such, you will never be taken unaware. Being on this frame of mind will permit you to cure much faster and get the reconstructed eyesight you have ever desired.

Do you have a vessel sickness? If yes, I think you better stop considering laser eye surgery as an option in treating your eye disorder. This could genuinely be serious for you and very severe. Remember that your eye is the most important part of your body. So do not play with it. Refraining from laser eye surgery if you have this problem is a wise choice.

You went to a doctor and he recommends that you need to undergo laser eye surgery in order to correct your eye disorder. How will you absolve this news? Well, it is imperative that you know what in essence is laser eye surgery. In a simplistic way, having surgery on your eyes using laser is a medical operation performed on patients who have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. The procedure is basically to correct these disorders.

The time it would take your sight to improve after laser eye surgery is usually short compared to other kind of surgeries. You should be able to get your required vision back at least three days after the procedure. However, your ability to heal fast will still depend on you abiding by the post surgery instructions.

You can use the Internet to get all the information you want to know regarding laser eye surgery. Make sure you take a break and make your research. You will come across links that will give you websites on the places where this surgery can be done. Also, the quotes from different specialists could be available for your comparison.

Unlike any other type of laser eye surgery, LASIK type has far more benefits than the others. The practiced of method will for good correct your disorders. Moreover, by the result achieved, you will not have the need to worry about the buying and maintenance of contact lenses.

It is imperative that you get an examination with a surgeon; it is a must for you to be aware of your eye condition before the surgery. If your physician did not do this step; he might missed it or your should check his capability. The fortune of a flourishing operation is in your hand.

Jon Ferriss provides insightful information about the cost of laser eye surgery on his website.

Natural Vision

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Contacts and glasses may not be needed if you practive natural vision improvement.  Your eyes are meant to be exercised as much as the rest of your body.  Think of your eye as a part of your whole body, and not an extension of it.  Contact lenses are good if they are for "you".  However, natural vision therapy may help you to even get rid of those. We think we see what there is...but, we don't.  Eye illusions, or optical illusions are everwhere in our daily lives.

Reading glasses are a great help, but be careful, needing glasses may be a sign of macular degeneration.  Check it out!  Eye glasses are a wonderful help but, do not use them as a crutch.  The same with laser surgery.  There are natural ways to help improve your eye sight.

The human eye is more complex than the biggest computer in the world.  Think about that.  Eye charts - or - snellen eye chart are used to measure the strenght of our eyesight.

There are many different eye problems, and some you can help improve and even get rid of, others you cannot. Eye infections can be simple, but, they can also be very serious.  Always check with an eye professional!

Laser eye surgery has become ver popular, but, when something goes wrong with this, it is devastating.  You need to think long and hard if you want to take this chance.

Some eye problems you can help are: lazy eye and dry eye.  However do yourself the favor and always see an eye doctor.

Eye surgery can  be used to improve your vision.  (Not laser surgery)  For the more serious problems there are now advanced surgeries to help you improve your sight.
Eye exercises help improve your vision.  Your eyes are like your body...they need exercise!

Eye health should be a very deep concern for you.  Especially as you age.  Catch the problems before they become too serious. Natural vitamins are available. These are vitamins chosen specifically for your eyes.

Stress can cause tremendous eye strain. It sounds simple, I know, but you need to control and get a handle on your stress.  There are ways to help your eyes during stressful times.  This is a whole different topic.

ps always check with an eye professional for any eye issues!

LASIK Eye Surger - No Need For Glasses

If your vision is imperfect, then you have probably considered lasik eye surgery at one point or another. Most people who are in this situation often pass this option up, however, because it seems expensive and time consuming. What people don't understand is that this surgery is not nearly as expensive and they think.

Indeed, in comparison to the expense of an annual change of eyeglasses or contact lenses, as well as the accompanying visits to your ophthalmologist, lasik eye surgery is not very expensive. You can spend a great deal of money throughout your life if you wear spectacles of any kind. And as you age, and your sight experiences deterioration, the cost involved only increases.

If you see the situation this way, laser vision correction appears to be one of the greatest things you can ever do. Many benefits come from this process, and the most vital is that you'll truly save money over the duration of your life. Once you've had lasik eye surgery, you won't have to worry any more about the costs of contacts or glasses.

This means that this form of vision correction might actually be the cheapest route to take. There are tons of deals going on through various eye doctors and professionals. If you get your surgery during one of these deals, you stand to save even more money. Call around your local area to see what doctors are offering there.

Because your vision is not something that you can ignore, you must put out some money for this at some point. If you want to drive, read, or participate in other activities in your daily life, then you need to be able to see. It is vital to your overall standard of living, that you know how to see both close up and far away.

On comparing lasik eye surgery with glasses and contacts you will find there is not much difference in their cost. The fact that you have to pay for the surgery upfront does not mean that over a period of your life time you will not be spending as much or even more otherwise.

LASIK is becoming a confusing topic among consumers thinking of this highly technical lasik eye surgery. Dr. Martinez of Bethesda Maryland has produced a FREE report titled: "How LASIK & PRK Can Help You See Clearly. Visit http://www.lasik-pages.com to get the insider details.

Why Do We BlinK So Often?

We blink so that our eyes are oiled, lubed and filtered.

Blinking, not batting, our eyes will automatically cause two forms of moisture to to develop for our eyes, thast is so they will not dry out and also so no foreign matter will enter our eyes.   Our eyelids, which are really our natural "eyeshield wipers" are really just folds of skin.  These are controlled by our muscles which are so capable of moving fast, that blinking does not even interrupt our vision.

Our eyelids have approximately 20-30 sebaceous, oil-producing glands, these are located between your eyelashes, and they are invisible to our eye. Blinking automatically puts a coating over our eyes.  Mother nature does it best!

Blinking also irrigates the eyes.  The eyelid automatically draws the same fluid we cry with from our tear duct over the eyeball, this irrigates and moisturizes the eyes.

Such an amazing and natural process, our eyes are more complicated than the biggest computer. And, natural vision care is possible.  Become pro-active with your vision care!

Of course the other benefit of blinking is that it stops any foreign object from irritating our eys. Our eyelashes serve as dust catchers.  Wow, the blinking reflex actually causes the eyelashes to automatically lower during exposure to harsh elements.

Also, you may be a "starer":  To break the habit of staring:

(1) Make sure you shift your eyes when focusing on an object. If you stare, you stop the blinking causing stress and eyestrain and eye irritation.

(2) When you find yourself staring, or focusing too long on an object, try to close your eyes for a few seconds (not during a time when it is dangerous to do this, of course).  This will re-establish your blinking pattern.

Do get yourself away from the habit of staring or intensely focusing on an object for long periods of time!

And, for more ways of looking after the health and care of your eyes check out this Rebuild Your Vision Site

Pros and Cons for Lasik with IntraLase

Pros and Cons for Lasik with IntraLase

Those who have had a Lasik eye surgery technique done, and those who are investigating having a Lasik vision correction procedure, know that the first step of that procedure is to create a small flap in order for the Lasik physician to reshape the cornea.  This flap is created by the surgeon, and can be done using a small blade or using a laser.  Using the laser is generally called a bladeless Lasik procedure, or IntraLasik, or IntraLase.

For those that are considering a Lasik procedure, this review should be helpful in order to determine the pros and cons of the Lasik procedure using IntraLase.  One comment to be made is that the risks and complications possible using the small blade are well known and documented, since that procedure has been done for years and has a database of millions of patients.

Granted, 90% or more of all Lasik patients have no serious side effects or even minor lasting side effects, but it is true that a large part of the complications from Lasik procedures stem from the flap made with the microkeratome blade.  Over the years additional techniques have been developed to further minimize such problems from the standard Lasik procedure.

The introduction of the laser to create the flap is a new frontier in the Lasik procedure.  The laser is used in combination with state of the art software to create a flap of a pre-programmed size at a specific depth and position.  During this process, a soft suction ring holds the eye in place, but this causes no discomfort to the Lasik client.  Generally the only effect noticed by most Lasik patients is a dimming of vision in the eye being worked on for the duration of the treatment of that eye.

The use of the laser creates very small bubbles of water and carbon dioxide that serve as a good buffer between the flap and the cornea itself, and so this Lasik procedure conserves the eye very carefully.  The whole process of creating a flap for one eye takes approximately one minute.

The advantages of using a laser to make the flap for the Lasik vision correction procedure is that there is no way that the cornea can be abraded, nor any chance of the wrong size or depth of flap, since it is all pre-programmed with Lasik software.  The exact vertical edges of the flap produced using this Lasik procedure help healing, and also decrease the possibility that the flap might slip or wrinkle if the eye is accidentally bumped or rubbed during the healing process.

There are very few cons to using a laser to create the flap during a Lasik procedure.  One is that the process takes a bit longer, up to a minute.  A second reason is that the low level suction during this phase of the Lasik operation does result in eye redness for about 5% of the patients, but this goes away within a few days.  The last reason is that there is still a difference in cost between intralase eye surgery and the traditional Lasik eye surgery, but hopefully that will decrease as the years progress.

Questions about Lasik eye surgery

Questions about Lasik eye surgery

Many people that wear glasses or contact lenses have listened to the claims of how Lasik can give them perfect vision.  They have also heard great Lasik success stories, as well as stories from people that were not sure they had given the decision enough thought.  This guide lists the most common questions asked by people who are considering Lasik vision correction, and answers given by reputable physicians.

The first and most important question asked about Lasik is, not surprisingly, "Is Lasik safe?"  The answer is that it is normally quite a safe procedure, with success rates above 95 percent for good, experienced Lasik surgeons, and 90 percent average over all physicians that perform the Lasik procedure.  This statistic about Lasik success assumes that the patient is a good candidate for Lasik surgery.  The requirements have some specific details and should be gone over with the physician that will perform the Lasik procedure.

It is a very good idea to ask the Lasik physician which patients he has declined to perform the Lasik procedure on, to make sure that the particular physician has and operates with good standards.  Any Lasik practitioner that tries to imply that everyone that comes in to his office is a good candidate for Lasik vision correction should be viewed with some skepticism.  In any case, it is wise to interview several different physicians that perform the Lasik procedure before deciding on one.

A second frequently asked question about Lasik is "What are the possible complications from Lasik surgery?"  Common side effects are starbursts or halos when looking at a light, sensitivity to light and difficulty with glare and night vision, and some sensation that a foreign body is in the eye.  Most of these effects will pass within a few days after the Lasik procedure.  Between 1 and 3 percent of patients will have a lasting side effect such as halos or some vision fluctuation.

It is a very good idea to discuss your particular situation with the Lasik physician to determine if you might be prone to any complications.  There are also variants of the standard Lasik procedure, one of which uses additional waveforms to map out an individual eye, or techniques that only use lasers rather than a scalpel and a laser.

One question we all hesitate to ask is "Will the Lasik procedure be painful?"  Since our eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies, it is comforting to know that having Lasik vision correction is usually nearly painless.  There is often some mild discomfort after the procedure, but this is effectively controlled with medication.

"Will I have 20/20 vision once the Lasik correction is done?"  Though many patients do get nearly perfect vision, not all patients have their vision totally corrected.  You can definitely expect to have improved vision and minimized dependency on any glasses or contacts.

"What is the cost and how do I pay?"  A typical Lasik eye surgeon charges between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending on the patient and the surgeon.  However, a Lasik physician should be selected on experience level and track record, not on the lowest price.  Insurance rarely covers the cost of Lasik, but many Lasik centers have a type of financing program offered to their clients.

Consider Lasik eye surgery as one way to significantly improve the quality of your life.

Lasik Eye Surgery or ICL?

Lasik Eye Surgery or ICL?

A number of people who are considering the Lasik procedure to correct their nearsightedness or farsightedness have of some potential problems of Lasik, and are wondering if there are other options.  Though more than 95 percent of the Lasik patients have a very successful procedure without any major side effects, there are choices for people who wish to improve their vision.  Let's compare two, and discuss these choices with a reputable ophthalmologist.

Traditional Lasik surgery uses a scalpel to create a small flap in the eye, and then a laser reshapes the eye in order to focus accurately.  There are two more recent forms of Lasik, one that entirely uses a laser and does away with the scalpel.  Another variation uses a three dimension waveform for people with unusual eye shapes, and both of these are worth discussing with your ophthalmologist.

Those people with very thin corneas or other issues that make Lasik not a good candidate for their particular case can consider implantable contact lens surgery.  This is known as ICL in the eye surgeon's lingo, and is a good alternative to Lasik to permanently correct vision.  These lenses function in exactly the same way as removable lenses, except that they remain permanently in the eye.  Like Lasik, they reshape the eye in order for it to focus accurately.  The patient will not feel the lens once the operation has been performed.

Lasik and ICL are similar in several ways.  Lasik can improve vision affected by nearsightedness and astigmatism, and ICL can improve these vision deficiencies also.  Both Lasik and ICL also have some of the same risks, one of these being that the correction is not accurate after the first operation is done.  Lasik is a much more frequently performed procedure, and less than 3 percent (according to the FDA) of these patients need to undergo additional surgery to further correct vision after the first Lasik procedure is done.

Like any operation, there is a chance of infection in either a Lasik procedure or an ICL operation.  Good post-operative care by the patient will minimize this and regular checkups at the Lasik or eye care center will nearly always clear this up without further complication.  In a small percentage of the cases, either Lasik or ICL patients may not achieve perfect vision and may need to continue to wear corrective eyewear, though usually not at the same strength as the original eyewear.

One advantage of ICL over Lasik is that ICL is a reversible procedure, where the implanted lens can be removed later if that becomes necessary.  Lasik involves the reshaping of the cornea to bring objects accurately into focus, and is permanent.  However, for a typical, healthy patient either Lasik eye surgery or ICL will generally bring about the desired improvement in vision.

Lasik eye surgery is generally a less invasive procedure, and this is reflected in the current cost of the operation.  The current price for a Lasik procedure is between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending on the type of procedure and the presiding physician.  A typical price for ICL is between $1500 and $3000 per eye.  Do some investigation into the options offered, and select the eye care procedure that is best for your personal case.

Solving a Lasik Post Op Problem

Solving a Lasik Eye Surgery Post Op Problem

I had Lasik vision correction surgery two years ago, and am quite glad I did.  I think that my Lasik story might be helpful to some that consider that they might not be a perfect Lasik client, and are concerned about side effects after the Lasik eye surgery.  I did have a significant side effect after my Lasik operation, but have weathered it well, and still recommend the operation highly.

My operation went exactly as described, with no pain or real discomfort at all.  My Lasik physician was clear, stating each step that he completed so that I would know the Lasik procedure was proceeding as expected, and more quickly than I had imagined.  I know that all of the discussion I had earlier with the Lasik professionals stated the operation generally took less than twenty minutes, but I was still surprised.  

At the end of the operation, my Lasik doctor replaced the flap to its correct position in my eye and covered it with some kind of clear goop.  Even at that time I could notice a distinct improvement in my vision.  I was instructed to wear goggles over my eyes for five nights in order to prevent me rubbing my eyes while I was sleeping.  I guess they assumed that any good Lasik patient would not do that when awake.  

In addition, I followed all post-op Lasik procedure instruction to the letter.  I slept immediately after the Lasik procedure was done (after I made it home, of course), used the eye drops religiously, and did not try to strain my eyes by reading everything that I could.  I was amazed the immediate improvement in vision that Lasik makes, just as if there was a set of weightless contact lenses.  Very impressive.

My biggest problem in Lasik eye surgery recovery was a result of epithelial erosion.  The flap that is made in the eye during the Lasik procedure is made from epithelial cells.  Once the flap is replaced at the end of the Lasik procedure, these cells start to regenerate in order to fill in the line where the flap has been cut.  All of this is normal post-op Lasik healing.  However, in my case the cells would grow fine, but at night my eyes tended to dry out when I was asleep.  So, when I woke up, my eyelid would pull up some of the new cells from their place where they belonged, where if my eye was sufficiently moist they would have stayed in place.

I told this to my Lasik eye surgeon, who said this side effect just makes healing a little longer and it was not a serious side effect.  When I went for a checkup to the Lasik center (which I highly recommend any time a Lasik client has any post-op worries or questions) they decided that I needed a thicker, more jelly like version of the eye drops to use at night.  This worked well, and the rest of my post-Lasik recovery went well.  
I am a strong advocate of the Lasik vision correction procedure.  I also strongly suggest interviewing a number of positions, and do not put low cost as the highest priority.  Your eyes are very important, and a highly competent Lasik physician is the most important factor.

Lasik Surgery Statistics

Lasik Eye  Surgery Statistics

The Lasik operation can be a wonderful, life-changing option for many people whose vision is less than perfect.  There are several different types of Lasik operations now available, from the original and well documented procedure to Lasik procedures done with three dimensional wavefronts, or done entirely with lasers.  Each of these variations of the Lasik procedure should be discussed with the physician that is to perform the operation.
Like any surgery, Lasik does have the potential for side effects.

Sometimes reading the horror stories of the outcomes of a Lasik procedure can deter people from seriously considering such a choice.  It is also true that the vast numbers of people who have a successful, trouble-free Lasik surgery tend not to report a long and detailed story of their experience, unlike those that have experienced trouble afterward.

However, it is good to know what the possible side effects of the Lasik procedure are, and also the likelihood that one of these side effects will occur for a particular patient.  Just like any medicine we take, each has a possible number of side effects, but we generally assume that the likelihood of a serious side effect is small, and we take the medicine anyway.  This article will hopefully put concerns of the prospective Lasik patient into perspective so that they can calmly and thoughtfully ponder having a Lasik procedure done in the future.

More than one million Lasik procedures are done in the US every year, according to the FDA.  This arm of the national government has accumulated the following statistics for the most common side effects of the Lasik procedure.  These statistics will also vary by the physician performing the surgery, so make sure to get as much information on the prospective Lasik physician as possible.

After Lasik surgery, 1.7 percent of patients experience some glare or sensitivity to light after the operation.   This varies by patient, but this sensitivity is especially noticeable when looking at a bright light, such as a streetlight when walking at night, or other strong light and dark contrast.  Another light related side effect is a halo around a light, and this occurs in 3.5 percent of Lasik patients.

The new, corrected vision can be noticed quickly by some Lasik patients, in as little as a few hours after surgery.  Most patients that have undergone the Lasik procedure find the change is permanent within a few days.  In 2.6 percent of clients that have had a Lasik procedure done, there is persistent visual fluctuation within at least a part of their sphere of vision.

Finally, some patients do not get a fully corrected sphere of vision after their Lasik procedure.  This happens with a small number of clients, and the FDA statistics are that only 3 percent of patients have this effect.  In all or nearly all cases, the physician in charge will perform an additional Lasik procedure to improve this.

This detailing of the major permanent side effects of the Lasik procedure should put any personal horror stories into perspective.  Notice that none of the percentages are above 3 percent, and this should bring comfort to most prospective Lasik clients.  However, it should also motivate them to look carefully at the Lasik eye surgeons personal record.

Stories From the Lasik Surgery Waiting Room

Stories From the Lasik Surgery Waiting Room

As an experienced Lasik patient I thought I might give a glimpse into the worst part of the Lasik procedure... the waiting room.   I have had a Lasik procedure twice, the second being a follow up since one of my eyes needed additional work after the healing procedure was complete.  I was distinctly less nervous about the second procedure, and observed and talked to a number of the other Lasik clients that were waiting with me.

One was a young woman in her early twenties who talked incessantly trying to keep her mind off of any of the Lasik brochures and information on the table.  She had been thoroughly oriented to both the Lasik operation and post-op procedures, but had brought along a few stuffed animals to keep her company during the operation.  Most Lasik physicians recommend a minimum age of 18 due to sufficient maturity of the eye, but maybe waiting for some emotional maturity might be another factor.  On the other hand, I wondered what I looked and sounded like waiting for my first Lasik operation.

Talking to a few of the other Lasik clients, I realized I was not the only one in for a second Lasik procedure.  Two others were like me in that they did not get sufficient improvement in their vision to satisfy themselves or the Lasik surgeon.  In all of our cases, our first Lasik procedure of several months earlier went well, and none of us were particularly nervous.

It did surprise me, considering that it was 6:30 AM, of the variety of clothing styles of the Lasik clients.  Most of us, considering the hour and the rather frigid temperature of the Lasik operating room and the waiting room, were dressed in snug and warm sweat suits or other comfortable wear.  One Lasik patient was dressed in formal business attire with full makeup.

This puzzled me for at least two reasons: any makeup, lotions, or other things that could get into the eye are forbidden for at least 24 hours before the surgery, and it is highly recommended to go home and sleep as quickly as possible after the Lasik procedure.  The only thing I could figure out was that she wasn't actually getting a Lasik procedure, but no one else is there at 6:30 AM.  Her dominating and withering look made me decide that any pre-Lasik conversation with her was better left unsaid.

I was probably the fourth person escorted into a waiting room for a final discussion on Lasik post-op procedures, but I could not tell how long I had been waiting.  I think they avoid clocks for a very good reason.  The lady two seats down from me was calm enough about her Lasik procedure to go back to sleep while waiting, which seemed like an eminently sensible idea.

Each patient is offered a mild sedative before the Lasik procedure starts.  It is mainly for psychological purposes, as my first Lasik experience was not painful at all.  I did take it for my first experience, but my own Lasik history and the others I have heard in the waiting room make me think that I don't need it.  But I take it anyway, just in case.

I hope that this window into a Lasik waiting room helps give the attitude that for most people it is not a dreaded procedure, and for those of us that have had Lasik eye surgery performed, a rather uneventful one.  

Talk to Your Lasik Surgeon!

Talk to Your Lasik Surgeon!

For anyone considering a Lasik procedure to correct vision, it is crucial to find a physician that is reputable and caring.  It is also very important that they are experienced and knowledgeable in the Lasik procedure, and that they have a track record of patients that are happy with the treatment they received and the results that they got.

This guide gives a number of basic questions that you should ask when deciding on which Lasik center and which doctor to select for your Lasik procedure.  The comfort you have during the process, and even the results that you receive, may depend on getting good answers to these questions.  It is important to realize that the answers to these questions will vary from physician to physician.

The first question to ask is "How many years have you been performing this type of Lasik surgery?"  There are several variations of the Lasik procedure, and the doctor should have a track record of at least three years in doing Lasik procedures.  This amount of time also allows the doctor to watch his patients and the long term success of their Lasik procedures.

Next, ask the physician for the number of Lasik procedures they have performed in the last two years.  The physician should do the operation frequently enough that he is well versed in current procedures.  Also, he should be successful enough that prospective Lasik patients feel comfortable in coming to the Lasik center.  The physician should perform at least 500 Lasik surgeries in the last two years.

At this point, ask what percent of his clients that underwent Lasik surgery ended up with 20/40 vision or better.  Notice that not all patients will achieve 20/20 vision, and that is acceptable.  However, it is important that 90 percent of the patients get at least a 20/40 correction after the first Lasik procedure.  Claims of much more than 90 percent might make him seem much better, but in this case ask for evidence that that number is true.  There are some exceptional physicians out there, but also a few Lasik doctors that make unfounded claims.  Asking the doctor what percentage of Lasik patients achieve 20/20 should run about 50 percent.  Again, if the number is greatly higher, ask for evidence.

Finally, ask about post-Lasik complications.  The percentage of patients that experience complications after 6 months is complete should be 3 percent or less.  If the physician claims that complications are so rare that he doesn't keep records, you should be very suspicious and ask for evidence, if any.  No doctor is perfect.  Similarly, when asked the percentage of patients that require an additional operation to achieve clear vision, the number should be less than 10 percent.

To wrap up the interview, ask the physician what types of Lasik procedures he recommends and practices, and under what circumstances he denied a Lasik procedure to a patient.  Not all vision challenged people are good candidates for a Lasik operation, and the doctor should at least have a few examples of people he dissuaded from the operation.

Finally, ask about the cost of the operation and if financing plans are available through the Lasik center.  A physician that is willing to sit down and discuss these questions is often a physician that will address any other medical issues that come up, and is a good prospect to perform your Lasik procedure.