Lasik Laser Eye Surgery

Millions have had vision correction, but perfect eyesight not guaranteed Click Here for the complete story

Article Courtesy of Lasik Eye Surgery

(Article Courtesy of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery
There are many potential hazards for children, teens and adults on Halloween. One of the worst may occur before the kids knock on any doors and gleefully scream “trick or treat!”

The American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to remind parents this Halloween that cosmetic contact lenses, like corrective contact lenses, are medical devices requiring a prescription, and permanent eye damage can occur if they are improperly used.

“This is an important, yet often overlooked, safety issue,” said Academy spokesperson Thomas L. Steinemann, MD, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. “The consequences can be catastrophic, as improper use can lead to permanent blindness in the worst cases.”

One year ago, Congress passed a law regulating cosmetic contact lenses. The law, an amendment to the “Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act,” states that all contact lenses are considered medical devices, regardless of their use, including those that are mainly used in costumes or for decorative or cosmetic reasons.

It also mandates that all contact lenses sold in the United States must be fit and dispensed by an eye care professional.

Dr. Steinemann, the principal investigator on a study that provided evidence of dangers caused by improperly dispensed decorative contact lenses, said many people are still getting them without the required prescription and do not realize the potential harm they might cause themselves or their children.

“It’s a year later and most states haven’t followed the lead of the federal government on this issue,” he said. “If you don’t purchase contacts from an eye care provider, chances are you are not going to get any education on how to wear or care for the lens, and most likely you aren’t getting a proper fit; one size does not fit all. But with proper fitting and instructions, cosmetic lenses can be worn safely.”

Dr. Steinemann said the law has not yet had a profound effect on people’s behavior.

“I don’t think many states are moving fast enough to make sure these sight-threatening devices are properly regulated,” said Dr. Steinemann, who has treated many emergency cases, including one youth who suffered a blinding corneal infection following her use of decorative lenses.

“No matter what their purpose, all contact lenses need the same regulations to help provide the same protection for all wearers,” he said. “It doesn’t matter why you wear contact lenses — to correct your vision or just for fun — the risks posed are the same when there is no professional involvement.”

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology

AAO is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons — Eye M.D.s — with more than 27,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” — opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy’s Web site at http://www.aao.org.

American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org

The following highlights are from an article developed by WebMD and reported by CBSNews challenges the safety record of contact lenses vs. lasik surgery.
Article Courtesy of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery and Eye Care

On Oct. 10, 2006 CBS News Reports that an article issued by WebMD indicates the widely held belief that wearing contact lenses is safer than having laser surgery for vision correction is being challenged. The following is the article as published:

A leading eye doctor says contact lens users are actually more likely to develop complications that lead to vision loss over time than patients who have Lasik surgery.

Based on their review of several large studies, ophthalmologist William Mathers, M.D., and colleagues concluded that daily contact lens wearers have about a one in 100 chance of developing a serious lens-related eye infection over 30 years of use, and a one in 2,000 chance of suffering significant vision loss as a result.

The researchers calculated the risk of significant vision loss due to Lasik surgery to be closer to one in 10,000 cases. They reported their findings in a letter published this month in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.

“One shouldn’t just assume that contacts are safer,” Mathers tells WebMD. “This may have been true at one time, but for the average person this is certainly not the case anymore.”

Between 20 and 25 million people in the United States wear contact lenses; about a million Americans have laser surgery to correct vision problems each year.

Mathers is an eye surgeon who specializes in treating vision-threatening eye infections at the Oregon Health & Science University’s Casey Eye Institute in Portland.

“Several times a year, I have patients who lose eyes from complications because they’ve been wearing contacts and they’ve gotten an infection,” he says. “By this I mean their eye has to be physically removed from their bodies.”

Direct comparisons of the risks vs. benefits of contacts and laser surgery have been difficult because surgical complications are immediate and the risks associated with contact lenses accumulate over many years.

The risks associated with long-term use of contact lenses are greater when lenses are used improperly, but they remain even when wearers do everything right, Mathers says.

“Almost everyone who wears contact lenses violates some principle of proper use at some point,” he says. “Either they don’t wash their hands before putting them in or they use tap water [to store the lenses]. But infections can occur even when this doesn’t happen.”

Los Angeles ophthalmologist Kim Salz tells WebMD that sleeping in contacts dramatically increases the risk of infection. “Out of 10,000 daily contact lens wearers, about one will develop a serious infection over the course of a year,” he says, adding that risk increases to one in 1,000 for wearers who sleep in their contacts. “We advise patients to never sleep in contacts, even if the contacts are approved for this purpose,” he says.

Salz has been performing Lasik surgeries for the past 15 years. He says better lasers and better training have reduced the incidence of nighttime vision problems and other complications that were not uncommon years ago.

One big advance, he says, was the introduction of wavefront Lasik several years ago, which allows eye surgeons to customize the procedure for each eye.

A professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California, Salz says the risks of wearing contact lenses and having laser surgery are probably similar.

“In most cases the decision really comes down to patient preference,” he says.

Mathers acknowledges that his risk estimates are “approximate and subject to change.” He adds that advances in both laser surgery and contact lens technology should make both approaches to vision correction even safer in years to come.

SOURCES: Mathers, W.D. Archives of Ophthalmology, October 2006; Vol. 124: pp. 1510-1511. William Mathers, M.D., professor of ophthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute, Portland. Jim Salz, M.D., professor of ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Ls Angeles; private practice, Laser Vision Medical Associations, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

TLC Laser Eye Centers is a premier provider of LASIK and other refractive surgery procedures. The group boasts highly experienced doctors, thorough pre-operative examinations, and personalized care for each of its patients. It also has over 13,000 affiliated eye care practitioners. TLC Laser Eye Centers does not offer quick assessments or overblown promises. Instead, it provides a long-term commitment for future surgical enhancements.

As a token of its genuineness, TLC offers a lifetime commitment program. Patients suffering from myopia may be eligible for this offer. According to this offer, if ever a patient requires enhancement surgery in order to maintain distance vision acuity, the enhancement surgery shall be performed without charge.

LASIK is by far the most preferred refractive surgery. However, the surgical procedure can often be expensive or even unaffordable for some people. TLC Laser Eye Centers have made an immense contribution to bring this surgery option to the masses. TLC offers variety of ways to pay for LASIK, and hence have eased out the whole procedure and have managed to make the procedure affordable for every patient. To be specific, TLC offers financing options, medical and vision plans, and flexible spending options for its patients.

The TLC Laser Eye Centers website also provides a whole repertoire of features. It might be the case that you are uncertain as to whether you should go for LASIK or not. TLC website provides a feature where you can easily check whether you are a potential LASIK candidate or not. You can locate a TLC LASIK center in your vicinity and also find a TLC affiliated eye surgeon. The website also provides a detailed description of the LASIK procedure so as to dispel any doubts that you might have had regarding LASIK.

In summary, TLC Laser Eye Centers offers scads of information and support for informed decision making. LASIK is a safe and efficacious procedure, but it’s still a surgery, and any sort of advice in such a matter is always handy.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and provides news, views and information about laser eye surgery at Your Lasik Information. The LASIK Surgeons Directory will help you find a LASIK surgeon.

Article Courtesy of Lasik Eye Surgery

As with any other surgery, LASIK also has a recovery period. Since LASIK involves cutting a flap in the corneal tissue, the recovery typically pertains to the healing of the cornea. Patients who have undergone LASIK surgery may experience blurry vision and watery eyes until the cornea heals completely. However, it is true that in case of LASIK, the patient requires less time for full recovery, relative to other refractive surgery procedures.

It is reported that LASIK helps restore vision clarity shortly after the surgery. However, there are a few exceptions and LASIK does have associated complications. During recovery, a patient may suffer from halos/starbursts, light sensitivity, astigmatism, dry eye syndrome, or other minor side effects. But these conditions normally dissipate over a period of a few weeks. Moreover, instances of such complications are minor - a mere 5%.

In general, your eye surgeon would schedule post-operative meetings, in order to test your vision and assess the results of the surgery. These post-operative visits are highly beneficial for a speedy recovery, since the doctor may advise certain valuable tips and precautions that you must take. Though quite rare, a few patients might require enhancement procedures to attain optimum visual acuity. Such aspects may be discussed at these post-operative visits.

Following the LASIK surgery, you should be able to resume your daily life fairly quickly. However, it is recommended that you should not take part in any major sporting activities for at least a month or so after the surgery. For instance, tiring contact or water sports are highly detrimental to recovery.

LASIK is the preferred choice of many among the available types of refractive surgery. After LASIK surgery recovery, majority of patients have had excellent results, without any serious or long-term complications. Furthermore, they have been able to see as well as they did with their eyeglasses or contact lenses - a dramatic change in a person’s life, with a whole new range of activities available that he or she could not enjoy while wearing eyeglasses.
Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about LASIK eye surgery recovery at www.Your-LASIK.info

Article Courtesy of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery and Lasik Eye Surgery

$299.00, Financing available, Limited time offer etc etc. LASIK eye surgery is rapidly becoming just another commodity like shoes or cars. Every where we look there are LASIK ads with discounts, specials and financing offered by “doctors” that are vying for a percentage of the 3 million Americans rushing to have LASIK every year. Don’t be surprised if one day you can visit your local Wal-Mart and leave an hour later having had LASIK by a “professional who has done millions” We may even start seeing signs akin to McDonald’s 3,456,000 served!! There doesn’t seem much difference between the ads and techniques used to sell LASIK and those used to sell used cars.

What has happened to the great American medical standards and ethics touted for years? It is amazing to read that eye surgeons in the United States are still offering regular LASIK and for only $1,000 more “you too can have wavefront Technology.” For those who aren’t LASIK savvy, wavefront is a better diagnostic tool that maps your cornea. In South America, where eye surgery technology has always been at the forefront, surgeons will only use wavefront. There is no option because it is just better for the patient period!! American eye surgeons are also still performing PRK on those patients who don’t qualify for LASIK rather than using multifocal Intraocular Lens which was only approved 1 year ago in the States but has been used for over ten years by South American surgeons.

So if you are considering having LASIK remember this is a surgery on the cornea of your eye so be sure to educate yourself about all the possible risks and complications. Find the best possible doctor you can, not just the least expensive and make sure you are really a good candidate for the surgery and not just another number on the billboard and finally if cost is an issue you may need to resolve yourself to wearing glasses or do what thousands of people do and go to South America and have it done by some of the best eye surgeons in the world, spend half and have a vacation.

Robert Strong writes about medical tourism and runs the popular medical tourism web site http://www.surgicalservicesinternational.com

Article Courtesey of Lasik Eye Surgery

Are you considering lasik laser eye surgery to improve your vision? Then you owe it to yourself to find out exactly what happens during lasik surgery before you commit yourself to the procedure. Lasik eye surgery is a relatively simple and fast procedure. The entire surgery takes about 30 minutes, during which you will be lying on your back in the room containing the laser system. The laser system is a machine with a computer screen and a microscope attached to it.

Whether you have shortsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism the cause is the same - your cornea is not a perfect shape. The goal of the lasik laser eye surgery is to reshape (polish) your cornea so the light going through it focuses better on your retina. The surgeon can’t use a general anesthetic because you have to remain conscious, throughout, and be able to look directly at the laser. However, anesthetic drops are used for your eyes, so you will not feel any pain - only some pressure and a little discomfort. You will be able to see during the entire procedure, although your vision might blur or flicker, for a few moments.

Lasik Laser Eye Surgery can be separated into 6 steps

1.First of all the surgeon will drop a few numbing drops into your eye and clean the area around it. Then your eyelids will be propped open.
2.Before the laser can start its work, the surgeon will need to cut a flap in your cornea. This could be done with either a laser or with microkeratome - a special cutting instrument. It might sound scary, but don’t worry: you won’t feel the cutting.
3.After that, the laser will be positioned over your eye and you will have to look directly at it for about 60 seconds. The reshaping has not started yet, but your eye needs to get used to being focused on the light.
4. When your eye is in the perfect position, the laser will start its work. The laser is controlled by a computer, which is preprogrammed by the surgeon to remove a specific amount of corneal tissue.
5. After your cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back on it place.
6. Stitches won’t be used to keep the flap in place; instead, doctors use a special protective shield to hold it. The shield will protect your eye from being touched accidentally.

That’s it! Usually you can go home straight after the procedure, but you will have to organize a lift for yourself because you might feel a bit dizzy and your vision will be blurred, at first; obviously you shouldn’t drive, under these conditions. The improvement in vision is usually noticeable the same day, or by the following morning, at the latest.

Straight after lasik surgery you might feel some discomfort, like there is something in your eye. The most difficult thing is to resist the urge to rub your eyes, but you mustn’t touch them until the flap is healed.

There are also several restrictions, after the surgery. You shouldn’t use any eye make-up for two weeks, play any sports for four weeks, or swim or take a hot bath for two months. Also you will have to come in for a follow up visit within 48 hours after the surgery, plus a few more visits during the following six months.

Tanya Turner is an eye health and vision expert. She provides consumer information, tips and advice about lasik surgery and healthy contact lenses
Article courtesy of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery and Lasik Eye Surgery

Electing to have corrective surgery on your eyes can be a great way to free yourself from the daily grind of constantly cleaning off and adjusting your glasses or cleaning contact lenses. This type of corrective surgery is quite common these days and considered safe. Before you decide to have this procedure, you should do some research on both the type of surgery and the doctor who you want to perform it.
Types Of Laser Eye Surgery

Obviously, you should take any procedure involving your eyes very seriously. Make sure you put a lot of consideration into the procedure and doctor you want to restore your vision.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.eye-care-online.com where you can find information on laser eye surgery and contact lenses.

Article courtesy of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery and Lasik Eye Surgery