Lasik

Pretty much everyone has an idea of what LASIK is, this is because it is very popular, and has become the rage due to its low risk, good results, and affordability. However, there are a lot of misconceptions about LASIK, who can get it, and what it costs, etc. The following is a look at LASIK, and an explanation of what it entails.

First, it is important to understand that LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses, not necessarily make them unneeded. In many cases a person's vision will improve, but they will still need glasses or contacts, just at a lower prescription. Many get the great benefit of no longer needing corrective lenses, but for some this is not the case, so go in with the right understanding of the role of LASIK, and what it will do for you.

Next, it is a good idea to know what LASIK even means. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK is a laser-assisted procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea. We all have some irregularity in the cornea, but the severity of that irregularity determines if you are near or far sighted, if you have astigmatism, etc. The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye. When you have LASIK surgery, the cornea is essentially reshaped using an excimer laser.

Last, it is a good idea to understand the basics of the procedure. Every eye surgeon does things a little differently, and may use varied techniques or equipment, but the basics are as follows: when you have eye surgery a mechanical microkeratome, a blade device, or a laser keratome a laser device, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. That flap is then lifted or folded back to reveal the stroma, or middle section of the cornea, and then a laser controlled by a computer sends pulses of light to vaporize portions of the stroma, or in other words, the irregularities, shaping it correctly, and then the flap is replaced and allowed to heal.

What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?

The risk of LASIK are there, although they are minimal, and most patients are very pleased with the results of their surgery. There are limitations to this kind of surgery, and on occasion there will be some complications, thus it is a good idea to evaluate these risks and talk to your doctor and surgeon about them before you opt to have LASIK performed. No matter what your doctor or surgeon says, you have to weigh the pros and cons, and the risks based on your own value system so that you make the choice that is right for you. LASIK is so popular, and many people will encourage you to have it without really understanding what risks you put yourself in danger of when doing so. So, do your best to ignore popular sentiment, and even comments from your family and friends, and instead make the decision of LASIK or not by yourself.

The risks of LASIK are as follows:

Some patients lose vision. This is an extremely rare complication, but nonetheless, it is a possibility and thus should be considered.

Some patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery as a result of treatment. In other words, sometimes your vision is worse after, and instead of being able to wear glasses like you did previously, you are simply out of luck.

Some patients develop debilitating visual symptoms. This means they can see, but they might see glares, halos, have trouble seeing at night, or in low contrast situations, etc. In many cases, even if the patient recovers vision well in day time, or light situations, they will not see as well in situations of low contrast like night, fog, mist, rain etc. This can be worse after surgery than it was prior to the surgery.

You may be under treated or over treated. This means that while some vision is usually restored, you may not have 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts.

You may need additional treatment, after the surgery, and in some cases, although needed, additional treatment may not be possible.

You may still need glasses or contact lenses after surgery, even if your prescription was weak before.

If you used reading glasses before surgery, you may still need reading glasses after surgery.

You may experience a problem called severe dry eye syndrome. This is when as a result of surgery, your eye may not be able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist and comfortable. This means that your visual quality decreases, and you see blurring or other problems, or have to permanently use eye drops just to be comfortable. Or you may need additional surgery or therapy as a result.

As you can see there are risks, and some of them may not be worth it to you, especially if your vision problems are mild. Because LASIK is so trumped up, many people do not understand what the facts are, and thus are disappointed afterwards. To avoid this, be sure to discuss your expectations with your doctor and realize that you may still require glasses or contacts after the surgery.

The worse your eyes were before, the lower the likelihood of a full vision restoration. In addition to the results not being a sure thing, in some cases, such as for some farsighted patients, results may diminish with age. This means you may have good results for a while, but as your eyes age, and the lens becomes stiffer, your problem may return.

One of the other important aspects to consider is that while it has high success rates, and is a popular eye surgery, long-term data are not available simply because it is such new technology. This means that the long term affects and safety of LASIK are unknown. After all, LASIK was not approved until 1998.

One of the very best things you can do for yourself if you are considering LASIK eye surgery is to ignore the hype, advertising campaigns, etc. and just be sure to find the right doctor for your specific case. You want to know what devices will be used, what surgeon will perform the surgery, their level of experience etc. The fact is that risk levels are affected by many things, and your risk significantly drops when you find clinics using proven devices by reputable manufacturers, top quality surgeons with a high level of experience, and a facility that is well established for this procedure.

It is important that you never base a decision that affects something as critical as eyesight on factors like cost or convenience. The fact is, you can pay less and get high quality, but never base your decision solely on the price of the surgery, and in addition to that, make sure you choose the eye center that has the best reputation, even if you have to drive further, etc. This is a surgery that is going to impact you for the rest of your life, taking the time to do your research is going to be worth it.

Even the best screened patients under the care of most skilled surgeons can experience serious complications, so know that things may not go perfectly and know what you should do if you experience any complications. Make sure you are well informed before ever going in for surgery.

Sometimes mistakes happen, machines malfunction, or doctors are not as careful as they should be, other times the surgery goes really well, but the recovery is botched because of infection, not doing what your doctor told you, or something similar. The fact is, most people who prepare well for LASIK, know what they should, and listen to their doctors have great results. However, to help make sure you are one of those people, do your research.

When researching, research the eye care center, the procedure, the specific machinery used, the specifics about your eye problems, the surgeon that will perform the surgery, the expected recovery time, as well as any alternatives you may have. The more educated and better prepared you are, the better chance of a successful LASIK surgery.

This was not meant to scare anyone out of LASIK, rather to give a clear understanding of the facts of LASIK. There are no guarantees in surgery or medicine, and clinics that claim to be able to guarantee you results are setting you up for disappointment. While most people have successful surgeries and their vision is improved or restored, there are some complications, and as a person considering the surgery it is good to be informed about them.

LASIK is a same day surgery meaning you will be in and out in one day. You can't drive after until your eyes are healed, and you should plan a couple of days off to rest your eyes and allow them the best chance of healing properly, but in the end you may find that you once again have restored vision.