People with eye-related problems are becoming more and more interested in laser eye surgery and its benefits because this is known to be the most exciting ophthalmologic procedure.

To be more precise, this is a refractive eye surgery that can correct all types of refractive errors such as: astigmatism (distorted vision), myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).

Even if the medicine offers various types of surgical techniques for correcting refractive errors, the laser eye surgery was labelled by the American Academy of Ophthalmology the most technically advanced and precise one.

The excimer laser was the first laser ever approved for eye surgery and it´s used to correct myopia. Now, this laser is used in two different procedures: Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK).

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

The surgeon maps and measures the patient´s eye before the procedure in order to analyse the problem. Then, he uses a few local anesthetic eye drops and reshapes the cornea eliminating tiny amounts of tissue from the outer surface.

Next, the doctor uses an ultra violet beam of light and cuts notches the size of human hair. Each pulse of light can remove a 39 millionth of an inch of cornel tissue in only 12 billionths of a second.

According to same studies, only 5% of the patients still use permanent glasses after the surgery while 15% need visual aids only when driving.

Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

The LASIK procedure is more complicated than PRK but it´s a solution for solving all types of myopia.

The surgeon uses the Microkeratome to cut a corneal tissue flap in order to replace it. Everything depends on the doctor because with LASIK he has to make a very precise incision.
The patient only feels a little discomfort and sometimes an irritation but those won´t last too long. In most cases, the patients returned to their normal life in only two or three days.

With LASIK there can be only one side effect and that is occasional glare at night.
Anyway, everyone should know that even if the results are said to be permanent, the age can influence the final results and in some cases the doctor may even suggested re-surgery.

Learn more facts about lasik surgery and where to get the best lasik treatment travel package at my lasik eye surgery site.

Technorati Tags: How Laser Eye Surgery Works, lasik eye surgery, lasik eye surgery cost, lasik surgery risk, Photorefractive Eye Surgery

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.

Technorati Tags: Corrective Laser Eye Surgery, how much does lasik cost, lasik eye surgery, lasik surgery procedures, lasik vision plus center

Today I want to tell you about my personal experience with LASIK procedure and how LASIK in fact changed my life.

The doctor and I talked about the surgery; he was persuading at the same time realistic. He stated that one of my eyes would be a good candidate for total vision correction, but the other eye would likely see only some (though possibly major) improvement. He stated that about one of his Lasik procedures per month are with clients with the same level of poor vision of my worst eye.  So that made me feel good!  

I would also like to encourage those people with some problems to go ahead and visit their local Lasik center (in my case I went to the Denver Lasik Eye Surgery clinic and I can’t complain!) to talk to the professionals there. As I mentioned earlier, I have had some occasional problems with dry eyes. I also have problems with my pupil; it dilates fast. Both of these can be reasons to be dissuaded from Lasik, but in neither case were my problems significant enough for the doctor to consider me not a good Lasik client. Do go and discuss your individual case.

I cannot say that the information I was given made me totally relaxed about the whole procedure. I tried to reason with myself not to get the procedure days before my schedule.  I followed all what the Lasik doctors told me to do  after the procedure, and I am so happy with the results! I could see much better even directly after the operation was over, and things have continued to improve. I personally do not have any of the problems that are often mentioned as effects, such as halos around lights, etc. I would strongly encourage anyone to be brave enough to go down to your Lasik center and at least talk about the Lasik procedure with a knowledgeable professional.

Technorati Tags: eye, lasik, lasik-doctors, procedure

People that were forced to wear contacts or glasses all their life can now leave these aids behind by using a new and innovative LASIK procedure called the LASIK eye surgery.

This new type of refractive eye surgery can be risky but in most cases after detailed testing and consultation the final result is a good one. If you worry about the duration of the surgery, you should know that everything lasts only a few minutes but in order to obtain good results you should be very careful about the pre and post operative appointments.

It is very important to choose a good eye surgeon and after he evaluates he´ll establish the details of the procedure. He´ll let you know if you´re a good candidate or not, he´ll explain the procedure, the complications, the risks and the final result and together you´ll set the post-op appointment.

A few weeks before the LASIK eye procedure it´s recommended that you use only glasses and no contact lens because the shape of the cornea plays the most important role during evaluation.

When the procedure starts you´ll be sitting in a chair while the doctor will put numbing drops in your eyes. After he cleans up the area around the eyes, he´ll use a machine that will keep your eye lids open.

You might feel pretty weird because our eye lids are programmed to shut but if you stay relaxed you won´t feel a thing. The lasik eye surgeon use various types of machines and that´s why the level of discomfort can vary a lot from one patient to another.

Next, you´ll have to look straight into a laser placed over your eye while the surgeon will complete the procedure.

Everything happens very fast and the discomfort will only last a few seconds. All the above mentioned details sound scary and when you think that everything happens in the eye you might reconsider but you shouldn´t. LASIK eye procedure is very safe and most candidates leave the hospital with excellent results.

Wondering how much does lasik cost? Visit my lasik eye surgery site for more information.

Technorati Tags: corrective eye surgery, how much does lasik cost, Lasik Eye Procedure, lasik eye surgery, lasik surgery risks

Laser eye surgery unlike other surgical procedures are normally almost a painless experience. You are awake and aware of what is going on during the procedure. The procedures itself normally takes only around 10 to 15 minutes.

Nevertheless there are still some simple do it yourself eye care treatment that you have to follow. Also there are some action that could be dangerous to your eyes that you have to avoid.

Here are 10 basic rules of what you should and should not do after the surgery.

1) First and foremost do not skip your follow up treatment with your eye doctor. Follow up appointment is very important to check up your eyes and make sure that the surgery was successful and also to detect if there is any negative side effects.

2) Use the medicated eye drops that was prescribed by your eye doctor. Follow the direction as to how often and how long you should use them.

3) If your doctor prescribed you with medication such as antibiotic or anti inflammatory, do take them according to your doctors instructions.

4) Keep your hands away from your eyes. No excessive touching or rubbing. Use your eye drops to relief your eyes from itchiness.

5) When taking a bath make sure that no soap or water will enter your eyes. Avoid swimming or bath tub shower or any other activities that expose water to your eyes.

6) Plan to look like a secret service for some time. Always keep a pair of dark sunglasses with you. You may need it at any time when you are outdoors. Your eyes are still very sensitive to sunlight and you want to avoid your eyes from Ultra Violet Light exposure. Also keep your eyes from any bright light.

7) For ladies, try not to apply any facial makeup for some time. Chemical ingredients in your makeup could irritate skin around your eyes and may lead to eye infections.

Avoid any games or activities that require rough physical contact. Your eyes still need some time to be well adjusted.

9) Make sure to wear eye goggles when you go to sleep. Your eyes need to be protected from any unintentional harm or injury while sleeping.

10) Avoid watching television, doing work on the computer or reading during the first 24 hours after the surgery. Spend more time lying down relax and close your eyes.

Normally you could be back to work within one to three days after the surgery. Again it depends on the case by case basis, since every surgery is different so does every patients.

The above recommendations are the basic precautions that everyone should take after eye laser surgery in order to avoid any complications that might occur and also for fast recovery.

Technorati Tags: laser eye surgery, laser surgery, lasik, lasik eye surgery, lasik surgery

Usually if we need our vision corrected we wear graded eyeglasses or contact lenses. These would work great and oftentimes solve our vision problems. But would it be great if there is some other way to see clearer. Eyeglasses tend to be awkward to use especially when you are engaged in physical activity. On the other hand, contact lenses are very troublesome to wear. You really need to maintain it a lot and if you are not careful this might irritate your eyes. Now there is a medical procedure that could improve you vision without going through the ordeals of having eyeglasses or contact lenses; this is the Lasik Eye surgery.

Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keartomileusis) is a type of lasik eye surgery used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.  This technique was developed in the 1950’s by Dr Jose Barraquer of Spain. He is the one who developed the first microkeratome which is used to cut thin flaps on the cornea. In 1958 Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik and some group of scientist developed the excimer laser. These discoveries lead to the enhancement of Lasik surgery which we know today.

This procedure could both benefit near-sighted and far-sighted people. For near-sightedness the corneas are usually flatten. For far-sighted people the goal is to make the cornea contour steeper. It could also smoothen out irregular corneas, which is the case for persons with astigmatism.

Before undergoing the procedure, patients with contact lenses are advised to stop wearing them for 5 to 7 days before surgery. Doctors then will  determine the thickness of your cornea by using a pachymeter. Using a topographer, the doctors will make a topographic map of your corneas. This will enable them to see the exact shape and contour of the cornea. It is needed so the doctor could determine the exact location and amount of the corneal tissue that will be removed.

The operation is performed in a clinical setting with a patient wide awake. A patient could be given a mild sedative (like valium) or some anesthetic eye drops.

The first thing that the doctor will do is to make a flap in the cornea. A corneal ring is applied to the eye so that it will be immobilized. Once immobilized a flap is created by using a mechanical microkeratome with a metal blade. A hinge must be left at the edge of the flap so that it could be folded back; this procedure could be irritating. Once it is folded back it will reveal the middle section of the cornea which is the stroma.

The second part is where the excimer laser will cut off excess tissue of the stroma. Removal of tissue is done is microns and no heat is generated during this procedure.

Finally the flap is returned back again to its original position. The flap does not need to be sutured back into place as it will heal and adhere naturally

After all this the patient could continue back to his or her normal life with an assurance of a much clearer vision ahead.

Technorati Tags: lasik eye surgery, lasik vision correction

As recent as in the last few years, laser eye surgery has become a very popular alternative to people who has been dependent on their eye glasses or contact lenses all their lives.

In a rush to leave their glasses and contact lenses behind people are rushing for this new treatment. Likewise wee see lasik eye surgery treatment centers and private clinics mushrooming in every cities.

What many people are unaware of is that there is risk involved in the surgery procedures. A laser surgery is not for everyone.

The procedure is not suitable to some people due to their health and medical condition. The eye surgeon would normally advise the patient during consultation if they are the right candidate for the surgery.

Laser eye surgery complications does exist to a certain degrees. Although the percentage is very very small and almost negligible.

May be most people might have thought of complications in terms of serious consequences such as blindness or serious infections.

The fact is that the most common complications or rather side effects is called regression. Regression is simply your eye sight vision turns back to the state before the surgery.

This includes blurred vision again or your eyes might become very sensitive to lights and also another problem is dry eyes that could become painful at times.

So mistakes do happen sometimes due to eye doctors misjudgment or patients willingness to take risk despite chances of higher risk in some people.

The bottom line is to get yourself educated with all the fact and figures before jumping into the surgery room. Find the eye doctor with the right credential and experience to work with.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and clear any doubt that you have during the screening process. This is very important in order to determine the right surgery procedures that you need.

Majority of people have a great success with laser eye surgery. The failure rate is far too small to outweight the success stories.

Technorati Tags: eye surgery, laser eye surgery, laser surgery, lasik, lasik surgery

Though rare, there are still LASIK surgery patients that complain about post surgical problems. However, if you have an experienced surgeon by your side, the rate of surgical complications is greatly reduced. Common sense aside, one should base their decisions on the actual facts reported by their treatment provider. Overall, the number of complications are generally reported to be less than 1%. Most of the reported problems are handled through laser re-treatments or enhancements.

Let’s try to see what happens during a LASIK procedure first before we can start understanding the complications. During LASIK surgery a laser beam is used to cut a very thin, hinged flap into the front of the eye. The flap is then lifted and the laser is applied to re-shape the eye, and then the flap is replaced to heal.

Some of the more common types of LASIK complications are improperly formed LASIK flaps: Sometimes after the first surgery, a patient might experience an improperly formed flap. This might create an irregular surface and cause various vision defects. In such cases, LASIK surgery needs to be repeated one or more times to make the eye surface smooth. That’s why you really need to speak to LASIK doctors about these sort of issues to understand the risks involved here.

Inflamation - The area where the flap touches the eye can sometimes swell post LASIK surdery. Such a condition, is called diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK). The symptoms are as varied as high sensitivity to light and loss of vision .

Epithelial In growth - If there is any kind of initial swelling in the eye it might create a common LASIK complication called Epithelial in growth. This condition can be best described as a type of scarring which leads to an irregular eye surface and other vision distortions. In such a condition the surgeon lifts the flap and scrapes out the epithelial growth from inside. This is certainly not a full proof method. It has been noticed that in many cases the epithelial in growth reoccurs.

Some other common types of Lasik Eye Surgery complications include dry eye, infections, and night vision problems such as glaring around the lights.

Many trained surgeons feel that by using better technology and more precise instruments the chances of having a major LASIK complication can be avoided. People who have had a history of eye complications or infections are not advised to go for these surgeries.

Technorati Tags: doctor, doctors, eye, eyes, lasik, surgery

The term LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileuses. LASIK eye surgery is a medical procedure performed on a patient who has eye problems. These eye problems can be any of the following: being farsighted or nearsighted, and astigmatism. Furthermore, LASIK eye surgery is performed so that a person with any of the aforementioned eye problems would not have to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. Nowadays, LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common medical procedures that an eye doctor performs on a patient.

Obviously there are still a lot of people with concerns regarding Lasik and these is based on the larged amount of LASIK doctors available now a day. After LASIK surgery, the shape of the cornea is reshaped with finality. This is because a rounded “flap” is created on the cornea. Afterwards, with the use of laser or an instrument called the ‘microkeratome’, there is a part of the eye which will be vaporized to correct the eye problem.

LASIK eye surgery has become quite popular in the medical circle because of its painless-free operation. One more advantage that it has over other medical procedures to correct an imperfect vision is that the results are instantaneous. Right after the operation, you just need to let a day or two pass and you will see a definite improvement with your vision. However, there are some disadvantages to this type of medical procedure. First concern is with the cost of the procedure - it’s one of the most expensice medical procedure these days.

No medical procedure is devoid of complications; LASIK is not exempted and there are reports of unwanted results after LASIK surgery also. Third, some job types will not allow an employee to undergo any form of eye surgery. If you decide to go for LASIK eye surgery, you need to do your part and research so that you will know everything about the procedure. Also, have a thorough talk with your doctor so that you would know what to do before the operation. Finally, you can ask about the results and improvements with your vision problem right after your LASIK eye surgery.

Technorati Tags: eye, lasik, lasik-doctors, surgery

All of us would agree that playing is the happiest part of childhood. We all have our share of fond memories of riding bicycles; playing with toy cars or houses; and enjoying all sort of sports, including soccer, softball, and basketball. However, when children suffer from various eye malfunctions, they cannot fully enjoy these activities. Thus, early children’s vision care and detection of certain eye conditions, is extremelyimportant.

Undergoing Tests Before Taking Tests

The American Optometric Association suggests that pre-school children should get comprehensive vision exams when they are six-months-old, three-years-old, and five-years old. In particular, children should receive thorough eye examination during the summer before starting kindergarten. After the testing is completed, an expert reviews the data, and then creates a comprehensive report. Children’s vision care examinations can reveal that children suffer from one of several types of eye conditions.

Conjunctivitis or “pink eye” is an infection that involves the eye’s outermost layer. It can be of three types: allergic, bacterial, and viral; all of which requires unique types of treatment. Except for the allergic variety, this disease is generally contagious.

Next is an eye malfunction known as Crossed Eyes, also called “wandering eye” or “wall eye.” It is an eye condition that affects about 4% of American children, but can be detected with a thorough children’s vision care. This visual defect causes both eyes to point in various directions. For instance, one eye may look straight ahead, while the other looks either up, down, in or out. Thus, the eyes cannot see as a single unit, and cannot see in three dimensions. Children suffering from this condition should receive professional vision therapy via children’s vision care.

Another ailment that can be detected via children’s vision care is the Binocular Vision Impairment. Slightly over 10% of the entire U.S. population suffers from this condition. It causes the two eyes to not function together as a single “team.” Thus, the child will experience a partial or complete disability to function simultaneously, to view depths and see in three dimensions.

Last is amblyopic, or “lazy eye.” This condition affects roughly 2-3% of children in the U.S., and is related to poor control of muscles in a single eye, or reduced visual clarity. Children with this eye problem oftentimes develop problems related to depth perception and seeing in three dimensions, a condition very similar to the two aforementioned disorders. It is very important that this visual problem be detected early, as visual therapy can have a positive impact on it.

When A-B-C Is Not Easy

Furthermore, it is also of utmost importance that children should receive extensive vision care to determine at an early stage whether a child has learning-related visual problems. Observe your child, to determine if he:

1. Holds objects extremely close to his eyes

2. Complains of eyestrain or headaches

3. Has low reading compression

4. Constantly blinks, squints or rubs his eyes after doing close visual work

5. Becomes exhausted after reading

6. Complains about cloudy vision regarding reading or schoolwork

7. Avoids reading

8. Has difficulty differentiating left from right, tying shoelaces, or catching a ball

9. Periodically reverses letters or words

Early detection and proper children’s vision care can save a child from great inconvenience by allowing experts to determine the emergence of any vision problems. After all, childhood should always remain as one of the best moments in a person’s life.

Technorati Tags: childhood vision care