LASIK is a recent laser eye surgery technique which FDA approved for use in 1998. As of now, there are no long term studies about its effects. For this reason and because making decisions regarding one’s eye sight is very important, you must do comprehensive research to be able to judge if the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery are manageable risks for your treatment. If you do the research, you’ll be able to select a skilled and experienced eye surgeon. Many experts acknowledge the fact that the success LASIK heavily depends on the surgeon and not on the machine. You’ll also willingly participate in undergoing the tests because you know these are crucial tests to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.

What are the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery? The best benefit is easy to enough to identify. Your eye sight will immediately improve. So if you suffer from any of the following conditions, moderate to high degrees of myopia (nearsightedness), low to moderate degrees of hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism associated with myopia, and have thick corneas, you’ll qualify for the operation.

Two other significant benefits you should consider in weighing the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery are its fast recovery time and immediate results of improved eye sight. LASIK patients normally get better eye acuity of 75% to 85% within 24 hours. This compares favorably against the two older surgical techniques, radial keratotomy (RK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), where healing & improved vision takes weeks or months to occur. Also, LASIK operations generally take under a minute to perform on one eye, you walk out of the clinic within hours.

Now that the pros have been highlighted, what are the cons found in the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery?

If the patients’ eye condition is incorrectly diagnosed, the patient might develop permanent debilitating visual symptoms such as glare, halos, or double vision after the operation.

If you don’t have dry eye syndrome, you may develop one. You’d be uncomfortable, and permanent. Left untreated, it will be unhealthy for your corneas.

If you are farsighted, as you age, the benefits of LASIK will diminish with age, you’ll need glasses or contacts in the later years.
Many patients experience significant improvement with their vision after LASEK. But remember to have realistic expectations; your age, eye condition and health are serious considerations. You may still need to wear eyeglasses or contacts after the operation.
Educate yourself. If you do, you’ll competently manage the pros and cons of LASIK surgery. You’ll enjoy keener eye sight afterwards.

Do you want to know if you qualify for LASIK eye surgery? With the growing popularity of this surgical technique, it’s become all the more important to separate the hype from the real facts. You’ll definitely need to spend some time learning how to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery, to safeguard your eyesight. You’ll also need to learn how not to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery.

Before you venture any further on the how-tos, here are tips on how not to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery.

Don’t base your search on which doctor offers the lowest costs for this eye surgery. LASIK is elective surgery and it can be expensive. Make the doctors’ skills and experience, the priority in your search. You can easily negotiate with your surgeon about spreading the costs over a specific period. But you can not compromise on your eye sight.

Don’t rely on the advertising. A doctor may claim to be using lasers for 15 years; LASIK only got approved for use in 1998, do the math.

Now that you have a better idea of how not to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery, here are the tips on how to choose!

1.Do arm your self with the basic facts about the procedure, the limitations and benefits. This makes it easier for you to understand the eye surgeon explanations and questions on your eye sight.

2.Check out the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s website at www.aao.org, and do a search on surgeons in your area.

3.Additionally, look for surgeons who are members of the American College of Surgeons. As members of the American college of surgeons, they have to pass a stringent set of standards to be accredited. Even better, those are members of academic medical centers, like teaching hospitals; these institutions are always at the cutting edge of technology and information.

4.Talk to your optometrist and ask her or him, whom he or she would recommend you visit for an initial consultation.

5.Assemble a list of these eye surgeons and go for consultations. It’s not so important that you’ve a long list, rather that you’ve done the preliminary search narrowing the search to accredited surgeons.

6.Visit the surgeons on the list. Prepare a list of questions and ask these, don’t be shy. You have only one pair of eyes, and the LASIK eye surgery procedure changes your vision permanently.

7. Evaluate your impressions of the surgeon. Is there rapport? Do you think you can easily talk to this surgeon about your concerns? If so, then you’ve found your eye surgeon.

When interested and potential patients inquire about refractive eye surgery, they ask: How does laser eye surgery work? How does LASIK work? For LASIK has become synonymous with laser eye surgery.

Some facts about LASIK are needed before one can get to the answers of: how does laser eye surgery work?

LASIK stands for Laser In-situ Keratomileusis and FDA has approved this surgical technique since 1998. Eye surgeons normally prescribe this laser eye surgery procedure for persons who have nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism and who have thick corneas.

The preliminary step begins with the eye surgeon administering tests to check your suitability for LASIK. If you have dry eye syndrome, diseases like glaucoma, cataract or diabetes, you will be strongly advised not to undergo the treatment. Reputable clinics report that at least 50% of those who come in for an initial consultation are rejected.

So how does LASIK? How does laser eye surgery work?

First phase of the operation

To begin, you are positioned on a reclined chair, and a numbing drop of solution placed in your eye. Afterwards the cornea is cleaned of floating foreign matter, and then instrument called a lid speculum is put over your eyes to keep the eyelids open. The ring is place right on the eyeball. Suction is then applied around your cornea. You’ll experience blurring and dimming of your vision. Then the surgeon uses a microkeratome (surgical knife) to create a thin, circular flap in the cornea.

Second phase

Afterwards, the microkeratome and ring are removed. The doctor then asks you to stare at the light. This is to get your eye stay focused on a fixed object, so that the doctor can proceed to the final phase of the operation.

Third phase

The pre-programmed laser then cuts corneal tissue, thereby reshaping it. After the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is replaced back with a preventative shield is placed over your eyes to protect them from irritants.

The actual operation would have taken you less than a minute, with improved vision apparent in 24 hours.

Post operative care is as important as the operation itself. So don’t drive for a few weeks. Don’t do contact sports. Go for the post operative check ups the eye surgeon has scheduled with you.

Follow the do’s and don’ts faithfully, so you’ll be able to answer the question: How does a safe laser eye surgery work? With a bright smile and clear vision.

What is LASIK and, is right for you? Let’s take a look at this very popular method of eye surgery which is allowing hundreds of thousands of Americans to get rid of their glasses and contact lenses for good.

LASIK stands for Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, a common type of refractive eye surgery. In short, LASIK changes the way your eye refracts light. As light rays enter your eye, your cornea refracts — bends back — the rays to focus them on your retina, which is the back part of the eye.

During LASIK surgery your cornea is cut and reshaped. A special device is utilized which will cut a hinged flap of thin corneal tissue off the cornea and the flap is lifted out of the way. The laser reshapes the corneal tissue, and the surgeon replaces the flap, which immediately sticks to the eyeball. Because laser is used, there are no stitches. A perforated metal or plastic shield is placed over the eye to protect the flap.

Surgery typically lasts just 10-15 minutes per eye. Most of the time the doctor will perform surgery on both eyes consecutively. On occasion, he or she will have you wait a few days to see how the surgery turned out on the first eye before proceeding to the second eye. Generally, healing is rapid with most people experiencing complete recovery within a few days.

While mostly everyone achieves 20/20 vision after surgery, 20/20 does not guarantee perfect vision. If you have LASIK to correct your distance vision, you’ll still need reading glasses around the age of 45.

Since the surgery is new, there is no conclusive information on long term effects. Some short term problems include: problems with night driving which would necessitate you wearing glasses; corneal scarring; permanent warping of the cornea; and flap problems which can effect your vision.

Insurance companies consider the surgery to be elective, therefore be prepared to pay for the procedure out of your own pocket.

Check out the American Academy of Opthalmology’s website [www.eyenet.org] for an accredited LASIK eye surgeon in your area. Query people who have already had this procedure done before you decide whether LASIK is right for you.

If you are considering LASIK to correct astigmatism you may want to know a little more about the surgery. This article will contain some facts about LASIK to correct astigmatism.

LASIK to correct astigmatism involves surgery to a very delicate part of your eye.

LASIK to correct astigmatism has risks and there is always a chance of complications.

If you have LASIK to correct astigmatism you may not have perfect vision after the surgery.

Hundreds of thousands of people have had LASIK to correct astigmatism and most have been very satisfied.

When you have LASIK to correct astigmatism you may need additional surgery.

LASIK to correct astigmatism is often not covered by insurance companies.

If you have LASIK to correct astigmatism you will still need reading glasses at some point in your life, usually mid-forties.

The long-term negative effects of LASIK to correct astigmatism are not known because the procedure is still too new.

LASIK to correct astigmatism is not reversible.

You should be at least 18 years of age for LASIK to correct astigmatism.

Do not have LASIK to correct astigmatism if you are pregnant or nursing.

There are certain prescriptions you can not take if you are considering LASIK to correct astigmatism.

You need to be in good health before having LASIK to correct astigmatism.

Your eyes should also be healthy if you are planning on having LASIK to correct astigmatism.

Be sure to find a surgeon who is experienced in performing LASIK to correct astigmatism.

Find out the success rate of the surgeon who plans to do the LASIK to correct astigmatism.

Ask about the laser that will be used during your LASIK to correct astigmatism surgery. Make sure the laser is approved by the FDA.

Talk to your surgeon about the LASIK to correct astigmatism surgery and recovery process.

Before you have LASIK to correct astigmatism you should have a general knowledge of the procedure and the risks involved.