Lasik Eye

How It Works - LASEK also known as laser epithelial keratomileusis is a new procedure in which the laser energy is applied directly to the eye’s outer

surface for reshaping and vision correction.
For better understanding here are some differences between some procedures.
First of all for exemple with LASIK, a thin flap is cut into the eye’s surface and then lifted. Then the laser energy is applied to the eye for reshaping,

and the flap is replaced that - to serve as a type of natural bandage for a quicker healing.
An eye doctor using PRK does not cut a thin flap into the eye’s surface, like it does with LASIK. Laser energy is applied directly to the eye’s surface. The

epithelium is removed absolute completely by laser energy during a PRK procedure, and eventually grows back.

A LASEK operation implyes preserving the thin epithelial layer by lifting it from the eye’s surface before laser energy is applied. After the LASEK

operation, the epithelium is also replaced on the eye’s surface.

The LASEK procedure is used mostly for people with corneas that are too thin or too steep for LASIK, when it can be real difficult to create a thicker LASIK

flap. LASEK was created to reduce the chance of problems that occur when the flap created during LASIK procedure does not have the ideal thickness or

diameter.

The LASEK Procedure is not so simple, but it isn’t so hard as well.

During the LASEK operation your doctor will use local anesthesia.
Then he or maybe she will cut the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, with a fine blade. Then the surgeon covers the eye with a alcohol solution for

approximately one minute.
After sponging the alcohol solution from the eye, the doctor uses a tiny hoe to lift the edge of the epithelial flap and softly fold it back out of the way.

After this he/she uses an excimer laser to sculpt the corneal tissue below. After, the epithelial flap will be placed back on the eye with a type of spatula.

According to some doctors who perform LASEK procedure, the flap edge heals in about one day, though patients usually wear a bandage contact lens for maybe

four days to protect the eye.
If your eye will feel irritated during the first day or or maybe two you must know that is normal. With LASEK procedure compared with LASIK one, it often

takes a little longer to recover good vision (it depends four - seven days) but this depends from a person to another. Also, you may experience a little more

pain with LASEK procedure compared with LASIK procedure.

In some studies the LASEK procedure has been associated with a faster healing process of sensation or nerve function in the cornea, compared with LASIK.

Also,it can cause dry eye less frequently than LASIK procedure.
However, talk to your eye doctor and he/she will tell you exactly what kind of operation is better for you.

The LASIK procedure, is also known as wavefront LASIK or wavefront-guided LASIK. This procedure uses 3-dimensional measurements of how your eye processes images to guide the laser in re-shaping the front part of your eye.
With a wavefront measurement system, some extremely definite, individualized vision correction outcomes can be achieved that would be almost impossible with

traditional surgery,lasik, contact lenses or even eyeglasses.

With custom procedure called LASIK, your eye’s capability to concentrate light rays is measured, and a 3-D map is elaborated that demonstrates irregularities

in the way the eye processes images. Generally speaking, information contained in the map guides the laser in customizing the treatment to reshape your eye’s

corneal surface so that these irregularities can be corrected.

This wavefront technology is great because it has the real potential to improve not only how much you can see, but also how well you can see. In another

words, we can say the risk is reduced of post-LASIK complications, such as halos, glare, or difficulty with the night vision.
How much you see after this procedure is done it depends on vision defects known as lower-order aberrations associated with common myopia or hyperopia or

maybe even astigmatism, which traditional LASIK operation can treat.

Today there are many types of laser vision correction for you to choose from. Vision correction is a field that is growing by the year. There are many types of correction procedures that you can undergo that are completely safe and sure.

Laser eye surgery is of course the number one type of corrective surgery today and still growing. With the amazing advances in lasers and eye corrective technology, there is no doubt why this type of procedure is the number one corrective surgery today. Laser surgery is a safe and successful form of laser vision correction.

Another option for vision correction is a lens transplant. This is a surgery that is becoming very popular as an alternative to laser surgery. There are many people who feel strange with the idea of laser surgery. This is a great alternative for those people. Lens transplants are a simple surgery and just as successful as laser surgery. You have the opportunity to have the lens of your eye taken out and replaced with a lens that has the vision qualities you require.

Corrective lenses and frames are of course the most popular type of vision correction. This is a very affordable and effective way to compensate for your vision impairment no matter what type of impairment you may possess. Glasses and contact lenses are now covered in a large variety of insurance companies which makes this form of vision correction that much more affordable. There are also many great styles and fashions when it comes to the frames of your glasses. This makes wearing corrective lenses that are much easier if you are feeling uncomfortable.

With these great types of vision corrective surgeries and alternatives, you can see the great opportunities that are waiting for you. No matter the type of eye impairment you have, it can be
resolved.!

Laser eye correction is the safest way to correct and resolve your eyesight. There is a lot of

rumors these days about laser eye surgery. This kind of vision correction is ultra effective and

a simple procedure that a lot of people already taken advantage of it. Laser correction surgery

is the best thing of technology when it comes to correct your eyesight.

If you are curious of how this laser surgery works, read forward and let us explain it for you. It is quite  easy and quick procedure and within a few minutes your vision is already altered for the better. Whether your eyesight is good or bad it all depends on the cornea tissue. These tissues determine how well you see up or far away. How this procedure works is that a laser gently burns away the tissue around your cornea. Once this tissue is remove then the laser reshapes your cornea. Of course your cornea is reshaped in a different way for each person; this is how it works for people.

This is the simpliest way to correct your eyesight than with laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery is a procedure that is available to everybody. You should be able to find laser surgery all over the world. This kind of surgery is effective no matter what kind of vision correction you need. Laser surgery is completely safe and you will find yourself with little if any side effects following a laser eye surgery. Eye irritation is the worst of the side effects that you will experience. If you are experiencing anything worse than this, it is important to see your eye doctor as soon as possible. Your vision is very delicate you do not want to jeopardize it.

Epi-LASIK is the newest laser eye surgery procedure that was invented to solve some of the potential issues with LASIK and LASEK. It is kind of a cross between the two, but also differs in a few little areas.
LASIK entails cutting a flap in the cornea with a sharp blade or a laser, with LASIK also comes the risk of cutting the flap too densely.
LASEK implicate cutting the cornea’s outer stratum, the epithelium, in a thin sheet that preserves its hinge on the eye. This is done in Epi-LASIK too, but the surgeon uses a plastic oscillating blade instead of LASEK’s fortunate blade.
Instead of the alcohol that is used in LASEK to loose the epithelial layer, in Epi-LASIK the surgeon uses a plastic blade, named an epithelial separator, that is used to separate the sheet from the eye. This obviates the minimum possibility of a reaction from alcohol, which can kill the epithelial cells.
Because it is verry difficult to elaborate the epithelial flap in people with soaked corneas, the operation is more adequate for people with less steep corneas - persons who have low myopia.
After the epithelial flap is made, then it’s lifted and softly folded out of the way. An excimer laser is also used, as in LASIK, to sculpt the underlying corneal tissue. After this the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with somekind of spatula, a special one.
A particular contact lens are placed on the eye to keep the flap in the right place while it re-epithelializes.

After Epi-LASIK procedure, after the re-epithelialization has occurred the the contact lenses will be removed by your doctor.
Don’t panic if the your vision is not so perfect right away it is perfect normal and with some little patience in several days your vision will improve.
Like every “do after” procedure you must listen and do as your doctors says what’s the best thing for you to do.
Also, don’t neglect to use the eye drops or any other medications you are prescribed, and try not to miss any follow-up appointments with your surgeron-doctor.

Who Can Have Epi-LASIK

This procedure it’s not for everyone, but many surgeons who perform this kind of operation like Epi-LASIK consider it a better option for some patients who will maybe not do very well with LASIK. These includes people who have maybe thin corneas, with not enough tissue for a good LASIK operation.
If you decided to have a Epi-LASIK procedure, you will likely experience some kind of discomfort after the operation is done. This is usually manageable with over-the-counter drugs. The discomfort after the Epi-LASIK procedure is reportedly a little less than that experienced after a LASEK one.

Lasik eye operation is by far the most advanced method available of restoring poor vision. LASIK, or Laser Assisted in-situ Keratomileusis is the most common laser eye procedure performed, with thousands of successful procedures performed since its begun. Prior to actually being scheduled for laser eye operation, your surgeon will perform a very comprehensive eye examination and will give you opportunities to ask questions about this procedure.

Your well-balanced examination will include a retina exam, glaucoma test and careful measurements of a number of areas of your eyes. Your surgeon will discuss the procedure with you and inform you of any possible risks or maybe complications. You will then be asked to sign an informed consent form. Be sure
you completely understand the form before signing. Your physician will also give some advise of anything you need to do before the operation, such as not wearing contacts or make-up for a period of time.

The LASIK operation itself is an outpatient surgical procedure, which is usually performed in the physicians office or surgical centers. The surface of the eye will be numbed with anesthetic eyedrops. In the operation itself, a very thin flap is made to the outer layer of the eyeball with an instrument named microkeratome.The excimer laser is then used to remove a very thin layer of tissue beneath the flap to reshape the cornea. The amount and intensity of lasik energy required for correction of your problem is programmed into the lasers computer. After the cornea is rebuilded, the flap is placed back over the cornea where it will adhere to the eyeball. The entire surgical procedure should take an average ten to fifteen minutes to complete and finish.

The healing process after a laser eye surgery procedure is fairly quick. There will likely be some blurry vision on the day of the operation and you may experience a soft burning sensation for a few hours after the procedure. Your doctor may give you prescription eye drops to keep your eyes moist and prevent any kind of infection. A follow up visit will usually be scheduled within 24-48 hours after the surgery, and then at regular intervals for the first 5 months after operation.

Epi-LASIK is a choice, a new variant of the more traditional LASIK and LASEK laser eye surgery procedures that attempts to combine the advantages of both of them. The purpose in its development was to minimize flap complications, promote faster healing, and better treat patients who have thin corneas.

Epi-LASIK (epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis) it is similar in many respects to LASEK, in which an ultra thin flap is cut into the epithelium. This flap is then floated from the eye with a solution of alcohol. In epi-LASIK, a real special designed instrument called an epikeratome is used to both cut an ultra thin flap from the cornea as well as separate it. No alcohol is used in Epi-LASIK procedure, and it is believed that not using the potentially toxic alcohol solution may help promote faster healing process.

After the flap is softly moved out of the way, the cornea is rebuild with the excimer laser as in traditional LASIK procedure. When the lasik treatment is finish, the flap is gently replaced with an instrument like - spatula. A thin and soft bandage contact lens will then be worn for several days to promote healing process and lessen any discomfort.

Epi-LASIK offers a big advantage to patients with very thin corneas, and it is believed that the healing and recovering process may be faster with this technique. The operation in not suited for every patient. Based on your consultation, your eye surgeon will make the recommendation of which type of laser procedure is appropriate for you.

Many who are not posible candidates for lasik eye procedure can opt for contact lenses for vision correction. This contact lenses can offer correction for most of the same vision issues that can be addressed through surgical operations, while still maintaining the cosmetic appeal of not wearing glasses. Lenses can be made for correction of nearsightedness, myopia, and astigmatism. In the case of those considering monovision surgery for presbyopia, contacts will often be prescribed for a period of time prior to surgery, or may be a more viable therapeutic alternative to surgery.

Contacts lenses generally fall into three big categories. Cosmetic, which are designed primarily to improve the appearance of the eye, corrective,which are used primarily to improve vision; and therapeutic, which are often prescribed for non refractive eye disorders.

Originaly the contact lenses were made of glass. In our modern days contact lenses are made of either a soft or slightly rigid material with a great number of variations available on the market. Your eye care doctor will be able to advise you of the best options and type of lens available for your eye condition.

Contact lenses, being a medical device, require an eye examination and a prescription from a qualified opthamologist or optometrist . Prior to 2005, contact lens wearers could only purchase contacts from their eyecare practitioner. Newer legislation gives costumer the right to a copy of their prescription, and they are now free to buy contact lenses from optical chains or online venues. The ability to shop and buy your contact lens needs can result in considerable savings to the consumer.

When you turn 40 for many the eye will gradually lose the ability to accommodate, or change focus from distance vision to close up. This thing is known as presbyopia, and is the good reason many require reading glasses or bifocals. A technique named monovision can correct one eye for distance vision, while (if necessary) correcting the other for intermediate vision.

The main goal of monovision is reducing the patients need for corrective eye problems for reading and close up activities. This technique relies a bit upon the brain to filter out the image from the eye which is not a clear focus.

Needless to say, monovision it’s not for everyone. It takes a little time to become accustomed to it, and approximately 7 weeks for the brain to adjust to each being at a different focus. Monovision can result in the loss of some degree of depth perception, and in some cases may cause reduced peripheral focus. Those with a very active lifestyle may find monovision is not the right and good answer for them.

The monovision procedure is accomplished through either contact lenses or refractive lasik eye operation such as lasik. Many physicians will recommend that patients first try the contact lenses and evaluate the results before choosing for the more permanent lasik eye procedure.

Lasik eye procedure is still regarded as an elective procedure, meaning the patient has chosen to have the procedure performed. Most insurance companies in the U.S. and Canada will not cover the cost of this procedure. While cost should certainly not be the deciding factor in choosing a laser eye surgeon, it does however remain a factor in your decision.

Contact your medical insurance provider first for information regarding their costs. As a general rule, most will not provide coverage. Anyway, it always pays to ask first rather than just assuming this is the case. Check with your employee benefits administrator to see if your company has any arrangements with a given lasik eye corection center for a discounted price. Another option which is becoming more common is to pay for Lasik eye surgery with a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account. Again, if you don’t already know, check with your employer to see if they offer these benefits. When all else fails, credit cards and also cash are accepted by virtually all lasik practices.

It’s worth repeating to state again that it is never smart to choose a surgeon based on cost alone. You should find the best surgical care possible and if need be finance the cost of the operation. Many of the larger multi-practice laser centers offer financing for Lasik operation through third party financing companies and frequently offer incentives such as free initial exams.

The cost of the operation can vary greatly for a variety of reasons. Surgical practices in large metropolitan areas have a much better overhead than those in smaller cities and thus must pass some of that cost on to their posible patients. Keep in mind that the surgical practice is also paying rent, employee salaries, and the cost of laser equipment and supplies. Another big and important factor in determining the cost is the condition of your eyes and the actual surgical operation that must be performed. The more complex the lasik eye surgery, the higher is the cost. Custom laser which involves using special technology to map aberrations in the eye will generally cost more than traditional lasik eye procedure. Some surgeons will add this as an additional charge while others will include it in a package type fee.

So how much is this lasik procedure?Costs can vary considerably, anyway a ballpark average is about $2000 - $2500 per eye, depending upon where you have it done. Your surgeon should be able to give an exact figure for the cost of your laser surgery operation after an initial assessment of your medical condition is made. The fee should cover your preoperative treatment, the actual operation and postoperative treatment.

A number of persons who are considering the Lasik operation to correct their nearsightedness or farsightedness have of some potential problems of Lasik, and are wondering if there are other options. Though more than 90% of the Lasik patients have a very successful operation without any major side effects, there are choices for people who wish to improve their vision. Let us compare two, and talk these choices with a ophthalmologist.

Traditional Lasik surgery uses a scalpel to create a tiny flap in the eye, and then a laser reshapes the eye in order to focus accurately. There are 2 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 persons with unusual eye shapes, and both of these are worth to speek with your ophthalmologist.

Those people with thin corneas or other issues that make Lasik not a really good candidate for their particular case can consider implantable contact lens surgery. This thing 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 for ever in the eye. Like Lasik, they reshape the eye in order for it to focus accurately. The future patient will not feel the lens once the operation has been done.

Lasik and ICL are almost the same in several kind of ways. Lasik can improve vision affected by nearsightedness and astigmatism, and ICL can improve these vision deficiencies also. Both Lasik and ICL 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 operation, 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 operation has been performed.

Like any operation, there is a chance of infection in either a Lasik operation or an ICL procedure. A 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 any further complication. In a small percentage of the cases, either Lasik or ICL patients may not achieve a perfect vision and may need to continue to wear corrective eyewear, though usually not at the same strength as the original eyewear.

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

Lasik is generally a less invasive operation, and this is reflected in the current cost of the procedure. The current price for a Lasik procedure is between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending on the type of operation 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 procedure that is best for you.

I have noticed that more people I work with are talking about the Lasik vision correction process. I don’t really know why Lasik has suddenly become so popular in my company, but I do know that there are a number of rumors about Lasik that I am not sure are true or not. Let me just talk about my long term experience with Lasik.

It has been more than eight or nine years since I had the Lasik operation, so I was one of the early and brave first pacients. Maybe I wasn’t that brave when considering Lasik, for my vision in each eye was worse than -9. Even now, Lasik physicians think that a very strong case and do caution prospective possible clients that the Lasik operation will improve their vision, but may not eliminate the total need for glasses.

The Lasik procedure itself had mild pressure and some unusual sensationes, but no real discomfort or pain. This is still true in modern Lasik operationes, and hopefully they are even better at keeping the possible client comfortable. I do notice that now Lasik physicians also give a gentle sedative mainly for psychological reasons, which I think I would have appreciated back then.

Three days after the Lasik procedure I was astounded to find I had clear vision in each eye. Considering my previous prescription, you can maybe imagine how fervently I thanked my Lasik physician. Anyway, I did also have temporary symptoms of considerable dryness in my eyes (which was helped by eye drops), and also halos around lights at night.

Months after the Lasik operation, I noticed my vision changing a bit, though very slightly. The best way I can describe it is that the crisp edges no longer looked exceedingly crisp, but each object still seemed to be in focus. At my one year Lasik correction anniversary my physician said that one eye was still at 20/20, but the other had changed to 20/40. Anyway, I was still a great statistic for the Lasik correction operation, and we were both still happy with the good results.

In the years between now and the original Lasik operation, my vision is still 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. I really do have a pair of glasses and one contact lens for that eye, but rarely bother with them unless I am doing something like watching a movie or read. My long track record after the Lasik opration has given hope to a number of other persons in my office. I do want to say though that I was over 30 when I had the procedure done, and my Lasik physician said that the stability of my eyes and my age were good indicators that the Lasik results would be long term.

I hope this encourages people with bad vision to speek to a local Lasik physician about scheduling a Lasik operation. Find a physician that has a good track record, and one that you really trust, and I hope that your long term Lasik results will be as good as mine.Good Luck!