There are complications as a possibility in any form of surgery, but some of the complications from Lasik surgery can be alarming for the patients. The truth, however, about complications from Lasik surgery is a little different than a lot of people would have you believe. First of all, less than one percent of Lasik patients have experienced a consequence from Lasik that would be considered serious. This complication is often also solved with a quick retouch surgery or administering some medication to assist with the problem. The reality of the complications is that the chance of experiencing them remains to be quite small.

The rarity of the complications from Lasik surgery makes it among the safest in surgical procedures to have in the US. There is an extremely small possibility, around one percent or less, that you will experience significant or total vision loss as a result of Lasik eye surgery complications. Many, as mentioned, of these complications can be repaired with a simple retouching surgical procedure or a medical assessment that results in treatment of another kind. Selecting competent staff and a goal-oriented surgeon to perform your surgery is the best way to prevent any problems that may result from your procedure.

The Reality of Complications

If you are not qualified for Lasik eye surgery, you may qualify for a number of other procedures that could also help you. The qualifying procedure is very important because it establishes the workability of the procedure on your eyes and on your person. If you do not qualify for this procedure, do not attempt to find a way around it or visit a less reputed surgeon to do the procedure anyway. You will be denied qualification for a proper medical reason and you should not toy with this reasoning because it is in place for your own protection. Without the qualification procedure, the risk factor increases by a significant degree.

If you qualify for Lasik eye surgery, your doctor will make you aware of some of the Lasik eye surgery complications that resonate with your case. From there, with the knowledge of the Lasik eye surgery complications in your mind, you can make a final decision on the procedure and elect to have or negate the procedure. If you decide on Lasik eye surgery and the procedure is a great success, you have the process to thank for the safety of yourself throughout the procedure and the success of the procedure as a whole.

Scott
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/experiencing-complications-from-lasik-surgery-68351.html

LASIK is one of the best types of corrective eye surgery. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. This procedure can permanently reshape the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye with the help of a laser. LASIK is performed on millions of people every year. There are a wide variety of different optical lasers. This procedure can be used to correct near and far sightedness as well as astigmatism.

Before you can get LASIK surgery done you need to get your eyes examined by a doctor to see if you are a good candidate. If you wear contacts, you will have to stop using them for a few weeks before the Lasik surgery and only wear your eyeglasses. This is to allow the cornea to return to its original pre-contacts shape, or else the measurements of your eye may be wrong, resulting in poor results after surgery. These measurements help the doctor decide how much tissue is to be removed from the cornea, and have to be redone a week after your first evaluation as well as before the LASIK surgery, to make sure the eye has not changed.

Common LASIK is not the only game in town anymore and it is not the best procedure for every candidate. Find an eye surgeon who is comfortable and experienced with several other procedures, like LASEK, CK, PRK, HD LASIK and clean lens replacement, including some of the latest technologies. If you find out that your eye doctor is knowledgeable about these other procedures, you should feel safe in his or her choice as to which one is right for you.

Most patients do not report any problems after the laser surgery. The number of problems is less than 1%. The surgery is done on an outpatient basis for nearly everyone. You can usually return to work the next day.

Side effects can happen with any type of surgery.

After the surgery, the number one complaint for candidates is dry eyes. The reason for this is the laser eye surgery decreases the lubrication amount for the eyes. The severity of dry eyes can vary from serious to very serious. These problems can be solved by using artificial eye drops commonly found in any drug store.

Undergoing LASIK surgery or any other type of laser vision correction can be a daunting task. Does the reward of having freedom from glasses or contacts make it all worthwhile?

James Yawn
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/lasik-surgery-is-it-worth-the-risk-139592.html

There are few among us who, at one time or another, had not had to manage some level of impaired vision. Whether age has rendered us no longer able to see far away or up close, or we have suffered an illness or disease that has compromised our vision, it is likely that, if we have not already, we will someday need corrective measures to help us see at our best.

And for those who have long managed the expense and inconvenience of eyeglasses and contact lenses, the idea of corrective eye surgery seems most appealing. It’s no wonder, therefore, that Lasik eye surgery has continued to grow in popularity since it was first performed in the United States in 1991.

Lasik is relatively new on the scene to us – the consumers; but in actuality the technology has been a long time coming. In fact, in 1948, Columbian ophthalmologist, Jose Barraquer first experimented with corneal procedures by actually surgically removing more than half of a patient’s cornea that he then froze. Once the cornea had been frozen to an appropriate temperature, Dr. Barraquer was able to reshape its surface thus removing barriers to clear vision.

Once the cornea had been reshaped it was replaced into the patient’s eye. Such technology evolved by the 1960s to the point where such corneal procedures could be done without removing the cornea from the patient’s eye; this procedure was perfected and performed in Russia and involved the use of a scalpel.

Lasik began to take shape in the early 1980s when a U.S. ophthalmologist made alterations to laser technology that had begun to be used by the U.S. military. But in 1990, Lucio Buratto and Ioannis Pallikaris developed the Lasik surgery that we know today by combining methods of two pre-existing techniques – keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy. Both keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy are techniques in which the cornea is reshaped with the use of an excimer laser or other technology.

The word Lasik refers to Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a form of refractive laser eye surgery that was first performed in the United States in1991. During the procedure, the patient’s eye is immobilized with the use of a cornea suction ring after which the surgeon creates a flap through an incision made in the top layer of the corneal tissue.

The flap is then lifted back to reveal the mid-section of the cornea – known as the stroma. The surgeon then uses a low-powered excimer laser to resurface the stroma. The corneal flap made during the procedure is then replaced over the stroma; the healing process is natural and generally speedy. The procedure itself is very quick – usually less than 10 minutes an eye – and virtually painless. The most discomfort experienced by the patient is general anxiety in anticipation of the procedure.

Today, over one-million people in the United States alone have undergone Lasik surgery – generally with very good success. In fact, it is a very small percentage of patients – less than 6% – who have experienced any complications following their procedure. Such complications generally include light sensitivity, dry eye, double vision, and scarring. These incidences, however, are very rare and can be greatly reduced by having your procedure performed by a reputable and experienced surgery center.

Candice Sabrina
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-popularity-of-lasik-eye-surgery-128146.html

When facing any serious surgical procedure, the key to a successful outcome is thorough preparation. In addition to listening to your doctor and following his advice, you should educate yourself on the particular procedure you are having and take all appropriate steps to prepare for both the surgery and your recovery. It is no different when considering laser eye surgery.

The industry standard for this kind of surgery is known as LASIK, which stands for the very serious-sounding Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is, in fact, quite serious, as is any surgery on a major organ or system of the human body. However, the science is solid and the history of the procedure attests to its safety and effectiveness, so you should have no problems if you adhere to the five ways to prepare for LASIK surgery, before and after the surgery.

1. Educate yourself. Beyond the discussions with your doctor(s), you should avail yourself of the Internet or your local library and read up on the procedure. The more you know about the technology involved, as well as the anatomy of the eyes and the precise nature of the surgery, the less time and energy you will waste with needless worry.

2. Ask questions. Don’t be shy. This is your eyesight at stake, so any concerns or questions that remain after studying up on the LASIK procedure should be voiced without reservation. It is crucial that you are comfortable with the procedure and fully trust in your doctor(s).

3. Follow instructions. If you wear contacts, you will be advised to leave them out for a certain period of time before the procedure. The shape of your eyes is changed by contacts, and they need to be in their natural shape, size and position at the time of the surgery. If there are any other dietary restrictions or preparations based on your specific condition, your doctor(s) will tell you, and you must follow the instructions to the letter.

4. Adjust your schedule. As with any surgery, you must allow time for recovery. You may have more or less post-operative pain than others, but in any event you will need rest after the procedure, and you will also have to allow some time for your vision to adjust and the blurriness to clear. Don’t keep up your regular workload if it is going to interfere with your recovery. Make (and follow) a plan for taking some time off work and reducing your level of exertion and stress.

5. Watch yourself carefully. While the surgery has been performed for years on vast numbers of people, there is always some amount of risk. If your vision is not clearing up, or your pain does not diminish, or if there is any other problem whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.

The technology of vision correction has advanced dramatically since the introduction of medical lasers. The great strides that have been made in laser eye surgery over the past few decades, along with reams of clinical evidence, conclusively establish that it is both safe and effective.

With proper preparation, and a positive attitude, the LASIK procedure should go smoothly and help you achieve the vision correction you desire.

Monica Keller
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/five-ways-to-prepare-for-lasik-surgery-before-and-after-the-surgery-132239.html

Medical science has seen so much of advancement in the last decade or more that these days there are probably only a few things that cannot be corrected by surgery. Laser eye treatment is one such technological wonder and it has turned out to be a well established and successful procedure and a number of people are using this as a way to sort out their vision problems. As with all surgery here too, there are some risks involved in having a serious complication like your vision being threatened or severe eye injury although they are small. But since it has been established that the surgery is not without risks we can explore some of the common risks involved.

We start with the occurrence of under correction and overcorrection. Eyes are special and unique in nature and each person’s eye will respond differently to laser eye treatment so it is possible that you may continue needing corrective lenses even after surgery for clarity in your vision and another procedure may be required to correct this deficiency. Regression occurs when patients find that the effects of the procedure are diminishing as in under correction and another surgery may be required.

Excessive corneal haze occurs as part of the healing process and generally it has a miniscule effect on the final result and clarity of vision obtained, though any excesses can interfere with normal vision which may require further laser treatment. There is a 1-in-a-1000 chance of infection and delayed healing of the cornea after having undergone laser eye treatment but lasting effects don’t appear till within four years of the procedure.

Irregular removal of tissue and or existence of corneal haze may interfere with the best obtainable vision for patients who use lenses and the result may not be as good as before. It leads to a decrease in the best-corrected vision. The irregular healing of the corneal tissue flap or a distorted flap may cause some distortion in the cornea, and this could also mean a decrease in vision.

Severe dry eye syndrome occurs when the eye is not able to produce enough tears post surgery to keep the eyes wet and comfortable. While this does not cause discomfort it does affect the quality of vision to a slight extent because of intermittent blurring and then there is a possibility that this might be permanent and require further surgery or at the very least, an intensive course of treatment with eye drops.

The halo effect is best defined as an optical effect experienced when there are low lights. When the pupil opens, the patient will find another image slightly faded that is in the peripheral part of the cornea that was not treated and this can cause trouble while driving at night. Flap damage or loss happens when the tissue flap hinged to the central cornea comes unhinged. While the flap can be replaced there is a chance that this bit of tissue may get damaged or lost.

All in all, there are risks involved with laser eye surgery. So one will have to take an informed decision to go ahead with it, weighing all the pros and cons and knowing what to expect and how best to deal with it.

Ray La Foy
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/considering-lasik-eye-surgery-learn-the-risks-87509.html

Is there such a thing as natural vision correction? Is this a myth?

I mean, many of us – myself included – have been wearing glasses or contact lenses for years. Never once have our optometrists told us there are natural ways to improve our vision by exercising our eyes.

(Come to think about it, maybe they did know and are not telling us, because if these methods do work, we won’t be prescribing glasses and contact lenses anymore.)

Well, apparently there is such a thing as natural vision correction.

What is natural vision correction?

It comprises a series of exercises that train your eye muscles – just like you’ll train your biceps and abs – which over time leads to the natural improvement of your vision.

The focusing abilities of your eyes are controlled by a series of internal muscles. Due to the many stresses put upon the visual system, the use of glasses and contacts (yes, some research shows that wearing glasses and contact lenses can worsen your eyesight over time), and the natural aging process itself, these muscles become weak and distorted, therefore resulting in blurred vision.

What natural vision correction exercises do is to strengthen and train these muscles—just as you would any other weak muscles in your body—and redirect your point of focus, thus helping you see clearly without corrective lenses and preventing further deterioration of our eyes.

Scientific Proof

Is there scientific proof that eye exercises can improve one’s vision? I did some research and these are a couple of academic studies I found:

“Symptoms were totally eliminated in 53% of the patients, reduced in 43% and remained the same in only 4%.

Therefore …an overall success rate of 96%. There is an impressive and increasing body of evidence attesting to the trainability of accommodative function.” (From a study of 96 patients with some type of accommodative dysfunction who had completed a vision therapy program.)—Irwin B. Suchoff, O.D., and Timothy G. Petito, O.D. (1986) Journal of the American Optometric Association

An article published in the American Journal of Optometry & Physiological Optics summarized that “the literature provides a solid base of research supporting vision therapy as an effective treatment mode for accommodative deficiencies. Vision therapy procedures have been shown to improve accommodative function effectively and to eliminate or reduce associated symptoms.” (Rouse, 1987)

Seems to be more than a grain of salt there, doesn’t it?

Conclusion

Natural vision correction is a therapy that’s definitely worth considering, especially if you’re thinking about Lasik eye surgery – like I am.

Louis Zhang
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/natural-vision-correction-do-eye-exercises-work-65032.html

Why won’t Medi-cal and Medicare cover lasik eye surgery?

In my observation, I have noticed that the government is at least ten years behind medical "trends", for lack of a better word. I don’t expect those two agencies to cover such a breakthrough any time soon.

I had a wonderful surgeon who took time out of his busy operation schedule to call me back to answer a question I had prior to my surgery date.

My corneas were too thin to handle the amount of correction I needed, so if I wanted vision correction surgery, PRK was my only choice. They were about 500 microns thick preop. My correction was like -8.xx (not sure of his EXACT correction numbers). Sure, I was disappointed…I knew I was getting into a longer healing time than my hubby did with his LASIK…and more discomfort.

If you are considering, or have already scheduled your PRK, be sure to take a few days off work. My job entails 100% computer work and I took off day of surgery (Thurs), Friday, the weekend, and Monday. I still had a lot of eye strain getting used to my ‘new eyes’ for about the next week or two…and still have some problems after working a 14 hour day.

The discomfort was more of a dirty contact feeling with some burning. The artificial tears really helped.

At 12 days postop, I was 20/30 right eye (scratched my eye putting drops in…I’m a klutz lol that darn cat) and 20/20 left eye.

I still have a little bit of haze when my eyes get dry, but nothing major and it clears up with drops.

I think my great results are because of my surgeon…he explained everything and I knew exactly what I was getting myself into.

No real complaints at all (did have when I was hurting during those days postop, but I got oral and topical pain meds to help).

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