Lasik Eye Surgery Aftercare: The Dos and the Don'ts

Lasik surgery is becoming increasingly popular among individuals struggling with vision problems. Providing people with a way to toss out glasses and contacts, lasik surgery offers complete vision to those who have lived their whole lives on those mechanisms. Still, there are things to consider, including how the surgery works and the dos and don'ts of lasik eye surgery aftercare.

How the Surgery Works

Lasik eye surgery is not a long process. In fact the FTC explains the procedure only takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye. During the procedure, a small flap is cut and lifted away from the eye. The tissue of the cornea is then reshaped by the laser and then protected by a plastic or metal shield.

What You Should Do After

Another important element is taking your medication as described by the prescription. If you need help with drops, ask for it. Wait the appropriate length of time as described by your doctor before you continue with your regular activities such as work. Lomas Eye Care adds that you should wear eye protection during the nighttime to keep anything from bumping or scraping the eye. Drink adequate water to keep hydrated.

What You Should Avoid After

There are many, many things you will want to avoid after your surgery. The first of these is rubbing your eyes. Do not, under any circumstances rub your eyes. In addition, avoid driving until your vision is completely clear and focused. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission also recommends that you keep away from hot tubs and swimming.

Keep away from strenuous physical activities, especially one that could cause eye injury. Also do not exercise for a week after the operation. In addition to these things, you should keep away from smoky, dusty areas and refrain from wearing eye makeup.

Conclusion

Lasik eye surgery can change a person's life, and in most cases healing time is relatively quick. But this time can be made easier if individuals follow the dos and don'ts listed above. If you follow your doctor's instructions, you are much more likely to heal without complications.

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content manager for http://www.lasiksurgeryblog.com

Lasik Eye Surgery Aftercare: The Do's And The Don'ts

Lasik surgery is becoming increasingly popular among individuals struggling with vision problems. Providing people with a way to toss out glasses and contacts, lasik surgery offers complete vision to those who have lived their whole lives on those mechanisms. Still, there are things to consider, including how the surgery works and the dos and don?ts of lasik eye surgery aftercare.

How the Surgery Works

Lasik eye surgery is not a long process. In fact the FTC explains the procedure only takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye. During the procedure, a small flap is cut and lifted away from the eye. The tissue of the cornea is then reshaped by the laser and then protected by a plastic or metal shield.

What You Should Do After

Another important element is taking your medication as described by the prescription. If you need help with drops, ask for it. Wait the appropriate length of time as described by your doctor before you continue with your regular activities such as work. Lomas Eye Care adds that you should wear eye protection during the nighttime to keep anything from bumping or scraping the eye. Drink adequate water to keep hydrated.

What You Should Avoid After

There are many, many things you will want to avoid after your surgery. The first of these is rubbing your eyes. Do not, under any circumstances rub your eyes. In addition, avoid driving until your vision is completely clear and focused. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission also recommends that you keep away from hot tubs and swimming.

Keep away from strenuous physical activities, especially one that could cause eye injury. Also do not exercise for a week after the operation. In addition to these things, you should keep away from smoky, dusty areas and refrain from wearing eye makeup.

Conclusion

Lasik eye surgery can change a person?s life, and in most cases healing time is relatively quick. But this time can be made easier if individuals follow the dos and don?ts listed above. If you follow your doctor?s instructions, you are much more likely to heal without complications.

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content manager for http://www.lasiksurgeryblog.com

What You Should Know About Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery has been big news on the vision front. With many people flocking to have the procedure done it has become one of the most popular eye surgeries. The idea that lasik is a solution for anyone with bad vision also proves that much is unknown about lasik. Before committing to the surgery patients should look into what lasik is and what it can do for vision.

Lasik stands for laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. Lasik is where the surgeon cuts a small flap in the cornea and then uses a laser to reshape the inner area of the cornea. The cornea can be related to many vision issues. Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness), and Astigmatism can all be solved through lasik eye surgery.

Before getting lasik a patient is examined by their eye doctor. During the examination pictures of the cornea will be taken to see what corrections need to be made. The overall health of the patient and patient?s eyes are also considered when deciding if a person is a good lasik candidate. Any conditions, such as dry eye syndrome, may affect a persons ability to get lasik.

After lasik the patient can go home and within a few days is usually recovered enough to resume daily routine activities. Most people experience success and will see clearly right after the surgery. Some people may experience side effects like night time vision problems and light sensitivity. Rare side effects like infection can also occur, but most often can be avoided by following doctors orders.

Lasik is a fairly new procedure and long term data has not been studied. Some people do require the use of reading glasses as they age even though they have received lasik and achieved good results. The patient should discuss all concerns and expectations with their surgeon before the lasik procedure to ensure they completely understand the process and outcome possibilities.

Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides information on Lasik eye surgery at Your Lasik Eye Surgery!

What are Risks of Lasik Eye Surgery?

Lasik Surgery poses risks inherent in all surgery. Since surgery is an invasive procedure in your body, Lasik eye surgery is no exception. Studies in the 1990s confirm that up to 5% of LASIK surgery patients experienced some problems after surgery. Fortunately, today's LASIK surgeons are able to keep the percentage of people suffering from LASIK eye surgery risks down to less than 1%. This may be due to more thorough screening of the candidates. LASIK eye surgery risks rarely include the possibility of permanent or significant vision loss or the chance that your eyesight could be worse than it was before the surgery.

LASIK eye surgery risks usually pertain to LASIK flaps. These flaps refer to the cutting and lifting of flaps when the cornea is cut to enable the actual eye to be re-shaped by the laser. The flap is then put back into place, forming a "natural bandage." In traditional LASIK procedures, these flaps were cut by a bladed instrument called a microkeratome. Today, flaps are usually cut with a laser, a technology known as IntraLase. As a result of this technology, LASIK eye surgery risks are reduced because of increased accuracy and fewer flap complications. However, IntraLase is a considerably more expensive option. Potential candidates may have the option of having their cornea cut by laser or by blade. Also, candidates are given the choice of traditional LASIK, which addresses vision anomalies such as astigmatism or myopia, or custom LASIK, which deals with more obscure irregularities in the eye.

LASIK eye surgery risks are often related to whether the flaps are cut correctly or not. If the flaps are cut incorrectly, there is the possibility that the cornea may not stick to the surface of the eye. If the flap is cut too thin or thick, it may wrinkle after being placed back on the eye. This will result in an irregular eye shape and can distort vision. This condition is often referred to as irregular astigmatism.

Irregular astigmatism that is due to a less then smooth surface of the cornea can also become a LASIK eye surgery risk if the laser correction is not centered correctly on the eye. This LASIK eye surgery risk may lead to conditions commonly known as double vision or ghost images. In this case, re-treatment or enhancement of the eye may be necessary. Additionally, swelling or irregular healing of the cornea can cause ghost images and double vision. Most often, when the healing process takes its course, these problems will usually correct themselves. Other possible LASIK eye surgery risks may include night vision problems such as the appearance of halos, and possible glare surrounding brightly lit objects. Some patients also experience infection, inflammation of the eye, dry eye, redness, visual bluriness and eye irritation.

Hanif Khaki is the sought after author of numerous health related articles and the founder of the popular Lasik Resource site www.lasik-eye-surgery.expert-health.com

What You Should Know About Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery has been big news on the vision front. With many people flocking to have the procedure done it has become one of the most popular eye surgeries. The idea that lasik is a solution for anyone with bad vision also proves that much is unknown about lasik. Before committing to the surgery patients should look into what lasik is and what it can do for vision.

Lasik stands for laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. Lasik is where the surgeon cuts a small flap in the cornea and then uses a laser to reshape the inner area of the cornea. The cornea can be related to many vision issues. Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness), and Astigmatism can all be solved through lasik eye surgery.

Before getting lasik a patient is examined by their eye doctor. During the examination pictures of the cornea will be taken to see what corrections need to be made. The overall health of the patient and patient?s eyes are also considered when deciding if a person is a good lasik candidate. Any conditions, such as dry eye syndrome, may affect a persons ability to get lasik.

After lasik the patient can go home and within a few days is usually recovered enough to resume daily routine activities. Most people experience success and will see clearly right after the surgery. Some people may experience side effects like night time vision problems and light sensitivity. Rare side effects like infection can also occur, but most often can be avoided by following doctors orders.

Lasik is a fairly new procedure and long term data has not been studied. Some people do require the use of reading glasses as they age even though they have received lasik and achieved good results. The patient should discuss all concerns and expectations with their surgeon before the lasik procedure to ensure they completely understand the process and outcome possibilities.

Getting the Best Results from Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik surgery is a dream come true for many people. It can restore their vision to 20/20 or better. Now let's get realistic. How effective is lasik eye surgery? Can it really repair everyone's eyes to perfect 20/20 vision or better? Can you really throw your glasses and contact lenses away, never to have to worry about them again? The answers to these questions may surprise you. The truth is that not everyone gets 20/20 vision when the surgery is complete. The sad thing is that no matter how much research you do, getting exact statistics is impossible. A statistical chart on www.corneatexas.com shows that they have a 96% success rate. According to www.aapecs.com only about 55% of people have 20/20 vision after surgery; however 92% have 20/40 vision. 20/40 is the minimum vision requirement in the United States to get a drivers license.

You can see that statistics can be easily manipulated to mean anything you want them to mean. You can not base your decision on having surgery simply based on the statistics that your doctor gives you. Remember that he is in business. You are a sale to him. He will tell you what you want to make a sale. Statistics should be considered, but not be the basis for your decision.

Everyone's eye is different. The decision to go ahead with surgery should be done after have a consultation with a competent doctor. Don't go to someone you don't know or trust, especially if they are going to be the one doing the surgery. They just want your money. If you have a regular doctor that you have been going to for years his/her opinion would be valuable. Over the years you have learned to trust this doctor and his consultation has a better chance of being unbiased.

Do not trust anyone who claims you can throw away your glasses forever or that they guarantee 20/20 vision or your money back. There are no guarantees in medicine. The truth is most people still need glasses when they are done with surgery. You may need a weaker prescription, but still you may need corrective lenses. You have to accept that risk before going into surgery.

Many people go into surgery not expecting or even knowing about any of the side effects or complications. You need to research and understand these complications before having the surgery. You also need to ask yourself, "What can I reasonably expect from this surgery." You also need to know what to expect after the surgery. Although the surgery may only take about 20 minutes, the recovery can take up to six months. No, you will not have patches on your eyes and you won't spend six months in pain waiting for your eyes to heal. But it will take about six months to know if the surgery truly worked. If it did not work, your eyes may go back to their original shape within those six months. Also within that six month window, some of the negative side effects may manifest themselves. The first six months is critical. If you experience anything out of the ordinary, report it to your doctor immediately. They key to repairing any potential damage is timing. Don't wait if you feel pressure behind your eyes, or extreme dry eye, or reduced vision, or glares, or anything that is not normal. Your doctor may still be able to fix these problems, but not if you don't tell him or wait too long to tell him.

The honest truth is that you may still need glasses or contacts when it's all said and done with. You need to know the risks involved and have realistic expectations. Going in prepared will help guide you through the entire process. "Knowledge is Power." The saying may sound clich?, but it has always held true. Do your homework first. Research the surgery. Research the side effects. Research your doctor. Ask questions, even if you think it is a stupid question. It never hurts to ask questions and educate your self. A competent doctor will answer you questions honestly and not just sell you on the miracles of not wearing glasses ever again. Then make an educated decision about having the surgery. Then you can walk into surgery with confidence.

Isabelle Boulay also is author of articles on cataract symptoms and diagnosis and preparation for Lasik eye surgery at Medopedia.com

FDA Approves Lasik Eye Surgery

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new custom lasik procedure in September of 2005. This new procedure can now treat many patients who were previously ineligible for the surgery. Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness occurs when the eye is too long and light rays focus in front of the retina, instead of focusing on the retina. Some of the symptoms of nearsightedness are blurred distant vision, eyestrain, and squinting, along with having a difficult time seeing at night.

Although nearsightedness can be easily fixed with glasses or contact lenses (when not too severe), many people don't like to hassle with either one. With this new lasik procedure, folks will now be able to have pure vision.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is the effect of the eye being shaped like a football, instead of round like a baseball. This deformity -- where the light rays focus on two points on the retina instead of one -- results in blurred vision, double vision, and shadows on letters when reading. Until recently, this deformity has prevented some people from even getting contact lenses. Breakthroughs in contact lenses have only helped those with slight astigmatism.

However, with this new lasik procedure, patients can now have their eyes repaired to normal, or at least be repaired enough to comfortably wear contact lenses. Either way, their vision is enhanced and many are happy just to get rid of the glasses and finally be able to wear contacts, or possibly nothing at all.

Farsightedness

Farsightedness happens when light rays focus behind the retina instead of on the retina, resulting in blurred near vision. Some patients with severe farsightedness have to step back from what they are reading and others require magnifying glasses to see something that is right in front of them. People with farsightedness can see you 30 feet away, but when you get right up close they can't see you! This can be embarrassing and cause the afflicted person much insecurity along with the feeling that they are going blind.

Farsightedness is easily remedied by wearing glasses to read and see things up close, but it's very inconvenient to constantly be taking your glasses on and off. Not only is it inconvenient, you take the chance of leaving your glasses behind. Some patients keep their glasses on a chain so they won't lose them, but this makes them feel old. Now, lasik surgery is another option for these patients.

New Laser Technology

The FDA recently approved the new Visx STAR Excimer laser system. This fantastic breakthrough in technology allows doctors to do more than they ever could before, giving them the ability to reshape the eye to correct astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. Before this marvelous breakthrough these patients were not good candidates for lasik eye surgery. They now can join the rest of the vision impaired and have the option for lasik.

Recent FDA studies show that over 98% of all patients receiving these new procedures were seeing 20/40 or better 6 months after surgery. Over 84% were seeing much better than 20/20 after 6 months. Now that's reason to celebrate!

New breakthroughs in lasik eye surgery technology are happening all the time. Now people don't have to be inconvenienced by the hassle of glasses or contacts. All they want to do is to be able to get up in the morning and see normally. These breakthroughs in lasik technology are giving them an improved quality of life that once was unattainable.

Visit Lasik surgery to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer with a Website Here.