PRK Reduces the Risk of Epithelial Ingrowth after LASIK Regression

The PRK procedure reduces the risk of epithelial ingrowth when the procedure is used to correct for regression after LASIK, according to a report from Ocular Surgery News.

Regression occurs when your cornea begins to return to its original vision error. Serious regression after LASIK occurs to only a small percentage of patients, and most often to patients with farsightedness (hyperopia). Some people experience regression many years after their LASIK surgery. A second LASIK procedure is often used to correct regression, which typically involves re-lifting the original corneal flap, instead of cutting a new one.

Unfortunately, these "lift-flap enhancement" procedures run the risk of causing epithelial ingrowth, a complication in which epithelial cells (cells on the outer surface of the cornea) grow underneath the corneal flap.

Epithelial ingrowth tends to occur with flap procedures. In PRK, a corneal flap is not created. Instead, the outer surface of cells is vaporized, or "ablated." Apparently, patients experiencing regression can still achieve corrected vision with PRK while avoiding the risk of epithelial ingrowth.

To learn more about LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

LASIK Candidacy for People with Glaucoma

Glaucoma – a collection of eye diseases affecting more than 60 million people worldwide – is receiving special attention this January, which is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve of your eye and causes vision loss. In some cases, glaucoma leads to blindness.

Glaucoma does not necessarily make you a poor candidate for LASIK; however, there are often several vision correction options that may be less risky for people with glaucoma.

The two most common forms of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma, cause the pressure inside your eye to increase. This pressure is called "intraocular pressure" (IOP). IOP is actually the pressure of the fluid in your eye.

LASIK procedures that use a microkeratome blade may not be recommended for people with glaucoma. IOP is increased while the microkeratome is being utilized. If you already have high IOP, your eye surgeon may advise against increasing it even more during a LASIK procedure. On the other hand, your eye surgeon may determine that it is reasonably safe for you to undergo LASIK if you are receiving treatment for glaucoma, and if your intraocular pressure is under control. Otherwise, a LASIK alternative may be recommended, which may include:

• PRK
• IntraLase
• Implantable lenses

For those who have not been diagnosed with glaucoma, Glaucoma Awareness Month is an important reminder to be screened regularly for glaucoma during an annual eye exam.

To learn more about your candidacy for LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

More Health Services, including LASIK, Popping Up on Daily Deal Sites

According to a recent Associated Press story, daily deal websites like Groupon and LivingSocial are offering more health-related deals, and people are using them. These discounts are even being offered for LASIK eye surgery.

Traditionally, these sites offer limited-time discounts at participating restaurants, hotels, spas, and for other goods and services. Consumers purchase the deal online, and then redeem the deal at some point before it expires. Dentists, doctors and ophthalmologists have begun offering discounts for medical services on these websites. About one of every 11 deals offered online are for a health service, according to the AP story.

One man saved more than $1,300 on his LASIK surgery, according to the article. He may have been otherwise deterred from pursuing the procedure. Millions of Americans do not have health insurance, and for people who are insured, policies covering LASIK often cover only a small percentage.

As someone who is interested in LASIK, you should not be prevented from achieving better vision because of inadequate financing.

Even with the great deals sometimes offered on these sites, you should not neglect careful research and selection of your LASIK surgeon. Surgeon experience, education, training and other qualifications are important to consider, not cost alone. Most LASIK surgeons offer some form of financing. Paying for your procedure may include:

• Cash
• Credit card
• Personal check
• In-house payment plans
• Third-party loans

When considering LASIK, cost should be just one of many factors influencing your decision. You should feel confident you are not sacrificing quality of results for expense. Fortunately, many LASIK surgeons have financing consultants committed to helping you plan for the expense.

To learn more about LASIK and financing available for LASIK, please contact an experienced LASIK eye surgeon in your area.

Supplemental Lidocaine Gel may Lessen Pain related to LASIK Surgery

Supplementing topical anesthetic with lidocaine gel during LASIK surgery may reduce pain, according to a recent study.

The study measured the pain scores of 51 LASIK patients during the surgery and in the 45 minutes following surgery. Significantly lower pain scores were reported in the group who received lidocaine gel in addition to topical anesthetic, compared to the pain scores reported by the group treated with topical anesthetic only.

Lower pain for the lidocaine-treated group was reported during:

• Corneal flap creation with a microkeratome blade.
• Ablation of the cornea with the laser.
• 30 minutes, and again at 45 minutes after the LASIK surgery.

The lidocaine-treated group did not require as much additional topical anesthesia as the other group.

In general, pain and discomfort associated with LASIK surgery varies by patient. Some people experience no pain, only mild discomfort. Other people are more sensitive to the pressure of the microkeratome blade or the laser pulses and report this pressure as being painful.

Pain and discomfort experienced during the procedure may also depend on the LASIK technology used. You may want to consider choosing a LASIK surgeon who uses state-of-the-art lasers and up-to-date equipment.

If you are concerned about pain during LASIK, you should discuss this concern with an experienced LASIK surgeon. Your surgeon can inform you of what you can expect during the surgery and the healing period.

To learn more about LASIK, please contact an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.

New Lasers May Allow High Myopia Patients to be Treated by LASIK

For many people with very high myopia, LASIK is simply not an option. While there are other laser vision correction surgeries or lens replacements that may be possible, the success rate of LASIK is more appealing. So, their disappointment is palpable and understandable. However, a new generation excimer laser and aberration-free ablation profiles may allow these people to undergo LASIK successfully. As LASIK technology improves, more severely myopic patients may be treated.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, 51 eyes of 32 patients who had the spherical equivalent of myopia or astigmatism of at least 8.5 D underwent LASIK using the sixth-generation Amaris excimer laser. The flaps were created using the IntraLase femtosecond laser, and ORK-CAM software was used to design the optimized aspheric aberration-free ablation profiles. The preoperative spherical mean equivalent of the patients was -8.66 D. Of the 51 eyes operated on, four needed re-treatment.

Visual acuity stabilized in nearly all patients (98%) after three months. Emmetropia, or sharpness of focus when the eye is relaxed, was near 0.5 D in over 84% of the eyes, and over 90% of eyes postoperative was within 1 D of emmetropia.

Although further studies need to be done, this is promising for those whose nearsightedness and astigmatism is so bad they've been told LASIK will never be an option.

If you would like to find out more about your LASIK options, please contact an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area today.

New Vision for the New Year: LASIK Results

If you are considering whether it is finally time for a LASIK procedure, you may be wondering about the results possible. In general, LASIK improves vision and reduces dependency on corrective eyewear (glasses and contact lenses).

Of all LASIK patients, about 56 percent will experience 20/20 vision after the procedure. More than 90 percent of all LASIK patients will experience 20/40 vision or better; however, these results can change under certain circumstances. The quality of your LASIK results will also depend on your specific vision disorder.

Most studies show people with low to moderate nearsightedness (myopia) achieve better LASIK results more often than people with high levels of nearsightedness. Many of these people have 20/40 vision without glasses or contacts, and find that they do not need corrective eyewear. Some studies show similar results between high and low levels of farsightedness.

In general, you should plan to use corrective eyewear after LASIK for some activities. People who are prepared for less-than-perfect results from LASIK are less likely to be dissatisfied after the procedure. You may be more satisfied with LASIK results if you think of the goal of the procedure as improving your uncorrected vision, not necessarily achieving 20/20 vision.

To find out more about what you can expect from LASIK, please contact an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.

What if I Move or Blink during my LASIK Surgery?

Common among LASIK patients – and among people considering LASIK – is a concern that their eyes will be horrifically mangled if they accidentally blink or move during surgery. Although this concern is understandable, blinking and moving is not problematic in modern LASIK procedures.

Your eye and body position are secured by:

• A speculum holding your eyelids open.
• A contoured, cushioned headrest.
• A blinking target light for you to focus your gaze on.
• Numbing eye drops to prevent your eye's response to stimuli.

Even if you look away from the blinking light, causing your eyes to move, today's LASIK technology is designed to account for possibilities like eye movement. Modern lasers have high-speed tracking, which adjusts the laser pulses to the position of your eyes. Some lasers shut off if a certain degree of eye movement occurs.

Many surgeons report that it is not uncommon for a patient to move during LASIK surgery. Your eye surgeon has complete control over the laser and can turn it off at any time. The procedure is easily resumed once you are back in position.

To find out more about LASIK eye surgery, please contact an experienced and knowledgeable LASIK surgeon in your area.