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The LASIK Directory Blog

Welcome to the LASIK Blog, a resource for people interested in LASIK surgery. This consumer-friendly blog is intended to be used as a central resource to answer common questions about LASIK and to point you in the right direction.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Implantable Contact Lenses

Implantable contact lenses offer patients another option to correct refractive errors in their vision. The procedure is very safe and has been around for more than 15 years, although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only approved it for use in the United States a few years ago.

There are many people who are not ideal candidates for LASIK surgery due to overly thin corneas, abnormally shaped corneas, or having too strong of a prescription. Implantable contact lenses provide patients who cannot undergo LASIK with an ability to correct their vision and get rid of their glasses or contacts once and for all.

Implantable contact lenses are made from an organic collagen-based protein material called Collamer. They are thin, pliable, and undetectable to others once placed in your eye. Since they are permanently implanted in your eye, they reduce the risk of infection commonly associated with regular contact lenses.

The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and takes about 30 minutes to complete. It is similar to cataract surgery, except you will not have your natural lens removed. Patients are awake throughout the entire procedure and are given a topical anesthetic to numb the eye. Your ophthalmologist will make an incision three millimeters wide in your cornea. The implantable contact lens will then be inserted into your eye. It is placed behind the iris and in front of your eye's natural lens.

The healing process takes about a month. Patients generally see an improvement in their vision within a few hours. You will not require stitches for the incision, and you will be able to return to work the next day. You will need to use eye drops for approximately three weeks after having surgery.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Braves Catcher May Need Second LASIK Procedure

Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann may require a second LASIK procedure to correct his vision issues. He currently suffers from blurry vision and dryness in his left eye. He has an appointment with his ophthalmologist today to determine whether he will require additional laser eye surgery to repair the condition.

McCann went for LASIK surgery after the 2007 season and experienced no vision problems throughout the 2008 season. If he needs additional surgery, he will most likely spend some time on the disabled list while his eyes heal. McCann has been taking antibiotic ointment drops to help with his condition. He is currently mired in a 1-for-20 slump.

Before doctors recommend a second LASIK procedure for McCann, they will try to determine the exact cause of the problem. Doctors are currently uncertain whether the problem stems from dryness, an irritant, or a tear-duct tissue.

If doctors do decide to go forward with additional LASIK, it will most likely be a minor operation to correct issues stemming from his first surgery.

McCain is not the only prominent baseball player considering LASIK at the moment. Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano was supposed to have LASIK performed last month, but decided to put the procedure off until the end of the season.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Many Baby-Boomers Opt for Lens Implants over Reading Glasses

The baby-boomer generation has benefitted greatly from recent advances in eye surgery technology. As a result, many baby-boomers have been able to get rid of their reading glasses once and for all.

Improvements in lens implant technology have led to a 40% increase worldwide for intraocular lens (IOL) implants to treat presbyopia. IOLs are plastic lens implants that are used to replace your eye's damaged natural lens. While IOLs are most commonly used for the treatment of cataracts, they have recently become a popular treatment option for people experiencing problems with their distance vision. By opting for a lens transplant for presbyopia, patients also eliminate the need for a cataracts procedure down the road.

The procedure only takes about a half hour to complete. Your ophthalmologist will apply a local anesthesia before making a small incision in your eye. He will then use ultrasound to break up and remove your natural lens before inserting the implant in its place.

As you age, your eye's crystalline lens begins to stiffen, leading to a degeneration of your eyesight. Changes in the curvature of your lens also contribute to the vision loss experienced with aging. Presbyopia may also be a precursor to cataracts. Therefore, by treating your presbyopia with a lens implant, you are eliminating your risk of developing cataracts in the future.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

New Treatments for Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is a common eye disorder affecting Americans over the age of 65. In fact, it is the leading cause of blindness for people in this age range. White females are at the greatest risk for developing macular degeneration. Other risk factors include smoking, obesity, and genetics.

Recent studies suggest that vitamin therapy can be very effective in slowing the progression of the disorder if it is caught early enough. The National Eye Institute recommends a high-dose supplement made up of vitamins C, E, beta carotene, and zinc to treat macular degeneration. In some situations, laser eye surgery has been used to treat the disorder as well.

There is also a new treatment available that has been demonstrating excellent results. It is a drug that is injected into your eye. The drug acts on the abnormal blood vessels in your eye that have caused your macular degeneration. The treatment has slowed the progression of the disorder in many patients, and it has improved the vision of others.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

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Thursday, April 09, 2009

New Procedure Improves Effectiveness of Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are a common vision problem, affecting millions of Americans over the age of 50. Surgery is required to correct the issue, and if cataracts are left untreated, you run a serious risk of blindness. Approximately three million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year.

Unfortunately, traditional cataract surgery does not correct refractive errors that existed before your surgery. Almost two-thirds or cataract patients still require corrective lenses to see properly after their cataract surgery.

When you develop cataracts, your eye's lens becomes cloudy, impairing your vision. Over time, your vision will progressively deteriorate until you become blind. In traditional cataract surgery, a fixed intraocular lens is implanted into your eye to replace your natural lens that has started deteriorating. After the surgery, any refractive error you previously had will still exist.

Fortunately, there is a new procedure being clinically tested which can correct all of your vision problems during your cataract surgery. This new procedure uses a different type of intraocular lens that is made out of photosensitive silicone. The lens changes shape as light hits it, which helps to accommodate for any nearsightedness or farsightedness issues you may also experience. As a result, your refractive error can be corrected as part of the procedure.

The light adjustable lens can be custom-made for your eye, enabling you to get rid of your glasses or contacts after the procedure. Once approved by the FDA, this new lens may revolutionize cataract surgery.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.

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Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Is LASIK Right for You?

As a result of the many rapid advances in LASIK technology, laser eye surgery has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Many people across the country have opted for LASIK surgery as an alternative to the hassles of dealing with contact lenses or eye glasses on a daily basis.

But how do you know if the surgery is right for you?

An ideal candidate for LASIK is over the age of 18 with a moderate refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism). Results are not always as consistent for people with very strong prescriptions. Furthermore, your vision must be stable for one to two years in order to undergo laser eye surgery.

There are a few other factors that will affect whether or not LASIK is right for you. If you have an irregularly shaped cornea or an overly thin cornea, you will run a greater risk of complications. Also, if you are prone to dry eyes before having LASIK, you will most likely experience severe dry eyes after your surgery. You may want to think carefully about this before opting for the procedure.

Overall, LASIK has become very routine and safe and yields a very high percentage of successful procedures. The satisfaction rate among LASIK patients is one of the highest for any elective surgery procedure. So if you are sick and tired of wearing contacts or glasses every day, you may want to consult your ophthalmologist to see if LASIK is right for you.

You can use the links at the bottom of the page to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.

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Friday, April 03, 2009

Studies Reveal LASIK Procedures Have High Satisfaction Rate

Recently, 19 separate studies on patient satisfaction have revealed that almost all LASIK patients are happy with the results of their surgery. These studies analyzed data spanning almost 20 years. According to the findings, approximately 95% of patients were satisfied with the results of their LASIK surgery.

This data indicates that LASIK compares very favorably with other elective surgery procedures. In fact, it has one of the highest success and satisfaction rates of any elective procedure.

The studies conducted analyzed data from LASIK patients in Egypt, France, India, Iran, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the U.A.E., Great Britain, and the United States. The satisfaction rates were relatively consistent for each country studied.

In the studies focusing on myopia, 95.3% of the 1,901 patients surveyed indicated that they were satisfied with their results. In the studies focusing on hyperopia procedures, 96.3% of the 297 patients questioned were satisfied.

The results were also consistent over time. The satisfaction rate for patients who underwent LASIK between 1995 and 2000 was 96%. Between 2001 and 2003, the rate was 94.6%, a difference that is not statistically significant.

Due to rapid advances in LASIK technology, the procedure has become very safe, efficient, and routine in recent years. With such high satisfaction rates, LASIK ranks among one of the most effective elective procedures available.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.

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