LASIK Complications

It is important to familiarize yourself with every aspect of the LASIK procedure before deciding whether to undergo surgery. This includes any potential LASIK complications that may arise. At your initial consultation, your LASIK surgeon will review these potential complications with you in greater detail.

Fortunately, LASIK is very safe and enjoys one of the highest success rates of any surgical procedure. Most complications are rare and easily treated. The skill and experience of your LASIK surgeon will greatly influence the likelihood of complications arising. Therefore, it is important to do your research before choosing a LASIK surgeon.

Some of the more common LASIK complications include:

• Dry eyes – Approximately 50% of LASIK patients experience dry eyes during the first six months after surgery. This condition generally goes away over time. While you wait for the condition to resolve itself, you can find relief from any irritation you experience by using prescription eye drops.
  
• Infection – As with any surgical procedure, there is always the risk of infection. However, this risk is very remote, and most infections can be easily treated with antibiotic eye drops.
  
• Undercorrection – Not every patient who undergoes LASIK will achieve 20/20 vision. This is particularly true if your refractive error is severe prior to surgery. Undercorrection is sometimes caused by complications during the healing process. As a result, it is important to adhere to your surgeon's follow-up care instructions meticulously to reduce the risk of undercorrection. Often, undercorrection can be remedied with an enhancement procedure.
  
• Higher order aberrations – Sometimes, you may experience higher order aberrations such as glare or halos following your LASIK procedure. Often, these will subside gradually over time.
  

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced laser eye surgeon in your area.

Common LASIK Questions

LASIK surgery is commonly performed to correct refractive errors in vision such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It is a very safe procedure with a very high success rate. However, as with all surgical procedures, it is important to learn as much about the procedure as possible before deciding whether to move forward.

The following are some common questions about LASIK:

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

There are a variety of factors that affect LASIK candidacy, including:

• Having a stable prescription for at least one year
  
• Having healthy corneas
  
• Being age 18 or older
  
• Not having any other eye conditions which may adversely impact the surgery
  

At your initial consultation, your ophthalmologist will thoroughly examine your eyes to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for LASIK.

Are there any complications?

While LASIK complications are rare, they do occur on occasion. These may include:

• Higher order aberrations such as glare or halos
  
• Dry eyes
  
• Infection
  

Will I need corrective lenses after LASIK?

Many people achieve vision close to 20/20 following LASIK. However, if your refractive error is very severe before surgery, you may still require corrective lenses after your surgery.

Will insurance cover my procedure?

LASIK is considered an elective procedure. Therefore, most insurance carriers will not cover the cost of your procedure.

Does LASIK hurt?

At most, there will be minimal discomfort with your LASIK procedure. Your ophthalmologist will administer eye drops to relieve any discomfort you may experience.

Is there a long recovery period?

No. You should notice the results shortly following your procedure, and you should be able to resume normal activity within a day or two. It is important to follow your ophthalmologist's instructions carefully to ensure proper healing.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced laser eye surgeon in your area.

Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn Gets LASIK

Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn recently had LASIK surgery performed to correct refractive errors in her vision. After the procedure, Vonn's vision is better than 20/20.

The Olympic skier chose to undergo LASIK because she felt it was becoming difficult to see the gates and judge contours of the mountain while she was racing. For a skier of her caliber, problems seeing the terrain could mean the difference between winning and losing the race.

Vonn has told her fans on Twitter, "I am already seeing 20/20 in both eyes and they expect after a few more days of healing, it will be 20/15 in both…I can't believe how crisp and clear everything is. I'm so excited!"

During the Vancouver Winter Olympics this past February, Vonn, a Vail native, won the gold medal in the downhill. She was the first American woman ever to win a gold medal in the downhill event. She also captured a bronze medal during the games. Vonn has also won the last three consecutive overall World Cup championships, making her the first American to ever earn that distinction.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced laser eye surgeon in your area.

New Artificial Cornea May Help Remedy Blindness for Many across the World

A project led by Joachim Storsberg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Germany has just developed a new artificial cornea which can successfully bond to the eye, enabling it to function correctly. This new technological advancement may be instrumental in restoring sight to thousands of patients awaiting corneal transplants. The implant has passed clinical trials and may be used with patients later this year, providing those with corneal blindness a way to see once again.

According to 2001 data released by the World Health Organization, corneal blindness affects approximately 5 million people worldwide. While several treatment methods, including stem cell technology, have been used recently to correct the condition, corneal transplants still present the most effective remedy.

Corneal transplants are routine procedures with a strong success rate; however, they currently require the donation of human corneal tissue, usually from someone who has recently died. As a result, the ability to perform a corneal transplant procedure is often dictated by factors beyond the patient's and surgeon's control. The development of an effective artificial cornea will make this procedure much more accessible to many patients across the world.

Please contact the LASIK Directory to find an experienced ophthalmologist in your area.

LASIK vs. Epi-LASIK

Advances in refractive surgery technology have resulted in a variety of options to correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Two of the most common options available today are LASIK and Epi-LASIK. It is important to understand some of the differences in these procedures so that you choose the right one for your unique vision correction needs.

LASIK and Epi-LASIK are very similar procedures. Both use an excimer laser to reshape your cornea so that light focuses properly on your retina. However, there is a difference in the way each of these procedures access the underlying layers of corneal tissue. In Epi-LASIK, only the epithelium (the outermost layer of the cornea) is separated from the underlying corneal tissue. In LASIK, a thicker corneal flap is required to access the deeper layers of the cornea.

These varying techniques have several important implications for patients:

• LASIK generally results in a quicker recovery time; however, there is also a higher rate of flap complications
  
• Epi-LASIK will have a longer recovery time which requires special bandage contact lenses to be worn to promote proper healing; in general, it may take as long as six months to notice the full results of the procedure
  

The thickness of your cornea will generally determine whether you are a better candidate for LASIK or Epi-LASIK. In general, people with thin corneas may experience better results with Epi-LASIK. At your initial consultation, your ophthalmologist will conduct a thorough examination of your eyes to determine the ideal procedure for you.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced ophthalmologist in your area.