How Long after LASIK must I wait before Swimming?

If you are planning for LASIK surgery this summer, you may be wondering how soon after your procedure you can jump in the pool or hit the beach.

The main concerns for swimming are:

• Rubbing your eyes
• Developing an eye infection

During the LASIK procedure, a flap-like incision is made in your cornea. In order for your procedure to be successful, the flap must be allowed to heal. If you rub your eyes before the edge of the flap has healed, you could potentially dislodge the flap, which would require a revision surgery.

If you swim in a chlorinated pool before the LASIK flap has healed, your eyes may become irritated and dry, and you may be tempted to rub them. Check with your eye surgeon about when you can swim in a pool. You may have to wait a week or two, at which point your surgeon may recommend swimming with goggles for some time.

For swimming in lakes, rivers and the ocean, your eye surgeon may suggest an additional week of healing before you swim. These water bodies can carry bacteria that could enter your eye and cause an infection, something you don't want after your LASIK procedure.

The guidelines listed above are general. Each patient heals differently, and you should ask your eye surgeon about when you can start swimming after LASIK.

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

Z-LASIK

LASIK has come a long way since its bladed beginning. With all the custom LASIK procedures out there, such as PRK, LASEK, and Epi-LASEK, it seems like there is a solution for everyone who wants vision correction. Another choice for eye patients is Z-LASIK, touted as the latest laser procedure on the market.

Like other vision correction procedures, Z-LASIK can correct myopia and hyperopia, as well as astigmatism. Z-LASIK uses a laser from beginning to end; at no point is a scalpel touching your eye. This is also part of bladeless LASIK procedures that use the femtosecond laser. It uses wavefront technology to give very precise results.

Z-LASIK uses the next generation of lasers. While the procedure is basically the same as other laser vision correction surgeries, some of the benefits include:

• Low impact on the eye due to a laser that is 100 times less intense than first generation lasers
  
• Severe cases can be treated on patients that were not candidates for laser surgery before, including those with high myopia and thin corneas
  
• No inflammation of the eye due to the less intense power of the laser making a more gentle procedure
  
• Faster results than other techniques
  
• Fewer side-effects because treatment zone can be increased
  

Minor side-effects and risks include:

• Dry eyes
  
• Over- or under-correction – this can be corrected to what you need within a few weeks of your first Z-LASIK treatment.
  

Z-LASIK may be the next generation of treatment, and many eye doctors and patients are beginning to catch on that there are more options and choices for solving their vision problems.

If you would like to learn more about Z-LASIK, please contact an experienced eye doctor in your area today.

Which Laser Provides the Best LASIK Results?

Many LASIK patients are interested in knowing what type of laser will be used in their eye surgery. For the most part, the specific laser used will not significantly affect the outcome of LASIK. It is far more important to choose the right surgeon who can skillfully use the laser.

Lasers used in LASIK are FDA-approved and are called "excimer lasers." Your eye surgeon may favor any one of the various excimer lasers. Common brand names include:

• Bausch & Lomb
• Nidek EC-5000
• WaveLight Allegretto Wave
• VISX Star
• Alcon LADERVision

LASIK technology in the hands of an experienced surgeon can result in vastly improved vision and a reduced dependency on corrective eyewear.

When you meet a prospective LASIK surgeon, you may want to ask what type of laser he or she uses and why. Finding out the surgeon's reasoning for choosing certain types of equipment can help you learn more about the surgeon. Trusting the surgeon's skill, knowledge and experience is important to the outcome of your surgery.

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

Finding the Right LASIK Surgeon

No eye surgeon can guarantee perfect vision from LASIK, but it is important to find a surgeon who cares about the quality of your vision results. Here at the LASIK Directory, we put you in contact with highly qualified and experienced eye surgeons. Just click on the "Contact Us" link to locate LASIK surgeons in your area.

When considering how to choose a LASIK doctor, you may want to ask prospective surgeons about:

• Credentials and experience
• Policy for following up after your procedure and addressing any complications that may arise
• The lasers and LASIK technology used

Your LASIK surgeon should express or imply an interest in pursuing your best vision results while minimizing the risk of complications. Your surgeon should not guarantee 20/20 vision results because there is no way to ensure such an outcome.

You may want to schedule initial consultations with at least a couple LASIK surgeons, just to get an idea of who may be a good fit for you. You can ask around to get a feel for the surgeon's reputation or to find a referral.

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

LASIK Worth the Investment

The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) latest statistics (2010) state that there are over 150 million people in the US who rely on glasses or contact lenses to improve their vision. They estimate that this group spends around $15 billion a year in eye care. The AAO also shows that there were 800,000 refractive surgeries performed in 2010. This is a number that continues to grow every year as more people decide on laser vision correction surgeries, like LASIK.

Although some people may blanch at the initial cost of LASIK surgery, more people decide that LASIK is worth it in the long run. People get tired of wearing eye glasses and contacts, and the replacement of them year after year. Add in the risks of eye infections with contact lenses, and LASIK becomes a safe option. And safety is the number one concern with eye surgeons performing LASIK.

Technology has come a long way making LASIK a very safe and somewhat routine procedure. Your actual surgery takes only minutes, immediate recovery takes a couple days, and the results are immediate. Side effects, such as haloes or ghosting, are minimal and they usually clear up within months.

If you are considering undergoing LASIK, please contact the LASIK Directory to find an experienced and board-certified ophthalmologist in your area today.