Fear of the LASIK Procedure

If you really want LASIK but are afraid of the procedure, you should talk to an eye surgeon about your fears. Two common concerns about the procedure include:

The incision: LASIK improves vision by reshaping your cornea. In order to access the middle layer of your cornea, your eye surgeon creates an incision. The incision can be made with a microkeratome blade or with a laser. You will not see the blade or the laser when the incision is created, and you won't feel any pain either.

Corneal reshaping: As the laser reshapes your cornea, you may hear a clicking sound and there may be an odor, but you will not feel any pain or see the laser as it reshapes.

Many LASIK patients are concerned about blinking or the laser going off track. Today's lasers are equipped with tracking technology, which means the laser beam tracks its target if your eye moves slightly. If you were to move your head or look away, the laser would shut off automatically. As far as blinking is concerned, a speculum is used to gently hold your eyelids open and prevent blinking.

The procedure itself is painless, though you may feel pressure. None of this is to say that LASIK is risk-free. There is a possibility of side effects and complications, and you should ask your doctor about them and how they will be prevented.

To find out whether LASIK is right for you, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

Professional Tennis Player Julia Goerges gets LASIK

Professional tennis player Julia Goerges has gotten LASIK to improve her vision, according to WTAtennis.com. According to an interview with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), Goerges is happy with her LASIK results.

She received LASIK over the offseason. According to Goerges, she had used glasses and contact lenses for the previous ten years.

Laser vision correction can be an effective way for athletes to improve their vision. By eliminating or reducing dependence on corrective lenses, athletes may find playing their sport more convenient. Some sports can be almost impossible to play with glasses, and contact lenses can cause irritation, and can simply be a hassle to put in and take out daily.

Although there are certain side effects and risks associated with LASIK surgery, many athletes have enjoyed better vision with this and other laser surgeries. Talk to your eye surgeon about the risk of complications. If you are an athlete, you must have some downtime after surgery. If your sport involves physical contact, you will have to wait to play your sport. Your eyes must be protected while they heal for the most successful LASIK outcome.

If you want to learn more about the benefits and risks of LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

FDA asks 5 LASIK Providers to Correct their Misleading Advertising

The US Food and Drug Administration recently sent warnings to five LASIK providers regarding improper advertising copy and promotional material, according to an FDA news release dated yesterday.

Advertising for LASIK must provide you with information about potential risks – you must be able to make informed decisions, based on both the benefits and risks of receiving the surgery.

LASIK eye surgery has effectively improved the vision of many people, but it does not come without risks. Eye surgeons have a duty to provide you with information about LASIK risks in their advertising and promotional material. These risks include:

• Dry eyes
• Halos, starbursts or glare, especially at night
• Corneal flap complications, including wrinkling
• Overcorrection or undercorrection
• Ocular infection

There are other possible complications you should ask your LASIK surgeon about; for the most part, serious complications are quite rare with this surgery, but it's still important to be aware of them and accept them as a possibility.

In addition, you should also have realistic expectations of what LASIK can and cannot achieve. Many patients achieve 20/40 vision or better, but there is no guarantee. You may still benefit from the use of glasses or contact lenses. Ask your surgeon about what results you can expect for your vision error and eye characteristics.

To learn more about possible LASIK risks and complications, please contact an experienced ophthalmologist in your area.