Which Laser Vision Correction Procedure Is Right for You?

Both Epi-LASIK and LASIK are procedures for corrective eye surgery. The Epi-Lasik procedure was developed in response to certain complications resulting from the PRK and LASIK techniques. The good news, as you consider which procedure is best for you, is that there are options. Your LASIK surgeon will work with you to determine the best procedure for your needs.

Understanding the differences between the procedures can help you as you discuss your corrective surgery options with your surgeon:

• LASIK – Laser vision correction is made to the underlying layer of the cornea after a hinged flap has been created. No stitches are required since the flap seals itself naturally following the procedure. Recovery time seems fairly quick and you should see almost immediate improvement in your vision. However, healing continues and should not be considered complete for several months after your procedure.
  
• PRK – Laser vision correction is made on the surface of the eye. A thin outer layer of the eye is completely removed but will grow back naturally over time. Initial recovery time is longer than with LASIK and may take several weeks before you get the clear vision you desire.
  
• Epi-LASIK – Laser vision correction is also made to the underlying layer of the cornea but the hinged flap is much thinner. Following the procedure, contacts are worn to protect the eye during the healing process. Initial results will be evident quicker than with PRK, but like other refractive procedures will actually be complete in several months.
  

Each type of laser vision correction is designed for specific reasons. For example, if you have thin corneas, or work in a job where your eye may be hit or bumped, Epi-LASIK might be best for you. Being an informed consumer is an essential ingredient to receive the outcome you're looking for from your corrective eye surgery.

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

PNW

LASIK Alternatives

While LASIK is the most popular type of vision correction surgery, it is not the ideal procedure for everyone. Depending on your refractive error, overall eye health and unique corneal condition, you may be a more suitable candidate for one of the LASIK alternative procedures.

At your initial consultation, your laser eye surgeon will evaluate the condition of your eyes and recommend the appropriate procedure to meet your needs. Some of the most common alternatives to LASIK include:

• Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) – this procedure employs radio waves to correct refractive errors associated with hyperopia and presbyopia
  
• Implantable contact lenses – used to correct myopia by inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) in front of your eye's natural lens
  
• LASEK – a common alternative used when your corneal shape or thickness rules you out as a LASIK candidate
  
• Epi-LASIK – corrects myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism for patients with very thin corneas, large pupils, or dry eyes
  
• Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) – like LASIK, PRK uses an excimer laser to reshape your cornea; however, there is no corneal flap created during the PRK procedure
  

By opting for the appropriate procedure for your unique needs, you will minimize the risk of complications and increase your chances of receiving the best possible outcome.

Corneal Thickness and LASIK Candidacy

One of the considerations Dr. Huynh will make when evaluating your eyes for Custom LASIK surgery is the thickness of your cornea. Some laser surgery, such as PRK, is used to reshape the outside of the cornea in the same manner as RK, only with more precision. With LASIK, a small flap of the cornea is shaved off and folded over like a hinge. The laser is then used to reshape the interior of the cornea to the desired specifications.

In order to perform LASIK, the cornea must be thick enough to allow for an adequate corneal flap. Careful measurements are made prior to surgery to ensure that there is enough corneal material to use. If you are not eligible for LASIK, you may still benefit from laser vision correction with PRK.

To find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK vision correction, it is important to see a qualified laser vision specialist. If your regular eye doctor is unsure of whether your cornea is thick enough for surgery, you may want to seek a second opinion.

If you are looking for permanent vision correction and would like to do away with eyeglasses and contacts forever, you might consider LASIK vision correction. Please contact a laser vision specialist near you to schedule a thorough evaluation.

LASIK vs. PRK

There are a variety of refractive procedures available to correct vision problems caused by myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Two of the most common are LASIK and PRK. While these procedures both utilize an excimer laser to reshape your cornea, there are several important differences between the two in terms of the actual procedure and recovery time. It is important to understand these differences when choosing the right procedure for you.

In a LASIK procedure, your ophthalmologist will create a flap in your cornea. This can either be done by laser or with a microkeratome blade. An excimer laser is then used to reshape your cornea before the flap is secured back in place.

Recovery from LASIK is very quick. You will generally be able to experience vastly improved vision almost immediately. It is a good idea to take a few days off from work, and you will need to be careful when participating in vigorous activities immediately following surgery, but in general, your recovery will be short.

LASIK is not an ideal procedure for patients with very thin, flat, steep, or irregularly shaped corneas. These patients are generally better candidates for PRK.

PRK does not involve cutting a flap in your cornea. Instead, the epithelium layer covering your cornea is brushed away so that the excimer laser can reshape your cornea. You will need to wear a special contact lens for 4-6 days while your epithelium heals.

Recovery from PRK generally takes longer than LASIK. You may experience blurry vision for two weeks following your procedure, and it may take several months before your vision reaches its optimal level.

At your initial consultation, your ophthalmologist will evaluate your eyes to determine which procedure is best for you. To ensure the best results, it is important to undergo the appropriate procedure for your unique eye condition.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find a LASIK surgeon near you.

Laser Eye Surgery Turns 21

This month marks the 21^st anniversary of the first ever laser eye surgery procedure. This first procedure, conducted in Germany in 1988, ushered in the start of a revolutionary time period for vision correction surgery.

In the past 21 years, more than 30 million people around the world have benefited from laser eye surgery procedures such as LASIK, PRK, and LASEK. Laser vision correction has been invaluable to many people whose poor vision adversely affected their daily lives.

LASIK is a procedure that uses an excimer laser to reshape your cornea in order to improve your vision. For ideal candidates, it is an excellent option to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Recent advances in LASIK technology have made the procedure more reliable, resulting in a very high satisfaction rate among patients (approximately 95% of LASIK patients are satisfied with their results). Today, custom LASIK procedures using Wavefront technology enable your ophthalmologist to bring your vision very close to 20/20 while eliminating many higher order aberrations such as glare, haloes, and starbursts.

Please contact The LASIK Directory today to find a qualified laser eye surgeon near you.

Advanced Surface Ablation Effective Following LASIK

At the 2009 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO-PAAO), research was presented demonstrating that advanced surface ablation is a safe and effective way to treat residual myopia or hyperopia in patients who have previously undergone LASIK. Furthermore, this procedure can be performed long after the initial LASIK procedure was completed.

These findings will most likely greatly impact the effectiveness of laser eye surgery procedures. Most of the other re-treatments for LASIK are accompanied by significant risks:

• Flap lifts may lead to striae, epithelial ingrowth, and complications such as buttonholed irregular flaps, especially when performed long after the original LASIK procedure.
  
• Recutting flaps may result in bisected tissue planes with tissue mismatch and poor visual results.
  
• Incisional surgery is not as accurate as excimer laser ablation.
  
• Photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) may cause haze in the flap.
  

The study presented at the AAO-PAAO meeting found that advanced surface ablation was much safer and more reliable than these other re-treatment methods. Furthermore, the average time interval between the original LASIK procedure and the ASA retreatment was 81.9 months, indicating that the procedure is both safe and effective for years following your intial LASIK treatment.

These types of advances in LASIK technology are just part of the reason why LASIK has one of the highest success rates of any surgical procedure.

Please contact The LASIK Directory to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.

Patients Use LASIK to Kick Off Their Makeover

LASIK is a great way for people to correct their vision and to finally get rid of glasses and contacts once and for all. For a lot of patients, LASIK is just one aspect of completing an overall makeover, giving them the appearance and confidence they've always wanted.

After having LASIK, many patients find that people compliment them on their new and improved look when all they've done is put their glasses away. In addition to getting LASIK, some patients also choose to alter their hairstyles, get their teeth whitened, and change their wardrobe.

For people considering vision correction surgery, LASIK isn't the only option available. LASEK, PRK, Lens Implants, and Custom LASIK all provide different laser surgery options to correct a variety of refractive vision problems.

Not all ophthalmologists are alike, so if you are considering LASIK eye surgery, you should contact a few different LASIK surgeons in your area to schedule initial consultations. Talking with a few different doctors will help you choose the right LASIK surgeon for you.

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

New Factors Contribute To Failed Corneal Transplants

In a new study, patients who have undergone corneal transplant surgery and rejected the tissue were analyzed to determine why the corneal transplant failed. The results showed that patients suffering from other vision problems or patients who had past vision surgery may be more likely to reject corneal transplants.

According to an experienced ophthalmology professor at the University of Michigan, corneal transplant patients who were also suffering from glaucoma or who had corneal swelling after cataract surgery were more likely to have transplant problems. The study suggests these types of corneal transplant patients are more likely to suffer failures than other patients.

The study showed that patients who had intraocular lenses implanted during cataract surgery were 27% more likely to reject the corneal transplant than patients without intraocular lenses. In addition to these findings, normal corneal transplant patients without glaucoma rejected transplants about 11% of the time, while patients with glaucoma rejected transplants between 20 and 58 percent of the time.

The cornea is the clear outer tissue of the eye, and when it is damaged from injury or disease, it may need to be replaced with a transplant. Although about 5 to 30 percent of corneal transplants are rejected every year, the rejections can be treated and corrected.

The study did not mention if there is any connection between LASIK, PRK, or LASEK and corneal transplant rejection.

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

Many People Turning To Bartering For Health Services

With the downturn in the economy, many people are wondering how they can afford LASIK and the many other procedures they want, without having to front the full weight of the bill. Some people are using bartering as a way to get the health services they want without paying for everything.

While not all LASIK eye surgeons or ophthalmologists take part in bartering for vision procedures, most of them do provide their patients with a few different financing options to help them pay for the procedure.

Whether you're receiving help from your insurance company, using a credit card, or using an independent financing company to pay for your LASIK, there are options available to you so that you can fit your procedure into your budget.

In general, financing options are similar to a loan made to you so that you can pay for your LASIK, PRK, or other refractive procedure. After receiving the procedure you want, you can pay the loan back over a period of time that you can usually customize. Whether making smaller payments over the course of 24 months, or larger payments over 6 or 12 months, you can probably get the procedure you want on even smallest budget.

If you have been considering LASIK or any other refractive procedure, but are concerned about the cost, please contact an experienced LASIK eye surgeon in your area to learn more about the financing options available to you.

The Overall Cost of Your LASIK Procedure

There are still thousands of people out there who are considering LASIK, but aren't sure if they can afford the procedure or if the procedure is really worth the money. Think about this: in a lifetime, the cost of contacts, their solutions, and changing prescriptions will cost the average contact-wearer more than $20,000.

If you've ever considered LASIK or any other type of refractive procedure, the best thing you can do is schedule an initial consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist in your area. During your initial consultation, you can talk to them about your fears and your goals with LASIK.

Not only will your LASIK eye surgeon listen to your concerns, he will be able to make suggestions to help you come to the best decision possible. If you're worried about paying for your procedure, your eye surgeon will be able to show you the different LASIK financing options available to you.

If you're concerned about LASIK being able to correct your vision, your eye surgeon will provide you with other vision correction options. Whether it's LASEK, intraocular lenses, or PRK, there is a refractive option available to correct the way you see.

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

Getting LASIK on a Small Budget

There are thousands of people all across the United States who are choosing not to have LASIK performed because they feel that the procedure is too expensive and they can't afford it. The fact is you can probably have the LASIK eye surgery you've always wanted and fit the cost comfortably into your budget.

No matter what budget you have, the best thing you can do if you are considering LASIK surgery is to schedule an initial consultation with a LASIK doctor. During your initial consultation, your LASIK doctor will review your vision goals and determine if LASIK is right for you.

After working with you, your LASIK doctor can find a LASIK financing option that best fits your needs. Many LASIK doctors offer a variety of financing options so that you can make small, monthly payments for your LASIK procedure over the course of three, six, 12, or even 24 months.

For many people, financing their LASIK procedure allows them to achieve the vision they want without breaking the bank. Not only can you receive financing for LASIK procedures, you can also finance many other refractive procedures such as PRK, LASEK, or Epi-LASIK.

You can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified LASIK surgeon near you.

Will LASIK Improve Your Game?

If you follow professional sports, then you'll notice more and more athletes choosing to correct their vision with LASIK or other laser vision correction options. Whether it's Brian McCann for the Braves or Danny Briere for the Flyers, permanently correcting sight is something many athletes are turning to.

In the past, athletes at all levels were forced to deal with uncomfortable sport glasses, goggles, or contact lenses during games and matches. Imagine trying to catch a football, hit a baseball, or stop a goal while worrying about your contact falling off or glasses slipping. Today, professional athletes are finding that LASIK, PRK, or LASEK are the best options for them.

Many sports critics think that if performed correctly, LASIK can improve a player's game because they can concentrate more completely on what they're doing. Unfortunately, immediately following LASIK, contact sports need to be avoided for at least one month.

When LASIK is performed, a small flap is created in the corneal tissue so that the remaining tissue can be reshaped and the flap can be folded over the area, acting like a natural bandage. For the first month after LASIK, this corneal flap needs to heal; trauma to the eye could disrupt the healing process.

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

Topical Anesthetic Gel May Increase Your Comfort During LASIK

LASIK doctors have recently discovered that applying topical anesthetic gel to eyes could help patients limit their pain during LASIK procedures. The research was performed in order to help patients who suffer from enough pre-op and post-op pain that it affects results.

During the study, the doctors determined that whether the topical anesthetic was applied before, during, or after the LASIK procedure, patients suffered much less discomfort than if the anesthetic gel had not been applied. Although LASIK is much more comfortable than other refractive procedures such as LASEK or PRK, the body's natural reactions to pain and discomfort in the eyes (blinking or rubbing) can lead to unwanted LASIK complications.

While this use of topical anesthetic gel and LASIK has not been approved for use in the United States, LASIK surgeons have a few different techniques that will make your vision correction procedure as comfortable as possible. In addition to using anesthetic eye drops during the procedure, you may also be able to have prescription anxiety medicine or prescription pain medicine prescribed before or after your LASIK procedure.

LASIK is one of the best ways to achieve fantastic vision without the assistance of glasses or contacts. If you are ready to correct your vision with LASIK, please contact a LAISK eye surgeon in your area today to schedule a consultation.

Reading Glasses vs. LASIK

Many people develop a condition called presbyopia as they age, which impedes their ability to focus on near images. As a result, the vast majority of the population over the age of 50 relies on reading glasses to help with daily tasks requiring good near vision.

While reading glasses may solve your vision issues and enable you to see well enough to go about your daily routine, they are still somewhat of a hassle. Reading glasses become especially inconvenient for people who also have poor distance vision and as a result are forced to switch between two pairs of glasses on a regular basis.

While contact lenses provide a great alternative to reading glasses, they still can be a bit inconvenient and require daily care. Fortunately, advances in refractive surgery techniques now provide you with several excellent options to help you see well without the use of glasses or contacts. Options such as LASIK, PRK, and LASEK can provide you with excellent vision so that you can get rid of your reading glasses once and for all.

For many people, a major factor preventing them from getting LASIK is cost. The surgery is generally not covered by insurance, and it will cost several thousand dollars to complete. As a result, many people choose to stick with their reading glasses to save a few dollars.

However, when you compare the amount of money you spend on contacts or glasses over the course of several years, there is not that much of a difference between the two. When you add up the amount of money you spend each year on ophthalmologist visits, new glasses and frames, prescription sunglasses, and other accessories, you'll find that about three years of these costs will equal the price of your LASIK procedure. When you factor in the additional expenses involved with contact lenses and the cleaning solutions that accompany them, the breakeven point would probably be even sooner.

Furthermore, most ophthalmologists offer various financing options that will allow you to spread out the cost of your surgery over several years. You may actually find that you are spending roughly the same amount of money on your LASIK payments as you would on all of your eyeglass and contact lens accessories.

If you are tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses, don't let price deter you from having the excellent vision you have always wanted. You just might find that it is worth the investment.

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

LASIK Alternatives

While LASIK surgery has enabled millions of people across the world to improve refractive errors and get rid of glasses and contact lenses, the procedure is not for everyone. For various reasons, including thin corneas, abnormally shaped corneas, and being too nearsighted, there are many people who are not ideal candidates for LASIK.

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to LASIK available. It is important to consult an eye surgeon who has experience with many different procedures and can recommend the right one for your needs.

Some common alternatives to LASIK include:

• PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a procedure where a laser reshapes the surface of your cornea. Unlike LASIK, there is no flap cut into your cornea, which may cut down on the risk of dry eye associated with LASIK.
  
• CK (conductive keratoplasty) uses radiofrequency waves to correct refractive errors such as farsightedness or astigmatism. The radiofrequency waves are applied to the edge of your cornea to correct your vision problems.
  
• Implantable contact lenses provide patients whose nearsightedness is too severe for LASIK or PRK an excellent option for vision correction. An incision is made in the eye so that a hard, plastic lens can be inserted in front of your eye's natural lens.
  
• Refractive lens exchange replaces your eye's natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). It very similar to cataract surgery and is an excellent option for patients who are not suitable candidates for LASIK.
  

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

LASIK Surgery: Good For Linda Lusardi and Maybe for You

 

Linda Lusardi, a British model and actress who was voted the best Page Three Girl Ever in 2005 by readers of the tabloid The Sun, is unlike many of her cohorts in that she has never had any cosmetic surgery. She credits her ongoing good looks to a healthy lifestyle. The only elective surgery she has ever had is LASIK surgery, and even this she almost didn't have.

 

She recalls, "I had to wear thick glasses for reading and my eyes were so bad I was turned down when I first asked about [LASIK]." But one of the remarkable qualities of laser refractive surgeries is that it continues to change and improve. Just as PRK was replaced by LASIK, which was improved by Custom LASIK, intraLASIK, and even LASEK, the LASIK procedure continues to evolve, and one of the main features of its continued evolution is that people who could not have LASIK in the past can have it now.

 

Earlier this month, Lusardi went to a LASIK clinic and was treated. Although she was scared at first, she said, "the results were amazing." Lusardi's story is instructive. If you have been evaluated for LASIK surgery but told that you were not eligible, things may have changed, and you should be re-evaluated for candidacy.

 

If you are interested in LASIK in Dallas, Texas, contact the Carter Eye Center today to schedule a LASIK consultation.

Vitamin C and Refractive Surgery

We all know that Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential to good health. It can also significantly improve recovery from refractive surgery. Ophthalmologists recommend taking 1,000mg every day (broken up into two, 500mg doses) for a week prior to and two weeks following PRK to prevent corneal haze. However, the benefits are not limited to PRK.

Vitamin C protects the eye from UV radiation, and can be helpful for those who cannot avoid sun exposure after refractive surgery. It can also protect the eye from UV radiation created by the excimer laser during surgery, preventing DNA damage to the epithelium and reducing the risk of cataracts later in life. Vitamin C protects the tissues of the eye from damage caused by oxygen radicals and metabolites released into the eye during inflammation.

The benefits of Vitamin C for PRK patients can mean the difference between successful vision correction and impaired sight. Patients undergoing LASIK and other refractive surgeries should consider the use of Vitamin C, as well.

Bringing the Naval Academy Into Focus

Troops in U.S. Naval Forces may be facing a wave of fine-tuning as LASIK vision correction surgery allows more qualified individuals to compete for fighter pilot careers. Thanks to LASIK, aging pilots are now able to stay in the force, lessening the need for annual recruits. However, an even more significant impact is made in the new range of available applicants training to become fighter pilots. Being a luxurious, romantic career, the job has always had a certain appeal to the masses training at the Naval Academy. Unfortunately, it was until recently limited to those members with perfect vision, leaving out potential candidates for the profession who would have other skills beneficial to the Navy.

Nowadays, a bus leaves the Naval Academy nearly every Thursday for Annapolis, Maryland, full of midshipmen who are about to receive their government paid LASIK surgery. Of every 1000 member Naval Academy class, about a third experience perfect vision with LASIK eye correction. This new influx of available midshipmen for fighter pilot training means that vision is no longer a major concern for application. Instead, the men must be judged almost entirely on academic class rank and military performance, resulting in more reliable fighter pilots for the Naval forces.

310 midshipmen competed last year for 272 flight training slots. 104 of these applicants had undergone laser eye surgery. "If we didn't have [laser eye surgery], where would those 104 midshipmen have gone? ... Tough to say, but we know they wouldn't have gone into flight training," said Capt. Michael Jacobsen of the office of professional development at the Naval Academy.

The exact procedure being used by the Navy isn't the normal "LASIK" (laser-in situ keratomileusis) being used by most civilians - instead they opt for PRK, or photo refractive keratectomy, which doesn't involve cutting the cornea of the eye as LASIK does. Naval officials fear that the loose cornea flap may cause problems in combat. The Air Force holds a similar standpoint, with nonpilots given their choice of procedures and pilots limited only to PRK.

If you or someone you know is interested in LASIK or PRK vision correction surgery, please feel free to contact a LASIK surgeon near you such as Dr. Steven B. Seipser of the Seipser Laser Eye Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for more information or to schedule a consultation.