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Lasik – Finding The Right Surgeon

Though LASIK surgery is a relatively simple procedure, you should still take special care when considering it. After all, a poorly performed surgery will affect your vision for the rest of your life. One of the most important things that you can do when considering LASIK surgery is to carefully choose your surgeon.

So how do you go about finding a good LASIK surgeon? Most likely you will have seen many advertisements announcing the now widely available procedure. And with the surgery being so widely available, you may have noticed that many are performing the procedure at really attractive rates.

However, while many of these practices may be competent, choosing your LASIK surgeon based purely on an advertisement is not a wise decision. Sure, advertisements can be good starting points, but there are other things that should be considered also.

One thing to consider is if your potential surgeon is associated with an academic medical center. Practitioners that are associated with medical centers are more likely to be abreast of current information and technology. If possible, you should choose a surgeon who is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as their standards for acceptance are pretty rigid.

Another avenue for helping you choose a LASIK surgeon is a referral from your regular optometrist or ophthalmologist. Still another resource for helping you to locate a LASIK surgeon is the Academy of Ophthalmology’s website at www.aao.org using the “Find an Eye M.D.” feature. Choose refractive surgery under specialty. You may also call refractive surgery centers in your area.

After you have settled on a potential surgeon, you need to make an appointment for a consultation. Ask any questions that you may have concerning the surgery – it helps to take along a list. If you are having problems thinking of questions, you can visit The Council for refractive Surgery Quality Assurance’s website to get an idea of what you should be asking.

You should also choose a surgeon who is competent in the different areas of refractive surgery, such as LASIK, LASEK, PRK, CK, and clear lens replacement. He should also be informed of the latest technologies in refractive surgery. A surgeon who is competent in all areas of refractive surgery will be able to make the best recommendation for correcting your vision.

Just as you might when considering any other surgical procedure, feel free to consult with several surgeons before making your final decision. It is also important that you are comfortable with your LASIK surgeon and trust that he is competent. You should never feel obligated or pressured to choose a particular surgeon. Be sure to base your preference for a LASIK surgeon on what is best for you and your health.

Lyn Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/lasik-finding-the-right-surgeon-91336.html

Research A Lasik Institute Thoroughly

Since it was first performed in the United States in 1991, lasik eye surgery has grown to be one of the most popular elective surgeries performed in the modern world. As more and more people turn to Lasik to free themselves of eyeglasses and contact lenses, the industry continues to keep pace by building a burgeoning crop of Lasik surgery centers to meet the demand of prospective patients.

But not all surgery centers are the same and in order to ensure that you have a comfortable experience and a successful outcome, it is necessary to find a Lasik institute with a reputation for offering patients state-of-the-art technological procedures and a superior standard of quality patient care.

A Lasik institute is a surgical center where the Lasik procedure is performed. There are a variety of centers around the world – from small privately owned companies to large chains that operate centers in cities around their country. Finding a reputable Lasik institute requires research and perseverance on your part as a patient. But the effort that you put into the search in the front end will more than reward you on the back end in the form of a comfortable experience and successful outcome.

Lasik surgery is a refractive eye surgery that works to correct light refraction in our eyes. In a normally functioning eye light is captured by the lens of our eye – the segment of our eye located directly behind the iris (or colored part) of our eye. The light is then refracted – or bent – from the lens to the retina which sits in the very back of our eye. The retina’s role is to take those refracted light rays and convert them to signals sent to the optic nerve in the form of visual images. When our eyes experience refractive difficulties through illness, injury, heredity, or aging it manifests itself through nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Ultimately, when the light is not refracted properly the optic nerve -located in our brain – receives a signal of a blurry image. During Lasik surgery, a skilled surgeon makes corrections to the way in which our eyes refract light by resurfacing the cornea – the transparent covering of the eye. This resurfacing is done with laser technology and allows for crisper, cleaner light refraction and better vision.

Any Lasik institute that you consider should perform this procedure on a daily basis and employ surgeons who are vastly experienced with Lasik technology. Begin by collecting recommendations from people you know and trust including friends and family who have had the procedure performed, your general eye doctor, and even your primary care physician. Once you have narrowed down the list of possible candidates – based on only glowing recommendations – continue on by researching the centers themselves.

The Internet is your best friend when it comes to conducting research on a Lasik Institute; thoroughly educate yourself on the institute’s history, patient care standards, and reputation in the industry. Follow this up by visiting the institute in which you are interested to assess the cleanliness of the institute, the level of technology being used, the professionalism and friendliness of the staff, the organization of the institute, and the financial options they provide their patients.

Finally, a Lasik institute is really only as good as the surgeons who work there. Meet with the surgeon who will perform your procedure to gage their commitment to patient care; and do research on your own to establish the credentials and reputation of the specific surgeon. Ultimately, you want to ensure that the surgeon – as well as the institute – is as much committed to a pleasant experience and successful outcome as you are.

M. Xavier
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/research-a-lasik-institute-thoroughly-128842.html

Lasik Versus Prk Eye Surgery

LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis ) is probably the most commonly performed laser eye surgery procedure and tends to be what people think of when considering laser surgery for vision correction. However not all patients may be ideal candidates for LASIK surgery due to variations in cornea thickness and curvature. Photo refractive keratectomy ,or PRK, may be the better option for vision correction in some patients who are not able to have LASIK.

Prior to the introduction and subsequent popularity of LASIK, PRK was the most common refractive eye surgery procedure performed. Both LASIK and PRK share similarities in that an excimer laser is utilized to sculpt and reshape the cornea of the eye in accordance with the patients medical needs. Both techniques are used in the correction of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision resulting from corneal irregularity), or a combination thereof. Likewise, both are outpatient surgical procedures which may be performed in a physicians office or clinic setting. There are however a few differences in the two procedures.

In a LASIK procedure a small flap is cut with a special tool on the exterior of the cornea. The computer controlled excimer laser is then used to reshape the corneal tissue under the flap. The flap is then replaced over the cornea where it will adhere to the eye and serve to protect it. In PRK, the excimer laser is used to remove tissue and reshape the cornea directly on the surface, or epithelial layer, of the eye. A protective soft contact lens is usually placed over the eye for 3-5 days to allow the epithelial surface to heal.

Several major differences for the patient exist in the two procedures. The first is the recovery period, which tends to be considerable shorter for LASIK patients as opposed to PRK. Likewise, vision improvement with PRK tends to be more of a gradual process than take from a few days to a few months. LASIK patients will in most circumstances experience the benefits of their surgery in a much shorter frame.

A successful end result for both procedures is an improvement in vision, and the correction of pre-existing vision conditions. Only a thorough examination and consultation with a qualified laser eye surgeon can determine which is right for you.

R Heavner
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/lasik-versus-prk-eye-surgery-136018.html

Lasik Versus Prk Eye Surgery

LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis ) is probably the most commonly performed laser eye surgery procedure and tends to be what people think of when considering laser surgery for vision correction. However not all patients may be ideal candidates for LASIK surgery due to variations in cornea thickness and curvature. Photo refractive keratectomy ,or PRK, may be the better option for vision correction in some patients who are not able to have LASIK.

Prior to the introduction and subsequent popularity of LASIK, PRK was the most common refractive eye surgery procedure performed. Both LASIK and PRK share similarities in that an excimer laser is utilized to sculpt and reshape the cornea of the eye in accordance with the patients medical needs. Both techniques are used in the correction of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision resulting from corneal irregularity), or a combination thereof. Likewise, both are outpatient surgical procedures which may be performed in a physicians office or clinic setting. There are however a few differences in the two procedures.

In a LASIK procedure a small flap is cut with a special tool on the exterior of the cornea. The computer controlled excimer laser is then used to reshape the corneal tissue under the flap. The flap is then replaced over the cornea where it will adhere to the eye and serve to protect it. In PRK, the excimer laser is used to remove tissue and reshape the cornea directly on the surface, or epithelial layer, of the eye. A protective soft contact lens is usually placed over the eye for 3-5 days to allow the epithelial surface to heal.

Several major differences for the patient exist in the two procedures. The first is the recovery period, which tends to be considerable shorter for LASIK patients as opposed to PRK. Likewise, vision improvement with PRK tends to be more of a gradual process than take from a few days to a few months. LASIK patients will in most circumstances experience the benefits of their surgery in a much shorter frame.

A successful end result for both procedures is an improvement in vision, and the correction of pre-existing vision conditions. Only a thorough examination and consultation with a qualified laser eye surgeon can determine which is right for you.

R Heavner
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/lasik-versus-prk-eye-surgery-136018.html

What to Expect After Laser Eye Surgery

Just as each person is different in many ways, the symptoms after laser eye surgery can be different for each person. Many people are now opting for this procedure as a way to see clearly without the aid of glasses or contact lenses, but some expect to walk out of the office with perfect vision and no complications or symptoms. The one thing that you must remember is this is a surgery procedure and all surgeries have risks.

The most common symptoms following laser eye surgery include the fluctuation of vision. During the first few hours after surgery, your vision will not be clear. It can fluctuate from clear to blurry for at least the first couple of hours and in some cases a bit longer.

Dry eyes are another complaint of some patients. The eyes will not have the natural tear producing characteristics for a few hours. This is the most common problem and can last for several days.

Many individuals see an indifference to light as well. When exposed to bright lights indoors or outdoors the eyes can feel aggravated. Your eye doctor will normally recommend that you wear an eye shield the first few hours after surgery to aid in helping the cornea to heal and to shield the eye from bright lighting.

Some individuals notice a glare or halo effect after surgery. In some cases, a second procedure must be done to correct this problem. However, in most cases, this symptom will also disappear over time.

If the eyes are not protected after surgery with an eye shield, dust and other objects can cause an eye infection, which will cause the eye to burn and itch.

Right after laser eye surgery, most individuals with farsightedness see a major improvement within 24 hours. Objects that are far away may still seem a bit blurry but over the next few days, this will improve. Persons with nearsightedness have noted improvement in their vision within one hour after surgery. However, some have had a few problems in reading shortly after surgery until their eyes have had time to heal. In some cases, reading glasses are prescribed until the eyes have had sufficient time to heal.

Bring someone along with you the day of your laser eye surgery. You will not be able to drive for a few hours after surgery. A flap is created in your cornea so surgery can be accomplished and this flap needs time to heal properly before you can take off the protective eye shield.

Remember, to keep all your appointments with your eye doctor to ensure that your vision is better.

Nicky Pilkington
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-to-expect-after-laser-eye-surgery-59306.html

What to Expect After Laser Eye Surgery

Just as each person is different in many ways, the symptoms after laser eye surgery can be different for each person. Many people are now opting for this procedure as a way to see clearly without the aid of glasses or contact lenses, but some expect to walk out of the office with perfect vision and no complications or symptoms. The one thing that you must remember is this is a surgery procedure and all surgeries have risks.

The most common symptoms following laser eye surgery include the fluctuation of vision. During the first few hours after surgery, your vision will not be clear. It can fluctuate from clear to blurry for at least the first couple of hours and in some cases a bit longer.

Dry eyes are another complaint of some patients. The eyes will not have the natural tear producing characteristics for a few hours. This is the most common problem and can last for several days.

Many individuals see an indifference to light as well. When exposed to bright lights indoors or outdoors the eyes can feel aggravated. Your eye doctor will normally recommend that you wear an eye shield the first few hours after surgery to aid in helping the cornea to heal and to shield the eye from bright lighting.

Some individuals notice a glare or halo effect after surgery. In some cases, a second procedure must be done to correct this problem. However, in most cases, this symptom will also disappear over time.

If the eyes are not protected after surgery with an eye shield, dust and other objects can cause an eye infection, which will cause the eye to burn and itch.

Right after laser eye surgery, most individuals with farsightedness see a major improvement within 24 hours. Objects that are far away may still seem a bit blurry but over the next few days, this will improve. Persons with nearsightedness have noted improvement in their vision within one hour after surgery. However, some have had a few problems in reading shortly after surgery until their eyes have had time to heal. In some cases, reading glasses are prescribed until the eyes have had sufficient time to heal.

Bring someone along with you the day of your laser eye surgery. You will not be able to drive for a few hours after surgery. A flap is created in your cornea so surgery can be accomplished and this flap needs time to heal properly before you can take off the protective eye shield.

Remember, to keep all your appointments with your eye doctor to ensure that your vision is better.

Nicky Pilkington
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-to-expect-after-laser-eye-surgery-59306.html