Category: 
February 2, 2010
Laser eye surgery is gaining in popularity all the time. Although quite frightening to some people, this corrective eye procedure is very safe and effective. Some common questions and answers associated with such surgical procedures are posed in this brief article.
Q: How safe is laser eye surgery?
A: Similar with other forms of surgery, eye surgery does have potential risks that you should be aware of. The exact success of surgery is impossible, what is done is that an accurate prediction is made based on the large numbers of people who underwent the same procedure in the past. Major complications associated with this type of surgery are very rare.
Q: Is laser eye surgery painful?
A: The surgery its self does not cause any pain. What may be felt is a small pressure on the eyeball and surrounding region during the operation. Some degree of discomfort and/ or pain occurs for 2-3 days after laser eye surgery. LASIK eye surgery typically has less pain associated with it, compared with the other types of eye surgery available, e.g. PRK.
Q: Is guaranteed perfect vision from LASIK and PRK generally achievable?
A: Not at all. Since each patients eyes react differently to treatment no 100% guarantee of perfect eyesight is available. Past operative achievements are used to generate an estimate of the chances of creating perfect eyesight.
Around 95% of people with low levels of myopia and astigmatism (maximum three diopters) who undergo laser eye surgery tend to achieve near-perfect or perfect vision. Higher levels of astigmatism or myopia still allow the majority of patients to gain near-perfect or perfect vision, although there is a significant chance that contact lenses or glasses may be required from time to time. If so required further surgery can be made to improve the patients clarity of vision.
Q: The corrective surgery is effective for what period of time?
A: After your eyes have healed from the operative damage caused the final effect is permanent. In some cases that are extremely rare regression occurs. Further surgery is possible to correct this. The vast majority of people who’ve undergone corrective eye surgery have eyes that remain in focus. Normal changes in the eyes do occur, as you get older your eyes may become slightly shorter sighted. Patients are only operated on if their focusing error is deemed stable.
Q: Is it possible for both eyes to be surgically corrected in the same day?
A: So as to be safe operations on each eye take place two weeks apart. This method allows the vision from the corrected eye to stabilize before the other eye is operated on. Any infections that could, however rare, appear are less likely to spread from the operated-on eye to the healthy eye.
Alex Rider
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/laser-eye-surgery-questions-and-answers-77367.html
Horaayy..there are 3 comment(s) for me so far ;)
Laser eye surgery questions?
I have a few questions on laser eye surgery. I am considering getting rid of my glasses, but I do not want to have contact lenses.
-How does it work, and does it work for everybody?
-What are the risks, if any?
-What is the cost, and is some of the cost covered by most health insurance plans?
-Do you get perfect 20/20 vision, or just better vision?
Thanks for your answers.
Pretty much what happens is they cut a flap in your cornea and with an ultra violet light beam that very precisely shaves off very small layers of the cornea to reshape it. When its shaped correctly light can reflect into your eye better and your vision becomes clearer. Yes I think it would work for pretty much everyone unless maybe you had some pre-existing condition that would effect your eyes or something.
There are risks, but they are very rare. It’s become a very common procedure now and it just keeps getting better and better. Some of the complications people can get though but are VERY rare are the flap on your eye might heal wrong and cause double vision. Theres another thing called "Sands of the Sahara" which is pretty much an infection that could happen under the cornea. If it isn’t treated it could cause vision loss, but you can usually get it treated with antibiotics. I’d say the most common thing with Lasik would be Dry Eyes. You’ll get loads of eye drops and you’ll have to put them in for a few weeks at certain times of the day. Every surgery has risks, but they’re usually very rare.
The cost from what I’m aware of is about 1,500 to 2,500 per eye. I don’t know if it would be covered by your insurance, but I assume no. It’s not really seen as a necessity so probably not.
I think you’d probably get 20/20 or something close to that maybe a bit less than 20/20 or a bit more. So you’ll definitely see around there.
A lot of doctors won’t work on people who are under 22 or 23, but go to your nearest Lasik place and they’ll tell you if you’d be good for it or not. I’m pretty sure most do this for free to look and see if you’re eligible. The age was the problem my brother had so he got an alternative to normal lasik called PRK that pretty much scraps the outer layer of the cornea instead of cutting a flap…I would recommend if you are under 22 though to just wait till you can get normal lasik. The scraping one makes you VERY VERY sensitive to light for a few days all light even a very small amount, and it seems actually painful which Lasik isn’t.
So I really hope that’s helpful and good luck!!!! When I’m old enough I’m definitely getting it done. If you hate glasses and contacts I think it would be a great option. =)
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it costs like £3000 to get both eyes 20/20, there may be a risk.
talk to a optician
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