Refractive surgery has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1990s. Today, patients who want vision correction have a wide range of options and treatments for most vision issues.

Two of the most common treatments are PRK and LASIK. While both treatments are highly effective, each has its advantages and disadvantages, and each is recommended for specific visual problems.

PRK and LASIK fall into a laser surgery category called “surface ablation refractive surgery,” meaning that each procedure uses a laser to gently remove the cornea’s surface layer to reshape the cornea for better vision.

PRK was the original refractive surgery using the excimer laser. Before the development of LASIK, PRK was very common. Both LASIK and PRK treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

The PRK Procedure

The PRK procedure removes the epithelium with a surgical blade, exposing the cornea. 3-5 days is the average healing time for a PRK procedure. PRK requires no special equipment or suction. However, it does take slightly longer to heal from PRK than from LASIK.

The LASIK Procedure

LASIK uses a device called an Epi-Tome which applies pressure to the eye with suction, then uses an oscillating blade to remove the epithelium. LASIK offers a shorter healing time, faster vision recovery, less haze post-surgery, and less discomfort. However, quite a bit of specialized equipment is necessary, and there is an increased risk from using suction to raise eye pressure and cutting into the cornea.

Most experts agree that LASIK offers more advantages than PRK. But LASIK is not right for all people. For individuals with thin corneas or corneal irregularities, PRK is a better option.

Both procedures offer safe surgery with very effective outcomes. But only your doctor can determine which procedure is right for you. In Tulare, CA, Dr. Murad Sunalp has treated thousands of LASIK and PRK patients. He would be happy to meet with you to determine the procedure that will help you reduce or eliminate your dependence on corrective lenses and give you your very best vision. Contact Dr. Sunalp today!

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Wavefront Lasik is called by some a slightly better procedure than the traditional lasik eye surgery operation. Also called custom wavefront lasik, this procedure is more precise than other procedures

because it maps corneal irregularities before the surgery begins.

This means that the wavefront lasik procedure (which is also more expensive) is more attuned to the actual eye it is being performed on. With a detailed map of the specific eye, in theory the procedure can be more effective in solving the particular vision deficiencies of the patient.

Traditional lasik utilizes a similar way of measuring the eye as when you get fitted for contacts or glasses. For people with minor vision modifications needed, this is fine. But for people with higher order aberrations, they may need a more exact procedure.

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are some of these lower level problems that the normal lasik eye surgery may be used with great effect on. Other problems may require more specialization.

Wavefront lasik eye surgery works in a few steps. First, the doctor shines a light into the eye. A computer inputs the data (which will show any abnormalities in the eye) and analyzes the data. Then a three dimensional model of the eye is created and the laser is put to use.

A beam of laser light then shapes the inside layers of your cornea to replicate the particular prescription the patient has in glasses or contacts. In addition, it looks for other repairs that can be made to the eye to improve vision. Wavefront uses more technology–the name is derived from the fact that light waves are used to scan the eye and gather information about the cornea and any necessary vision corrections. Some people have had great outcomes with this surgery.

Some people have trouble with glasses and contacts and just can’t seem to avoid annoying vision problems like glare and the halo-effect of lights at night when they wear glasses. People who just don’t want to deal with glasses and contact lenses also may opt for lasik surgery. It’s very important to talk to qualified physicians about the procedure and be guided by them throughout.

The wavefront lasik procedure can take as little as a half-hour or even shorter, depending on the vision doctor and whatever guidelines he or she follows.

Since the corneal flap that is created is so tiny and is in a high-blood area of the face (the eye) recovery time is very quick. Most doctors recommend lots of fluids and that the patient avoids any kind of eye-straining activities. Reading and even watching television may be considered “too much.”

But even then, the healing process takes only two or three days. Lasik is a procedure that shouldn’t be taken lightly even though the process and the healing seems so quick, relatively painless, and easy. It is always necessary to find a vision specialist you trust and to find advice from people who have undergone the procedure, general basic information about the procedure, and any other information you can find to prepare yourself.

If you are not convinced that one doctor is right, you can always consult others to get a different perspective on your health needs. You only have one pair of eyes–you should take care of them.

Technorati Tags: Lasik, procedure, Superior, Surgery, wavefront

Visit this site to read an article from the FDA Consumer Magazine about laser eye surgery to correct vision problems. You will learn what types of vision problems can be corrected by laser eye surgery. Occasionally the vision through corrective lenses is actually worse after refractive or laser eye surgery than it was before. It usually has no effect on the final outcome of vision after laser eye surgery and can only be seen through an eye examination. Most patients notice improved vision within a few days after LASIK laser eye surgery.

LASIK laser eye surgery is can cause a loss of “best” vision with or without glasses at 1 year after surgery. Night vision treatment has become possible thanks to advances in laser eye surgery. LASIK refractive eye surgery provides vision correction by reshaping the cornea and changing its focusing power through the use of a laser. Improving vision without laser eye surgery. Accuvision provides laser eye surgery, laser vision correction and laser … This includes eye mapping, vision testing and medications related to the laser surgery. LASIK laser eye surgery patients often have good vision by the day after surgery. LASIK, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, is the most widely performed laser eye surgery for treating a wide range of common vision errors. Most reputable centers for eye laser surgery note that 20/20 vision from laser-corrected surgery may not be like 20/20 vision with corrective lenses.

The type of laser that is used in laser eye surgery is the Excimer laser. It is also the most expensive type of laser eye surgery. Finally, they answer some questions about laser eye surgery and decide if this type of operation is something they would consider for themselves. This type of corrective laser eye surgery is used to treat patients with open-angle glaucoma. This type of laser eye surgery is used to treat patients who have failed to respond to other types of surgery. However, if the eye disease manifests itself, there is one type of laser eye surgery that can be used: laser photocoagulation.

This guide provides an in-depth understanding of the laser eye surgery procedure, what can be expected, and possible complications. All in all, laser eye surgery is a potent procedure to correct a variety of refractive errors thereby enhancing a patient%u2019s visual acuity.

Clinicians wishing to undertake laser eye surgery should ensure that patients understand the benefits and potential risks of the procedure. Lasik, or laser eye surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses. The Wavefront laser procedure is carried out using computer aided equipment and doctors have reported improved eyesight results from Wavefront over traditional LASIK surgery.

With an exact map of the eye, they could precisely plan laser correction surgery, or create customized contact lenses, Olivier said. Bausch Lomb spokesperson Holly Houston said that the company is considering applications for both customized laser eye surgery and customized contact lenses. Around 100,000 people, tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses, undergo corrective laser eye surgery in the UK every year. Many people who have always worn glasses or contact lenses are now contemplating whether or not to have laser eye surgery. For some people, laser eye surgery means freedom from glasses and contact lenses.

Those considering laser eye surgery are often advised to have a full eye examination with an experienced surgeon. finding a LASIK surgeon LASIK LASIK has been the most widely performed and accepted form of laser eye surgery since it completed U.S. To gain the information you need to make a decision about Laser Eye Surgery, please consult with a plastic surgeon. During laser eye surgery, a surgeon uses a device called an Excimer Laser to change the shape of a patient’s cornea permanently. Finding a LASIK surgeon that you are confident about will be able to give you more information about laser eye surgery.

Doctors often recommend laser surgery before filtering microsurgery, unless the eye pressure is very high or the optic nerve is badly damaged. Medication following laser surgery In most cases, medications are still necessary to control and maintain eye pressure. Long-term benefits of glaucoma laser surgery Glaucoma laser surgeries help to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye. When laser surgery does not successfully lower eye pressure, or the pressure begins to rise again, the doctor may recommend filtering microsurgery.

have always been at the forefront of laser eye surgery earning an enviable reputation as THE clinic to … I’m hoping to get a referral for the laser eye surgery center affiliated w/my eye doctor’s clinic. Get your laser eye surgery done at a clinic that treats all kind of eye conditions not specialising in laser eye surgery. Lexum, which first performed laser eye surgery in 1993, performed 2,703 laser eye operations last year, according to clinic records. The clinic specializes in eye surgery, in particular laser eye surgery.

So you’ve checked it out, and you’ve found out that you are a viable candidate for laser eye surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for laser eye surgery. If you can prove that you have a stable prescription, you’re a good candidate for laser eye surgery. Initial readings are taken to determine whether or not they are a candidate for laser eye surgery.

http://www.laser-vision.info/laser-eye-surgery/

Technorati Tags: Corrected, Laser, problems, Surgery, Types, vision

Dr. Sheldon Herzig of the Herzig Eye Institute explains the difference between a Laser Correction procedure and a Refractive Lens Exchange. Herzig-Eye.com

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Choosing laser eye surgery to free you from glasses and contacts is a life-altering decision. It’s a decision you don’t want to take likely because of how delicate the procedure is. Finding the right eye surgeon to perform the surgery is the most critical decision you can make. But how do you choose the right one?

Ask Questions

Selecting the right surgeon takes research and preparation. When considering various eye surgeons, don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions:

· What kind of experience and reputation does the doctor have?

· Is laser vision correction a major part of his/her practice?

· Does the doctor participate in all processes of the procedure including preoperative and postoperative exams?

· Will he/she explain all advantages as well as the risks of the various laser eye surgery options?

· Does he/she listen well and respond patiently and in detail your questions and concerns?

Friends, Family, Former Patients

Find out more about the doctor’s reputation through testimonials and first-hand accounts from other people’s surgical experiences.

· Consult family, friends, co-workers who’ve recently had an eye surgery procedure

· Ask the doctor for testimonials from previous patients.

Investigate

· Check out their website for details on their history, testimonials and credentials.

· Visit and get a “feel” for their office and the surgeon’s communication style

· What kind of environment are you comfortable in? A large corporate-type office or something more intimate and private?

Doctor’s Credentials

Look for a laser eye surgeon with a good reputation and significant experience. Ask your doctor about his/her credentials:

· A reputable LASIK surgeon will have attended an accredited university

· Are they members of any professional associations?

· The American Academy of Ophthalmology

· Their state’s society of Ophthalmology

· Ask about any other achievements including publications or awards

Custom LASIK Surgeon

Custom LASIK surgery is more complicated than traditional LASIK. Your doctor requires additional training for this specialized form of laser eye surgery. Find out how much experience the doctor has with the following custom LASIK technologies:

· LADARVision® CustomCornea® This system focuses on precisely aligning treatment with the cornea and reshaping it bit by bit.

· VISX® CustomVueTM and WavePrintTM System Uses a variety of laser beam shapes, which can deliver extremely precise treatment.

· Bausch & Lomb Technolas® ZyoptixTM System Used in more custom LASIK operations than any other platforms – known for their accuracy, predictability, and ability to create smooth corneal surfaces.

· Wavelight Allegretto WaveTM System PerfectPulse Technology to deliver laser energy to specific areas of the cornea.

Other Considerations

Discounted prices, aggressive advertising and geographic convenience may not be the best reasons to choose a doctor. Remember there are risks involved, so take your time to make the right decision choosing the best doctor and best procedure for you.

Technorati Tags: Finding, Lasik, Right, surgeon

The long term side effects of refractive surgery have been a concern for all patients and doctors alike. When Radial Keratotomy(RK) was being performed; there were many unknowns. Flattening the corneas with radial corneal incisions stretched the endothelial layer decreasing its’ ability to pump water out of the cornea. While most RK surgeons were not worried about the long term corneal hydration, questions did remain as to what would occur years after the procedure.

These RK patients do have corneal issues 10 plus years later. Their corneas often display a brownish line in the bottom half indicating iron left behind when the endothelial pump removes fluid from the cornea. In addition, most of these patients are far sighted with astigmatism and their prescription gets stronger later in the day. This makes it difficult to have an accurate eye glass prescription. Weakness of the cornea also increases the risk of corneal rupture when exposed to trauma.

LASIK and PRK do not flatten out the entire width of the cornea thus leaving the endothelial layer intact. This does not affect the pump or the functioning of the physiology of the corneal tissue. Therefore negative corneal changes that are displayed in RK patients should not occur in the LASIK and PRK patients.

According to an article published in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, there are no long term destructive corneal effects following LASIK and PRK. The study examined 29 myopic LASIK and PRK patients 9 years after the surgery and found them to display no abnormal changes. There was a 5.3% decrease in the endothelial cell density which corresponds to a normal cell decrease in individuals that never had the refractive procedure.

While the study did not examine far sighted post operative patients, they concluded that the results would be similar to the near sighted patients. Whereas post operative RK patients displayed corneal changes after 5 years, the LASIK and PRK patients did not show any signs after 9 years. Further studies must be conducted at longer post op intervals to fully examine the long term effects, but this initial study is very encouraging.

Technorati Tags: Effects, Encouraging, Lasik, Long, Term

Traditional LASIK surgery achieves a simple correction of focusing power by reshaping the cornea with the aid of a laser. Wavefront LASIK is a variation of that conventional procedure and accomplishes a spatially varying correction based on readings from a wavefront sensor. In essence, a wavefront sensor measures the eye itself. Wavefront measurements reveal the irregularities of the lens, which cause optical aberrations (any deviation from a desired perfect planar wavefront).

Wavefront custom sculpts the cornea to accomplish corrected vision. In many ways, Wavefront offers better results than traditional LASIK. LASIK has certain potential side effects including halos or glare, which are caused due to induced spherical aberration. Anyone considering Lasik laser eye surgery will welcome the introduction of wavefront technology into the process. It gives the eye surgeon the information needed for a more effective and successful procedure.

Eye surgeons now have available a new technology that makes vision correction more precise. It’s called “wavefront”.

To correct poor vision Lasik eye surgery has become the popular choice. Lasik surgery links the condition of the patient’s visual system to the Lasik laser for correction.

The incisions performed on the cornea of the eye are customized to the patient’s individual needs. Accurate data concerning the condition of the patient’s eyes is all important. Wavefront technology is a technology that is capable of measuring refraction at multiple points on the eye as light is reflected upon it. This creates a “map” of the patient’s eye. Because each eye is unique the data from each eye must be carefully analyzed so that the Lasik laser maybe properly programmed.

Conditions within the cornea of every eye affect refraction. The ability to treat these aberrations can result in an improved outcome after Lasik surgery. Clinical trials using wavelength technology have shown that nearly 80% of Lasik eye surgery patients undergoing custom surgery achieved 20/20 vision. This is a higher number than those who underwent traditional Lasik surgery.

Another benefit of wavefront is in determining which patients are not candidates for Lasik surgery. Wavefront technology can detect an infinite number of aberrations by using a fixation target along with an input laser beam. A wavefront sensor is used to measure the slope of the wavefront as it exits the eye. When the laser light beam enters the eye, it produces a flat wavefront. In the perfect eye, a wavefront that is still completely flat will reflect back. After wavefront is used to evaluate and diagnose existing aberrations in the eye, it is used to create the exact procedure for reshaping the cornea.

Wavefront technology is not new. Wavefront is used for adjusting the optics in their telescopes. The data resulting from wavefront technology is used to remove aberrations. The procedure employed by the wavefront analyzer to measure higher order aberrations would appear quite complex to a layman.

This wavefront is compared against a planar wavefront, in order to determine both lower and higher order aberrations.

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The awful truth is that no everyone might not be able benefit from the results that an laser eye surgery might leave. There is a load of extraordinary standards that needs to be satisfied before an surgery can be executed. If these standards isn’t filled an surgery is still potential but nonetheless doing so might pose a threat to your safety and above all, your sight. An standard that is not met is named and contra-indicator. As stated, these indicators are there for patient safety.

Beneath named indicators are some of the more frequent ones:

Surgery is never executed on a woman if she is pregnant.

Lending from preceding we as well advocate lactating woman to delay with surgery until three calendar months after suckling has stopped.

Some individuals suffer from really fine retinas. If this is the instance laser eye surgery can not be performed.

If the patient suffer from immune disease many an clinics dont do surgery.

If a patient suffer from diabetes it must be under control before and operation will be executed.

Beyond previous standard contra-indicators there is ofcourse a host of other different indicants that might hind a patient in having a laser eye surgery. If you are a patient the best manner for you to know if you have from any of these contra-indicators is to establish an appointment with your localized eye surgery clinic. If there is any obstacles for you going through with the surgery any knowledgeable Dr. will find them in your first exam.

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I’m uploading this video as an update but also to help those considering having it done…this video had been 24hours since i had it done…as im uploading this im on my second day, i would advise not having the treatment i had, my eyes are so blurry that im not sure im typing correctly

Technorati Tags: correction, Laser, Surgery

If you have ever been curious about what it was like to be a doctor or a dentist, you are not alone. Many people have often fantasized about having glamorous jobs or pursuing fields in which they will be assured accolades by their peers.

One of the more glamorous jobs as of late has been that of the lasik eye surgeon. They are on the cutting edge of technology and the medical industry, often granting sight to those that were deemed to be eternally sightless. In fact, the lasik surgeon has seen a following akin to a rock star or a celebrity because of the miraculous work that have been known to do.

The first thing of note about a lasik eye surgeon is that they will never stop learning. Starting out as eye doctors, a lasik surgeon will end up studying the particulars of creating better sight for people. Involved in this is learning about the technology of the lasik eye laser and the other pieces to the lasik puzzle that inhabit the eye technology scene.

Within this particular field of study, there are many complications to learn about as well that can be inevitably confusing to the surgeon and can create a learning pattern that may take hours of study to comprehend. The job of a surgeon is not an easy one.

The Trials Of A Surgeon

Many a lasik eye surgeon has dreamt of failure or mistakes. The ideology that keeps the surgeon going throughout this worry is hope that they can and will make a difference. Confidence is required for the job as mistakes will occur without it.

A shaky hand or an unsure mind on the lasik laser can result in heavy trauma or severe harm, which will also result in the end of the surgeon’s career and the guilt that comes with making an error of that magnitude. To become the best surgeon, confidence is required in the learned ability and then applied through the learning process as it continues.

A good doctor and a great lasik eye surgeon rely on word of mouth advertising to get patients, not on chasing them down. If, as a surgeon, you provide the best care and service to your patient then you will never go without.

The patient clientele is always willing to pay for great service and a great product and will continue to go to the best surgeon in the area. You cannot put a price tag on this type of safe service.

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