With the advent of custom, wavefront-guided surgery; it has become even more important to minimize distortions in the cornea to optimize the quality of vision. As a result, some leading ophthalmologists are no longer making corneal flaps to perform refractive surgery.
The field of Ophthalmology has grown by leaps and bounds in the last ten years. New technologies and new techniques are allowing physicians to not only restore vision in damaged eyes, but also to improve the way we see with healthy eyes.
In the beginning, many patients assumed that with the evolution of refractive surgery and improving technology, a good outcome with LASIK surgery would become less dependent on the surgeon, yet the opposite is true.
LASEK is a hybrid of FDA approved PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). In this procedure, the surface of the cornea is peeled back, the laser is applied, and the surface layer is then replaced into position.
As you may or may not know, people with very large pupils are generally bad candidates for LASIK and other refractive procedures. As a result, accurate measurement of a patient’s pupils (pupillometry) as a part of the evaluation for refractive surgery is essential.
Flip through a newspaper, turn on the radio, or watch some television and chances are you will encounter an advertisement for LASIK Laser Vision Correction. Flashy pictures, marquee prices, and catchy slogans are common, but finding the best place to have your LASIK usually requires a little more research.
One in 1,800 people are diagnosed with an eye condition called keratoconus—a progressive thinning of the outer layer of the eye called the cornea. For most keratoconus patients, rigid contact lenses are the only option to manage thinning and to help correct vision affected by the irregular shape of the cornea.
Although many ads seem to suggest that LASIK is the perfect solution for anyone’s vision needs, it is surgery and some people are not well suited for the procedure. The keys to a successful result are forethought and patient selection.
Is LASIK something that you should have done now or should you wait for future technology? This is a question that almost every potential LASIK candidate asks him- or herself prior to having Laser Vision Correction.
It is somewhat ironic that the greatest advancements toward eliminating the problem of night glare after LASIK have occurred at the same time that the media and the general public have become most aware of the problem.
When considering laser eye surgery, look in the mirror and look at the eyes of people around you. What you’ll discover is difference—unique shapes, sizes, folds and lids.
If you are investigating the possibility of refractive surgery for yourself, one of the most important things you should do is undergo a very careful and comprehensive eye exam with the doctor you are considering for your procedure.
If you are over 40 or fast approaching, there are things to consider when contemplating LASIK. As you add birthdays, there are changes in the eyes that cause the eyes to decline in ability to focus from far to near. This progressive inability to focus is called presbyopia.
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. One of the most common LASIK complications associated with LASIK are wrinkles, or flap striae. Wrinkles occur when folds form on the corneal flap that is created during LASIK.
You’ve done your research. LASIK is the answer to your dreams. But are you sure you’re a candidate? While most people fit the characteristics of a ‘good LASIK candidate,’ others simply do not fit the bill. So how do you know if you are one of them?
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