March 18, 2010
Eyesight Improvement Exercises - 6 Basic Steps For Effective Result
By Elizabeth Moller
Eyesight improvement exercises have been used to treat poor vision and maintain good health of the eyes since ancient time. Because improving vision with exercises required persistence and a little bit of patience, usually people think that eye exercises do not work. In fact to help reaching effective result there are 5 basic components you should be aware of.
Breathe
In yoga, breathing is very important. A regular breathing as taught in yoga may bring more oxygen to your eyes and keep away stress from your vision.
Blink
Blinking is always helpful to sooth and moisturize the eyes. You will need to blink often while doing any exercises.
Relax and smile
Always put yourself in a relaxing condition and situation. Add smile to your face throughout the exercises. This will reduce tension in your eyes.
Enjoy and have fun
Eyesight improvement exercises are actually relaxing and fun to do. Play soft music and choose a secluded and pleasant place to do the exercises.
Will power
To achieve anything in life, you will require a serious commitment. Have a strong will power to reach your goal. Better vision will be yours in no time if you always keep your promise each day to do regular eye exercises.
Believe
Believe is essential to bring best result. Believe that the program of eyesight improvement exercises will help you. You have to be sure that you have chosen the right way to improve your eyesight.
If you wish to make a change for your vision without depending on artificial lenses or lasik surgery, practice eyesight improvement exercises daily. Many people have enjoyed the benefit. You could be the next! To your health!
March 15, 2010
Some Common Questions on LASIK Surgery
By David Wachler
Nowadays, the latest technology has been employed in the operating of LASIK surgery, which will provide patients perfect visions. However, some people deem this surgery is too extraordinary and there is something they do not know about it. Here are some very common questions that most glasses wearers will ask.
Will this surgery lead to any pain on patient's eyes? That is the fist question patients may ask. Patients bear some sort of fear and they think it must be very painful to receive this surgery. In fact, some numbing materials will be used while the surgery is operating. And during the process of operating, what the patients can feel is some little pressure on their eyes.
While operating the surgery, some light beams will be used to reshape the corneas. And patients may wonder whether there will be any complications after the surgery for the use of laser. The fact has proved that no side effects will be left after the surgery. The reason is the laser beams worked in a designed area.
Some patients may ask will there any scalpel be used in the surgery. They are very afraid that such scalpel may cause some very serious problems, or at least fear, to them. The fact is that in the procedure of the LASIK surgery, no really scalpel will be used, but some laser beams.
Some patients may ask whether they will suffer some eye problems, as blindness, in their latter lives, for some people have told them such saying. In fact, there are no evidences that receiving such surgery will cause eye problems on receivers in their latter lives. Especially, the data from FDA have reinforced this. It is true that there are some risks in receiving this surgery, but the ratio of serious complications is no more than 1% and common complication is no more than3%.
Some patients may wonder what will happen if they open their eyes while the surgery is operating, for the reason of fear. The fact is that some sedative and numbing materials will be used in the process of operation. So what the patients should do is to keep calm in the operation.
Eye Laser Treatment - Repair Damaged Vision
By Claire Zamenka
Eye laser treatment goes by several different names. It is known as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomiluesis), LTK (laser-thermokeratoplasty), keratectomy or PRK (photorefractive keratotomy). Using these procedures, a physician can correct a number of vision defects.
Astigmatism is a defect that causes vision to be significantly blurred because of decreased visual acuity. This is very difficult to correct using the traditional lenses found in glasses or contacts, but it can be corrected by eye laser treatment. A procedure such as LASIK can help smooth the cornea, creating a spherical shape, which improves vision.
With myopia, or nearsightedness, the cornea is too steep. This condition can cause eyestrain and headaches because the person is often squinting to see objects in the distance. Eye laser treatment can help correct this refractive error by flattening the cornea. On the other hand, hyperopia, or farsightedness, means that a person can clearly see objects at a distance, but will oftentimes have trouble deciphering letters in a book they are reading. Surgical procedures using lasers can alter the shape of the cornea, thereby increasing the person's ability to see objects that are close up such as books and magazines.
Glaucoma is a loss of vision from optic nerve damage. Intraocular pressure is thought to play a part in this damage. Eye laser treatment can help by creating scars in the eye's drainage system, which can reduce pressure.
Diabetic retinopathy can lead to PDR (proliferative diabetic retinopathy) which can cause loss of vision, neovascular glaucoma and retinal detachment. PDR occurs in patients with diabetes. This can be treated with a form of surgery called PRP (pan retinal photocoagulation).
These procedures are done while the patient is awake. The patient is given some medication to help calm and relax them. Drops are placed to help numb the area. The patient then lies back in a chair and a lid speculum is placed to hold the eyelid open. During the procedure, the patient may experience slight pressure and discomfort, but it should not be painful. The exact procedure the physician uses will depend on the type and degree of vision defect being treated. When this is finished, there will be a shield placed over the eyelid to prevent injury.
After eye laser treatment, there may be some itching, burning or irritation. The eyes may water up, but it is very important not you rub them. There may also be some light sensitivity and the eyes may appear bloodshot. A patient may not wear eye makeup for at least two weeks. No contact sports should be performed for at least four weeks, and during this time, an eye-shield should also be worn at night. It will be 8 weeks before the patient is allowed to swim or use a hot tub. If any severe pain is felt, the patient's physician should be immediately contacted. Post-op visits will be done 1-2 days after the procedure and then regularly until the patient is released from care.
Laser Eye Treatment - Lasik Vs Lasek
By Tim Harwood
If you are considering having laser eye treatment then it's important that you understand the differences between the 2 most popular procedures which are Lasik and Lasek. In some instances your laser eye surgeon may insist that you are only suitable for either Lasik or Lasek based on the findings of the tests carried out during your laser eye surgery consultation. In this situation, you have no option but to go with the procedure that is advised by your surgeon. However, if you are suitable for both types of laser eye treatment, then it is important to understand the key differences between the 2 techniques so you can make an informed decision.
Lasik and Lasek are both types of laser eye treatment and involve reshaping the surface of your eye (cornea) to eliminate the prescription in your glasses or contact lenses. The reason you need glasses in the first place is because the light entering your eye is not focussed precisely onto the retina, which is what is required for perfect vision. If you are long sighted, the light entering your eyes falls behind your retina, whereas if you are short sighted the light entering your eye falls in front of your retina. Both Lasek and Lasik reshape the surface of the eye to ensure that the light is refocused permanently onto the retina.
The key difference between the 2 techniques is the way in which the surgeon accesses the part of your cornea which is to be lasered. During the Lasik procedure, your surgeon creates a flap (thin layer of cornea) using a micro-keratome (surgical blade) thus enabling the surgeon access to the inner layers of your cornea that need to be lasered during the Lasik surgery.
There is however no flap created during the Lasek procedure. Instead, the epithelium (outer corneal layer) is loosened with alcohol and then gently moved to the side. This enables the surgeon access to the inner layers of your cornea that are to be lasered during the Lasek eye surgery. This layer is then replaced back over the eye and smoothed over.
The vast majority of people choose to have Lasik (7x more popular than Lasek) and this is primarily due to the fact that the recovery period following surgery is much quicker when compared with Lasek. Most people can return to work and normal activities the day following Lasik surgery, whereas with Lasek it can be up to 1 week. There is also more discomfort involved with the Lasek procedure which is another reason people usually choose Lasik. People involved in extremely physical jobs or who play contact sports are usually advised to have Lasek. The reason for this is that your cornea is slightly weakened during Lasik as a result of the creation of the flap. There is no flap created during Lasik meaning there is no weakening of the eye.
In summary, Lasik eye surgery is the most common procedure, mainly due to the quick and painless recovery procedure. Lasek may be advisable in certain situations but this will be discussed with you by your laser eye surgeon.
March 13, 2010
Am I Suitable For Lasik Eye Surgery?
By Stephen McBride
Lasik sight correction routine is fast attaining popularity and many people around the globe are considering it. Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a sort of refractive laser eye operation carried out by eye doctors for the correction of generally shortsightedness. People need to recognise the advantages, risks, and how the Lasik process operates. One of the important matters to turn over is what are the prerequisites somebody needs to fulfill in order to undergo a productive Lasik operation. Although all individual cases should be talked about with a qualified Lasik surgeon, here are a few guidelines to determine if wyouare a good prospect for Lasik.
First of all, the eye ought to be in good order. This signifies that it is not advisable for anybody under the age of 18. This is due to that the shape of the eyeball will keep changing for a few years. If the eye shape alters following the Lasik procedure, the clearness of sight will be impacted. Therefore some Lasik docs advocate holding back until aged 25.
In addition to an age cutoff, the sight prescription for the Lasik prospect ought to be static for at least a year, and preferably for much longer than that. This is for precisely the aforementioned grounds as above. The Lasik routine will only remain effective if the eyeball shape continues unvarying following surgery.
You might wish to note that a lot of older people have received Lasik routine. The principal condition in these types is capable tear production for successful recovery and lubrication post Lasik sight correction.
The Lasik Patient's Eyes need to be in good condition.
This ensures that someone receiving a Lasik operation ought to have had no eye infection nor trauma for at least a year, and needs to have zero scarring on the cornea of the eyeball. Additional things to note is that the person must not have any continual eye trouble, such as an account of viral infection in the eyes.
The medical record of a potential Lasik patient likewise plays an important role. Some long standing conditions, such as autoimmune disorders couls cause some people to be inappropriate prospects for Lasik routine. Consequently we need to be be very definite about our medical circumstances, past and present. Additionally, women who are pregnant or nursing ought to postpone a Lasik operation until afterwards
It is Important That You Read This Before You Have LASIK Surgery
By Daisy Profits
Many people are interested in getting LASIK surgery, and they want to know the risks and benefits as well as how the procedure works. One of the first questions you need to ask yourself before getting LASIK vision correction is, "Am I a good candidate for LASIK Surgery?" You need to consult with a qualified LASIK physician and after a preliminary exam you will have your answer. Each individual case is different but here are some basic guidelines to follow before you consider getting LASIK surgery.
Eyes must be properly matured before you can get LASIK. Anyone under 18 years of age should wait to have LASIK as the shape of their eye is still changing and will probably not stop until they are at least 25 years old. If you do it too young your eyes could keep changing shape and the clarity of your vision will be affected. Your vision prescription should be stable for a year or longer as this shows your eyes will not greatly change making the surgery highly effective.
There is no maximum age cutoff as older patients have had the same successes as younger patients. The only consideration in older patients is tear production for successful healing and eye lubrication after the surgery.
Your eyes must be healthy. This means that all LASIK candidates must not have had any eye infections or injury to the eyes for at least a year. Plus you must not have any recurring eye problems.
Your medical history plays an important in becoming a candidate for eye surgery. Some disorders like Lupus will prevent some people from having eye surgery. You must disclose any medical conditions current and in the past to your doctor before you have the surgery. Also pregnant or nursing women should wait before they schedule their LASIK surgery.
Patients with dry eye syndrome are usually not good candidates for LASIK surgery. You must have sufficient tear production for lubricating the eye naturally although minor problems may be aided with medication during the healing process. But those with eyes that dilate very widely are not good candidates for LASIK surgery.
These are some basic guidelines to follow when deciding on having LASIK Surgery.. If you can't meet some of these guidelines there are other eye improvement methods you can look at. If you are generally healthy and have a standard vision problem, you are probably a good candidate for LASIK Surgery. Make sure you find a professional physician well trained in LASIK Surgery to discuss your individual needs in detail.
Reasons to Get Lasik Surgery
By Connor R Sullivan
Since the early 2000s, the amount of people who choose to have Lasik eye surgery completed has risen dramatically, especially now that there has been plenty of time for the method to be perfected. Davis vision care is, of course, one of the many options for those who elect not to have this kind of surgery performed on their eyes. However, as far as Lasik surgery is concerned, it is currently one of the most sought after elective surgical procedures in the United States. Now, some eyemed VSP will cover at least some, if not all of the costs of the surgery, which makes it even more alluring to potential patients. There are many reasons why one might want to have eye surgery to improve their sight. Below is a list of explanations of the different benefits that can come with having this surgery done:
1. Naturally, your vision will improve dramatically, better than it would with glasses and/or contact lenses. The reason being is that contact and/or glasses prescriptions are not always exact when it comes to your vision. Also, they are meant to help you to see, instead of being your actual eyes. Having Lasik surgery makes it so that your eyes are able to do the work they are meant to do, which means they then do not need any help, such as contacts and/or glasses anymore.
2. Paying a pretty large amount of money for Lasik up front for the surgery will actually save you money in the future. People who have Lasik surgery completed rarely have to wear glasses and they do not need to wear contacts. This will save your money not only on these products, but you will save on your eye care insurance as well. The way you save on your eye care insurance is that there is still a deductable for contacts and/or glasses, so you would not have to worry about this if you have the Lasik procedure.
3. Most people will tell you that when they swim or get into any kind of water with their contacts in, their eyes get sore or dry because the chlorine in pools takes the moisture out of the contacts, so the more they stick to your eyes. If you have a Lasik procedure, this will most likely not be a problem for you any longer. It is important to remember, though, that just because you do not have contacts because of the Lasik surgery, it is does not mean that your eyes will never get dry from pool water ever again, but it will most likely not be as big of an issue as it would be with contacts.
It is very interesting to see that more and more people are deciding to get rid of the contacts and/or glasses in favor of paying more money up front so they can save money in the future because they will be contact and/or glasses free. With the economy the way it is now, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues as it seems that more people are trying to save their money, by cutting back on elective surgical procedures.
March 11, 2010
All You Need to Know About Astigmatism
By Guzel De Jong
When what your eyes see looks a little distorted and blurry, then you might be suffering from astigmatism. Now, don't panic. Many people have astigmatism, even if they don't know it, and minor cases don't affect the vision in a noticeable way. But what if it does?
Let's see what astigmatism is. It is a condition of the eyes where the cornea is irregular in shape. This causes the light to be refracted differently which results in blurry vision. This difference in curvature may be very slight or more pronounced.
Astigmatism may be so mild you don't even know you have it, or it can cause serious problems such as distorted vision and headaches. Many people with this problem also have myopia or hyperopia.
If you get a regular eye exam, your eye doctor will let you know if you develop astigmatism. Normally, your doctor will measure how your eyes focus light and measure the curvature of your cornea. He uses tests and instruments to determine the curvature of your cornea.
If needed, then this optical defect is treated with corrective actions. It could mean you have to start wearing prescription eyewear, such as glasses or contact lenses, but there are also options such as orthokeratology, laser or other refractive surgery techniques.
Most people will choose eyeglasses. It's safer and not as risky as an operation. The prescription is ground in a special way to compensate for the astigmatism. For the people around you they will look like ordinary glasses.
Contact lenses also work very well for some people. Special toric soft lenses are usually prescribed for astigmatic eyes. They help reshape the cornea for better vision.
Orthokeratology involves fitting a series of rigid contact lenses for a patient to help reshape the cornea. Each set of lenses is worn for a limited period of time, such as overnight, and then removed from the eyes. This helps some people to be able to see without corrective lenses during the day. Note that this is not a permanent cure!
Now to surgery. Laser procedures such as LASIK may also be used to reshape the cornea. This procedure removes an inner layer of the eye tissue to help shape the cornea correctly. Most patients immediately notice improvement in their vision following laser surgery. However, your vision can continue to improve for up to six months afterwards. Though hundreds of thousands of people today have had this type of eye surgery with exceptional results, you should not forget that LASIK is an operation with a certain risk.
How Do Eyes Heal After LASIK Surgery?
By Luna Moonfang
Suppose, with eyeglasses what will happen if you are dating with the one you admire most? It is not hard to imagine that your dating will be affected by your glasses. Then, why not consider over LASIK surgery that can help you get rid of glasses and regain perfect vision?
If you want to receive such surgery, you should be cautious about several points. To be simple, you should stick to what your eye doctors have suggested. For example, you will feel some discomfort in your eyes after the wearing off numbing medication. However, if you can realize this and do not rub your eyes, your recovery will be quick and safe with less pain.
Such discomfort will disappear quickly. Some special medications will be used, as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory, to reduce the risk of infection and swelling. Of course, after the surgery, your eyes will be very dry, and the eye doctors will give you some drops to maintain moisture.
After the surgery, you are stepping into the healing period, no less than two months. During this period, you should be very careful, such as do no swim; do not rub your eyes, etc. And even at night, an eye patch is still needed for at least one month.
As mentioned above, rubbing is prohibited. This act can affect the healing process. Anyway, you are not suggested to have strenuous sports within two months.
Generally, eyes are unstable after the surgery. Therefore, you should be careful within one to two months before your eyes are stabilized. The reason is there are some common symptoms within this period, such as glare, haloes, etc.
After the healing process, almost all existing symptoms will disappear once your eyes are stabilized.
The Advancement of Laser Eye Surgery
By David Wachler
If we have some eye problems, we can choose to receive eye surgery. However, in the surgery, no scalpel will be used, but laser. The Excimer laser plays the same role as scalpel in the surgery. Laser surgery is also suitable for those who can not receive scalpel surgery.
Generally, eyeglasses and contact lenses are the commonest solutions for nearsightedness and farsightedness. Of course, laser surgery is also suitable and effective for the two problems. But for sufferers of other complicated eye problems, like astigmatism, those glasses and lenses are not so ideal. On the contrary, LASIK surgery is the best alternative.
In laser surgery, every detail is operated in an accurate way. Safety is also another very important feature of this surgery. The recovery time is very short and receivers can enjoy perfect vision after the surgery. In the surgery, the inner cornea will be reshaped by the laser.
Generally, cutting cornea with laser will lead to great risk. And luckily, this has been much improved in the accuracy of the surgery now.
In U.S., there are no less than one million receivers of laser surgery with very high success rate, almost 80%.
In the past, the surgery on the cornea requires greatly on the surgeons and almost no people can receive it. And now, the emergence of laser surgery has solved all such problems.
Some merits of laser eye surgery have attracted many people to receive it, like the great success rate, short recovery time, etc. Several days after the surgery, receivers can have very good vision. However, this surgery is very expensive. If you earn a lot of money, you can consider of receiving it.
One of the most important steps in the surgery is to find the just right surgeon. It is true that there are more and more surgeons for LASIK. Therefore, it is essential to confirm the identification of the surgeon, including the equipments for the surgery. Also, it is a very good idea to listen to other's feedbacks on the surgeon.
March 09, 2010
Eye Recovery After LASIK Surgery
Eye Recovery After LASIK Surgery
By David Wachler
Recovery period after LASIK surgery is fast but important, especially in its early stage. A good eye recovery is the main advantage of LASIK surgery and it can guarantee the patients to resume their work as earlier as possible as a result of the benefits of a successful surgery.
The short recovery time is mainly due to the particular type of surgical intervention. Most LASIK surgery will use the advanced laser technology. The laser burns the tissue in the inner part of the stroma without having to cut the tissue in other surgeries. The cutting process only takes 8-10 minutes. In that case, the substances are not really injured and the healing requires no long time.
Generally speaking, the proper recovery time is usually 48 hours, though the patients will be asked to be also careful for the remaining two days. Complications after LASIK surgery can be preventable with proper precautions.
6 tips on how to do eye care for a quick recovery is given in the following.
1. An eye shield is needed to prevent the eye infection.
2. Itching or rubbing on eyes should be completely avoided during the first 7 days.
3. Be careful when you are in shower. Do not let water strike your eyes directly and escape from soap and shampoo in the eyes. It is better to have less baths during the first week after surgery.
4. An intended medicinal product is intended for recovery, Use of antibiotics, steroids and other drugs are required to prevent dry eyes.
5. Light exercises are recommendable, but be sure to avoid any vigorous exercise as the sweat is harmful to your eyes, especially the sports like boxing and karate.
6. Do not work very hard in the first few days to give a rest to your eyes.
The syndromes like ghosts, halos, starburst regular or irregular astigmatism after surgery are all common complications in the period of the first few weeks to six months because the complications can be gradually solved and finally disappear. However, if the complications still exist after six months, you have to go to your doctor for a further examination.
Remember one sentence that carelessness is the killer of eyes during the recovery period after LASIK surgery, so be cautious to do the eye care to ensure a brighter vision.
December 30, 2009
Four Kinds of Laser Eye Surgeries
By Mariah Carey
In modern society, having a laser eye surgery is not only a fad, but also a more preferable way to have eyesight problems corrected rather than wearing eyeglasses. There are four kinds of laser eyesight correction surgeries which are thought to be necessary to be listed to help patients get a general view.
This first one is the flap techniques, among which the LASIK is the commonly applied one procedure. During the surgery, the surgeon cuts a small flap in the cornea, if LASIK applied, a laser beam is used to create the flap and remove the extra tissue, so that the cornea can be reshaped and regain the ability to focus objects. This procedure can also be achieved by photoablation techniques in which a kind of cool heat, mainly composed of ultraviolet radiation, is used to impair the excess tissue.
Then the tissue is taken off from the cornea. The difference between flap technique and photoablation technique is that the latter comes to comparatively secondary. However, as it known to all that problems are inevitable to emerge during any surgery, so do flap techniques, during which, the flap may be put out of place causing eye soreness and blurry vision but this is of low probability, a million to one. In addition, a perforation in the eye and an irregular flap can happen at times, resulting in seeing "floaters" in vision, but those often happen when older equipment is used.
The second one is the thermal techniques, which are mainly applied to cure farsightedness. It, in both laser technique and electric probe, is achieved by heating up the pupil with thermal heat 8-16 tiny burns. Thus the cornea can be reshaped to be steeper.
The third one is the corneal incision methods. This technique is accomplished based on the principle of changing the surface of the cornea, so that vision errors are fixed. However this technique is proceded in a traditional way by using a diamond-tipped knife to make a tiny cut in cornea, it has been replaced by laser technology now.
The forth one is the implants. They are done by putting contact lenses right behind the cornea forever, which are referred as intra-ocular contact lens implant. This technique is usually applied when one's cornea are so extremely deformed that eye problems can not be corrected by other surgeries.
After the operation, a few days or last up to a month will be taken for one to get recovered which varies from person to person. It is worth to notice that in the course of healing, people should take good care of their eyes, or some issues will occur, for that with any operation, there is certainly a risk of infection. Therefore, it is advisable not to rub eyes, and take along eye drops, which can serve as a help to keep eyes from getting dry. If your eyes are unfortunately get infected, go to see your eye doctor as soon as possible, in case of slowing the course of healing.
That's all the kinds of laser eye correction surgeries above. If you have had enough of the trouble of wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses, it is the time for you to try the new, which will definitely surprise you a lot. Do not be worried about the accidents mentioned above, study show that laser issues happen in less than 1% of eye operations done today. Anyhow, no matter what kind of surgery you are intended to take, do consult a professional eye doctor. If permissible, consulting another one or two ophthalmologists will be great.
December 23, 2009
Impact of 'Lasik' Laser Eye Surgery - Quality of Life
By Raven Claz
I see the true essence of it being necessary of FDA launching a study investigating the impact of 'lasik' laser eye surgery on patients quality problems. The best example quoted would be 'blurred vision', not all of them though. As we are aware of the process involved of thin flaps being cut, later after correcting your refractive error is placed back in front of eye. Probably a clear number of them are facing after affects, worst cases abnormal bulging of cornea.
Even doctors supporting, as this study will enhance the understanding of risks, also patients who experience other affects. from the procedure. Although, needed care taken before the recommendation of this process, as most of all doctors would ask patients themselves if they decide to have this done, being clear. The perspective of this process is rather clear and simple as it will help reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses.
However, "the actual process virtually is relatively quick and painless compared to other types of surgeries" is what stated by many doctors, also even people who have undergone this process seems to approve of it, not all of them but surprisingly good number. Also the frequently asked question would be long term risks if undergone through this procedure, which known by many cannot be predicted if is as long as 10yrs or above.
Recent studies states, the laser eye surgery process is booming in UK, treatments have been nearly tens of thousands, although unlike US where update has been in millions, which clearly states the good god patients satisfied, also having a better vision compared before the eye surgery.
I suggest it is always good to first have a consultation with the doctor, have your eye readings checked as well state your problems clearly so he could suggest the possible process for best outcome. Even later if unsatisfied (which will not be the case) I suggest go search, there is plenty out their public and the information is free. Also, ask any of your family or friends if any have undergone this vision correction and hear from them.
The point here is and always is the better understanding of the undergoing process, whatever the stream might refer to.
I place a seeming interest in vision much more than any, and would like reflect the public issues more than stated.
December 22, 2009
Laser Eye Surgery - Is it Right For You?
By Jackson Sayers
Here are three of the most common laser vision correction procedures:
Lasik has become the most popular type of laser eye surgery. The surgeon cuts the flap of the cornea, lifts it away from the eye, and reshapes the tissue underneath with the laser. The flap is then returned to its proper position. Unlike the PRK procedure, in most cases vision is immediately improved and continues to improve over a period of a few weeks. Some people are not eligible for Lasik due to corneal scars or other conditions, but they may still be candidates for PRK.
PRK (Photo-Refractive Keratectomy) is an early version of laser eye surgery, and is slowly becoming less common as Lasik's popularity grows. During the PRK procedure, the surgeon manually removes a thin layer on the surface of the cornea. The laser is used to vaporize small amounts of tissue on the surface of the cornea, which is left to repair itself over the period of a few days. Patients will probably wear a special contact lens as a bandage for the cornea during this time.
Lasek is similar to Lasik, but a thinner piece of cornea is lifted away from the eye, and an alcohol solution is used to weaken the epithelium, the thin, outer layer of the eye. During PRK, the epithelium is removed and eventually grows back, however, Lasek aims to save the epithelium. The laser is then used to reshape the stroma - the middle layer of the cornea - and the epithelium is put back in place. The healing process usually takes about two weeks. Some people with thinner corneas choose Lasek over Lasik since it is less invasive.
While the majority of people experience no complications, as with any medical procedure, there are risks. Some of these risks include infection and delayed healing, hazy vision, severe dry eyes, and poor night vision. Some patients may have to wear glasses or contacts even after the surgery, or undergo a second surgery to fully correct vision.
For most people, the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Studies show that about 85 percent of people who have undergone refractive surgery no longer have to rely on contact lenses or glasses every day.
Advanced Surface Laser Ablation (ASLA)
By Lawrence Ocampo
The ASLA (Advanced Surface Laser Ablation) technique is used when the LASIK (LAser in SItu Keratomileusis) procedure is considered unsuitable for a particular patient, for example, if the cornea is too thin or if the corneal topography is irregular or if the corneal surface layer (the epithelium) is unstable. ASLA can be used for correction of myopia or astigmatism, but it is not used for correcting hypermetropia.
Here's a detailed description of how the procedure is done. The ASLA procedure takes about 15 minutes per eye. First, the cornea is anaesthetized. Next, anaesthetic drops are applied to the eye, and an eyelid holder is put in place to keep the eye from blinking. Additionally, anti-inflammation eye-drops are applied to the cornea in order to reduce the post-surgical reaction and discomfort. The corneal epithelium layer is removed afterwards. The front surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) is then gently lifted away from the rest of the cornea. This exposes the corneal 'bed' which is now ready to receive the energy from the laser beam. The cornea is now re-shaped by the laser. The laser beam, consisting of UV energy, vaporizes a pre-determined amount of tissue from the corneal bed, thus giving the cornea the new shape required to correct the eye's optical prescription. Then, the loose epithelium tissue can be placed back over the corneal bed. A soft contact lens is applied afterwards. After this, the eye is fitted with a "band-aid" soft contact lens for added protection while the surface of the eye heals. Antibiotic eye-drops are also applied. Anti-inflammation eye-drops are prescribed.
About 4 days after surgery, the contact lens is removed, and a course of mild anti-inflammation eye-drops is commenced. The ASLA technique is similar to the PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratectomy) and LASEK (LASer Epithelial Keratomileusis) techniques, but with some refinements to aid the recovery of the eye. It is possible to have both eyes treated on the same day. For post-operation visual recovery, it can take 4 days or more for patients to achieve useful vision. The eyes usually feel gritty and sore for about 2 days after surgery and, in some cases, they may even feel painful initially after the surgery. Stabilization takes about 1-2 months. A mild haze may be present for a few weeks.
December 18, 2009
All About Laser Eye Surgery
By E. Drummond
For those who aren't familiar with laser eye surgery, it can seem like a very daunting prospect. However, if you are a long time sufferer of an eye condition, laser eye surgery may be the ultimate solution for you as it will enable you to enjoy life without the restrictions of glasses and contact lenses.
Laser eye surgery can literally transform your life - after the procedure you will be free of the hassles associated with corrective eyewear and the headaches caused by eye strain. A once off laser treatment can also save you money in the long run - no more visits to the optometrist, no more worrying about breaking or forgetting glasses and no more spending on contact lenses and expensive solutions.
Are You a Suitable Candidate for Laser Surgery?
Suitable candidates for laser eye surgery include those who suffer from refractive errors, which occur when the eye cannot focus on the image on the retina. The most common refractive errors are present in patients who suffer from myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism.
Conditions Treatable by Laser Eye Surgery
Short-sightedness occurs when your eye is too long compared to the curvature (focusing power) of your cornea. It is also present when the cornea is more curved that it should be, resulting in light focusing short of the retina. This results in difficulty in focusing on distant objects. This ocular condition is corrected can be treated with laser eye surgery whereby the surgeon will reshape the cornea so that its focusing power is matched to the length of the eye.
Long-sightedness is a refractive error that occurs when your eye is too short compared to the curvature of your cornea, or when it is less curved, resulting in light focusing behind the retina. With laser treatment, this condition can be corrected by reshaping the cornea, enabling you to free yourself from the restrictions caused by glasses or contact lenses.
Everyone develops the refractive error known as presbyopia during the latter part of their lives, some even begin to experience symptoms from a young age that gradually worsen as they age. Presbyopia is a condition prevalent in patients that wear reading glasses. As you get older, the zoom system that allows your eyes to change focus from distance to near viewing becomes weaker, diminishing the ability to read small print. Patients suffering from this natural ageing condition will be glad to know that it can be permanently treated with lens replacement surgery. That means no reliance on more bifocals or varifocals, just a new outlook on the world (and the newspaper!).
Types of Laser Eye Surgery in Yorkshire, UK
LASIK and LASEK are the two most commonly performed laser surgeries in Yorkshire in the UK.
LASIK laser surgery is a treatment performed by creating a thin flap through the top layer of the cornea, which is gently folded over. The laser eye surgeon then performs the laser treatment on the layer underneath. This process vaporises away some of the corneal tissue, creating a slightly different shape which ultimately corrects the refractive error. This treatment requires no stitches and is virtually painless, offering a rapid recovery.
LASEK laser eye surgery in the UK is performed by removing the epithelium with a drop of weak alcohol solution. Just as in LASIK laser eye surgery, the laser is applied to the layer underneath. A temporary contact lens holds the epithelium in place for a few days before being removed. This form of eye treatment is bladeless, resulting in a painless operation with almost instantaneous improvement.